Staying in LAX over night? 10 points for the best advice. Thank you?

I am going back home (Foreign country). I have been living in the East coast for the past 7 years. I have never been to California. I would love to travel in the areas for a day or two days (one spend 1 night in the airport)





I plan to book a domestic ticket from DC to LAX. Then, I leave my 2 big suitcases in the airport. I travel in the areas during the day. Then, I come back to the airport at night to sit a little while. Next morning, I travel a little bit more. Then, I have to fly back out of the country. Is this a good idea? I don't want to spend money on hotel. I really want to save my money. The bad part is I cannot take a shower. Anyway, I would love your advice and suggestion. Where should I travel. How do I get there. Thank you very much :)Staying in LAX over night? 10 points for the best advice. Thank you?
There is no place to leave luggage at the airport. No lockers anymore. You would have to call a baggage storage company to come pick them up and deliver them when you need them. Go to a Travelers Aid Booth when you arrive and try and find an inexpensive hotel. Their Booths are located next to the baggage claim area in every terminal. Motel 6 have good rates among others. And they offer a free shuttle to and from the hotel. That way you can get a good nights sleep and take a shower and have some place to leave your luggage. Email me at: kingsleydr60@yahoo.com if you have anymore questions.Staying in LAX over night? 10 points for the best advice. Thank you?
Here is my suggestion. From the airport arrival area, find the Flyaway shuttle station, and take the shuttle to UNION STATION. There are several Flyaway shuttles, so take the proper one. It will take you to Union Station, which is in downtown LA. There are many things to do there, and you can take the subway from downtown to Hollywood to see the tourist attractions there as well. Just make sure you allow enough time to get back to LAX.
Now, that's a long time to go without a shower. But here is how you can spend your time for only $10 in transportation cost.





From the lower level arrivals, get on the free shuttle bus to Aviation Metro Station.(just ask and they will show you the bus) Get a Metro day pass for $5. Take the Green Line to Imperial/Wilmington Station and change to the Blue line to 7th St / Metro Center. That's downtown. After sightseeing in downtown, get back to 7th st / Metro Station. Get on the Red Line to Hollywood / Vine. There you will find the Hollywood walk of fame. Walk from that station to the Mann Chinese and Kodak theater(home of the academy awards). Then walk back to Hollywood / Highland Station, get back on the Red line and get off at the Universal City Station. Walk up the hill to the Universal City Walk. There are lots to see there, restaurants, shops, activities, the Universal Studios, etc.


Click on each Metro line to see the map: http://www.socalthemeparks.com/la-county鈥?/a>





On the second day, repeat the process but from downtown, take the Gold line to Pasadena. Walk to Colorado blvd and Old Town Pasadena. Lots of shopping restaurants and a movie theater at Paseo.





FYI


Do not get out of the Imperial/Wilmington Station, this is the ghetto.
There are literally hundreds of things to do here in LA. Here is my top ten list:





Disneyland: The Happiest Place on Earth. Half a billion visitors can鈥檛 be wrong. (Sometimes it seems all at once)





Universal Studios: A theme park that grew out of a studio tour. And Universal City Walk is a fun place to hang out in the evening after your day inside the park.





Hollywood: Hollywood Boulevard is ready for its close-up, thanks to years of urban renewal and renovation. Enjoy the Walk of Fame, Entertainment Museum, Chinese Theatre and more. You can see a lot for free. The Hollywood %26amp; Highland complex has lots of shops and restaurants, and the Kodak Theater (home of the Academy Awards). I also like the El Capitan theater, because it has been restored to its former glory.





Rodeo Drive, 90210: Packed with exclusive shops, full of gawkers. They all came to enjoy the excess. Free, unless you intend to buy something.





Venice Beach: Los Angeles kitsch and over-the-top culture at its best. Here you'll find Muscle Beach, street performers and tacky shops galore. Fun, VERY interesting, but I avoid it after dark, when it gets a little TOO interesting for my taste. And it's a short bike ride from Santa Monica Pier.





Santa Monica Beach and Pier: Great beach scene and a classic seaside amusement park, complete with antique carousel that has been in a lot of TV and movies. (The Sting and ';Three's Company'; come immediately to mind). After visiting the pier, you can ride a bike south a couple miles to Venice Beach.





Santa Monica Third Street Promenade - Downtown Santa Monica's shopping promenade is often the scene of movie star-sightings. Just a short walk from the Santa Monica Pier.





Sunset Boulevard: Perhaps one of the world's most famous streets, it began as a route between the stars' posh neighborhoods and the Hollywood studios. It runs from downtown to the ocean, passing through the ';Sunset Strip'; on its way. It makes for a fun drive. Along the way, you see a lot of different neighborhoods: Hollywood, West Hollywood, Bel Air, and Pacific Palisades. When you get to the ocean, stop at Gladstone's for Fish.





Queen Mary: Once the largest ship afloat, she's been docked in Long Beach for longer than she sailed, and her elegance never fails to impress. Free to visit. You can actually stay on board, for a price.





Farmers Market and The Grove - A new shopping complex right next to a Los Angeles landmark, The Grove and Farmers Market coexist. Enjoy a movie or shopping, and then take the trolley to the Farmers Market for lunch or dinner. It is right next to CBS, so walk across the lot to see if they are taping ';The Price is Right';. You might even get in.





TAAB: The Americana at Brand- The newly opened TAAB, developed by the same group that gave us The Grove, breathes new life into Glendale, and gives all those hip people in Eagle Rock and the eastern half of LA a great place to go.





Griffith Park - Home of the Los Angeles Zoo, Griffith Park Observatory, Travel Town, the Greek Theatre, and Gene Autry Museum of Western Heritage.





Getty Museum - The Getty's architecture is so beautiful that it keeps me fascinated. No matter whether you like their art or architecture better (or maybe you'll just enjoy the view), the Getty is sure to please. Free.





Attend a TV taping - You can get free tickets at audiencesunlimited.com, tvtix.com, or see the booth at Universal City walk. It's very interesting to see a show being taped. The most popular, by far, is the Tonight show with Jay Leno. Check the NBC web site for all the details there.





Wicked at the Pantages Theater- Located in the heart of Hollywood, this is an excellent and long running production, the most POPULAR show in LA right now.





Places to eat:


In-N-Out Burger: Multiple locations, best burger in LA, ask anyone.


Pink鈥檚 Hot Dogs: 709 N. La Brea, just north of Melrose. You might even see a celebrity. Maybe.


Tommy鈥檚 Chili Burgers: Look for the shack, an LA tradition. The original location is at Beverly %26amp; Rampart, a couple miles west of downtown.


Canter鈥檚 Deli: 419 N. Fairfax, between Beverly %26amp; Melrose. Near CBS, you might spot a celebrity.


Phillippe鈥檚: 1001 N. Alameda. Great roast beef sandwiches. Near Union Station and Olvera Street. Watch the mustard, it鈥檚 hot.


The Pantry: Corner of Figueroa and 9th, downtown. Huge portions, they never close, GREAT steak and eggs.





Places to Shop:


Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica


The Grove, Los Angeles


Americana @ Brand, Glendale


Beverly Center, Los Angeles


Citadel Outlets, Commerce


Brea Mall, Brea


The Block at Orange, Orange


South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa


Fashion Island, Newport Beach


Santee Alley, Los Angeles





To get to some of these places, take the flyaway bus to Union Station in downtown. From there, you can take the Red Line Subway to Universal Studios, Hollywood, and other places. At the airport, look for the green signs on the lower level.