From Wikitravel

The Westside of Los Angeles roughly comprises the cities and neighborhoods west of La Cienega Boulevard to the Pacific Ocean. The northern boundary is the edge of the Santa Monica Mountains, while the southern boundary is less obvious - often LAX or the 105 freeway serve as a good marker, separating the Westside from the South Bay.

[edit] Understand

LA's Westside is among the most propserous, trendy, glamorous, and interesting locations in the world. Derided by social critics as life within the "Pleasure-Dome" for the opportunities to "live large", the Westside boasts fabulous food, homes, scenery, shopping, and people. Among the Los Angeles neighborhoods considered to be part of what locals call the Westside are Westwood (including the campus of UCLA), Brentwood, West LA, Century City, Pacific Palisades, Palms, Rancho Park, and Mar Vista. However, from a broader perspective the Westside includes all of the communities north of the South Bay, west of Hollywood/Mid-Wilshire, and south of the San Fernando Valley. These communities include: Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Culver City, Venice, Marina Del Rey, Playa Del Rey, Westchester and a sub-section of Westchester, Playa Vista.

Like the rest of Los Angeles it is a mix of ethnicities that would make the United Nations proud. Because of the proximity to UCLA, there are a number of used and new bookstores, art movie theaters, inexpensive restaurants and coffee houses. Due to its proximity to the Pacific Ocean, it enjoys a cooler climate, especially in the summer, than the rest of Los Angeles.

[edit] Get around

On the Westside local transit is provided by three main carriers.

• The Big Blue Bus (Santa Monica) [1] generally serves Santa Monica, UCLA/Westwood, Venice, and West LA, but there are also bus routes out to Pacific Palisades (#9), Brentwood (#3/#4), Century City/South Robertson (#5/#7), Palms/Rancho Park (#12), Mar Vista (#14), and Downtown LA (#10). Also, the #3 bus reaches the LAX Airport Transit Center, making it a handy way for air travelers to reach the Westside cheaply. The standard fare on all buses (except #10) is $0.75.
• The Culver City Bus [2] primarily serves Culver City, but also runs buses to UCLA/Westwood (#6), Venice, and LAX (#6), thus also serving as a primary carrier of tourists from LAX to the UCLA area. The base fare is 75 cents.
• MTA [3] - The major operator of bus and rail service in Los Angeles County, California.

[edit][add listing] See

• The Museum of Tolerance,[4] 9786 W. Pico Blvd. Tel. +1 310 553-8403 An amazing museum. An interactive experience inspired by the Holocaust, the museum challenges visitors to look inside themselves and assess their own levels of tolerance. This is the antidote to theme park burnout: the museum is highly interactive and engages kids (about 10 and older). Find your kids asking you about such things as racial and economic tensions. A highlight of the museum is priceless, live testimony by Holocaust survivors. Check the website or call for times. The Museum of Tolerance is a unique experience, creating the best kind of memories and interactions for families.
• The J. Paul Getty Museum,[5] 1200 Getty Center Dr. Tel. +1 301 440-7330 The Getty Center in Los Angeles presents the Getty's collection of Western art from the Middle Ages to the present against a backdrop of dramatic architecture, tranquil gardens, and breathtaking views. The Getty Villa in Malibu is an educational center and museum dedicated to the study of the arts and cultures of ancient Greece, Rome, and Etruria.
• Hammer Museum, [6] 10899 Wilshire Blvd. Tel. +1 310-443-7000 Located in the Occidental Petroleum Building at the corner of Wilshire and Westwood Blvd. The museum itself houses a continual changing number of both modern and classic exhibits, one of the recent highlights was an exhibition of modern American cartoon work. The Museum also holds a lunch time "art Talk" every Wednesday [7] at 12.30pm which is popular among the local business people. Hours: Tues,Wed,Fri,Sat 11AM-7PM, Thu 11AM-9Pm, Sun 11AM-5PM $7 Adults, $5 Seniors, Free to students with ID, Kids 17 and under. FREE TO ALL VISITORS ON THURSDAYS!

[edit][add listing] Do

• Have a picnic in the beautiful garden at the Getty Museum. Very relaxing.
• Go to the Beach, from Malibu north to Playa del Rey south, these are some of the most filmed beaches in the world.
• Visit Muscle Beach and the Venice part of the boardwalk to see the most eclectic and culturally diverse part of the Westside beaches.
• Walk the Venice Canals (park on Dell near Washington Blvd.) and see some of the most interesting architecture and local gardens that the Westside has to offer.
• Get out on the water in Marina del Rey's Fisherman's Village. Rent a boat -- sail or motor, kayak or wind surfboard. Join an open party sport fishing excursion for 1/2 or 3/4 day, with rod rentals, tackle, bait and fishing licenses available. Or book a weekend dinner cruise or Sunday Champagne Brunch cruise. Or charter your own adventure with one of the many private charter companies.
• Bike the Los Angeles Beaches Bike Trail; over 22 miles of a paved bike path streching from Will Rogers State Beach north, to Torrance Beach south. With numerous outlets for renting bikes, rest stops and food concessions this gentle, fairly flat path is an easy ride for the entire family.
• Bird watch at the Ballona Freshwater Marsh at Playa Vista. This 51-arce marsh system is at the base of the Westchester Bluffs, just south of Marina del Rey. Home to more than 73 native bird species it is an urban oasis for people and wildlife alike. There are trails bordering the marsh, with a profusion of native trees and shrubs where you can see mallard ducks, snowy egret and great blue herons. Located at the southwest corner of Lincoln and Jefferson Boulevards.

[edit][add listing] Buy

The Westside of LA is home to that most famous of shopping streets Rodeo Dr [8] (pronounced RO-day-o), it is home to a who's-who of high end shops and exclusive retailers. Alternately there are major retail centers located in Santa Monica on the "Third Street Promenade" [9], in Century City at the Westfield shopping center [10], and for a more local and honest feel in downtown Culver City [11]. For one-of-a-kind designer clothing and accessories there is no place like Abott Kinney in Venice[12]. With its artist collection of hand-made jewelry, natural fiber clothing and wearable art, shopping here is not only fun but also an adventure.

[edit][add listing] Eat

West LA, being the cultural melting pot it is, has a wide variety of food types and pricing here are some:

[edit] Splurge

• Piccolo Ristorante, 5 Dudley Ave, Venice Beach. High end, authentic, Italian food in a street alley of the beach in Venice this is one of the hidden gems of Westside eating, the area itself is a little rough around the edges though so be careful at night, $18-$35 entrées.
• cafe DEL REY, 4451 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey. For locals and visitors alike, cafe Del Rey has been a long-standing choice for waterfront dining. Offering neighborhood comfort, the dining room takes in breathtaking views of the harbor with extraordinary elegance for an evening of fine dining. Make sure you ask about the "day boat" Del Rey -- the freshest fish you can possibly get, with the delicious selectiones landing on your plate within 24 hours! Full service bar and lounge. $25 to $40 entrees.

[edit] Mid-Range

• Ramayani Westwood, 1777 Westwood Blvd. Ramayani Westwood is a good choice for Indonesian, a cuisine that is strangely and unfortunately rare in the States, given that Indonesia is the world's 4th largest country by population. Tasting menus available for the novice.

[edit] Budget

• Bay Cities Italian Deli, 1517 Lincoln Blvd, Santa Monica. The best sandwiches on the west side. There will be a long wait during peak hours, so browse the authentic Italian market after you take your number.

• Alejo's Presto Trattoria, 4002 Lincoln Blvd, Marina Del Rey. BYOB and great prices at this hole-in-the wall Italian restaurant. Hope you like garlic.

• Marty's, Shack on the corner of Prosser and Pico Blvd. The only spot in Los Angeles that can out do Pink's chili. Also home of the Combo, which is a hot dog and hamburger all in the form of a hamburger, amazing.

[edit][add listing] Drink

Renee's Courtyard Cafe 522 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401 · Tel. +1 310-451-9341 This is a great bar. One of the few you can still smoke in, technically. Its entrance way is a patio, with tables, so its outside, and ashtrays abound. There are lots of little nooks and cranny's here, each room with its own feel. Mellow during the weekend, a total meet market on the weekends!

O'Brien's Irish Pub 2941 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90405 · Tel. +1 310-396-4725 This is your typical irish pub, but BIG! IT has 4 parts really. The outside patio, the front seating area, the bar, and the back room with the stage. There is almost always live music on the stage, ranging from punk rock bands to acoustic sing-alongs.

Cock N Bull Pub, 2947 Lincoln Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405, Tel. +1 310-399-9696. Referred to as "the most OG English bar in LA" by espn's page 2, the Cock and Bull Serves typical British pub fair, has a wide array of bear on tap, and authentic British bar tenders. Although it can be quiet on the week nights this bar rapidly fills up when ever a quality soccer (football to the rest of the world) match or rugby game is on the TV, regardless of what time it is on, during the World Cup lines started forming at 4AM.

Hidden on Main 3110 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90405 · Tel. +1 310 399-4800 At the location of the old Schatzi, this restaurant and lounge opened in the spring of 2008. Lots of outdoor seating areas and a crowd which is generally in their late 20s and 30s.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

If looking for accommodation near the airport but not overlooking the runway, also consider El Segundo on the south side, or Marina del Rey to the north.

• Best Western Airpark LAX Hotel, 640 West Manchester Boulevard, Tel. +1 310 677-7378, [13].

• Best Western Airport Plaza Inn LAX Airport Hotel, 1730 Centinela Avenue, Tel. +1 310 568-0071, [14].

• Best Western Suites LAX Airport Hotel, 5005 West Century Boulevard, Tel. +1 310 677-7733, [15].

• Comfort Inn & Suites LAX Airport Hotel, 4922 West Century Boulevard, Tel. +1 310 671-7213, [16]. Just half a mile from Los Angeles Airport with a 24-hour shuttle.

• Courtyard by Marriott Los Angeles Westside, 6333 Bristol Parkway, Culver City, Tel. +1 310 484-7000, [17]. Opening Fall 2007, this brand new hotel boasts 260 spacious guestrooms and suites in addition to 10,000 square feet of flexible meeting space and a full catering department. We are conveniently located 3 miles north of LAX.

• Courtyard Los Angeles LAX/Century Boulvarde, 6161 W Century Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90045, Phone: +1 310-649-1400 , Fax: +1 310-649-0965 [18]

• Days Inn LAX Airport Hotel Center, 901 West Manchester Boulevard, Tel. +1 310 649-0800, [19]. Two miles from the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and only a block away from the San Diego Freeway.

• Embassy Suites LAX - North, 9801 Airport Blvd, Phone: +1310-215-1000, Fax: 1-310-215-1952, [20] Located close to the heart of Los Angeles, California. Just a half-mile from the airport, with free 24-hour shuttle service. Minutes from Manhattan Beach and Route 405 into downtown Los Angeles. A short drive into downtown L.A., Beverly Hills, and Hollywood

• Hawthorn Suites, 1817 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Tel. +1 310 546-8942,[21].

• Holiday Inn LAX Airport Hotel, 9901 La Cienega Blvd, Tel. +1 310 694-5151, [22]. Located within a mile of the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Offers free 24-hour airport shuttle.

• The Huntley, 1111 Second Street, Santa Monica, Phone: 310.394.5454, [23]. A luxury hotel in Santa Monica, where the ocean meets the city. This chic Southern California hotel features a business center, fitness facilities, concierge service, and fine dining at The Penthouse.

• The Westwood Hotel on Wilshire, 10740 Wilshire Blvd., Tel. +1 310 475-8711, [24]

• Sky Hotel, 2352 Westwood Blvd, (310) 475-4551, [25]

• Holiday Inn express West LA, 11250 Santa Monica Blvd, Phone: +1800-308-5432, [26].

[edit] Contact

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