The Illustrated "What to do with a X hour transit at LAX" thread

[cove]

If you have had some drinks on the plane just take the Big Blue Bus because they lock up drink drivers in California.
Well done Roo Flyer....great thinking about what to do instead of staying in the airport for a few hours.

 

[JessicaTam]

Great reading. I am looking forward to the next installment.

 

[hossein_au]

More calories
Grilled onions, cheese and some sort of pink sauce.
FWIW I did actually like the regular fries here. Unlike Macca's etc they actually look and taste like they are made from freshly cut potatoes.

They are indeed made from freshly cut potatoes, unlike the fully processed fries at other joints including Maccas.

 

[cove]

The best part of In-N-Out is I can watch the process. When it comes to French fries you can see they start with potatoes rather than 50 pound bags of pre made fries.
Our local is at Washington and just off Lincoln but it is without a Wayne's World runway just down the street so it is quieter and the adjacent Costco draws you in like a magnet.
Close to the airport I like the stores on Hawthorne just a mile or two off the 405 South then head west. I think that is South Bay Galleria.

 

[RooFlyer]

Marina del Ray
About 15-25 minutes by car from TBIT




This ended up being the stop I enjoyed most. Obviously, its a large marina complex. As I said in the first post, I didn't do any planning as such, just set the GPS. I ended up near where the pin is on the map above, and walked along to the west along 'Promenade Way'. I like it because it was easy just to walk along the waterside, taking in the sun, looking at the gazillions of $ of boats, occasionally sitting on the grass or by the water and generally just relaxing.

But I probably missed some highlights in other places in the marina complex - hopefully others will point these out.

So, just walking by the boats:






Of course there is always ONE boat that takes the eye. 900 horsepower, on an inflatable, baby!!



Summary: A great place to just walk around in the sun. You could probably select several spots arounf the marina with other things to do as well (restaurants no doubt).

Tips, suggestions?

 

[cove]

We enjoy Marina del Rey as it is 10-15 minutes north of LAX depending on the traffic. Far enough away from LAX to avoid the airport noise and a truly great marina with restaurants all around us.
We enjoy Cheesecake Factory plus Ruth's Chris is close to opening as a really lovely steakhouse.

 

[TiredOldFlyer]

Have settled on Santa Monica when in LAX - Excellent shopping, food etc, some great hotels. Had an overnight a couple of weeks ago and stayed at the Palihouse Hotel (Well worth a look )
Downside can be an hour to the airport at peak times.

 

[BVT]

Thanks for this post.

It is quite timely, as I am contemplating this very "dilemma" for July. Travelling HAV/MEX/LAX. Current options are, overnight in Dallas or a long transit at LAX.

Marina del Ray sounds interesting and, as I haven't been there.....

Is there somewhere to store luggage at LAX? I am HLO.

 

[RooFlyer]

Thanks for this post.

It is quite timely, as I am contemplating this very "dilemma" for July. Travelling HAV/MEX/LAX. Current options are, overnight in Dallas or a long transit at LAX.

Marina del Ray sounds interesting and, as I haven't been there.....

Is there somewhere to store luggage at LAX? I am HLO.

Its an offsite service, picked up and delivered to you at LAX kerbside.

Haven't used it myself, but others have given it good reviews: LAX Luggage Storage.com - Direction for your baggage storage need at the LAX airport

 

[amaroo]

Thanks for this post.

It is quite timely, as I am contemplating this very "dilemma" for July. Travelling HAV/MEX/LAX. Current options are, overnight in Dallas or a long transit at LAX.

Having done a few nights in both LAX and DFW earlier this year - I would recommend Dallas.

I suppose it would depend if you've been before however, Dallas was a spectacular place to visit.

 

[RooFlyer]

Santa Monica Pier
At least 30 mins drive from TBIT

This was my last stop and by this time it was about 4:30pm on a Tuesday, the traffic was getting heavy and it took me about 45 mins to get back to the airport; with an accident hold up etc could easily take more than an hour. I'm not sure that this is really a "close to LAX" stop, but if you have time and like the beach scene, its worth a look.




One thing I hadn't planned on was the tightness of parking (I had a rental car). There are plenty of parking lots at the pier and to the north and south, but the closest I could get was about 1km south, costing US$6.

The pier itself appears to be a 'fun park' - and not being interested in that sort of thing, and running a bit short of time, I didn't venture in, but you could enjoy the roller coaster I guess. The beach is very broad and was relatively sparsely occupied. There's a concrete cycle/walk way along the beach and you can hire the cycles in several places. I spent my time just walking but if I had more time there would have been lots more to do. Up the hill in the built up areas there are bunches of restaurants etc - sort of like Manly I guess.






Several hotels along the beach - Shutters looked pretty up-market




Conclusion: I wouldn't recommend Santa Monica Pier as a 'transit at LAX' destination. Its a bit far, subject to traffic delays and other than the pier itself, you could get the beach walks much closer to the airport at Manhattan or Venice Beaches. But it is a destination in its own right, if you have a day or a very long stop-over at LAX. A cab to here may cost as much as my half day hire car did (US$55 plus $8 fuel), but you would avoid the parking hassles and charge.

 

[RooFlyer]

Getty Centre
25 to 50 minutes by car from TBIT




Almost forgot. People have mentioned The Getty Centre as a LAX stopover place. I didn't visit this time, but we did fly over it coming down from Canada




I did visit it last year, but can't find the pics right now (that's annoying). Parking is easy at the base of the hill and there's a monorail (I think) up to the top. Make sure you take sun-glasses! The glare from the white travertine is substantial. There is a good café and you can sit in the sun, by the gardens and eat your lunch.

A bit like the Guggenheim at Bilbao, I think the best thing about the Getty is the buildings. Plus the view you get to LA downtown (smog permitting). The collections .. well, if you are a philistine like me, the collections on display weren't too superlative. I get the impression that the Getty is much more interested in restoration, documentation and study, than displays to the public (and that's fine of course!) There are nice gardens to walk through too.

Like Santa Monica Pier, this is a bit far from LAX unless you have about 5+ hours to spare, and its a destination in its own right.

 

[BVT]

Having done a few nights in both LAX and DFW earlier this year - I would recommend Dallas.

I suppose it would depend if you've been before however, Dallas was a spectacular place to visit.

Recently did an overnight in Dallas. Toured the Nasher sculpture gallery - sensational in a Renzo Piano building and the Sixth Floor Book Repository. Could easily do more in Dallas!

 

[amaroo]

Recently did an overnight in Dallas. Toured the Nasher sculpture gallery - sensational in a Renzo Piano building and the Sixth Floor Book Repository. Could easily do more in Dallas!

We did the same + some - totally agree.

I did a TR if you want to see some more of Dallas.

 

[a330j]

In and Out Burger - the name suggests a bodily reaction rather than any level of service or cuisine. Not a fan of American fast food.

 

[zainman]

They are indeed made from freshly cut potatoes, unlike the fully processed fries at other joints including Maccas.

I don't know what you guys mean by fully processed but McDonalds fries are also made with whole potatoes, just not at the store but at a factory (mass produced). I can answer more questions about this if anyone is interested as I worked at a factory that produced these fries.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I don't know what you guys mean by fully processed but McDonalds fries are also made with whole potatoes, just not at the store but at a factory (mass produced). I can answer more questions about this if anyone is interested as I worked at a factory that produced these fries.

I think that fries taste far superior when there is minimal handling and processing between preparing and cooking. I understand that at some point all fast food fries came from potatoes but IMO there is a world of difference in the taste and texture between freshly prepared and "oven chips" or equivalent.

 

[hossein_au]

I don't know what you guys mean by fully processed but McDonalds fries are also made with whole potatoes, just not at the store but at a factory (mass produced). I can answer more questions about this if anyone is interested as I worked at a factory that produced these fries.

Just do a google for videos of how Maccas fries are made... yes, they are made from whole potatoes, but for example, they are submerged in sugary water (amongst other processes) before they are frozen and shipped to franchisees.

 

[zainman]

I think that fries taste far superior when there is minimal handling and processing between preparing and cooking. I understand that at some point all fast food fries came from potatoes but IMO there is a world of difference in the taste and texture between freshly prepared and "oven chips" or equivalent.

Sure I can understand that the flavour will be different and that's fine. Of course freshly made fries will have a different flavour, still McD fries are loved the world over.

Just do a google for videos of how Maccas fries are made... yes, they are made from whole potatoes, but for example, they are submerged in sugary water (amongst other processes) before they are frozen and shipped to franchisees.

Yes there is processing like that involved (blanching) and it's to get the the fries 'standardised'. Sugar content is balanced to give all fries similar colour. No colour is added though. I think it's pretty amazing. You simply couldn't do what they do at the factory at a store (volume).

Anyway, nothing to do with LAX I don't think LOL.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Sure I can understand that the flavour will be different and that's fine. Of course freshly made fries will have a different flavour, still McD fries are loved the world over.



Yes there is processing like that involved (blanching) and it's to get the the fries 'standardised'. Sugar content is balanced to give all fries similar colour. No colour is added though. I think it's pretty amazing. You simply couldn't do what they do at the factory at a store (volume).

Anyway, nothing to do with LAX I don't think LOL.

Yes but it's interesting and thankyou for the info. I'm a bit partial to stealing Macca's fries from the kids

I don't think any chains here offer the same type of fries as In-N-Out and that's one of the attractions as a LAX stopover.

( Really OT but the fries from Grill'd and as a back-up Oporto are both pretty good)