Plan to Relax in Los Angeles for a Fantastic First Encouter

Los Angeles, CaliforniaIf you're starting to research your first trip to Los Angeles, you'll probably start to feel a little overwhelmed very quickly. I had just two full days and three nights to spend in LA, but more time probably would have made the planning even harder. There is just so much to do and see, and everything sounds incredible in tour books and online. If you're traveling with kids for a family vacation, you might not find this advice too helpful, but for me the best approach was to simply stop trying to plan my trip and see what came along.

I decided to forget about car rentals and choose a hotel that was near metro access. I booked reservations at the Kawada Hotel online with HotelsCombined.com, and I had a great stay. My room had a refrigerator, kitchenette, and it was within very easy walking distance of the Pershing Square and Civic Center metro stops.

Pershing Square, Los AngelesAlthough Los Angeles is very spread out and many people really prefer the convenience of having their own car, the never-ending traffic looked anything but convenient. That said, if you want to rent a car, parking is available at the Kawada Hotel for about $15.00 per day.
I arrived in Los Angeles in time to explore Pershing Square before dinner. The historic buildings in this city square are impressive, especially the Millennium Biltmore Hotel. I decided to eat at Smeraldi's one of two restaurants at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel (Sai Sai's, the other option serves Asian cuisine).

Smeraldi's was featuring a special commemorative menu to celebrate the Biltmore's 85th birthday, and the Trout Amandine was outstanding. I was so impressed with the Biltmore, I chose to return and give Sai Sai's a try for my last night in Los Angeles. I was just as delighted with the food and the service at Sai Sai's as I was with Smeraldi's.

Discovering you're very fond of your "local" neighborhood on a vacation is always a great sign when you're on vacation. I felt comfortable and pleased with my choice of Hotels and decided to visit a few local attractions within walking distance on my last day in LA. This left my first full day free, and I woke up early refreshed and eager to tour Universal Studios.

Universal Studios
Universal Studios HollywoodUniversal Studios will probably be a must-see attraction if you travel to Los Angeles with kids, but as an adult traveling alone, I was skeptical. I wasn't convinced it would live up to the hype, and I'm only mildly interested in moviemaking. Yet the draw to see it "just once" was there, and I'm delighted I didn't overlook the opportunity to tour Universal in person.

I found the Studio Tour around Universal by tram fascinating. I had no idea what film sets look like off the big screen, and it was incredibly enlightening. The variety of sets you see on this tour is disorienting at first, but you quickly get the hang of moving from one famous set scene to the next. It's almost like flipping movie channels, only live and in person. The airplane crash site from "War of the Worlds," sets from "Jurassic Park III" and "The Grinch," and a host of other famous scenes gives you a fascinating perspective on moviemaking. The illusions movies involve become crystal clear, and what once seemed true to life (even for the Grinch) seems like a complex and elaborate hoax - which is ultimately what movies are, of course. If the line to board the tram for the Studio Tour puts you off at first glance, rest assured it is more than worth it.

If you're big on theme-park attractions, you'll love the rides at Universal. I have never been a theme park ride enthusiast, but I couldn't resist the Simpsons Ride. This was a great way to experience the thrills of a roller coaster without the terror of non-virtual coaster rides. Although I bypassed many of the other rides at Universal, the Jurassic Park ride and Shrek 4D were intense enough to leave me feeling elated and slightly exhausted. It is not only the intensity of these high-tech rides and their special effects, but the switch from one "world" to another that is so exhilarating but again, slightly disorienting.

I bypassed all but one of the live shows offered at Universal daily. The Animal Actors Stage show was cute, and watching trained monkeys, pigs and birds do tricks was a relaxing break from the dazzling rides.

You may have many other interests and choose to visit an incredible variety of attractions on your visit to LA, but don't overlook Universal Studios. It is somewhat over the top and you will be part of a very large crowd during your tour, but it's sure to be one of the most unique and memorable experiences you have in Los Angeles.