European does LA in 5 days

[Blueharvester]

I'm flying to LA in 4 days, ready to make lots of new nerd friends at Siggraph08 at the LA convention center. I'm not planning on sitting all 5 days in the center though, so what could a good old dumb European like me do in his spare time?

Now I was in LA two times already, both short business trips where I couldn't see shit, so Mann's Chinese Theater and the Hollywood Boulevard is still on the table. As is a visit to a good IMAX to watch The Dark Knight.
I'm staying in a cheap hotel "Cecile" in Downtown, any hints towards transportation to a beach? Sub? Cab? Rental? Foot soldier? Which beach?

Thanks for any travel info!

[Tieman]

Public transportation sucks in LA. You're best off renting a car or you'll spend most of your day switching buses in order to get from downtown to the westside.

[Robert Hill]

I say rent a car and do the PCH drive from the 10 freeway to Point Mugu. Stop off and see all the sights like the big W and the two Getties, Getty Villa and the Getty Center(get tickets on the net before you go). Malibu is by far my favorite part of LA county. I live in the OC, and like it better for the most part. I think that Malibu is the best city in SoCa. Long beach can also be fun.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malibu,_California

[MikeShaynePI]

There aren't any good IMAXes in LA.

[Robert Hill]

There aren't any good IMAXes in LA.

this why i live in the OC :D

[Jake]

Public transportation sucks in LA. You're best off renting a car or you'll spend most of your day switching buses in order to get from downtown to the westside.

Well, the Metro Rapid has improved downtown-to-Westside transport quite a bit. That being said, since you're just visiting, definitely rent. And for the love of everything holy, do NOT go swimming near the Santa Monica Pier. Either head north (Zuma Beach) or south (Huntington Beach, etc) unless you happen to enjoy swimming in water that tastes like bile and leaves you coming out of the water smelling like a used porta-potty.

That's what my guests got for not listening to me when they visited.

[Robert Hill]

living down the street from Huntington Beach. I got to say HB is not what I would call real clean, although the waves are nice. I am look out the window at the state beach as I type this.