Our first trip to LA, and it's going to be a short one. Just a day and a half for free time. What better way of getting an overview of the area than a hop on / hop off bus tour. We've taken the Big Bus option in London, and decided to try them again in LA. We were not disappointed.
The Big Bus LA has two routes that cover the most popular tourist stops. One involves the beaches and close by areas, One involves the Hollywood and Beverly Hills attractions. Both live and recorded tour narration is provided. The buses we were clean and ran well, And the drivers navigated LA traffic with aplomb.
To see best, get on the top of the bus. And bring a windbreaker...you'll appreciate it. Sunscreen is a must. Most of the time, I would recommend listening to the live tour. We sat near the live tour guides when we could and conversed with them at stoplights. They were all personable. Most were clearly enthusiastic. And all of them enhanced our experience.
Don't plan to see more than a couple of stops a day. They are just too interesting, and take time to experience well. So look at the routes, and chose what interests you most. Have fun (we did).