Trip Itinerary

Los Angeles

March 14 – 19, 2026
6 days
NYCLAX
BOLD = booked
Booked
Food
Nostalgia
Chill
Disney
Day 01
Arrival & First Taste
Saturday, March 14
Easy day — settle in, get your bearings, don’t fight traffic. Everything is on the Westside/Culver City corridor.
10 AM
✈ Flight Lands at LAX
Pick up rental car, head out
booked
~20 min to In-N-Out depending on location
1 PM
In-N-Out Burger
The ritual. Double-double animal style, no debate.
2:30
Culver City Stairs
Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook. 282 steps up for insane 360° views of the entire LA basin, ocean to mountains. Free. Quick burn after In-N-Out.
~10 min to MJT
4 PM
Museum of Jurassic Technology
Culver City. One of the strangest and best museums in LA. Tickets booked — 4:00 PM.
confirmed
~5 min to nearest Erewhon
5:30
Erewhon
The $20 smoothie experience. Venice Blvd location is nearby.
6 PM
🌝 Venice Beach Sunset
Walk down to the sand and watch your first LA sunset. Sunset ~6:10 PM mid-March. You’re right here — don’t miss it.
7 PM
Del Taco
Because you can’t get it back home.
8 PM
Abbot Kinney Blvd
LA’s coolest street. Boutiques, galleries, great bars. Salt & Straw for ice cream, The Butcher’s Daughter for drinks. Walking distance from Venice.
9 PM
Venice Canals
Walk the actual canals at night. Quiet, beautiful, residential — feels like a secret. ~10 min walk from Abbot Kinney. Perfect way to end your first night in LA.
Day 02
Culture Crawl
Sunday, March 15
🏆 IT’S OSCAR DAY. The 98th Academy Awards are tonight at the Dolby Theatre. Hollywood Blvd is closed (since March 5 through the 18th). The Vanity Fair after-party is at LACMA tonight — visit LACMA early before security ramps up. Your route avoids the closure zone entirely.
8 AM
Breakfast — Egg Tuck or Sipp Coffee House
Egg Tuck (1028 Westwood Blvd) — Korean-inspired egg sandwiches on buttery brioche. Scratch-made, quick, hyped.
Sipp Coffee House (1078 Gayley Ave) — Hidden gem cafe. Huge portions, great avocado toast, saffron & orange maple lattes. Both in Westwood, walking distance to UCLA.
pick one
9 AM
🌱 Hashimoto Nursery
1935 Sawtelle Blvd. West LA’s oldest and largest retail nursery, in the heart of historic Sawtelle. Opens 8 AM. ~5 min from breakfast.
9:45
UCLA Tour & Botanical Garden
Westwood. Beautiful campus walk + Mildred E. Mathias garden. ~5 min from Sawtelle.
~20 min to Mid-Wilshire (Miracle Mile area)
12 PM
Forever Cemetery
Hollywood Forever — iconic resting place, worth a walk through
12:45
Lunch — Republique or Joan’s on Third
Republique (624 S La Brea) — French-inspired, gorgeous 1929 Charlie Chaplin building. Pastries, sandwiches, salads. Sit-down.
Joan’s on Third (8350 W 3rd St) — Beloved LA deli/cafe. Great sandwiches, baked goods. Quick counter service. Both between Forever Cemetery & Tar Pits.
pick one
2 PM
La Brea Tar Pits
Right next to LACMA. Quick stop or full museum visit.
2:30
LACMA Grounds — No Ticket Needed
Levitated Mass outdoor installation + gift shop (free to enter, no museum ticket needed). Grounds open 6 AM–10 PM. Save Urban Light for after dark — you’ll swing by tonight.
3 PM
Original Farmers Market
3rd & Fairfax. Outdoor market since 1934 — snacks, coffee, people-watching. ~5 min from LACMA. The Grove mall is right next door if you want to browse.
~20 min Fairfax → Griffith (via Hollywood Blvd)
4 PM
🌃 Griffith Observatory
Sunset views over LA. Free admission. DASH shuttle from the lower lot or hike up from Fern Dell (~1.7 mi). Budget extra time — general traffic is heavier on Oscar night. Sunset is ~6:10 PM — arrive with time to explore inside first. Get your Hollywood sign photo here — best vantage point in the city.
6 PM
Zankou Chicken
Garlic sauce is non-negotiable. Multiple locations — hit the one near your next stop.
~15 min Griffith area → LACMA
7 PM
💡 Urban Light — After Dark
Quick stop at LACMA. This is THE photo — 202 vintage street lamps glowing at night. Turns on at dusk, off at dawn. 5-minute stop, iconic shot. You visited the grounds earlier today — now see it lit up.
~15 min LACMA → Mulholland & Cahuenga
8 PM
🌃 Mulholland Drive Night Cruise
City lights on both sides — LA basin to the south, Valley to the north. Start from Mulholland & Cahuenga (near Hollywood Bowl). Drive west as far as you want. Pull off at overlooks for photos. Quintessential LA experience you can’t get anywhere else.
🏆Oscar Night Intel — Full Breakdown
The Ceremony
98th Academy Awards — Dolby Theatre, Hollywood & Highland
Red carpet: 1:00 PM • Ceremony: 4:00 PM PT (7 PM ET) • Ends ~7:30 PM
Host: Conan O’Brien • ABC / Hulu
Hollywood Blvd — Closed
ALL lanes closed from Orange Dr to Highland Ave since March 5 through March 18. Walk of Fame and TCL Chinese Theatre area blocked off. Metro B Line skips Hollywood/Highland station Sat night through Mon 6 AM.
Vanity Fair Party at LACMA
Hollywood’s biggest after-party moved to LACMA’s new David Geffen Galleries this year (the $750M Peter Zumthor building). Invite-only, but you’ll be in its orbit all afternoon. The Geffen building doesn’t open to public until April — VF gets exclusive first use.
Red Carpet Fan Lottery
~700 bleacher seats along the 500-foot red carpet via lottery at oscars.org/enter. ~20,000 entries for 700 spots. Winners get 2 tickets each. Fans arrive ~8:30 AM, nominees start arriving after 3 PM. Check if registration is still open.
Your Plans Stay Clean
All your Day 2 stops (UCLA, LACMA, Farmers Market, Griffith, Comedy Store) are outside the Hollywood Blvd closure zone. The only impact is heavier general traffic, especially on Sunset Strip and near West Hollywood in the evening for after-parties. No route changes needed.
Day 03
Disney Day
Monday, March 16
Full day blocked for Disney. 5 AM departure from Donuts USA. Get there at rope drop. Wear comfortable shoes. Don’t try to do anything else. See the Drive Guide for route details.
5 AM
🍩 Donuts USA → I-10 E → I-5 S
Grab breakfast at Donuts USA (11624 Venice Blvd). Eat in the car. 35 miles, ~45 min at 5 AM.
11 PM
🌙 Motel 6 Anaheim — Overnight
Skip the dangerous midnight drive. Check in after park close. ~5 min from Disneyland. Grab late-night food on Harbor Blvd, crash, and start fresh Tuesday morning.
Day 04
Downtown + Valley Homecoming
Tuesday, March 17
Starting in Anaheim after last night’s Motel 6 stay. Morning nature detour to the Redwood Grove, then DTLA → SFV homecoming → Koreatown recovery — spa + Korean BBQ after yesterday’s 28,000 Disney steps.
7 AM
Check Out — Motel 6 Anaheim
Grab coffee, check out, head east on the 91.
7:30
🌲 Redwood Grove — Carbon Canyon Regional Park
4442 Carbon Canyon Rd, Brea. OC’s only coastal redwood grove — 200+ redwoods that shouldn’t exist in SoCal. Easy 1.1-mile round trip trail. $3 weekday parking. Opens 7 AM.
nature detour
~40 min Carbon Canyon → DTLA (57 N → 60 W → 101)
9 AM
Grand Central Market — Breakfast
DTLA. Eggslut, Tacos Tumbras, Sarita’s Pupuseria. Arrive early before crowds.
10 AM
The Last Bookstore
DTLA. The book tunnel and art installations are incredible. Opens at 10.
10:30
Bradbury Building
304 S Broadway — literally next door to Last Bookstore. Iconic 1893 interior — ornate iron railings, open-cage elevators, glass skylight. Blade Runner was filmed here. Walk into the lobby, look up, take the photo. 5 minutes, free.
10:45
The Library Store
Inside the Central Library, walking distance from Last Bookstore
11:15
Olvera Street
Walkable from Grand Central Market. Birthplace of LA.
11:45
🌮 Cielito Lindo + Mr. Churro
Cielito Lindo — hand-rolled taquitos with avocado sauce from the iconic walk-up stand. Since 1934. Mr. Churro — fresh churros right on the street. Both on Olvera Street, grab and go.
~35-50 min DTLA → Chatsworth/Northridge (101 to 118)
1 PM
🏡 Brent’s Deli
Northridge. Valley institution. Pastrami hits different when you’ve been away.
SFV homecoming
~10 min
2:30
🪨 Stoney Point
Chatsworth. Iconic rock formations off Topanga Canyon. Quick hike or just soak it in.
SFV homecoming
~5 min
3:30
Drive the Old Neighborhood
Chatsworth High area, Devonshire, Topanga Canyon Blvd. Santa Susana Pass for the views.
SFV homecoming
~15 min
4:15
Great Wall of LA
Tujunga Wash, Valley Glen. Half-mile mural of LA history. Most tourists don’t know about it.
SFV hidden gem
~30-40 min Valley Glen → Koreatown (101 S to Western Ave)
5 PM
💆 Post-Disney Foot Recovery
28,000 steps yesterday. Koreatown is right on the way back from the Valley — perfect recovery stop. All walk-in friendly.
Spa & Foot Massage Options
🏆 Wi Spa — THE MOVE
2700 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles 90057
Full Korean jimjilbang. $30 admission = unlimited hot pools, cold plunges, dry saunas, infrared clay sauna, steam rooms, rooftop terrace. Add a Korean body scrub ($45) — they literally exfoliate the dead skin off your body. Transformative after a Disney day. Restaurant inside serves Korean food. Budget 2–3 hours.
24 HoursBest Value
Lucky Feet Spa — Budget Champ
2815 James M Wood Blvd, Los Angeles 90006
$30 for 70 minutes — 40-min full body + 30-min foot massage with oil AND hot stones. This is not a typo. Walk-ins, accepts Apple Pay.
10:30 AM–10:30 PMKoreatown
YOLO Foot Spa
2590 Glendale Blvd, Suite C, Los Angeles 90039
Best dedicated foot spa in LA. 561 Yelp reviews. Therapists with 10+ years experience. $25–$75 depending on duration. Silver Lake neighborhood — great coffee shops if you want to explore after.
10 AM–10 PMSilver Lake
The play: Wi Spa (soak + scrub + sauna) → Korean BBQ dinner. Park once in K-town, recover, then feast. That’s a perfect Tuesday evening.
8 PM
Dinner — Kang Ho Dong Baekjeong
Koreatown Korean BBQ. Reservation confirmed — 8:00 PM. Wi Spa → Korean BBQ is the play. Park once, do both.
confirmed
Day 05
Getty, Westside & Beach
Wednesday, March 18
Getty moved to morning — way more time to enjoy it. Then Beverly Hills → Venice → Santa Monica corridor flows naturally west.
8:30
Coral Tree Cafe
11645 San Vicente Blvd, Brentwood. Neighborhood favorite — egg dishes, avocado toast, fresh pastries, great coffee. Chill patio. Right on the way to the Getty.
~10 min up to Getty Center
10 AM
The Getty Center
Free admission. Timed entry confirmed — 10:00 AM. Gardens and architecture alone are worth it. Plan 2+ hours.
confirmed
~20 min to Beverly Hills
12:30
Greystone Mansion
Beverly Hills. Beautiful grounds, free to walk. Good photo spot.
~5 min to Rodeo Drive
1:15
Rodeo Drive
Window shop the famous storefronts, take photos. 20–30 min is plenty. You’re already in Beverly Hills.
~25-35 min to Venice
2 PM
Gjusta
320 Sunset Ave, Venice. All-day bakery/deli — incredible sandwiches, pastries, fresh everything. Order at the counter, eat on the bustling patio. Venice institution.
2:45
Venice Beach Boardwalk
Boardwalk, Muscle Beach, street performers. Walk it off after lunch.
3 PM
Emi Errands
Blocked for errands
5 PM
Santa Monica Pier
Sunset from the pier is a perfect last-evening-in-LA moment. Sunset ~6:10 PM.
6:15
🌊 PCH Sunset Drive
Pacific Coast Highway starts right at the pier. Drive north — golden hour light on the cliffs and ocean. Turn around at Point Dume lookout (~20 min up) or go as far as you feel. One of the most iconic drives in the world. You can’t leave LA without doing this.
7 PM
Lady & Larder
Great cheese and charcuterie. Check which location is closest.
7:30
🌮 Tacos Por Favor
1408 Olympic Blvd, Santa Monica. Legendary no-frills taco shop. Fish tacos are the move. Cash only. Your last bite in LA should be a perfect taco.
9 PM
Chill & Pack
Pack up, rest, early flight tomorrow.
Day 06
Heading Home
Thursday, March 19
7:00 AM flight. LAX is ~15 min from Venice but you need 2+ hours for check-in, security, and rental car return. Set your alarm for 4:00 AM and be out the door by 4:30. No time for a real breakfast — grab something at the airport after security.
4:30
Leave for LAX
Return rental car first. Shuttle to terminal. Venice → LAX is ~15 min at 4:30 AM, zero traffic.
7 AM
✈ Flight Leaves LA
LAX → NYC. Grab breakfast at the terminal after security.
booked
PM
Arrive in New York
Back to reality.
booked
Pre-Trip
Trip Prep Checklists
🎒 Departure Checklist
🌙 Night Before (March 15)
Disney Day
Drive Guide
🗻Route — Venice to Anaheim
Primary Route
I-10 E → I-5 S
Venice Blvd → I-10 East → I-5 South → Disneyland Dr exit. Three freeways total.
Recommended
I-10 → I-5
35 mi
40–50 min at 5 AM
I-405 → CA-22
38 mi
Backup if I-10 closed
5 AM Monday = golden. Pre-6 AM traffic is non-existent. Rush hour starts 6:30–9:30 AM. You’ll be parked before commuters wake up.
Navigation
Use Waze, not Google Maps. Set destination to “Pixar Pals Parking Structure” not “Disneyland.”
Construction
I-5 Improvement Project ($716M) may start Spring 2026. At 5 AM, lane closures are wrapping up. Check Waze morning-of.
🅿️Parking
You’ll go here
Mickey & Friends
$35
~10,250 spaces. Opens first.
Pixar Pals
$35
~5,500 spaces. Ped bridge.

Both share same tram, security, restrooms. Early = lower level = shorter walk at 11 PM.

Finding Your Car at 11 PM
1. Photo parking spot (pillar has number + color + character)
2. Enable Car Locator in Disneyland app
3. Drop a Google Maps pin as backup
Gas
Fill up the night before. Venice area: $4.50–$5.50/gal. Harbor Blvd near Disneyland charges tourist markup.
🚨LA Driving — NYC Translation
🔴
Right on Red — LEGAL
In NYC, illegal. In LA, people EXPECT it. Sit there with no cross-traffic and the car behind you will honk.
♦️
HOV / Carpool — 24/7
2+ occupants required. Don’t cross the double yellow — wait for dashed entry points. Solo fine: $490+
🔔
FasTrak Express Lanes — AVOID
I-10 has Express Lanes on the left (purple signs). Stay center/right. I-5 has no express lanes.
📱
Phone — STRICT
Hands-free ONLY. Must be mounted. Set up nav BEFORE starting car. Fine: $162 / $285
🚘
Speed — Match the Flow
Posted 65 mph, actual flow 70–80. Drive 70–75 at 5 AM. CHP traps on I-5 near Orange County.
🔇
No Honking
In NYC, conversation. In LA, act of war. Passive-aggressive, not aggressive-aggressive.
🚨
Merging
On-ramps are shorter. Match speed early. LA drivers make room (unlike NYC spite-closing). Signal early.
🌤️Weather & What to Wear
🌡️
68°F
High
🌙
52°F
Low
☀️
5–8
UV Index
🅟️
15%
Rain

Morning: 52–58°F. Late April in Queens. Light hoodie.

Midday: 65–70°F. T-shirt weather.

Evening: Drops to 55–58°F after sunset at 7 PM.

Sunscreen — THE BIG ONE
NYC March UV: 3–4. Anaheim: 5–8 — you WILL burn.
SPF 50+ sport sunscreen. Apply 7 AM, reapply 11 AM and 3 PM.
Don’t forget: ears, nose, back of neck. SPF lip balm — SoCal air is dry.

Shoes: Broken-in sneakers with cushioning. NOT new, NOT Vans/Converse.
Layer: Lightweight hoodie — NOT your heavy Queens winter coat.
Bottoms: Joggers/stretchy pants. Jeans = feel every one of 28,000 steps.
Hat + sunglasses: Essential.

Disney Day
Food Outside the Park
🍩Breakfast — Donuts USA (5 AM)
Donuts USA
11624 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066
4.6 stars, 100+ Yelp reviews. Opens 4 AM Mon–Thu.

Glazed donut — classic benchmark
Bear claw — fruit-filled standout
Ham & cheese croissant — warm, flaky, filling
Coffee — serviceable, not artisanal
Opens 4 AMDeparture Point
Eat in the car. Every minute counts at 5 AM.
💧Water Strategy
Bring water for the car. Inside the park, water is FREE at any food counter. Bring one empty refillable bottle — get ice from a counter and pour it in.
🌙Late Night Food (After 11 PM)

You ate dinner at 4:40 — you’ll be starving by park close.

IHOP
1560 S Harbor Blvd, Anaheim
Pancakes after 14 hours on your feet hit different.
24 Hours0.5 mi
Denny’s
1610 S Harbor Blvd, Anaheim
24-hour backup diner.
24 Hours0.5 mi
Habibi’s Hot Chicken
2955 W Ball Rd, Anaheim
Nashville hot chicken. Open late.
~2 mi
After the Park — Motel 6 Night
You’re staying at Motel 6 Anaheim instead of driving home. Grab food on Harbor Blvd before crashing — everything is within 5 min of the park.
🏆 In-N-Out Burger
3640 S Bristol St, Santa Ana (near I-5)
THE MOVE. Double-Double, Animal Style fries. California rite of passage. Hit it on the way to the motel.
Must TryCloses ~1 AM
Del Taco / Jack in the Box
Multiple locations along Harbor Blvd & I-5
24-hour drive-throughs. True LA late-night staples.
24 Hours
Just In Case
Safety & Emergency
Drowsy Driving — Solved
Motel 6 Anaheim
You’re staying overnight in Anaheim instead of driving home at midnight after 19+ hours awake. Smart call. Grab late-night food on Harbor Blvd, walk to the motel, sleep it off. Tuesday morning you’ll drive to the Redwood Grove in Yorba Linda and then continue to DTLA — fully rested.
🏥Hospitals
🏥
UCI Medical Center
101 The City Dr S, Orange, CA
Best ER in Orange County. 24/7.
Level 1 Trauma~10 min
🏥
Anaheim Regional Medical Center
1111 W La Palma Ave, Anaheim
Full-service ER, 24/7.
~8 min
🏥
St. Joseph Hospital
1100 W Stewart Dr, Orange
Near I-5/22 junction. 24/7 ER.
~10 min
🩹Urgent Care (No ER Bill)
Blisters, sunburn, headache, stomach? Urgent care is cheaper and faster than ER.
🩹
AFC Urgent Care Anaheim
1711 W Katella Ave
Extended hours, evenings + weekends.
~1.5 mi
🩹
SoCal Urgent Care
710 S Brookhurst St, Suite A
Mon–Fri 10am–12am, Sat 9am–12am, Sun 10am–6pm.
~2.5 mi
💊Pharmacy, First Aid & Roadside
💊
Walgreens
1802 S Harbor Blvd, Anaheim
Blister bandages, Advil, Pepto, sunburn aloe, portable chargers, energy drinks.
Open 24 Hours0.5 mi
In-Park First Aid
Main Street U.S.A. (near Plaza Inn). Staffed by nurses. FREE bandages, pain relievers, antacids.
📞
AAA
1-800-222-4357
Roadside assistance (if you have membership). Check your auto insurance too.
📞
911
Emergency
CHP also responds to disabled vehicles on freeways.
🔋Phone Charging
Your phone will hit 20% by 2 PM. Waze + photos + Disneyland app = battery murder.

Portable charger (10,000+ mAh). Start at 100% — use car charger on drive.
FuelRod stations inside park: $30 rental, $3 swaps.
Walgreens on Harbor sells portable chargers if yours breaks.

📋 Quick Reference Card
Departure
Donuts USA: 11624 Venice Blvd, LA 90066
Leave: 5:00 AM sharp — Route: Venice → I-10 E → I-5 S → Disneyland Dr
Parking
Mickey & Friends: $35 — Opens 7:00 AM
Photo your spot. Car Locator in app.
Emergency
UCI ER: 101 The City Dr S, Orange (10 min)
Walgreens 24hr: 1802 S Harbor Blvd (0.5 mi)
AAA: 1-800-222-4357
Overnight
Motel 6 Anaheim — check in after park close
Tuesday AM: checkout → Redwood Grove, Yorba Linda → DTLA
Late Night Food
In-N-Out: 3640 S Bristol St, Santa Ana (closes ~1 AM)
IHOP 24hr: 1560 S Harbor Blvd
Trip Notes
Reservations Needed

Getty Center 10 AM (confirmed). Comedy Store / Laugh Factory (sells out). Tuesday dinner: Baekjeong 8 PM (confirmed). Wednesday dinner: Tacos Por Favor (no reservation needed, cash only).

Transportation

Rental car required. Budget extra for Griffith parking (or shuttle/hike). LAX traffic is always worse than you think — leave early on departure day.

🏆 Oscar Day (Sunday March 15)

98th Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre. Hollywood Blvd closed March 5–18. Vanity Fair party at LACMA (new David Geffen Galleries). Visit LACMA early, Academy Museum for Oscar Season programming. Official Watch Party 3–8 PM at Academy Museum. Red carpet fan lottery: oscars.org/enter (~700 seats). Conan O’Brien hosting. ABC/Hulu at 4 PM PT. Metro B Line skips Hollywood/Highland Sat night through Mon 6 AM.

🌙 Motel 6 Anaheim + Redwood Grove

Staying overnight at Motel 6 Anaheim after Disney instead of midnight drive home. Tuesday AM: checkout 7 AM → Carbon Canyon Regional Park Redwood Grove in Yorba Linda (1.1 mi trail, $3 parking, opens 7 AM) → DTLA by 9 AM. Eliminates drowsy driving risk entirely.

💆 Tuesday Recovery (March 17)

Post-Disney foot recovery in Koreatown. Wi Spa ($30 entry, 24hr Korean spa — hot pools, saunas, body scrub $45). Lucky Feet Spa ($30/70min full body + foot combo). YOLO Foot Spa in Silver Lake ($25–$75, 561 reviews). Then Korean BBQ dinner. Park once in K-town, do spa + dinner.

Schedule Changes

Getty moved from Tuesday 5 PM to Wednesday 9 AM (closes 5:30 on Tuesdays, Valley → Getty at rush hour = 45-60 min). Tuesday afternoon = SFV homecoming, evening = Koreatown recovery. Tuesday morning revised: Motel 6 checkout → Redwood Grove → Grand Central Market breakfast → DTLA.

Food Recs Not on Schedule

Koreatown Korean BBQ (Tuesday dinner — Kang Ho Dong Baekjeong, Quarters). Sagebrush Cantina in Calabasas. Follow Your Heart in Canoga Park — OG Valley spot since the 70s.

SFV Bonus Stops

Castle Peak near Chatsworth for valley views. Chatsworth Park South. Santa Susana Pass for the old stagecoach route — easy drive-through near Stoney Point.

Museum of Jurassic Technology

Tickets booked for Saturday March 14 at 4:00 PM. Culver City.

Sunday Backup — Melrose Ave Murals

If Farmers Market feels short, detour to Melrose Ave between Fairfax & La Brea for street art. Paul Smith pink wall (8221 Melrose), Made in LA wall, tons of murals. ~5 min from the market, on the way toward Griffith.