?'s about AGPLA

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July 25th, 2006, 04:33 AM
only1genevieve

Quote:

Does anyhone have any recommendations as to where to stay while visiting?

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Specific hotels ... Nope, sorry. I can recommend areas to start looking and that depends on how much you want to spend. I hear the Beverly Hilton is nice [img]biggrin.gif[/img] . Seriously, though, there aren't many hotels in the immediate area. I've noticed in LA county, the places to stay cluster in certain cities. When searching, I'd look in Ventura and Burbank. I'd say that would be a fifteen or twenty minute drive from the Grove. If you want closer, you will have to look in the city of Beverly Hills, which can be pricier, or east Santa Monica.

If you are visiting Disneyland while you're in the area, I recommend picking a hotel in Annaheim. The options there are SO much better, and it's closer to touristy fun things to do like

Quote:

What other attractions are there nearby? I am not familiar with the area at all but wondered where else we could go while we were in the area.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Santa Monica 3rd St Promenade. You just follow the 10 west and exit fourth street. Follow the signs. Parking is cheap. The Third St Promenade is a closed off shopping street with lots of great stores and performers in the evening. From there you can walk to the Pier, which has a ferris wheel and roller coaster, or visit the beach.

Hermosa Beach is a really good beach, though it'll be about a half hour or forty minutes from the Grove itself. Worth the drive.

The Ghetty museum is gorgeous and has some great exhibits. Your only cost is parking. I highly recommend visiting.

LACMA is also good. It's very close to The Grove, and is free after 5 or 6 PM.

Papa Christo's on Pico and Normandy is a great little Greek restaurant.

Fashion Alley (aka Santee Alley) is a fun, back-street, gray-market shopping experience. They sell a lot designer knock-offs and that sort of thing there. Buy a baby turtle for $5 (actually, don't, you'll regret it later).
July 25th, 2006, 05:21 AM
thepidget

Quote:

Originally posted by only1genevieve:
When searching, I'd look in Ventura and Burbank. I'd say that would be a fifteen or twenty minute drive from the Grove. If you want closer, you will have to look in the city of Beverly Hills, which can be pricier, or east Santa Monica.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I live close to Burbank and it actually takes me about half an hour to drive to the Grove. You should watch out for traffic on the freeway and the streets. Try not to do the freeway during rush hour; and during weekends, street-driving to the Grove can be a little bit slow. This is just from my own experience.

Also, I really want to try Papa Christo's...mmm...maybe someday! I've been meaning to go there but I never knew where it was located.

Just one more word of advice to anyone visiting the LA area these days--dress very lightly. It has gotten so hot lately!! [img]graemlins/sun.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/sun.gif[/img] [img]frown.gif[/img]

Have fun!
July 25th, 2006, 07:00 AM
MollyGirl

HI, I would im ladydi43 and ask her which hotel she stayed at. She and her daughter visited the AGLAP last month. I think they liked the hotel they stayed at. It was within walking distance of the grove. The hotel also gave taxi vouches.

Hope that helps.

[img]graemlins/smarty.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/smarty.gif[/img]
July 25th, 2006, 01:21 PM
littlele

OK, so I was able to call AGPLA to find out about the package and they told me that it is of no savings, just put together for convenience.

I was under the impression that Disney was quite a ways away. Anyone know about how long of a drive to either Disney or Universal? The market/beach idea sounds really fun too-thanks! [img]graemlins/sun.gif[/img]

I am hoping to make it down there at the end of August and maybe by then it will be less crowded and the heat wave will not be driving everyone (at least me!)crazy. Has it been as bad as Oregon (100+)?
July 25th, 2006, 02:44 PM
stebbarry

FYI, we were down in the area in May. We stayed at the Disneyland Hotel and traveled to AGPLA on a weekday. It took about 2 1/4 hours during morning rush hour to get to AGPLA and it took about 1 1/2 to get back to the hotel at about 3:00 in the afternoon. I was thinking that if I ever do this again I may look into train options to see if anything was available from the Disney area as the long ride was not too much fun! - Meg B.
July 25th, 2006, 03:37 PM
littlele

Can anyone help me with these ?'s

I saw the package online 'Spend a day...'. Is it a discount if you buy it this way or not?

Anyone know how far in advance you would need to make reservations for either the cafe or theater?

Does anyhone have any recommendations as to where to stay while visiting?

What other attractions are there nearby? I am not familiar with the area at all but wondered where else we could go while we were in the area.

Thanks in advance for any help!!
July 25th, 2006, 08:34 PM
littlele

Thanks for all of the great info so far!

I think we will try to stay closer to the Torrance area. Is that close to any of the above mentioned beaches? It looks like google maps will be my best friend for those couple of days...
July 25th, 2006, 10:20 PM
tallpkb

We just got back from AGPLA last week. We stayed at the Orlando Hotel. There were four families (moms and daughters) and every single one of us had a problem with the rooms! Dispite the great breakfasts and the free taxi vouchers, we would not stay here again. They would not give us any credit for their mistakes. Next time, without a doubt, we will stay at The Farmer's Daughter. It is directly (and I mean, DIRECTLY) across the street from the Grove. It is not fancy, and they don't have the doll beds, but the convenience of being across the street is more than worth it! Parking at the Grove is expensive!

Regarding the "Day at AGP" package, we used this. It was great having everything taken care of. When they send you your vouchers, you also get a copy of the Revue, so your girls can listen to it before you go. You also get a souvenier doll shirt from AGPLA. It gets the excitement going before you leave!

Hope this helps!
July 25th, 2006, 10:34 PM
littlele

tallpkb-That's great info about the package that I didn't even think of. You're right, that would start the excitement for my daughter.

Thanks also for the tip on the Orlando. I hadn't heard of the Farmer's Daughter, so I will check it out.
July 25th, 2006, 11:06 PM
J9S

I haven't stayed at any of the hotels around there, but have looked at many of the nearby hotel webpages out of curiosity. The Farmer's Daughter actually looked very cute and comfy to me.

I remember thinking if I ever had an excuse to actually STAY out there, that that is where I would choose.

Good luck with your plans!
July 25th, 2006, 11:26 PM
only1genevieve

Hey, I never noticed those hotels! Good, I'm glad there's something close in that area [img]smile.gif[/img] . I guess that's what happens when you live nearby. My parents always stay in the Burbank area, and it usually takes them fifteen or twenty minutes on the freeway. Maybe they speed [img]wink.gif[/img]

Quote:

I was thinking that if I ever do this again I may look into train options to see if anything was available from the Disney area as the long ride was not too much fun! - Meg B.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">There is a train station in downtown LA and a train that goes through the South Central/Torrance/Hawthorn area. I don't think those will get you close enough to the Grove to make it worthwhile. You'd have to take the train, then catch a bus to the Grove and I think all in all it would take you a lot longer. Not to mention the buses can get incredibly crowded during rush hour. Then again, the one and only time I took the bus, I had a totally surreal experience. I took the dash into downtown, but they were filming some chase scene through downtown LA. Everything was totally rerouted, I got dropped off at the wrong stop and wound up lost because none of the buses were picking people up. I only got a bus because the driver needed to borrow my cell phone to call central. Then, right as I was getting dropped off, we stopped in front of a group of men that were in a big fight. They tried taking the fight onto the bus, so the driver grabbed me, pulled me back inside, and drove two blocks off of her route in order to drop me off somewhere safer. One of the strangest experiences of my life.

As for the question regarding Torrance, I'd say it's a good half hour to forty minutes from the Grove. It is near a decent beach, though - either Manhattan or Hermosa, I can't remember. You can google maps it and see. I think the suggestions other members had of the Farmer's Daughter hotel is a good one. From there, you can take La Brea down to the 10 W to have access to the beaches, or Santa Monica/Beverly west to get to Santa Monica via city streets. There are also lots of restaurants nearby.
July 26th, 2006, 04:17 PM
littlele

I did it! I booked a trip for my daughter and I and we are going to visit AGPLA and possibly Universal Studios (we've done Disney sooo many times). I also plan on taking a day to spend at the beach. I'm guessing either the Santa Monica area or Hermosa or wherever is suggested. I am very excited for the 'girls trip'!!