Ive been to LA 7 or 8 times and other than Disneyland (which I wasnt allowed to go to once AGAIN) I really havent thought much of LA, its been  my most unliked part of the states..  Ive been to most places in and around the city but never thought much of it, but this time probably because we havent had too much to do, we have kicked back and found some good parts. The coastal drive down to Newport was fantastic, the beaches are great and the scenerey quiet nice. There lots of great places along the way. Newport and in particular Long Beach are really nice places.  We stayed in Longbeach on the Queen Mary a few years back but that was only over night and didnt get to see to much of the area, when you get up close its great.  Marina Del Ray, Santa Monica are also really good. You can stick your Hollywood its a hole and the city is the pits, and Venice Beach well its full of drugged out freaks.  Things just go from bad to worse once you leave the horrid LAX airport which would have to be the worlds ugliest and most beige rabbit warren.   Probably a GPS helps too as you don’t spend half your time getting lost, you can just zip in and out on the huge freeways and get to where you are going- driving is confronting but it sure is fun.  Now im nearly a fan of LA- theres plenty of fun to have here, and im starting to really like it.