Los Angeles — Sep 4–6

Los Angeles International Airport

1 World Wy, Los Angeles, CA 90045, USA

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The flight departed roughly 30 minutes earlier than scheduled and landed at LAX around 1:04 PM. After landing, we had to take a bus from the plane to Gate 227, which added a little time before I could head to the rental-car shuttle.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car - LAX Airport

5251 W 98th St, Los Angeles, CA 90045, USA

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The reservation is for 2:30. Getting outside, finding the shuttle and getting through the counter is the part of the day I have least control over.

Hotel in Torrance

About 20 minutes and 9 miles from the rental counter with no traffic, which at that hour is not a safe assumption. Drop the bag, sit down for a bit.

In-N-Out Burger

20150 Hawthorne Blvd, Torrance, CA 90503, USA

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Only if I want something before driving north. Universal is a long evening on an empty stomach.

Universal Studios Hollywood

100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608, USA

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Halloween Horror Nights. I have the Early Access ticket, which lets me in at 5:30; the event proper runs 7:00 PM to 1:00 AM. I also have express access, so the hope is to get through the houses well before closing — possibly much earlier. Arriving at 5:30 assumes everything above went smoothly. If the flight, the shuttle, the counter or the traffic eat the afternoon, I will just turn up later. I am not going to force the schedule if I am exhausted.

In-N-Out Burger

20150 Hawthorne Blvd, Torrance, CA 90503, USA

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The same one on the way back, if I come out hungry. Entirely depends what time I leave.

Monkish Brewing Co.

20311 S Western Ave, Torrance, CA 90501, USA

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Only if I get out of Universal early and still have something left. More likely this happens on Saturday instead.

IHOP

24737 Pico Canyon Rd, Stevenson Ranch, CA 91381, USA

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Food inside the park is expensive, so I would rather eat properly first. I have not looked into breakfast much; this is the obvious one near the park.

In-N-Out Burger

27510 The Old Rd, Valencia, CA 91355, USA

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The other way breakfast could go, and closer to the gate.

Six Flags Magic Mountain

26101 Magic Mountain Pkwy, Valencia, CA 91355, USA

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The park runs 10:30 AM to 10:00 PM and I have Fast Lane. I would like to be there at opening, but that depends entirely on what time I wake up after Horror Nights the night before. I genuinely do not know what time I will leave — early evening, late evening, or close to closing, depending on how much I get through and how useful Fast Lane turns out to be.

The Cheesecake Factory

4142 Via Marina, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292, USA

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Dinner after the park. No time on this because it depends completely on when I get out.

Monkish Brewing Co.

20311 S Western Ave, Torrance, CA 90501, USA

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If Friday night did not happen. Honestly this is the more realistic evening for it than trying to squeeze it in after Horror Nights.

Hotel in Torrance

Nothing planned this morning on purpose. Wake up, take it easy, out somewhere between 11 and 12.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car - LAX Airport

5251 W 98th St, Los Angeles, CA 90045, USA

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Return the car, then the shuttle back to the terminal.

Los Angeles International Airport

1 World Wy, Los Angeles, CA 90045, USA

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Flight back to Seattle at 3:04. Security, gate, and then sit still until it boards — I would rather have an hour spare than make the car return a sprint.