I'll be in the Santa Monica-Simi Valley area for thanksgiving. Can anyone out there recommend some interesting, fun, cheap and out-of-the-tourist's-way things to do, eat, see? I'm travelling light, so not much rockclimbing on this trip.

I'll have a borrowed car so I'll be mobile. Isn't there a car musuem in the area? Is there a chinatown there too?

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Jennifer
90 350sdl

Simi Valley has the Ronald Reagan Library. And there are some small rocks to climb too. And then there's always the beach

Check out recycler.com and be amazed at the relatively cheap RUST FREE cars....

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80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)

There is a very popular bouldering area (not much gear required) off the 118 in Chatsworth. Just bring your shoes and chaulk bag. Its very well known, I just can't remember the major cross street. Its the last offramp heading west before you go over the hill into Simi.

Go see something for your mind and stay away from The Tragic Kingdom et al. Try te Norton Simon in Pasadena or the Getty museum off Mulholund and the 405. The Getty is free, you just need reservations.

OR for something really neat, try the Peterson Automotive Museum in Mid-Wilshire.

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84 300DT Puke Yellow. Totalled after 438,000
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2002 Explorer EB (wife's)

It's called Rocky Peak and its maybe a mile off the Topanga Canyon exit of the 118, I work a stones throw from there. The Getty is free, its the parking...

And my daughter takes completive gymnastics near there if you care at all.

And then there's the famous (here anyway) Enrices on Ventura Blvd.

Santa Monica is a long way and a different world from Simi Valley, but to get to Simi can be a nice drive. Drive north on PCH to Malibu and then take Malibu Canyon Hwy. over the hills into the valley. To come back - drive back so. to Ventura Blvd., go east to Van Nuys Blvd. and turn right – that will turn into Beverly Glen and come out on Sunset right at the UCLA campus in Westwood. Then just down to Wilshire turn right and you’re right back in Santa Monica. Much more beterer than the freeway. The Getty – get tickets in advance – there is a beautiful little meditative garden by a lake in Pacific Palisades on Sunset near SM – just walking around the promenade in SM is fun.
To promote my little west coast world a little – if you like maritime museums, try this.
Take Lincoln so (Venice Boardwalk right there, but it’s not much) turn right after you go so of the wetlands go down to Playa del Rey, turn left (you have to) go so through Manhattan, Hermosa and Redondo Beach and just as your taking a big left turn take a right and go down to Hollywood Riviera and on down to Malaga Cove (really beautiful) the n the scenic drive around Palos Verde peninsula – that will put you down into San Pedro where the maritime museum is. There’s also a great Greek restaurant down there, “Papadakus” that shouldn’t be missed.
Have fun.

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89 300E
79 240D
72 Westy
63 Bug sunroof
85 Jeep CJ7
86 Chevy 6.2l diesel PU

"The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane."
Marcus Aurelius

The peterson automotive museum is on wilshire blvd just east of beverly hills. Lots of great cars there.

there are tons of great restaurants all over The city. it all depends on what kind of food you want.


Alon

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'92 300CE - Sold
2004 C240 - 744 - C7 Wheels - Android Radio
2002 C320 - 816 - Sport Wagon

LA has a chinatown downtown, but don't waste your time there. The San Gabriel Valley (Alhambra, San Gabriel, Monterey Park) has some of the best Chinese food in N. America (or go to eastern Hollywood Blvd. in Thai Town for great Thai, or Koreatown for great Korean food). When you get to town, go to a bookstore and pick up Counter Intelligence by Jonathan Gold, a collection of his non-touristy/local/ethnic recommendations from his reviews when he was LA Times restaurant critic. Here's a link to his current list at the LA Weekly, searchable by type of food, price, locations:

http://www.laweekly.com/food/totallist.php

There's really good bouldering at Stoney Point in Chatsworth. It's right off 118. Take the Topanga exit south and it's on your left, or the east side of the street. The best days are Tuesday and Thursday evenings. All the hardcore locals hang out at Stoney on those days. It's been that way for 20+ years.

On Devonshire Ave. about a mile south of the freeway, just east about half a block, is the best dang Cajun restaurant in the Valley. It's called Les Sisters. Get the large gumbo. You won't be disappointed.

At the bottom of Santa Susana pass there's a well known biker bar named Wally's Hideway. Interesting place. Don't step in there unless you can handle yourself.

http://pub12.ezboard.com/fstoneypointboulderersstoneypointforum

http://www.ayola.com/stoney/dyno.html

Edit: I don't know if Wally's is there anymore come to think of it. Have to ask around.

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You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows - Robert A. Zimmerman

that whole area in chatsworth is full of boulders and numerous trails for hiking and biking.

depends on what you want to do. in LA you are going to need a car. public transport is spotty at best, and definitely not regular. distances are also too far to be able to do everything without transport.

*certainly go to the getty. free except for parking as mentioned.
*lotsa music venues. (catalina bar and grill, and the baked potatoe for live jazz)
*BB King at the vault in long beach on 11/19
*gospel brunch at the house of blues on sunday mornings (might even be the start of gospelfest, cept i dont know where it is and when it runs)
*lotsa museums in metro LA. skirball (jewish cultural center), african american, peterson (auto) tv and radio, hollywood wax museum, fredericks of hollywood lingerie museum, etc etc etc
*long beach aquarium, queen mary etc ( a bit touristy though)

check this link to find tons of stuff.

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'O=00=O'
bmw 2002.
long live the legend

Man, you guys are better than the Travel Channel!

JenTay will need an extra week just to do it all.

Peterson Automotive Museum fo' sure.

Wes

i think theres a classic car show at the santa monica pier too.

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'O=00=O'
bmw 2002.
long live the legend