Does anyone else think LA is overrated as a tourist destination? (Los Angeles: things to do, architecture)

[jeffredo]

LA isn't as obvious in displaying its points of interest like my city. You really need to invest in a good guidebook, get both a detailed paper map and a GPS and do some homework. Its on par with visiting a small country both in population and size, so don't expect the interesting sights to just jump out at you (you also need a week at least to even scratch the surface). Another idea is to narrow down things that interest you personally. Are you a lounging-at-the-beach person? Go at the appropriate time of the year then (generally July to October). Are you interested in California history and architecture? LA has tons of places to see and photograph. Do you like theme parks? There are five major ones, plus a good aquarium. Do you like shopping and dining? LA will keep you busy for days. Again, its important to do some pre-trip research and narrow the list down. If you only have a few days you'll just get frustrated (and sick of freeways) trying to run around to far-flung locations and "do it all".

[LASam]

I don't think LA is necessarily overrated as a tourist destination, but I do think people come here with unattainable expectations of what LA will be like. LA, in my opinion, is a very difficult town to be a tourist in because the attractions are spread out and not well connected by public transit. To enjoy a short visit here, it takes lots of research and prep. You can't just wander around the city like you can in NYC, Chicago, or SF. However, if you do your research, you can have an array of experiences here from the beaches, to the mountains, to the museums, to the neighborhoods, and everything in between.

[PeppermintChapstick]

MunsterFan, it sounds like you really didn't do any planning before you went to the second largest city in the United States.

Look at the list that Senshi gave you. How many of those things did you do? What about the Hollywood Bowl? Did you even go by there? Heck just riding around looking at the architecture of the city is fascinating.

I have to wonder what you're seeing in Atlanta. Six Flags and the World of Coca Cola?

[MIKEETC]

Originally Posted by MunsterFan

...we love America but i don't have anything good to say about Los Angeles

Good. Tell everyone you know.

[it's crowded enough as it is]

[Oana2011]

Originally Posted by MunsterFan

We are currently touring the United States and we have just came back from Los Angeles and i have to say we are very dissapointed with the city. I was so hyped up and so was my wife. Everything is so spread out and most of the attractions sucked. Most of the people were all full of themselves and snoby. Universal Studios in LA has to the worst in the world, there are no fun rides, its all for children. Hollywood was just one street full of homeless people and terrible museums. Also the traffic in LA is terrible... We spent a week there and we are glad to continue our US tour and we are currently in Atlanta, GA which is a nice city. Don't get me wrong, we love America but i don't have anything good to say about Los Angeles

Have u been to Santa Monica, Malibu, Disneyland, Laguna Beach///????etc. ...Los Angeles County and OC are great...
Ill give u that Hollywood aint really great, but why dont u go to Beverly Hills, Bel Air?
I mean...if LA aint great, than where else???

[LASam]

I like Hollywood... but maybe that's just because I remember how nasty it was not too long ago. It's fun to see the improvement. Besides, Cirque Du Soleil is setting up permanent residence in the Kodak theatre here pretty soon.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by MunsterFan

We are currently touring the United States and we have just came back from Los Angeles and i have to say we are very dissapointed with the city. I was so hyped up and so was my wife. Everything is so spread out and most of the attractions sucked. Most of the people were all full of themselves and snoby. Universal Studios in LA has to the worst in the world, there are no fun rides, its all for children. Hollywood was just one street full of homeless people and terrible museums. Also the traffic in LA is terrible... We spent a week there and we are glad to continue our US tour and we are currently in Atlanta, GA which is a nice city. Don't get me wrong, we love America but i don't have anything good to say about Los Angeles

You




should have checked with us before you visited. We could have helped you out.

[vop]

One has to be pretty lame of a person if you can't find interesting things to do in LA, BTW OP where are you from? If you think LA is boring I would love to visit the paradise that you reside in.

[Mike121]

The OP said that they stayed a week in LA. Back in my backpacker days, I always found that a week in a city was an awkward amount of time: it is either too long and too short.

LA is not a place to 'see', it is a place to 'do'. Tell me what you like to do, and we can make that happen.

If all you want to do is see something that you haven't seen in another city, then, yeah, Hollywood Blvd, Griffith Park, the Getty, and Venice Beach, should take about two days. And it isn't that easy to get around between those places.

Beyond a couple of days as a tourist, you need to get involved in some sort of activity or try to make a connection to the local culture.

When I backpacked Europe back in my college days, sometimes I didn't have energy to find an activity in the towns I'd visit. For some of them, we'd just get the cathedral photo, hit the museum trip, and then back to the train. And if that is how you try to experience Los Angeles, then you're going to find it an unexcpetional place.

[Daisy32673]

You sound like someone who has watched too many movies and filled their visit with all the tourist traps (most of which are honestly fun places in my opinion). Did you visit any beaches or museums (Natural History, Norton Simon, etc.) or take a drive up PCH? Did you research your trip into visiting LA at all or just go by what you see on TV?