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United Airlines Flights from San Diego (SAN) to Los Angeles (LAX)
Orbitz is pleased to offer airline tickets on United Airlines, which operates 13 regularly scheduled daily non-stop flights from San Diego (SAN) to Los Angeles (LAX), departing between 6:21am and 8:17pm, and 3 additional non-stop flights, departing between 9:15am and 7:19pm on select days of the week. The average travel time from San Diego, CA to Los Angeles, CA is 46 minutes.
During your Los Angeles vacation, don't miss these great establishments and attractions:
Mulholland Drive
Los Angeles is the only major city in the world divided by a mountain range, and the road on top of this range is the famous Mulholland Drive. It travels 21 miles along the peaks and canyons of Hollywood Hills and the Santa Monica mountains, separating the Los Angeles basin from the San Fernando Valley. The winding road provides amazing views of the city (particularly at night) and offers many opportunities to pull over and enjoy the view 1,400 feet above sea level.Completed in 1924, it's named after William Mulholland, the engineer of the aqueduct connecting L.A. and the Valley. Yes, there are celebrities up in them thar hills -- Marlon Brando, Kevin Costner, Barney -- but you'll never find them, as most of the mansions are well hidden. You don't need to drive the whole road to get the full effect. From Cahuenga Boulevard (near the Hollywood Bowl), take the Mulholland Drive turnoff heading west. After a few miles, you'll see the scenic view area on your left. Park at the small paved parking lot (which closes at sunset), ooh and aah over the view of the L.A. basin, and then drive a few miles farther west until you spot the other scenic view area on your right (dirt this time) overlooking the Valley. The whole trip should take you less than an hour. Tip: Don't drive here after 3pm on the weekdays -- the rush hour traffic in this area is horrible. Also, no matter what your map says, there is no Mulholland Drive exit off of U.S. 101; you have to get on Cahuenga Blvd.
The Egyptian Theatre
Conceived by grandiose impresario Sid Grauman, the Egyptian Theatre is just down the street from his better-known Chinese Theatre, but it remains less altered from its original design, which was based on the then-headline-news discovery of hidden treasures in Pharaohs' tombs -- hence the hieroglyphic murals and enormous scarab decoration above the stage. Hollywood's first movie premiere, Robin Hood, starring Douglas Fairbanks, was shown here in 1922, followed by the premiere of The Ten Commandments in 1923. The building recently underwent a sensitive restoration by American Cinematheque, which now screens rare, classic, and independent films (see chapter 10 for details).
Museum of the American West
Located north of Downtown in Griffith Park, this is one of the country's finest and most comprehensive museums of the American West. More than 78,000 artifacts showcasing the history of the region west of the Mississippi River are intelligently displayed. Evocative exhibits illustrate the everyday lives of early pioneers, not only with antique firearms, tools, saddles, and the like, but with many hands-on displays that successfully stir the imagination and the heart. You'll find footage from Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, movie clips from the silent days, contemporary films, the works of Wild West artists, and plenty of memorabilia from Gene "The Singing Cowboy" Autry's film and TV projects. The Hall of Merchandising displays Roy Rogers bedspreads, Hopalong Cassidy radios, and other items from the collective consciousness -- and material collections -- of baby boomers. Provocative visiting exhibits (whose banners are visible from I-5) usually focus on cultural or domestic regional history. Docent-led tours are generally scheduled on Saturdays at 11am and noon. Tip: You can purchase a $12 two-site ticket that also includes entry into the Southwest Museum; it's valid for 3 months.
Make your reservations for discount hotel rooms in the
Los Angeles area, including:
Beverly Garland's Holiday Inn
The "Beverly Garland" in this 258-room hotel's name is the actress who played Fred MacMurray's wife on My Three Sons. Grassy areas and greenery abound at this North Hollywood Holiday Inn, a virtual oasis in the concrete jungle. The Mission-influenced buildings are a bit dated, but if you grew up with Brady Bunch reruns, this only adds to the charm -- the spread looks like something Mike Brady would have designed. Southwestern-themed fabrics complement the natural-pine furnishings in the spacious guest rooms, attracting your attention away from the somewhat unfortunate painted cinder-block walls. On the upside, all of the well-outfitted rooms have balconies overlooking the pleasant grounds, which include a pool and two lighted tennis courts. With Universal Studios just down the street and a free shuttle to the park, the location can't be beat for families. Since proximity to the 101 and 134 freeways also means the constant buzz of traffic, ask for a room facing Vineland Avenue for maximum quiet. Tip: If you're bringing the kids along, be sure to inquire about the "KidSuites," an adjoining room designed just for kids.
Le Merigot
If you're accustomed to hotels that are roomier and more contemporary than the historic Georgian, yet not as pricey and prestigious as the Shutters or Casa del Mar properties, the porridge that's just right is Le Merigot, a low-key luxury hotel and spa that doesn't try to be anything other than a comfortable place to spend your seaside vacation. Ideally situated on the sandy side of Ocean Avenue in the heart of Santa Monica's beach scene, the 175-room property is essentially a business hotel that doubles as a resort, complete with a well-regarded French-California restaurant, Cézanne, and the 5,500-square-foot SPA Merigot, which offers a full range of services along with an outdoor pool and a state-of-the-art fitness center. Most of the contemporary-style guest rooms offer ocean views, and all are plushly furnished with thick carpeting, marble-tiled baths, oversize lounge chairs, and "Cloud Nine" beds topped with Frette linens, down comforters, and feather pillows. What I really like about this hotel, however, are the clever package deals, such as the "California Dreamin'," which includes your choice of a convertible Porsche Boxster or a BMW Z4 Roadster rental car, and the "California Surfin' Safari," a deluxe package that includes a full breakfast for two, a 2-hour surf lesson, a rejuvenating full-session Swedish massage, and celebratory Blue Crush graduation martinis (how very L.A.).
Georgian Hotel
This eight-story Art Deco beauty offers luxury comforts, loads of historic charm, and a terrific oceanview location, just across the street from Santa Monica's beach and pier, with prime Ocean Avenue dining just steps away. Established in 1933, the former Lady Windermere was popular among Hollywood's golden-age elite; it even had its own speakeasy, rumored to have been established by Bugsy Siegel (guests now enjoy breakfast in the historic room). Today the elegant classic-revival architecture is beautifully accented with a well-chosen palette of bold pastels (a la Miami Beach's hotels of the same era). A wonderful veranda with cushy wicker chaises and unobstructed ocean views opens onto a light and airy lobby with comfortable seating nooks. A slow but silent antique elevator leads to guest rooms that are an ideal blend of nostalgic style and modern-day amenities. Fittings include furnishings upholstered in gorgeous nubby textiles, mattresses dressed in goose-down comforters, ceiling fans, and terry robes; suites have sleeper sofas and CD players as well. The hotel has an unobstructed coastal vista, so most rooms have at least a partial or full ocean view; the best views are above the third floor. The rooms facing the ocean can be a bit small and noisy, so ask for a Malibu view for the best of both worlds. Back-facing rooms have city views that are more attractive than you'd expect, so nobody loses; these rooms are best for light sleepers.
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