Wednesday, April 25, 2012

LA at Christmas with kids

We may be coming fover from the UK for a five day break over Christmas 2006 with our 2 kids aged 11 and 5. Any recommendations for activities and family friendly hotels/apartments would be appreciated. If staying in LA, is access to Disneyland/Anaheim easy? Is the city basically closed for Xmas or is there lots on? Thanks.



LA at Christmas with kids


Nothing closes at Christmas in LA - nothing.





First, find the neighborhood you want to be in - consult our FAQs page, then feel free to ask any questions. It%26#39;s at the top of the LA forums.





Here%26#39;s an exerpt





WHAT TO DO by Neighborhood: A brief description of the neighborhoods of L.A. to help you decide where you want to stay and where you want to visit. Neighborhoods include: Downtown, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Sunset Strip, Santa Monica. A more detailed description of things to do in L.A. appears in L.A. FAQs Itinerary Ideas





tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g32655-i61-k300337…



by_Neighborhood-Los_Angeles_California.html









ITINERARY IDEAS: Detailed lists of things to do including sample 1-day, 2-day and 3-day itineraries





tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g32655-i61-k483618…









AMUSEMENT PARKS: Info, directions (by car and by public transportation) and website info for Disneyland Resort, Universal Studios, Knotts, and Six Flags Magic Mountain





tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g32655-i61-k483620…





LA at Christmas with kids


Definitely check out the outdoor skating rink at Pershing Square in downtown. This rink is put up from early November through mid-January. It is a lot of fun in a very simple way, particulary with kids. Sessions are an hour long. Sessions tend to be very busy in the evenings. Don%26#39;t worry if you don%26#39;t know how to skate. Most of the other skaters don%26#39;t either.





Pershing Square is located at 6th %26amp; Hill. There is a subway station across the street.




Check out The Grove at Farmers Market. They have a giant christmas tree and every hour they simulate snow. Also, if your kids are girls, the American Girl Place store that just opened there is amazing. Check out their website. The Renaissance Hollywood is a good family-friendly hotel. Disneyland is about an hour away by car. Christmas day, things close (except movie theatres) but leading up to Christmas day, nothing will be closed. Shopping and spending money are highly-encouraged pasttimes here during the Christmas season :-)




christmas is great in LA. especially when it%26#39;s snowing all over the country and we are enjoying lovely weather. Rent a car. It%26#39;s easy to get around this city, just avoid rush hour and you should be fine. Disneyland obviously is a must, as is Hollywood, Santa Monica, and Beverly Hills. Stay by the water in like Santa Monica, or Marina del Ray. Avoid Disneyland around Christmas Day, they have broken attendance records around that time and it%26#39;s pretty insane.




Griffith Park also does a wonderful light display as do many residentail neighborhoods. Some of the best shopping is available the day after Christams - everything goes on sale.





Disneyland is crazy that time of year - but if you can handle the crowds it is great - everything is decorated including Small World and Haunted Mansion (transformed each year into the Nightmare Before Christmas),





There are also perfomances of the Nutcracker at many of the theaters in town.




Griffith Park also does a wonderful light display as do many residentail neighborhoods. Some of the best shopping is available the day after Christams - everything goes on sale.





Disneyland is crazy that time of year - but if you can handle the crowds it is great - everything is decorated including Small World and Haunted Mansion (transformed each year into the Nightmare Before Christmas),





There are also perfomances of the Nutcracker at many of the theaters in town.




There%26#39;s a Christmas Celebration Program at the Dorothy Chandler Pavillion in downtown LA. It%26#39;s hosted every year, free admission and free parking to the public on Christmas Day.


http://www.lacountyarts.org/holiday.html




Remember, Disneyland is not in LA, but in Anaheim, Orange County- I am guessing (since I live south rather than north of DL) that depending where in LA you stay you could have up to a two-hour drive to the Disneyland Resorts, esp. with holiday traffic! Access is easy, right off highway 5, but research where in LA you will be to estimate drive time to the parks.




I agree Disneyland is not in LA. Although, LA and Anaheim isn%26#39;t too far from each other . I work near LAX and one of our company parties was at Downtown Disney. We went after work on a Friday night. Taking the 91(exit Artesia Blvd) all the way to the 5 ( taking the carpool lane) only took about a 25-30 minute drive. But as the previous poster mentioned, it depends where in LA you%26#39;ll be staying.

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