Welcome to Los Angeles...What to do first?

We made the short trek (160 miles) on the 101 Freeway to the Northern quadrant of Los Angeles (Northridge).  I would however recommend you take the Pacific Coast Highway and enjoy the scenery of the ocean and the coastal hills vice the nuthouse of the freeway.  Bitching Betty or Babbling Bob (female or male voices on the GPS) as you may know them are not that good at picking the best route.  Ours is a Garmin and it took us on a delightful romp through beautiful mountain passes on lesser highways with great visual shots but a much longer trip than just staying on the 101 Hwy at 65Mph.  We have her set on "Fastest Route" but she makes some very strange decisions, hence why I call her Betty.

We are staying in a nice place called Walnut RV Park.  No, it is not trees and grass like a coastal retreat but we are effectively in the middle of a 10 million population asphalt and concrete mecca with hotel room rates in the hundreds.  The rates are $65 with tax and Good Sam discount.  Very clean, secure and friendly.

For our first day in LA we really debated what to do.  My bride made the observation; "it will be SuperBowl Sunday, I bet the traffic will be light".  So we decided to made Sunday a sightseeing day.  I am going to place a bet, that other than Christmas, this is the quietest day on the freeways of LA.

Our first goal was the Col. Griffith Observatory, on the highest mount overlooking LA.  It provided the best shots of the Hollywood sign, access to 3000+ acres of park land (donated by the Col.) and a totally free observatory (the Col's goal).Griffith Observatory You would have to spend a complete day and evening to take in all the presentations and theatre events. 

We walked Kyle for a distance up the mount but were humbled by the number of people climbing up the steep cliffs and making the trek from bottom to top and back again.  Another goal for our Bucket Lists when we come back.  Some of the signs bothered Kaye.

Next we headed 30 miles South to Long Beach.  75 Mph, 25 minutes and we were at the pier of the Queen Mary.  Free parking for the first 30 minutes.  Time for pictures, a pee and a wave to the people standing in line with their suitcases to board the now, 'Hotel Queen Mary'. Beach here we come.

The Pacific Coast Highway caught up with us once we turned onto the famous strip of Long Beach.  We pulled into the first public parking area and tried to find signs on the rules for dogs.  No such luck and not a dog in sight.  A very, very tall dark negro man was polishing his Chevy Nova so I just had to stop and ask questions about the rules for dogs.  He informed us that there was a leash free park about a mile down the strip and then offered to 'take a cruise' and guide us there.  Gotta love it.  He beamed when I asked to take a picture of his 'ride'.

Kyle once again was treated to an hour on the beach with friends and we were surrounded by dog lovers who did not care if Kyle pee'd on the leg of their lawn chair! This picture of puppy feet beside baby feet says it all.

Beverly Hills was our next calling.  We cruised Rodeo Drive (Kaye swore she was OK with not stopping), headed through the residential district (looking for the Clampetts) and saw every exotic car ever made in one driveway or another.  We could not find Axle Folly but we did find his hotel. Sunset Boulevard was a neck jerking experience as we recognized the many places depicted in the movies....then there was Hollywood Boulevard.  A decision was made.  We would walk Hollywood Blvd tomorrow and stay another day in West LA.