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LA itinerary & questions

Hi,

We are having a big California road trip in August with 2 teenage girls, which end in LA. Appreciate any suggestions for these days. note that we are area already planning to see Disneyland in the beginning of the trip, and it is enough of amusement parks for us.

Currently the draft is:

Aug-20 Wed LA Drive Cambria to Los Angeles; on the way stop at Solvang, Santa Barbara. Optional outlet in Camerillo

Aug-21 Thu LA Universal Studios Hollywood Full Day; CityWalk

Aug-22 Fri LA Santa Monica (Pier, Beach, Promenade); Venice Beach Boardwalk

Aug-23 Sat LA Beverly Hills (Rodeo Drive, sign); Griffith Observatory (sunset views); Choose: Getty Center OR Petersen Museum OR The Grove

Aug-24 Sun LA Choose: DTLA (Grand Central Market, Disney Concert Hall) OR Studio Tour (Warner Bros) OR Final exploration/shopping

Aug-25 Mon LA the broad museum OR the Getty. The Grove

Aug-26 Tue LA Malibu?? or anything else?

Aug-27 Wed Departure Leisurely breakfast; Head to LAX for 2 PM flight

How can I make it better for the girls?

Thanks in advance!

Your current LA itinerary is solid, but since you are traveling with teenage girls, you can make a few adjustments and additions to balance sightseeing, shopping, and Instagram-worthy spots while avoiding too much backtracking or exhaustion.

Here are some suggestions day by day:

  • Aug-20 (Cambria → LA): Your stops at Solvang and Santa Barbara are great for quick sightseeing. The optional outlet in Camarillo is convenient if the girls like shopping. Consider arriving in LA early enough to take a short evening stroll in Santa Monica or Venice to stretch legs after the drive.
  • Aug-21 (Universal Studios): Full day here is perfect. Make sure to download the Universal app to manage ride wait times and consider express passes if budget allows. Dinner at CityWalk can be fun—lots of casual teen-friendly options.
  • Aug-22 (Santa Monica & Venice): Walking the Pier and Venice Boardwalk is fun. You could also rent bikes along the beach path. Allow time for browsing the shops on 3rd Street Promenade.
  • Aug-23 (Beverly Hills & Griffith): Walking Rodeo Drive for window shopping is enough; the girls may enjoy spotting celebrity storefronts. Griffith Observatory is excellent at sunset—don’t miss the views. Between Getty, Petersen Museum, or The Grove, consider what appeals most:
  • The Getty Center: Art + architecture + gardens; great photo opportunities.
  • Petersen Automotive Museum: Cool if they are into cars and interactive exhibits.
  • The Grove: Shopping + casual experience; could pair with lunch or dinner.

For teenage interests, The Grove or Petersen Museum might be more engaging than Getty.

  • Aug-24 (DTLA / Studio Tour / Shopping): DTLA is great for food and architecture; Grand Central Market has teen-friendly food options. Warner Bros Studio Tour is fun if they like movies/TV. You could combine DTLA in the morning with a Studio Tour in the afternoon if time allows.
  • Aug-25 (The Broad / Getty / The Grove): If you didn’t do Getty earlier, pick one museum for this day. Teens usually enjoy The Broad for contemporary and Instagrammable art. Pair with The Grove for lunch/shopping.
  • Aug-26 (Malibu / Other options): Malibu is scenic but driving around can be slow. Consider these alternatives:
  • Santa Monica Mountains hike (easy trail like Temescal Canyon) with ocean views.
  • Manhattan Beach or Hermosa Beach for a relaxing day on the sand.
  • Disneyland/California Adventure again if they loved it and missed anything earlier (optional, though you mentioned avoiding more parks).
  • Explore more shopping/food destinations: Abbot Kinney Blvd in Venice is trendy and teen-friendly.

Additional tips:

  • Keep travel distances short each day to reduce traffic stress.
  • Mix indoor/outdoor activities to stay comfortable in summer heat.
  • Consider rideshare or Metro for some areas to reduce parking hassles (Santa Monica, DTLA, Hollywood).
  • Leave some unplanned time for spontaneous fun—teenagers enjoy moments of discovery.

Overall, the itinerary is strong; with minor tweaks focusing on shopping, scenic photo ops, and interactive experiences, it should be very enjoyable for the girls.

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