Travel News June 2018 it all - well almost!
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A must for Harry Potter fans is the The Wizarding World of Harry Potter with the main attraction being the Forbidden Journey ride in Hogwarts Castle. The attention to detail is incredible and it's just like stepping into one of the movies and hanging out with Harry, Ron and Hermoine!
For any Simpsons fans there is the Springfield themed area with the Simpsons ride and loads of Simpsons themed eating options. Get your pic taken with some famous Simpsons characters and enjoy a lard lad donut or even a Duff Beer in Moe’s Tavern! There are many other attractions such as Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, Jurassic Park, Transformers and Revenge of the Mummy. For the little ones Super Silly Fun Land will have them entertained for hours!
Any fans of the Walking Dead TV show have to try out the Walking Dead walk-through attraction. A word of warning though, it’s not for the faint hearted! One of the best attractions has to be the World Famous Studio Backlot Tour - a #NInja must-do if visiting the park. It lasts approx an hour but the time flies as you go behind the scenes of real life movie sets. You get to see various sets from the movies, and TV and areas which have been used to recreate numerous famous American cities for the movies. As part of the tour you'll also come face to face with King Kong, Jaws and the guys from the Fast and the Furious movies.
Before entering the park you'll find yourself in Citywalk, with over 30 places to eat, a 19-screen cinema and numerous shops and activities. Great for a lunchtime pit stop before enjoying more of the park or for a night of dinner and drinks.
Hollywood - Walk of fame etc
You can't go to LA without taking a trip up to Hollywood to mingle with the stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame! Anyone who is anyone has their star on the pavements so go find your favourite and grab a pic!
The famous Chinese theatre is here and also the Dolby Theatre where the Oscars are held every year. It's also a great spot to get a pic of the famous Hollywood sign in the distance in the adjacent shopping mall.
While in the area you are in close proximity to the famous Griffith Observatory which you'll probably recognise from a few Hollywood movies. You can look through telescopes and see the many exhibits if that's your thing. It offers some really spectacular views across downtown LA and the Hollywood sign.
Starline Tour
While up in the Hollywood area why not jump on a tour? Starline Tours offers a variety of different tours from Hop on Hop off, Celebrity Homes, City tours and Movie Locations tours. The #NInja opted for the TCM movie locations tour - fantastic for movie lovers! The tour is done on a customised bus with massive viewing windows which help bring movie locations to life as you tour around LA. The tour also has movie clips playing as you pass by locations which really adds to the experience.
You tour up to 50 locations from movies such as The Fast and the Furious, The Dark Knight Rises, Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Pretty Woman to mention just a few. You also nip off the bus for a quick visit to the famous Bradbury Building which is such an iconic building used in many a movie.
#Ninja Tips and Tricks Marina Del Rey to Santa Monica
It is a fantastic (though lengthy) walk down the coast from Marina Del Rey to Santa Monica, but there are also other options such as bike and scooter rentals etc so be sure to take advantage of these if you'd prefer those to walking.
It is LA and the weather is fantastic but depending on the time of year it can be cooler than you would imagine so make sure to check out what you can expect before you go. The #NInja went in the middle of April
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Take a stroll in Santa Monica and do some shopping, relax in a cafe or simply take in the sights
which could be a little cooler at night .... and was caught out a couple of times by how chilly it was!
Visiting Griffith Observatory
If visiting Griffith Observatory, be warned that parking at the actual Observatory is limited and will often be full. One good option is to park for free at the Greek Theatre on the way up and jump on the DASH (Bus) opposite which takes you right to the Observatory and back again. Cost is only 50 cents per person each way so it’s a great hassle-free way to do it.
LA Traffic
The traffic can be pretty brutal so it is really important to plan your day around it if venturing out in the car. Rush hour is not your typical time as we would know it so traffic can start to build from 2pm to 3pm. Basically if you want to go anywhere of note, between 8-10am and 4pm-7pm can prove very difficult!! If driving to or from LAX airport just be prepared and allow plenty of time. I used Alamo car hire which has a location just off the airport but you still need to shuttle into the airport so the same applies – so leave yourself plenty of time to get there.
With the heavy traffic, the car pool lanes can be an effective way to try and beat some of it.
You simply need two or more people in the car to be
able to use these. Be warned though even these lanes can be jammed at times, and negotiating over to them through six lanes of traffic is pretty stressful!
Verdict
LA is a great city with many iconic areas and so much to do. It's superb for a short break but equally a longer stay would enable you to explore the city and more so the surrounding areas a lot more. Staying in Marina Del Rey was fantastic, with so much to do in its own right and a great base for exploring the wider LA area.
Put simply, there really isn’t that much difference cost-wise in a four-day trip to LA compared to the likes of New York, Boston or Chicago ... it’s only an extra hour or so on the plane as well! And whilst you may fly into LA, the likes of San Diego, San Francisco and many other California hotspots are easily accessible and a great roadtrip away if you have longer to stay. It really is a place the #NInja can't wait to get back to to explore further ... and maybe someday there will be a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame with “The Holiday Ninja” emblazoned on it...!!
For more details and information, head over to
visitcalifornia.co.uk or why not visit your local travel agent to plan your LA getaway.
ABOVE: The famous Hollywood sign sits high up in the Hollywood hills
Explore the Griffith Observatory, Southern California’s gateway to the Cosmos
LEFT: Universal Studios is a highlight of any trip to Los Angeles and is a ‘must-see’
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