I am thinking of taking a trip to California for two weeks very soon. I am planning on hiring a car and I'm not afraid of long distance driving. I do gather that it is customary to drive on the wrong side of the road ...

So, where should I go and what should I do? I have the option of flying into LAX or San Francisco for similar money, but I would like to visit both, and more.

What else should I see and do? I have never been on a roller-coaster larger than a big model train-set so a day at a theme park would be included. Any Aliens-related attractions? And how easy is it to get in contact with Bob Burns? Does he still have visitors by appointment?

I toyed with the idea of taking Abe: I gather that 2nd-rate costumed characters "busk" for photos on the Walk of Fame in Hollywood. Abe likes that idea, but it's hardly practical! However, if any USCM wants to share the limelight and the takings ...

So, which cities should I visit and what should I do?

Thanks guys

If you can get in contact with someone who can provide directions, how about a trip to find the Sarlacc?

As someone who has a habit of falling down holes, I'm not sure how to take that!

XD !!

There was recently an expedition by a group of people from the Movie Prop Forum to go and find it, and they managed to pull up chunks of rubber Sarlacc even after all these years. Looked like a real interesting trip, though I dare say it would get very tiring in the California heat.

Just keep an eye out for Boba Fett.

If you're coming out here, the choices between SoCal and NorCal are quite diverse.

Even though I live in NorCal, I would strongly reccomend attending Disneyland for your first time. Lots of great rides- Indiana Jones, Pirates of the Caribbean, Splash Mountain, Endor Space Shuttle, Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and the Matterhorn- all of these are a blast!

You really should see Disneyland. Then you have the option to go to Disney's California Adventure, two choice rides are Soaring over California and California Screaming- a mind blowing fast startin' roller coaster.

Knotts Berry Farm has some wild rides, excellent chicken and boysenberry pie! Universal Studios is awesome as well.

Some dinner shows around Disneyland include Medieval Times, Pirates, etc.

In NorCal, there's touring SF, driving up to Lake Tahoe, Old Sacramento is pretty cool, but Disneyland would be a must in my opinion.

Happy to chat with you about it! I can be a virtual tour guide!

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USCM- The Colonial Marines- A Brotherhood of Bad Asses!

If I was going there, I'd visit Vasquez Rocks And not only because of the name. I'm a Star Trek fan (the most famous use of them) and I've seen those rocks used in about 10 different SF shows.

I'd also visit some locations used in The Terminator.

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Yeah, Vasquez are definatly on my list too... Have been for years.

Disneyland is a must. Would be a bit of a pilgrimage for me.

Loads of good photo oppertunities in Joshua Tree National Park. Early morning or late afternoon for the best light...

Personally I've always fancied going on a Surf Safari - Beach Boys style. Trouble is I can't surf.

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"The other Gareth"

The Wax museum in Hollywood. Yes, most definately

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Death is Certain, Life is not, Just Do It

[image width=1591 height=332]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-2/110823/U.S.C.M.Logo2.jpg[/image]

The first thing you need to do is pay for me to come with you.

Secondly there's loads to do - if you can drive, so you're okay there. I went to LA a few years ago and was lucky to have a couple of friends drive me around.

Some places I visited were San Diego pier, Dodger Stadium, Universal Studios (if they still have the T2-3D show do it, it's excellent!). The Getty museum is really cool if that's your cup of tea and you HAVE to have a burger at In & out and a French Dip sandwich at Phillipes too!

Harry

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I'm in LA.

I can recommend a few places, depends what you're into.

Outside the Chinese Grauman theatre would be cool.

Hanging out with Zoro and crew!

LMK, I can help from Tijuana to LA.

I spent a few months in California earlier this year, so here's my top 16 list of things to do. Sorry, too many good things for a top 10!
If you can, extend your stay to three weeks because it's a big ol' place.

Fly to San Francisco first – while it's still warm. Fly back from LA where it's always warm.

1) In SF stay at this amazing hostel that overlooks the Golden Gate Bridge from the city's original army base.
You can get a private room for $35 a night. The hostel guys can advise you on all the best things to do:
http://sfhostels.com/fishermans-wharf/

Hire a bike from Blazzing Saddles in Fishermans Wharf and cycle over the Golden gate bridge to the home of
USA's most expensive real estate, Sausalido. Take the ferry back and enjoy a steak dinner at the Blues Bar in the Wharf.

Ride the cable cars through the streets of San FranCisco. Wear a prosthetic nose and pretend you're Carl Malden.
Or alternatively, boff loads of women and pretend you're Michael Douglas.

Stroll around downtown – it's all doable on foot. Upstairs at the multiplex up from the Sony Centre (near Moscone convention centre)
put $10 (£5) into the Aliens Extermination arcade game and blast your brothers into oblivion. $10 will
give you 20 minutes on that machine unless you really suck. And no Gareth, you can't play as a bug and kill marines.

Get the evening cruise to Alcatraz, it's a brilliant trip and no one does these kind of tours
better than the Americans.

Another good hostel to stay in is the HI Downtown. They do pub crawls, free walks and tours etc, lots of fun.

4) Catch a baseball game at San Fran Giants Stadium, the AT&T Park. I would say this is a better place to catch a game than in LA.
http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/tick ... sp?c_id=sf

5) Drive south to LA on Highway 1, the coastal road.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_State_Route_1

It is an amazing drive and will take three to four days if you stop off.
Stay one night in a great hostel cabin next to a light house:
http://norcalhostels.org/pigeon/

There is a hot tub that overlooks the crashing waves beneath the cliff and it looks out to sea.
You gotta do this, it's awesome (get used to that expression). You have to book a half hour for the tub: Get the last slot
of the day and you'll stay in there for an hour. This is a great place for a quiet night. It's run by the mellowest hippie
I've ever met, he's great. Get a few beers and food from San Fran before heading out here as it's remote and there
is nowhere near to buy food. And you can have your beer in the hot tub!

6) There are many copies.

7) You're now in LA, by the sea in Santa Monica. Stay a night there at the HI hostel:
http://www.hilosangeles.org/

Visit the great pier they have there. Have a Mexican meal at the restuarant on the end, they do good fish.
There is an Aliens Extermination game in one of the pier arcades. Kick some bug arse for a change, will ya?

Get a good English brekkie at the brit pub near the hostel before heading to Venice beach, walking distance.
This is like Camden Town meets Baywatch, which was filmed here. Check out muscle beach, and you might catch
Sgt Burton from Vancouver shaping up the LA USCM regiment. Maybe.
Lots of cheap street food to buy.

Also, good cinemas at 3rd street in Santa Monica with cool shops and people watching.
Also some very good street performers here.

Stay in the motel 6 off Hollywood Blvd, or better still the USA Hostels, Hollywood. Book hostels well
in advance. Private rooms are available in most and you can cook your own food which will save you a lot
of money. But Motel 6 here is great value and it's new.
http://www.usahostels.com/hollywood/
http://www.motel6.com/reservations/mote ... a=&CP=&TA=

Check out the costumed folks outside Graumanns Chinese Theatre. Alien premiered here, this is where
the space jockey was when it was vandalised. See a film here, it's a great cinema. Junior Engineer Dredds
and I saw Grindhouse here and Tarantino & Rodriguez were in the audience!
Here you can also see the hand prints of many classic movie stars.
Get a photograph of your Alien claw in Marilyns hand imprint.

Walk up and down the blvd, checking out the stars on the hollywood walk of fame.
I met Forest Whittaker here!

Jimmy Kimmel is a big talk show host here. Get tickets and be in the audience, or be in the outside
audience and see a band! We saw Iggy & the Stooges. It was legend! All tickets are free, book in advance.
You have to register but it's free.
http://www.1iota.com/show.aspx?sid=1

Have dinner in Hooters and order a pitcher of ale, and get a photo with all the waitresses.
Tell them I miss them, too. Mop up that Alien drool when you're done.

I think the Wax museum closed down, but visit the Hollywood Museum and have a bite to eat
in the great dinner next door.
Do the obligatory Hollywood Homes of the stars tour, but shop around and don't pay too much.

9) Visit the Griffith Observatory and look through the telescopes. This is a great place. Check out the Leonard Nimoy film.
Avoid eating here, it's expensive and poor quality – unusual for LA.
Walk outside to catch the classic view of massive Los Angeles, great at night.
http://asymptotia.com/wp-images/2006/11 ... tory_2.jpg

10) Great advice Harry: visit 'In and Out Burger', there's one on Sunset Strip in Hollywood.
The cheese burgers are to die for. But make sure you don't take Harry or there'll be no cheese left for the burgers.
I could big up these burgers all day and you still wouldn't be disappointed.

11) Visit DisneyLand and Universal Studios. If I had to choose one I'd pick Universal becuase it has more film
themed rides and, as Harry said there is a Terminator 3D ride which for me is a must see. There are plenty of
rollercoasters and the like here to scare you shitless; you'll love it. At night Universal opens City Walk –
night clubs, bars, bands, etc. Great fun, if a bit tame. Allow a whole day for Universal.

12) Sunset Strip at night. Go to the Rainbow Bar and Grill for Guns'n'Roses/Motley Crue stuff.
Amazing women in here. Lemmy is a regular. Great bar. Viper Room and Whiskey A-Go-Go are nearby,
catch an upcoming band. A must see is 'Metal Skool', also nearby. They gig twice a week, pick up a
free LA Weekly for times. Even if you don't like rock (weirdo) you'll have a few belly laughs at this.

13) Great places to eat in LA: Canters 24hr deli/diner in West Hollywood, (WeHo) the Farmers Market WeHo,
Swingers diner, also WeHo. They're all walking distance from Melrose Ave, on Fairfax. Pinks hot dogs are famously famous.
And there's a great 24hr diner near the Warner Bros Studio.
http://cantersdeli.com/
http://www.mrbreakfast.com/r_display.asp?restid=98
http://www.pinkshollywood.com/

14) Warner Bros Studio tour – just do it, you'll luurve. Get a snap of you on the Sofa in Central Perk,
or maybe Abe playing Phoebe's guitar. Couldn't sound any worse, right?

15) Drive to Vegas. 5-6 hours leisurely, stop off for the odd meal, a great drive. Avoid hostels in Vegas.
You can book cheap rooms at loads of places. Try the Stratosphere:
http://www.stratospherehotel.com/
or try motel 6. We stayed here and it was cheap and nice:
http://www.motel6.com/reservations/mote ... a=&CP=&TA=
For a treat, stay a night at the Venetian or Bellagio, £100.

Do the rides at the top of the stratosphere – exhilirating!
http://www.stratospherehotel.com/big_shot.html

Take in a show. Penn & Teller were good. Walk around the hotels, they're unbelievable.
You can walk into any of them free, they have some amazing sights.
Take in the 'Big Elvis' show, it's frakkin' legend, and best of all it's free!
http://www.vegas4locals.com/freebigelvis.html

Take a bus trip to the hoover dam, amazing. When they ask for questions, put your hand up and ask
the Beavis & Butthead classic, "Is this a God-damn?!" They've never heard it before.

If you can spare £150 take a helicopter trip to the Grand Canyon. You'll land in the Canyon,
have a champagne breakfast and then fly back over the Strip. Cheaper options are available,
but the flight is fantastic.

I'm a bit of a Trekkie. Unless you HATE Trek, you must do this:
http://www.startrekexp.com/
Infact, I might ask General Harris to order you to go. It will rock your world. Don't forget to eat at Quark's.
Oh, and get a photo of Abe in Picards chair on the Enterprise bridge.
And bring me back a bottle on Klingon Blood Wine!

By the way, there is an Alien 'one arm bandit' where the gaming
machines are, next to the Star Trek Experience.
This is the best one to play because here credits are ony 1cent, giving you 100 goes for a meredollar!
In the Bellagio a credit was a whole dollar! There is an Aliens Extermination game in Circus Circus.
But Junior Engineer Dredds and I pretty much thrashed out the left hand Pulse Rifle and it's a bit dodgy now,
so be sure to use the right hand one.

16) Drive back to LA, chill for a night and then fly home to Blighty. Buy some Prozac on the way.

You can do a lot of that in two weeks, if you have three you may want to take in San Diego which is a lovely city.
There is a great hostel on the beach where you can learn to surf:
http://www.bananabungalowsandiego.com/index.html

Also, there is an aircraft carrier (USS Midway) there which is well worth a visit. Some board members
were doing a USCM photo shoot there, if I remember? Again, this is a class tour:
http://www.kintera.org/site/pp.asp?c=ee ... &b=3038957

There is great nightlife in the Gas Lamp quarter.

Between San Diego and LA you can skydive at Lake Elsinore. I recommend them highly:
http://skydiveelsinore.com/Southern-Cal ... iving.html

If you go to San Diego, be sure to visit Tijuana on the Mexican border nearby (allow a whole day):
http://wikitravel.org/en/Tijuana

Some street marketeers ply their wares selling cast skulls, bones, mexican day of the dead souvenirs, etc.
Look closely at some of these and you will see the odd Predator skull among them.


I'm sure I'm forgetting stuff but I'll edit this post if remember more.
Andrew

If you do go to see the Giants though, pray that Bonds won't hit a home run - they always lose when he does. *nods*

WOW!!! My bank balance (and parents ) were starting to talk me out of this, but after reading this, I really need to make it happen!

I'm bankrupt but if I had some money I would go with ya bro.
Go for it!

Yes, go for it! I'm still paying for my round the world trip 3 years ago, and don't regret it for a moment

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Weyland-Yutani: Their projects are intentionally full of bugs. Avoid!

No trip to California is complete without a visit to Yosemite National Park, absolutely beautiful, especially from the top of Half Dome

Id highly recommend visitng the Bay Area too, San Francisco is a great place with so much to see. Take the Pacific Coast Highway down to LA stopping along the way to see the stunning coastline, Big Sur has a fantastic stretch of beach.

I didnt spend all that much time in LA but Santa Monica was nice and you should definately check out Universal Studios, the T2 3D ride is awesome!!

Aha. I missed the French Dip part Harry. That is a cool place.

Union Station is always a cool Blade Runner place.
(2nd street tunnel + Bradbury Building)

I can teach you guys the "hidden" menu of In and Out Burger +
all the Biblical Chapters discreetly places on the packaging.


Man Gareth, I was hoping we could have done a photo op
at the abondoned LA zoo. Zenos in cages.

http://www.kjopi.com/images/2006/Old_LA ... index.html

I like the obscure tourist places. Can anyone tell what movies
have been shot here?

Woohooo!

I'm finally back after a 36 hour nightmare journey caused by London Heathrow.

My first time in the US. The USA is a great (and strange) country. VERY nice people, but diabolical standards of driving! Saw so many fender-benders and was involved in 3 on buses. I didn't manage to rent a car, but surprisingly the bus service in SF, LA and Las Vegas is so much better than in the UK.

The highlights of the trip was going on my first rollercoaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain, visiting Santa Monica and Long Beach, the bright lights of Las Vegas and Universal Studios.

I never did manage to get in contact with Bob Burns. I think he might be on vacation or something.

I did visit ADI! : http://picasaweb.google.com/Xeno666/ADIVisit

ADI is a completely unmarked industrial unit between a Girl Scouts building and a knicker factory. I didn't get past the lobby at ADI, but I had a quite long chat with the guys on the front desk. Alas, they wouldn't give me a tour, Gillis and Woodruff weren't in the building and they were bound by a ND agreement from saying anything about AVP:R. However, I didn't even expect to get in the door; it was almost a religious pilgrimage for me.

Go to Reel Clothes.

Ang and I are headed to L.A. as well. The second week of December. She used to be a movie starlet so she knows the town but any Marines in the area are invited to hang when we get there. Except for Friday night...that's the Spice Girls Concert

That...would be fun! Don't know if I can make it happen, but...

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USCM- The Colonial Marines- A Brotherhood of Bad Asses!

We're planning a get together one of the nights with our West Coast peeps. When we hammer out a time and place I'll post it.

Yes, I camped a night there once. Just gorgeous.

Ditto Sequoia National Park. See the biggest trees in the world.

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Jay Pennington

There's actuually a ton of Aliens related goodies out here:

The Bob Burns collection...

The Pulse Rifle and Powerloader in Jim Cameron's office...

The display room at ADI...

The Dropship model in the Skotak's workshop...

ACESS is the problem though

-W

You could probably get Bob Burns to give you a tour of his basement. Just email him through his website. By all accounts he's a really friendly guy.

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Jay Pennington