After spending an amazing four days exploring the vibrant city of San Francisco, we are excited to embark on the next leg of our journey to the iconic city of Los Angeles. Our stay in Los Angeles spanned over 6 memorable days, during which we split our time between 3 days in Anaheim and another 3 days in the bustling heart of Hollywood.
Our primary reason for visiting Anaheim was to experience the magic of Disneyland, a place that holds a special allure for visitors of all ages. Upon our arrival in Los Angeles, we proceeded to pick up our rental car from the airport. If you’re a first-time car renter, I’ve shared some valuable tips and preparations in a dedicated post, which you can find here.
In this post, I’ll provide an insightful breakdown of our 6-day itinerary in Los Angeles, highlighting the attractions we visited and the accommodations where we stayed.
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Los Angeles Weather
The climate in Los Angeles tends to be noticeably warmer and drier compared to San Francisco. However, mornings and evenings can still be chilly, so it’s advisable to have a jacket on hand if you plan to be out late.
Rental Car Pick up
On our scheduled first day, we were supposed to touch down in Los Angeles around 2 pm. Unfortunately, our flight was delayed, and we ended up arriving close to 6 pm. After landing, we promptly made our way to the Hertz car rental facility using their convenient free shuttle service. The pick-up process at Hertz was efficient, and we took care of the payment before waiting for our car to be prepared. It wasn’t until around 7:30 pm that we finally left the parking lot and began our journey to our hotel in Anaheim.
Day 1 – Anaheim, Los Angeles
We were supposed to visit some places in Anaheim, but we could not make it because of our flight delay. It was a long day, so decided to have dinner at one of the restaurants in the hotel and call it a day.
Where we stayed at Anaheim
We stayed at the Anaheim Majestic Garden Hotel, which is conveniently located near the Disney Parks. The hotel room was quite spacious, although it had a slightly older appearance, it was well-maintained and clean. I appreciated the availability of adjoining rooms as it was convenient for our group.
The hotel features a charming small garden where majestic ducks and ducklings roam freely, adding a delightful touch to the surroundings. Additionally, there are two restaurants and a small shop offering refreshments, souvenirs, and snacks. However, we found that the bottled water sold in the shop was quite pricey. I would recommend going to the Walmart nearby, around a 5-minute drive away from the hotel to purchase whatever you need. The hotel also provides amenities such as a swimming pool and a game room. While the swimming pool was smaller than expected, it was unfortunately closed during our visit. The game room also required an additional fee to play.
The highlight of the stay was the complimentary shuttle service to Disneyland, which was the main reason for choosing this hotel. We did not want to drive to Disneyland and worry about the parking, so we parked our car at the hotel and took their shuttle bus to the parks. It’s worth noting that the hotel charges an overnight parking fee for guests with cars. Overall, I believe the Anaheim Majestic Garden Hotel offers good value for its proximity to Disneyland and would be a suitable choice for those considering accommodations in the area.
Day 2 & Day 3 – Disney Parks
For the next two days, my family and I had an amazing time at Disney California Adventure Park and Disneyland. It was our first visit to Disney Park, so we decided to make the most of it by purchasing the Genie+ service. Our goal was to minimize wait times and experience as many attractions as we could. We purchased our tickets in advance and made a park reservation. I’ll provide a comprehensive breakdown of our Disney itinerary in a separate post.
Before we departed Anaheim, we made sure to explore Downtown Disney and enjoyed a delightful lunch at Bubba Gump located at Anaheim Garden Walk. If you find yourself with some free time in Anaheim, I highly recommend checking out the Anaheim Packing District as well. It was on our list of places to visit when we first arrived, but unfortunately, we ran out of time and couldn’t make it there.
Day 4 – Hollywood, Los Angeles
We set off for Hollywood, which was supposed to be just a 45-minute drive according to Google Maps. However, we soon found ourselves stuck in a traffic jam. It reminds me of a scene from La La Land where everyone suddenly breaks out singing and dancing. It wasn’t until around 4 pm that we finally arrived at our accommodation.
Where we stayed at Hollywood
If you are traveling with a group of friends or family, I highly recommend booking Heaven on Hollywood Furnished Apartments. Our accommodation was situated at Sunset Boulevard, offering us a convenient location less than a 30-minute drive from all the attractions we were eager to explore. It has three bedrooms and three bathrooms. My mom loved that there was a washing machine and dryer, and my dad loved the big kitchen. It also has a private parking space where you can park your car if you are driving in Los Angeles. I booked the apartment through Agoda. The host was very responsive and answered our questions. Days before our arrival, we received the parking instructions and the check-in procedures. Besides Sunset Boulevard, they also have one at North La Brea Avenue.
Day 5 – Hollywood Walk of Fame, Griffith Observatory
On the 5th day of our trip, we started by visiting the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the morning. We strolled along the famous sidewalk, taking in the iconic stars and the energy of the bustling area. Unfortunately, we did not have enough time to join the city tour that explored famous landmarks in the area including celebrities’ houses. We did pass by a Farmer’s Market that was held every Sunday. The produce looks very good and fresh, it successfully gained the attention of my parents. They purchased some fresh strawberries, guava, and homemade almond butter.
We continued walking along the Walk of Fame and checked out the Dolby Theatre, Chinese Theatre, and Madam Tussauds Museum. Before we left the area, we explored the nearby souvenir shops, picking up some mementos to remember our trip.
For lunch, we decided to try the classic In-N-Out Burger, a must-visit for any visitor. The delicious burgers and shakes did not disappoint! We took a quick break after lunch so that our parents could rest for a while.
And then, in the afternoon, we made our way to the Griffith Observatory. It offers breathtaking views of the city and we learned a lot about the wonders of the universe.
Before heading back to our apartment, we couldn’t resist stopping by Porto’s Bakery, a renowned spot for mouthwatering pastries, recommended by our uncle. We indulged in some delectable treats to satisfy our sweet cravings. As evening approached, we swung by Ralph’s supermarket, conveniently located near our apartment, to pick up some dinner essentials for a cozy night in.
Day 6 – Universal Studios Hollywood
The following day, our group went to Universal Studios Hollywood. From our previous theme park experience, weekends are always crowded. Hence we chose to visit the theme park on a Monday. It turned out to be a great decision as it wasn’t overly crowded. I’ll be sharing our comprehensive itinerary for Universal Studios Hollywood in a separate post. We managed to experience all the rides early in the day. So, we made our way back to the apartment around 6 pm. For dinner, we opted to order from a nearby Vietnamese restaurant. The restaurant is conveniently located just a 10-minute walk away from the apartment.
Road Trip – Los Angeles to San Francisco
We spent the evening packing and getting ready for our road trip back to San Francisco. During our time in Los Angeles, we primarily focused on visiting the theme parks. So, if theme parks aren’t your thing, you might want to consider a visit to nearby Venice Beach and Santa Monica Pier.
Originally, we planned to take the Pacific Highway to Big Sur for our journey back to San Francisco. However, we had to change our plans due to a road closure. I’ll provide more details about our revised road trip itinerary in my next post. Stay tuned!
If you are visiting the US for the first time or taking your first long-haul flight, here are some posts that may help you with your planning: