LA hotels

We will be driving from Palm Springs to Palo Alto on Dec 30th. Want to stop in LA to go to American Girl Place and stay the night somewhere. Any suggestions welcome, in LA, on outskirts..anywhere that makes sense with our route. It would be nice to be somewhere where you can either stay in hotel and eat or walk to a resturant. Thanks!

LA hotels

What%26#39;s your budget? Near to the American Girl Store is the Farmer%26#39;s Daughter Motel. Also look into Elan Modern Hotel. Both are close to restaurants and shops.

LA hotels

Budget up to $200. I looked at Farmers Daughter and was a bit put off by the reviews! I%26#39;ll look at Elan Modern, thanks. Is there anything around that area for husband/son to do?

Elan Modern is right in your budget and only 10 or so blocks away from the Grove where American Girl Place is located (you may want to drive there though with a kid). You can definitely spend some time walking around and shopping there and have lunch at Farmer%26#39;s Market there. If you have time, you should drive to the Getty for lunch as well - it%26#39;s one of the gems in LA with great views. There are also a bunch of restaurants and shopping across the street and within walking distance from Elan Modern. Hollywood Blvd is also only 15 mins away. And you can walk around Beverly Hills/Rodeo Drive area, which isa 5-10 minute drive from your hotel as well. You%26#39;ll be very close to everything at Elan Modern, so do not worry about things to do. You can consider going to LACMA and LaBrea Tarpits as well, only 5 mins away.

Thanks so much to you both. Our son did a project on La Brea Tarpits in 4th grade, I had no idea they were there, always imagined them in the middle of nowhere!(But then I%26#39;m English so am a bit hazy on US history!) My husband will be delighted the Getty is close at hand too. I%26#39;ll try and book it now.

We went to American Girl Place over a year ago, click my name to look up my review on it, my 4 year old loved it! The Grove has several shops that your DH and son may want to check out, there%26#39;s a movie theatre too for the guys to watch a movie if you and your daughter wind up spending hours at AGLA. If she is really into the dolls, you can spend 3-4 hours there easy with tea/ lunch, the show, shopping, getting your AG dolls hair done, the photo studio.... We stayed at the Ayres Hotel in Anaheim which I do recommend, but not sure if you will be near the area. I did AG Place with my 2 daughters, then we moved onto Anaheim and went to an Angel%26#39;s vs. A%26#39;s game for my DH and son who are big baseball fans. Ayres is also a 5 minute drive to Disneyland and Downtown Disney where there is a lot to do for you and the kids. There%26#39;s also a fun double decker bus that takes you from one end of the Grove to another, plus it%26#39;s free. Enjoyed lunch at Cheesecake factory. Have a great trip, it is doll heaven and we can%26#39;t wait to go back!

thanks everyone, it%26#39;s fantastic to be able to get all this advice. I think we%26#39;ll be in the store hours! When I went to New York alone i was there 1 1/2 hours!