Unplanned Getaway

We had a few days off and drove to Los Angeles for an unplanned getaway. Sometimes the most enjoyable trips are those that aren't scheduled tightly.

The Daily Grill skirt steak

The first pleasant surprise was the Airport Burbank Marriott, not on anyone's list of top vacation hotels. Across the street from the Bob Hope Airport, the room was clean and quiet.

The hotel's restaurant, the Daily Grill, was very good. I had the skirt steak, which at $25 was one of the least expensive beef entrees. The Daily Grill marinates the skirt steak for twelve hours, and it came out tender and tasty. Companions' filets ($32) were perfectly grilled, and the blue-cheese crust had a sharp, rich flavor. Side orders of carrots, asparagus, and mushrooms were generously portioned.

Theater owner Sid Grauman has his own imprint.

The evening was still young. We took the seven-mile drive south for our first visit to Grauman's Chinese Theater. We goggled with the rest of the tourists at the stars on the Walk of Fame and the signature imprints on the forecourt. IMHO, the theater tour (adults $13.50) is a good value. Our knowledgeable guide had an anecdote for every exhibit. The women in our group were especially keen on the evening gown exhibits and artifacts like Elizabeth Taylor's jewels from Cleopatra (observations can be both sexist and true). The guide pointed out easy-to-miss sights such as the original natural-gas lamps behind the exit signs and paintings by bandleader Xavier Cugat and actor Keye Luke.

The "flash flood" has been around since early Westerns.

Universal Studios was next on the list. High-tech attractions have been added over the ten years since we last visited. We were entertained by all of them, but our favorites were the studio-tour tram ride that originated the whole Universal amusement park concept and the decidedly low-tech animal show. Also, a 360-degree 3D King Kong movie was a poor substitute for the destroyed-by-fire roaring ape's head rising from the pit.

It only cost $30 to upgrade our one-day ticket to a 12-month pass. We'll be back soon.