Trip to Los Angeles

LA is so huge it depend how long you will be here, what you like, and where you will be staying. How do you like to spend your days, how much driving you like to do.

I personally like the beaches. Santa Monica and the pier is cool, so is venice beach. Otherwise for beach towns I'd head south to Newport (balboa island) or Laguna. Manhattan beach and Hermosa beach would also convey the LA beach vibe. You could go to malibu and walk the sands up and down for celeb sightings. If the weather is good.

I think Griffith Park is cool, there is the observatory, and hiking trails, and the LA zoo.

The original Farmers Market near 'The grove" shopping center for delicious food, that's two places you can go that are right near each other.

I like Olvera street (it's small) and China Town both within walking distance of each other for all little culture contrast. You could also do something downtown that same day, like go to the Bonaventure hotel. It's beautiful, if you go in the evening you can get drinks at the restaurant/lounge at the top, it rotates around and you will get gorgeous views of LA as the night falls.

If you are into architecture you can check out Disney Concert Hall and the LA cathedral, maybe the Getty Center.

It is also fun to go to the magic castle, but I think you need to be invited, otherwise you can go to Yamashiro's restaurant for dinner and magic.

Feel free to PM i can get more specific if I know what your style is and where you'll be.

Rodeo Dr, Venice Beach, Sunset Strip at night, House of Blues, Comedy Store, Queen Mary, Santa Monica Pier....

You should consider adding the Getty Center museum and Griffith Park Observatory to your list. Both have great views (air quality depending) and are really nice to walk around and explore.

If you go to Santa Monica, you can check out the Pier and Third Street Promenade. Venice has canals that are nice to walk around, too.

The California Science Center is a free museum and it has one of the space shuttles on exhibit (ticket required to see the shuttle). There is a Natural History Museum right next door.

Take a drive through Beverly Hills and Bel Aire to see the mansions. Walk around Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills.

See if there are any concerts or shows happening at the Hollywood Bowl. It's a really neat venue.

TripAdvisor is a great resource for travel. Check out their site.

We were there last year...stayed atnthe Beverly Hilton, walked to a top notch dinner at Flemings!!

We walked through Hollywood, Rodeo Drive, enjoyed Santa Monica Pier.

We enjoyed our stay!

I was just visiting my son in LA last week!
What "to do" depends on what you and your husband like to do...shop? eat/drink? hike? sight see? nightclubs? sporting events?
The Santa Monica pier and surrounding area is fun for most, lovely, great food and shopping, people watching, etc. The Queen Mary in Long Beach is pretty cool, as is a drive through Beverly Hills. There's plenty of sports teams (college and pro) and tons of concert venues so look into that if that's something you're interested in.
We took a morning hike in Runyon Canyon, high in the Hollywood hills, that was beautiful and the people (and doggie) watching on that trail was fun too.
You should probably get on tripadvisor and search there, you'll get a LOT more info and reviews than you will here.
Have fun & happy birthday!!!