Doing a big road trip in the US mostly focused on outdoors shit but when I'm in SoCal I feel I can't pass up on LA so I want to spend maybe 4-5 days there.I want it to feel like I'm in a Mars Argo video or RHCP video and like the 1990s or early-2010s Lana del Rey vibes. Best way to do that? And just general shit to see and neighborhoods to visit? Any hidden gem hoods?
SoCal itinerary >LV --> Death Valley (days of camping)>Death Valley --> Mojave preserve (Days of camping)>Movaje Preserve --> Joshua Tree (Days of Camping)>Joshua Tree --> Explore salton sea and slab city>Slab city --> LA >LA --> Sequoia etc
>>2858452go drink on the patio at la cita in DTLA
>>2858455Way too much desert time, too little coast time. Mojave preserve is so desolate that I've never wanted to linger more than one night. In every direction there is only nothingness, so vast that walking feels utterly futile. Gas is extremely expensive out there as well.
>>2858452born and raised Angeleno and unsuccessful indie musician here. Normally I gate keep more but this is a slow board and people have given me lots of honest advice. LA is a difficult city as a tourist, but you have a car so that's a great start.>I want it to feel like I'm in a Mars Argo video or RHCP videoWhen RHCP was young and active they were a Venice act, but Venice is very different now. Use to be legitimately seedy but very gentrified now. Santa Monica has also gentrified a lot where it used to be the upscale cousin of Venice Beach. LA artists more likely to hang out in Silver Lake, Echo Park, or East LA. Personally I'd recommend looking for a show you're interested in at Permanent Records Roadhouse (don't spread our secret too far). Sometimes Fred Armisen plays there, but also lots of cool medium sized indie bands. Lodge Room and The Zebulon are the other two hot indie venues in LA right now.Avoid downtown. Unless there's something specific you're going there for, it's filled to the gills with fent heads and lacking in much charm.>early-2010s Lana del Rey vibesI maybe associate her vibe with the Griffith Park, Laurel Canyon kind of thing. Griffith Park and the Observatory are cool and very old LA. So's the Getty Center. Alternate suggestion, the South Bay (Manhattan Beach, Hermosa, Redondo Beach) has better beaches and more of a white, all-American kind of vibe. It's where The Beach Boys were from.>And just general shit to see and neighborhoods to visit?LA has a genuinely good Koreatown with some hidden gem restaurants.Red Lion Tavern will make you feel like you're in an 80s comedy movieTortugo Brewery if you want to see blue collar latinos get into fights about football (beer's good too)Getty Villa is a reconstruction of an Ancient Roman villa filled with ancient statuesThe Formosa is an old school Chinese eatery that's very old Hollywood. Also worth going to Philippe The Original.Catch a movie at Brain Dead Studios or the Aero
>>2858482 (me)By the way, if you have any specific questions or more niche ideas please feel free to shoot them at me
>>2858452Whatever you do skip the beach. Norcal mogs the shit out of Socal. Especially LA. Not to mention places like Venice and Santa Monica are filled with scammers and homeless people walking it. Besides that enjoy the traffic if you try to drive anywhere.
>>2858597Norcal beaches are prettier in a nature-loving way but it isn’t the same. Beaches in LA are sandy and long. Volleyball courts, etc. Avoid Santa Monica and Venice, but the other beaches are very nice: up in Malibu or down in the South Bay.
>>2858614Granted I say this assuming it’s warm enough to properly enjoy them. You know, swimming, tanning, boogie boarding/surfing, whatever. If it’s too chilly then yeah it’s nothing much to see. Probably not a great solo activity either. LA isn’t a particularly social city (social life oriented around cliques) so if trying to butt in on a game of volleyball or whatever, your mileage may vary depending on how outgoing and charming you are.
>>2858452You might not have enough time but Isthmus Cove Catalina is the best place in LA..
>>2858683Pill me, please
>>2858687not that guy but take the ferry from san pedro, catalina in general is a special place but two harbors is the sleepier part of the island. Kayaking, hiking, mountain biking, scuba/snorkel, boat rental out there is a damn good time. ferry is ~$100 round trip iirc. Also recommend fishing out of port hueneme near anacapa, I caught a fuckin huge white seabass and it was the best fish I've ever had. yellowtail was in my freezer all year.
>>2858614>up in MalibuWhen I drove along the coast it just looked like hundreds of people parked the side of the road along Malibu and leading up. Didn't seem that thrilling. Also fucking Malibu traffic from the construction was aids.
>>2858708If you go pretty far up there are a lot of lesser known, very charming beach areas. Parts around Matador can make you feel like you’re in Hawaii. Not Matador itself of course. Way too touristed.
I just came back from LA. the whole city is full of crackheads and smells like piss.
>>2858740And here I am researching short term apartments.I'll find the less stinky neighborhoods.
>>2858740Little tokyo was a culture shock for me. Cops everywhere and just 2 blocks I see skidrow covered in homeless folks.
>>2858708California's idea of a great coast is to run a fucking busy highway right alongside it. It's complete bullshit. >>2858614The Humboldt coast is wild, remote and fog-ridden. It's an awe inspiring place, especially in the King Range NCA. But that's a helluva long drive from SoCal.
>>2858775nah don't let that put you off. the whole city is big and has a charm about it. you'll need a car 100%. the next time i go I will hire a car straight from LAX and stay somewhere west of hollywood. it will be expensive, but then again LA isn't the place for budget trv.
>>2858482Not OP but any good bars/places to meet people? I used to live here, went away for 8 years, now I’m back. People always asked me for recs on LA and I basically knew nothing
Unless you are looking for gay shit you can get the same experience in Phoenix for 1/3rd of the price.
>>2859195I wish I knew. Do people even make friends irl anymore, except through other friends? Maybe I am just another 4chan sperg
>>2859372Through other friends or work was always one of the best ways.
>>2859372They do if you jestermaxx and drive a strange car. Selfies, people asking about the car, and people asking if we were influencers and one tatted up chick who asked if it was a movie car.
>>2859202What can you do in Phoenix?
>>2859202>come to Phoenix bro, it's just like LAsaid no sane person, ever
>>2859477This shit is so lame.
