Taking my 22 year old son to Rose Bowl...looking for info please

I was there for the Rose Bowl in the 2023 season. Your itinerary really is going to depend on whether you're interested more in Hollywood or nature. If it's the latter, I suggest going to the Griffith Observatory for great views and a nice hike. If you're into Hollywood, maybe the Warner Bros studio tour. Walk of Fame is in disrepair - literally covered in trash and human waste when I was there. The only thing really worth seeing in that area imo was the Chinese Theater.

On GameDay, allocate multiple hours to beat the traffic getting in and parking. The Rose Bowl is a disaster with this - total gridlock for miles. We started three hours early and still missed starting lineups. That's how long it took. If you can get to the Rose Parade, I highly recommend it, that was my favorite part of the entire experience.

In terms of where to stay, Malibu is by far the nicest of the places you've mentioned. I do not recommend Santa Monica Pier. Extremely overrated imo, just like any other carnival except for the addition of many homeless.

Burbank is (or at least was) a nice, central place to stay. The area itself is walkable and is roughly in between Pasadena and the ocean. It’s close to Universal Studios as well.

It’s been years since I visited, but based on the list, I would say the SM pier. If you get there early enough you can park on it. There was a restaurant at the end. Third street promenade is a short walk with shops and bars. You can also walk south along the beach and get to Venice beach which was a fun place to see (also with plenty of restaurants and bars).

For a day trip you could also consider a drive up the PCH to Santa Barbara (in addition to their pier, there are also local wineries). Or you could drive south to San Diego.

There will be plenty to do and see in and around LA if you don’t feel like venturing off that far.

Enjoy and bring back a W!

You could also go to Venice. SM pier has taken away a lot of the tourist so it’s a little less busy than it once was. Walk along the beach and see skaters and basketball games happening. The canals are close. Some decent food spots around.


You’ll obviously be able to get some great Mexican. Apple Pan has some good burgers. If you’ve never been out west I guess you have to try In and Out even though I’m a Fat Burger type guy myself.

If you end up in SLO(San Luis Obispo) find a good place for Tri-Tip. It’s their specialty and it’s awesome. And the Madonna Inn for a giant piece of cake (fun place to stay as well if you have the time. 50s style hotel with themed rooms.)

Lived here for 7.5 years (West LA 6.5, downtown one year at USC), officially moved out as of a few days ago for a career opportunity elsewhere but will try to summarize some things.

HOTELS

West LA (Santa Monica, Venice, Marina Del Rey) is the “nice” beach section for hotels. Personally I prefer Marina Del Rey. Other options are Manhattan beach (south side of LAX) but then you have longer drive times.

Santa Monica Pier isn’t worth it IMO. Third Street (the outdoor mall) isn’t doing too hot and the pier itself is a grungy tourist trap. Worth walking on for 5 seconds front to back but wouldn’t spend anymore time on it.

Brentwood area is fine as well. It’s only a 15-20 minute drive to the beach (Venice/Marina or Santa Monica). It’s also right by a highway entrance that’s maybe one turn to the Rose Bowl.

Hollywood is a traffic nightmare getting in and out. Lot of one lane roads, I’d avoid it personally for being your hotel base.

Universal studios is nearby, Disney is an hour drive to Orange County. Both are worth a shot.

Malibu is far, far too out of the way to stay around but it’s a very scenic drive. Worth driving out there and going up topanga canyon if you want to go to the Reagan museum (about an hour drive out). Gas is about $2 more expensive there as an FYI.

THINGS TO DO:

Griffith observatory (park at base, hike up to top) is a great time burner. You get one of the best views of the city and the observatory is pretty cool internally.

Comedy shows are fantastic in West Hollywood/Hollywood. Laugh factory specifically.

Quite a few museums around Hollywood area. LACMA. Also worth taking a ride to the Getty Museam (north of Brentwood between there and the valley) or the Getty house (by Santa Monica). I know you’re not interested but will throw it up regardless.

SOFI may have a game Saturday. Chargers are generally dirt cheap tickets. It’s worth going to once. Clippers are also dirt cheap tickets compared to Lakers.

Century City has a pretty solid mega mall to burn time in at night. Some high level restaurants/shops as well as a movie theater.

If you’re looking for a beach for a few hours, I would go to ocean park which is between Santa Monica and Venice. That’s the “locals” beach, very open and never crowded. Some small restaurants and a fun pub (Jamesons) that’s an LSU bar believe it or not.

If you end up in Malibu, surfrider beach by the pier (google the parking spots) is also nice. It’s the side of a cove, so you can watch people surf right (in the ocean) to left (the beach).

NEARBY AREAS

San Diego is a 3-4 hour drive (just be sure to go early AM/late night). Maybe take a day at a hotel down there and roam the gas lamp district/pacific beach. It’s not that much of a change from LA though.

Santa Barbara is a quaint little beach town 2~ hours up the PCH past Malibu. Worth a night stay or you can drive to/from. Nothing too crazy there though besides shops and walking around

On GAMEDAY

If you’re driving from West LA, the Rose Bowl will be a two hour drive minimum. Let Apple Maps/Google maps lead the way, but you drive through downtown or up the valley and over.

Tailgating is on a golf course, it’s a great tailgating experience and you can do a loop around the stadium with ease. The stadium is in a neighborhood so make sure you have parking passes. Personally against Michigan (2023) we got there early AM (10:30) and had no issues with being time crunched.

CLOTHING -

It’s probably going to be a brisk 60-70 degrees by the beach, little bit higher inland. I’d wear some jeans for the game and maybe bring a quarter zip as the sun sets. You will not sweat out here in pants, there is no humidity. Otherwise a hoodie/jacket and shorts will probably be fine the rest of the week.

If you also pop over to the Los Angeles Reddit, there’s a way larger list of things to do. Some of it’s solid, some of it’s meh.

If you get a shot, get in n out as well - you can get a 2x2 (double double), 3x3, or 4x4 (four patties four cheese). Fries can be asked to be “well done” and if you don’t want to pay extra for animal fries (cheese, grilled onions) just ask for a packet of the sauce.

Also I forgot but if you do go to San Diego for a day, do it 100% for the zoo. It’s one of the best zoos in the country if not the world.

Wow!! You guys are the best! I had no idea that I would get so much good info so quickly. Time to do some research.

Based on yall's info, I will probably choose accommodations central to the things we want to do. It sounds as if LA traffic is everything I have heard about.....