Family 6-Day LA Itinerary: Campuses, Hollywood, Beaches, and Theme Parks

Los Angeles is geographically the opposite of New York City. Where a NYC family trip squeezes five universities and four museums into a 30-minute subway radius, an LA trip demands a rental car, a longer itinerary, and a willingness to cross the metro area several times. Six days is the realistic minimum for covering five campuses plus the iconic attractions most families expect — Hollywood, Santa Monica, the Getty, Universal Studios, and optionally Disneyland.

The structure: mornings at universities (when the prospective applicant is fresh, tours run, and faculty are on campus), afternoons at attractions (when younger siblings have earned their reward), and evenings at shared meals across LA's distinct neighborhoods. Six days, five universities walked, two theme parks optional, one coastline explored.

Before You Arrive

• Rent a car at LAX, not at hotels. LAX rental rates are typically 30-40% cheaper than Hollywood, Downtown, or Beverly Hills locations. Walk-up rates are also significantly higher than advance reservations; book 2-4 weeks ahead.
• Book campus tours 3-4 weeks ahead. UCLA, USC, and Caltech fill first; Claremont and Pepperdine have more flexible availability.
• Buy Universal Studios and Disneyland tickets in advance. Advance purchase saves 15-20% compared to gate prices. Book specific dates with Genie+ or MaxPass if you want shorter ride lines.
• Download: Google Maps (offline LA region), Waze (essential for real-time LA traffic), each university's campus map PDF.

Where to Stay

LA's geography punishes bad hotel choices. The three sensible base options:

For most families, central LA (Westwood or Beverly Hills) offers the best balance. Westwood specifically places you a ten-minute walk from UCLA and a manageable drive to USC, the Getty, Santa Monica, and Hollywood.

Day 1 — Westwood (UCLA) and the Coast

Day 1 route

Morning: UCLA campus tour

• 9:30 AM: Drive or walk to UCLA's Ackerman Union (visitor parking in Lot 4 or Lot 9; $15 daily).
• 10:00 AM: UCLA campus tour (register through the Office of Admission well in advance). Tours start at Ackerman.
• Walk the campus: Royce Hall (the iconic red-brick landmark), Powell Library, Janss Steps, Bruin Plaza (Bruin Bear statue), Pauley Pavilion (basketball arena), Sculpture Garden, Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.
• 11:30 AM: UCLA admissions information session (register in advance).

Late morning: Hammer Museum

• 12:00 PM: Walk five minutes south to the Hammer Museum (free admission, part of UCLA). Allow 45-60 minutes.

Afternoon: Santa Monica and Venice

• 12:45 PM: Lunch in Westwood Village. BJ's Restaurant (classic American), Sawtelle Japantown (ten minutes south, Tsujita or Tatsu Ramen), or grab-and-go from Stan's Donuts (institution).
• 2:30 PM: Drive west on Wilshire to Santa Monica Pier (15-20 minutes). Walk the pier, see Pacific Park's small amusement rides, walk south to Muscle Beach and through Venice Beach Boardwalk.
• 4:30 PM: Walk or drive south through Venice Canals — the charming, quiet residential canals rarely seen by first-time visitors.

Evening: Santa Monica dinner

• 6:30 PM: Dinner on Ocean Avenue or in Venice.
  • Bluewater Grill (Santa Monica, seafood with ocean views)
  • Gjusta (Venice, bakery/deli — exceptional sandwiches)
  • Felix Trattoria (Venice, Italian, book ahead)
  • The Lobster (Santa Monica Pier, classic seafood splurge)

What younger siblings get

The Santa Monica Pier combines a boardwalk, rides, and the beach in a single walkable spot. Venice Beach Boardwalk's street performers, muscle beach gym, and skate park are genuinely memorable. The Getty Villa (reserved for Day 6) is a separate destination, but the Getty Center (Day 6) also works for kids.

Day 2 — University Park (USC) and Downtown LA

Day 2 route

Morning: USC campus tour

• 9:30 AM: Drive to USC's University Park campus (30-40 minutes from Westwood in moderate traffic; use Waze). Park in Parking Structure X or McCarthy Way visitor parking.
• 10:00 AM: USC campus tour (register through USC Admission in advance). Tours start at the Ronald Tutor Campus Center.
• Walk the campus: Doheny Memorial Library, Tommy Trojan statue, School of Cinematic Arts complex (even if not taking a film tour, the exterior and public areas are worth seeing), Galen Center (athletics), Leavey Library, the USC Village.
• 11:30 AM: USC admissions information session.

Afternoon: Downtown LA

• 12:30 PM: Drive or take the Metro Expo Line to Downtown LA. Lunch at Grand Central Market — the historic food hall on Broadway with 40+ vendors. Try Guisados (tacos), Eggslut (breakfast-all-day), or Wexler's Deli.
• 2:00 PM: Walk the Downtown LA cultural corridor:
  • Walt Disney Concert Hall (Frank Gehry's stainless-steel masterpiece — exterior walk, free; self-guided audio tour available)
  • The Broad (contemporary art museum, free admission but book timed entry online in advance — Yayoi Kusama's Infinity Mirrored Room is the signature attraction)
  • Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)
  • Angels Flight funicular (historic one-block funicular, $1 per ride, a charming curiosity)
• 4:30 PM: Walk to Olvera Street (the oldest part of LA, Mexican marketplace) and Union Station (Art Deco train station, worth a 20-minute interior walk).

Evening: Little Tokyo or Chinatown

• 6:30 PM: Dinner options.
  • Little Tokyo: Daikokuya Ramen (institution), Sushi Gen (high-quality sushi), or Fugetsu-do (historic mochi shop).
  • Chinatown: Majordomo (David Chang's LA flagship, book ahead), Pearl River Deli (modern Cantonese), or classic dim sum at Empress Pavilion.

What younger siblings get

The Broad's Infinity Mirrored Room is the most Instagram-worthy stop in LA (book in advance — walk-up is rare). Grand Central Market's food diversity makes it easier than traditional sit-down restaurants for picky eaters. Angels Flight is a one-dollar, 60-second novelty that kids remember.

Day 3 — Pasadena (Caltech) and Old Town

Day 3 route

Morning: Caltech campus tour

• 9:30 AM: Drive to Caltech in Pasadena (30-45 minutes from central LA). Park in visitor lots near Beckman Auditorium.
• 10:00 AM: Caltech campus tour (register well in advance through Caltech Admissions; tours are less frequent than UCLA/USC). Tours typically start at Beckman Auditorium or the Fleming House entrance.
• Walk the campus: Millikan Library (the dominant 1960s modernist tower), Beckman Auditorium, Dabney Garden, Gates-Thomas Laboratory (engineering), the Athenaeum (historic faculty club), Cahill Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics.
• 11:30 AM: Caltech admissions information session.

Afternoon: Pasadena Old Town and Huntington

• 12:30 PM: Lunch in Old Town Pasadena (Colorado Boulevard). Pie 'n Burger (classic diner, institution since 1963), Saladang Song (Thai, beautiful outdoor courtyard), or Union Restaurant (Italian, more upscale).
• 2:00 PM: Choose one:
  • Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens (San Marino, 10 minutes east of Caltech). World-famous Japanese Garden, Chinese Garden, Desert Garden; Gainsborough's Blue Boy in the art museum; Gutenberg Bible in the library. Allow 3-4 hours. Book timed entry online.
  • Rose Bowl Stadium tour (guided tours run most Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays; check schedule).

Evening: Old Town rooftop or Arroyo

• 6:30 PM: Dinner in Old Town Pasadena.
  • Parkway Grill (upscale California cuisine)
  • The Raymond 1886 (historic craftsman bungalow, creative cocktails)
  • Green Street Restaurant (casual American)
• Post-dinner option: If it's January, drive the Pasadena streets near Orange Grove Boulevard where Rose Parade floats are prepared (public viewing in the days after January 1).

What younger siblings get

The Huntington Botanical Gardens is the single best family attraction east of central LA — kids love the Children's Garden, the lily ponds, and the dramatic Desert Garden. Old Town Pasadena's pedestrian-friendly Colorado Boulevard is easier to navigate with younger kids than downtown LA.

Day 4 — Claremont Colleges and Hollywood

Day 4 route

Morning: Claremont 5C walk

• 9:00 AM: Drive east to Claremont (45-60 minutes from central LA via 210 freeway). Park near Pomona College.
• 10:00 AM: Pomona College campus tour (register in advance through the Office of Admissions).
• Walk through the Consortium — Pomona, Scripps, Claremont McKenna, Harvey Mudd, Pitzer are all within a 15-minute walk of each other. Key stops:
  • Pomona College: Marston Quadrangle, Bridges Auditorium, Smith Campus Center.
  • Claremont McKenna: Roberts North, the Athenaeum.
  • Harvey Mudd: the distinctive dorm architecture, Galileo Hall.
  • Scripps: Margaret Fowler Garden, Balch Hall.

Afternoon: Claremont Village lunch, drive back

• 12:30 PM: Lunch in Claremont Village (the quaint pedestrian district adjacent to the campuses). Some Crust Bakery (local institution), The Village Grille (casual American), or Heroes Bar and Grill (pub fare).
• 2:00 PM: Drive back toward central LA. Timing note: afternoon traffic east-to-west on the 210 and 134 freeways gets difficult after 3 PM. Plan accordingly.

Late afternoon: Hollywood

• 4:00 PM: Park near Hollywood and Highland (paid parking). Walk the Hollywood Walk of Fame (Hollywood Boulevard), see the TCL Chinese Theatre handprints, look up at the Hollywood Sign from Highland Avenue, walk past Capitol Records Building (15-minute walk north on Vine Street).

Evening: Hollywood Bowl or Universal CityWalk

• 6:30 PM: Two options depending on interest:
  • Hollywood Bowl concert: If a performance is running (most summer nights), the Bowl is one of LA's best experiences. Pack a picnic; parking stacks so arrive 90 minutes early.
  • Universal CityWalk: Dinner and entertainment at the pedestrian promenade outside Universal Studios. Shops, restaurants, movie theater. Free to walk; individual attractions extra.

What younger siblings get

Hollywood Boulevard is tacky but iconic — the Walk of Fame is a universal childhood memory. Universal CityWalk has a family-friendly outdoor mall vibe. Hollywood Bowl concerts range from classical to pop to film scores; check the calendar for family-friendly shows.

Day 5 — Theme Park Day: Universal OR Disneyland

This is the trip's flexible big-day. Pick one based on family interests.

Universal Studios Hollywood

Disneyland,+Anaheim

Option A — Universal Studios Hollywood

• 9:00 AM: Park opens. Drive to Universal City (20-30 minutes from central LA). Early entry available with Universal Express ticket tier.
• Full day at Universal Studios:
  • Studio Tour (the world-famous behind-the-scenes tram ride — 60 minutes, iconic)
  • The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (Hogsmeade village, Forbidden Journey ride)
  • Jurassic World — The Ride
  • Transformers: The Ride 3D
  • Super Nintendo World (if open — newest addition)
  • Waterworld stunt show
• Dinner: Universal CityWalk after park closes. The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium, Bubba Gump Shrimp, or many chain options.

Option B — Disneyland (Anaheim)

• 8:30 AM: Drive to Anaheim (45-60 minutes from central LA without traffic; longer during rush hour). Park at Mickey and Friends Parking Structure.
• Full day at Disneyland Park (or both Disneyland + California Adventure with a Park Hopper ticket):
  • Disneyland classics: Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, It's a Small World, Splash Mountain's successor, Indiana Jones Adventure.
  • Galaxy's Edge (Star Wars land): Rise of the Resistance, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run.
  • Fantasyland: Peter Pan's Flight, Alice in Wonderland.
  • Tomorrowland: Star Tours, Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage.
  • California Adventure (if Park Hopper): Radiator Springs Racers, Soarin' Around the World, Incredicoaster.
• Dinner: Downtown Disney District after park closes. Ballast Point Brewing, Naples Ristorante, or walk to GardenWalk in Anaheim for more options.

For teenagers and film-focused families, Universal is the stronger choice. For families with younger children (under 10), Disneyland is the obvious pick. If the family has energy for two theme park days, do Universal on Day 5 and Disneyland on Day 6 — but this compresses the Getty and Malibu stops into a half-day.

Day 6 — Getty Center, Malibu, and Pepperdine

Day 6 route

Morning: Getty Center

• 10:00 AM: Drive to the Getty Center (just off 405 in Brentwood). Parking $20; admission free. Ride the tram up the hill to the museum.
• 10:15 AM-1:00 PM: Explore the Getty. Must-sees: Van Gogh's Irises, the photography collection, the Central Garden (Robert Irwin's iconic landscape), and the Architecture Walk. The views from the Getty's south terrace — looking out over the LA basin to the Pacific — are the single best free view in Los Angeles.

Lunch: Brentwood or drive to Malibu

• 1:00 PM: Lunch options:
  • Getty Center Restaurant (on-site, casual upscale California cuisine with a view)
  • In-N-Out Burger (Sunset Boulevard at Santa Monica — an essential LA food experience; order Animal Style fries)
  • Drive west on Sunset or PCH toward Malibu for a coastal lunch at Malibu Farm Pier Cafe (on Malibu Pier, oceanfront seating).

Afternoon: Pacific Coast Highway and Pepperdine

• 2:30 PM: Drive north on Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) from Santa Monica to Malibu (30-45 minutes with stops).
• 3:30 PM: Pepperdine University campus (Malibu). The campus is on a cliff overlooking the Pacific — possibly the most dramatic setting of any university in the United States. Walk through the main quad, see the Theme Tower, and take in the ocean views.
• 4:30 PM: Continue on PCH past Zuma Beach, Point Dume, and optionally to Leo Carrillo State Park. Sunset over the Pacific from any PCH turnout is an essential LA memory.

Evening: Final LA dinner

• 7:00 PM: Dinner options depending on where you end up.
  • Malibu: Nobu Malibu (book ahead, oceanfront, splurge), Geoffrey's (classic oceanfront California cuisine).
  • Santa Monica return: The Lobster, Cassia (Southeast Asian, celebrated), Rustic Canyon (farm-to-table).
  • Westwood / Beverly Hills (closer to LAX for late flights): Spago (Wolfgang Puck's flagship, tasting menu), Craft (Tom Colicchio), Il Pastaio (Beverly Hills Italian).

What younger siblings get

The Getty Center is surprisingly family-friendly — the tram ride up, the fountains, and the open-air garden all engage kids. Pepperdine's campus is worth a stop just for the view. In-N-Out is a childhood memory in itself.

Budget Estimate (Family of 4, 6 Days)

For most families, $5,500-$6,000 covers a comfortable six-day LA trip. Budget-conscious families can drop to $4,000 by skipping theme parks and using Pasadena or Orange County hotels instead of central LA.

Packing Tips for LA Weather

• Layers. LA has 30-35°F daily temperature swings. Daytime 75-85°F summer, nighttime 55-65°F. Coastal mornings (Santa Monica, Malibu) are often 20°F cooler than inland afternoons (Pasadena, Claremont).
• Walking shoes. Expect 3-5 miles per day minimum.
• Sunscreen. Essential year-round. LA UV is high even on overcast days.
• Sunglasses. LA's light is intense.
• Portable phone charger. A day of driving, walking, and navigating drains phones quickly.
• Reusable water bottle. Fill at campus fountains and In-N-Out spots.
• Small umbrella or rain jacket. December-March, flash rain is real.

Booking Tips

• UCLA, USC, Caltech campus tours: Book 3-6 weeks ahead. UCLA tours especially fill fast.
• The Broad: Book timed-entry reservations online at least 2 weeks ahead. Walk-up admission exists but often has 2-3 hour waits.
• Universal Studios and Disneyland: Book tickets 2-4 weeks ahead for 15-20% savings. Consider Genie+ (Disneyland) or Universal Express (Universal) if your budget allows — skipping lines meaningfully extends what you see in a day.
• Getty Villa: Separate timed entry required. Note: the Getty Villa (Malibu coast, antiquities) and Getty Center (Brentwood, European art) are two different museums. Book the one that matches your interest.
• Huntington Library: Book timed entry online 1-2 weeks ahead on weekends.
• Restaurants: Nobu Malibu, Felix Trattoria, Majordomo, Craft, Spago all require 4-8 weeks advance booking. Most other restaurants accept 1-2 weeks.

What Not to Miss on a First LA Trip

• Getty Center (Day 6 morning — free and iconic).
• UCLA campus walk (Day 1 morning).
• Santa Monica Pier and beach (Day 1 afternoon).
• Downtown LA Walt Disney Concert Hall and The Broad (Day 2 afternoon).
• Hollywood Walk of Fame (Day 4 afternoon — touristy but undeniably memorable; walk through, don't eat there).
• Pacific Coast Highway drive (Day 6 afternoon).
• Universal Studios OR Disneyland (Day 5).

What to Skip on a First Visit

• Hollywood Sign hike. The view from Griffith Observatory or Lake Hollywood Park is equally good; the hike itself is crowded and parking is a nightmare.
• Rodeo Drive walk unless luxury shopping is the goal. The stores are the same as every other major city.
• Star tours buses around Beverly Hills. Overpriced and the "homes" are mostly fences.
• Madame Tussauds Hollywood. Overpriced wax museum.
• Helicopter tours. Expensive; LA's best views are already free from the Getty, Griffith Observatory, and PCH.

After the Trip: Turning Observations into Action

Within a week of returning home, the prospective applicant should:

• Write one page per campus: three specific things observed, one thing that impressed, one concern.
• Revise the school list: which schools moved up, which moved down, and why.
• Set TOEFL and SAT timelines: UCLA and USC both want 100+ TOEFL; Caltech 100+; Claremont 100+; Pepperdine typically 85+.
• Investigate pre-college summer programs for the following summer (see the accompanying guide to LA pre-college programs).

A focused 6-day LA visit followed by a structured follow-up plan is the highest-leverage trip most California-bound families can take in the year before application season. LA's sprawl punishes under-planning, but rewards families who commit to six days and a rental car with a richer range of campus experiences than any other American city.

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