Los Angeles itineraries

Planning by length rather than by region gives a more realistic Los Angeles trip. One day covers a single area properly: Hollywood and Griffith Observatory, or Santa Monica and Venice Beach, rather than trying to combine several far-flung districts. Two days adds a second area — the museums of the Getty Center or LACMA, or a first look at Downtown LA around Union Station and the Arts District. Three days makes room for a day trip to Orange County's Disneyland Resort or the beach towns further south, or a first excursion up the coast to Santa Barbara. Five days extends to the desert, with Palm Springs and Joshua Tree National Park, or a crossing to Catalina Island by ferry.

Seven days allows a further reach into the Central Coast wine country around Solvang, or a longer single day to Big Bear Lake or Lake Arrowhead in the mountains. A film and studios itinerary stacks a working-studio tour and the film-industry landmarks of Hollywood and Beverly Hills across consecutive days for those with the interest. A beach itinerary favors Malibu, Manhattan Beach and Long Beach over a desert excursion. A desert itinerary leans on Palm Springs, Joshua Tree and Death Valley, since summer heat and limited services inside the national parks make careful timing more important than in a coastal itinerary.