Forum Moderators: open
I suppose that they did not just give it to me they made me work for it -- selling advertising on their online properties.
It's all expenses paid and 5-star all the way. I am going to take my Mum.
If anyone has any recommendations on what to do in the places I mentioned, please let me know :)
Syzygy
Watch out in LA--you need to target your time or you'll waste it all getting around and see little.
Vancouver is a neat city for just walking around.
Whistler is said by many to be the best skiing in the world. Even if you don't ski, take the trams around and see the mountains.
Very true, and it is going to host the winter olympics in a few years. Lots of resorts, restaurants and clubs in this little (brand new) village high in the rockies.
When you are in Vancouver, see if you can take the trip over to Victoria on the island for a day or two. But Vancouver is a great city with lots to do, and it was recently ranked as the best city to live in the world.
Vancouver is widely known as a source of something that we are not allowed to discuss on this site, so I will just tell you that the nickname for Vancouver is "Vansterdam", if you get my drift. ;-)
Are there any tax consequences?
Good question. I once won a pickup truck and had to pay several thousand dollars to the IRS.
Vansterdam... How interesting ;)
L.A. - some simply MUST sees, especially for a non-US citizen (presuming such, Mum=Mom in U.S. :-) )
LACMA - Los Angeles County Museum. Lived in LA 15 years and never went. Recently took a trip to LA with wife and nearly cried. They have many original masters there, sadly no Van Goghs, but you can easily spend a whole day there. It's huge. Right outside the building is the infamous Labrea Tar Pits.
Santa Monica Pier - if you don't visit any other LA beach, go to the pier. East from there by about 40 minutes is . . .
Hollywood Blvd. Walk of Fame - all the stars in the sidewalk, even Alice Cooper and Tom Petty are there. :D Along which lies Grauman's Chinese Theatre, with the well worn handprints in concrete of Marylin Monroe, Clark Gable, Roy Rogers and Trigger, and more.
Universal Studio Tours - half an hour away from H.W.W.O.F.
Griffith Park Observatory - besides a great observatory has one of the original Laserium light shows and it comes off better than most because the planetarium is HUGE.
A great day is to hit the pier in the AM, Hollywood next, then Universal Studios, then Griffith Park Observatory in the evening.
Disneyland, south of LA, nuff said. Another whole day, probably $300 or more too. :D It's not all kiddie stuff and is a must see.
Long Beach Pike (amusement park)
While you're in town you'll see all kinds of local events you will never see anywhere else. LA is filled with tons of lounges, bars, etc. that define a large portion of the music scene. Opera, movies, plays, theatre, you name it, there's always SOMETHING going on.
Thanks for your ideas. I will be staying at Shutters on the Beach. It is opposite Santa Monica Beach and I have heard that it is really nice.
I will be also given tickets to tour Universal Studios and also Disneyland, which I am really looking forward to. I am glad that I won't have to pay :)
I will have a look at your other recommendations.
Cheers
BTS111
Did I see something about Gentlemans Clubs in your profile?
Vancouver is also famous for that too! Some of the best looking performers in the "Canadian Ballet" work in Van.
Before you go, learn what one of those mushrooms looks like so you can identify them - they grow on people's lawns, not kidding
Stanley Park/Coal Harbour/Kitslano for oceanfront walking/biking/rollerblading
Shopping: Pacific Center/Metrotown/Robston St.
Granville Island (comedy club, theater and dining)
Nightlife: Granville St. in downtown.
