Are there any places in Los Angeles where you don't need a car?

[the one]

thumbs down on renting an additional car.

thumps up on miracle mile/wilshire area.

tons of stuff to do and its west of downtown. with ONE bus you will be able to get to downtown and santa monica beach.

take the 720 rapid east into downtown(convention center) or take it west west to SaMo (beaches)

and there is a train station at wilshire and western (koreatown) that can connect you to other lines and other areas (pasadena and hollywood)

[uptown_urbanist]

The OP didn't mention wanting to rent a car, she just wants information on where to stay without a car, and I think there's simply a lot of people who can't imagine life without driving and aren't willing to stop for a moment to think that perhaps she simply doesn't want to deal with driving in LA. If she does want to drive, one option would be renting a car for the day (they have rental places all over the city, not just at LAX), but otherwise talk about hassle to deal with two car rentals! Especially when there's absolutely need to do so. She doesn't want to go to Disneyland, doesn't want to trek hours in each direction across the metro area, and sounds like she wants a fun but low-key visit with her son. That is absolutely doable without having to deal with the hassles of a second car rental.

[Snowblue]

Wow, you guys are helpful! Thank you! I will start searching for hotels in the areas you've mentioned. I'm really looking forward to this.

[motoman]

Originally Posted by uptown_urbanist

The OP didn't mention wanting to rent a car, she just wants information on where to stay without a car, and I think there's simply a lot of people who can't imagine life without driving and aren't willing to stop for a moment to think that perhaps she simply doesn't want to deal with driving in LA. If she does want to drive, one option would be renting a car for the day (they have rental places all over the city, not just at LAX), but otherwise talk about hassle to deal with two car rentals! Especially when there's absolutely need to do so. She doesn't want to go to Disneyland, doesn't want to trek hours in each direction across the metro area, and sounds like she wants a fun but low-key visit with her son. That is absolutely doable without having to deal with the hassles of a second car rental.

It's all relative right? It's an hour bus ride from downtown to Santa Monica, on a good day, plus waiting time since you never know when the bus is going to be there. Sure, there are downsides to renting another car, but there are also downsides to riding public transport. Car gives you freedom to come and go as you please. Public transport will get you there if you have the time.

[greggd]

I vote Santa Monica....you have parks, the ocean, the pier, the outdoor mall, shops, restaurants, nice weather, nice hotels. You also will have access to buses that run east/west on Wilshire & Santa Monica Blvd which would take you directly to Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive or Century City.

Your husband will have a longer commute, but its only 4 days.

[L.A. Diva]

Originally Posted by Snowblue

Thank you, all of you!

I cannot take the car, he will need it due to several reasons. So that is not an option, unfortunately.

uptown_urbanist: He will mainly be at the LA Convention Center. We wish to be at the beach or at a kid friendly pool, or go to a café, visit a toy store, play in a park etc. No big events, no DisneyLand (World?) or stuff like that.

If it is possible for you all to stay in a hotel or motel near Hollywood Blvd. or Sunset Blvd., you and your son will be able to walk to the sites on either one of those streets in the daytime with no problem, one day go look at The Wax Museums, see a movie at the historic El Capitan theatre, go inside the shopping area next to the Kodak theatre, look at the stars on the sidewalk, there's a lot of site seeing to be done in this area for anyone without a car.

[Londonteacher]

It has got to be the beach surely-you can hang out there and then jump on the bus into LA- there is one that goes direct from s monica up wilshire past the LACMA and the tar pits- brill for kids expecially the tar pits- the lacma has a brilliant kids gallery where kids can go and do their own art in the korean art section and the pits has a lovely park next door where you can sit on a blanket and imagine all that tar oozing inches below you- massive dinosaurs in the little lake- i would have loved it at these two places when i was a kid- a good half day out- only 1.60 on the bus-i think you can do it without hiring a second car- but you will do less as p transport takes longer but kids don't notice how much you do just the quality of the experience. The LAcma often has free music on a friday eve and it is free after 5 pm if you are on a tight budget- ( i also love the cafe there- good food and great views of joan miro sculptures) also there is this great lamp sculpture outside which i see kids running in and out of- all lit up at night and worth seeing-farmers market 10 mins walk up road- jump on the dash bus for 25 cents- it also talkes you up to hollywood- you could have 2-3 days in this area alone and easy to get in from s monica on bus.

griffith park is another must- train rides, zoo, horse riding- not sure how u get there from s monica but sure it is poss.

have a great trip-la is great for kids i think.

[fatmancomics]

Miracle mile sounds like the best place because, from there, you can head in any direction and find something. Aside all that's been mentioned, it's also close to The Grove (a super expensive shopping center that, no lie, looks like Disneyland's Main St. and where you might even spot a celebrity or two), the Farmer's Market (L.A.'s original farmer's market, that is), and the newly restored, tourist friendly Hollywood and Highland corner where you can check out some stars on the sidewalk and their hand and footprints at Grahman's Chinese theater.