Where to Take Mom in Los Angeles

That MSNBC article and subsequent discussion about what to do for 24 hours in LA was interesting, but ultimately not too useful. After all, we transplants usually attract heartland visitors for more than just a day.

Here's where Mrs. Newbie and I - after a mere three months to prepare - took Mom when she visited Los Angeles for the first time since 1988. She was here five days. We tried to stay in LA when possible. And we tried to respect red-state sensibilities. But we certainly ventured beyond city limits:

• Food Spots: Edendale Grill, There's No Place Like Home, Mimis Cafe, The Farm of Beverly Hills at The Grove, Islands of Burbank, Manny's Pizzeria of Pasadena, Marie Callenders of Carlsbad, Daily News Cafe at the Carlsbad Inn Resort
• Tourist Traps: Sea World, San Diego Wild Animal Park, Atwater Village Street Festival, Rodeo Drive, The Grove, Santa Monica Pier, The Getty Center, Mulholland Drive, Hollywood & Highland, IKEA Burbank, Old Town Pasadena, Griffith Park, Bob Hope Airport
• Places We Tried to Avoid: Downtown LA, anywhere in Hollywood other than Hollywood & Highland, the San Fernando Valley above Venture Blvd., Orange County
• Traffic Jams We Couldn't Avoid: I-5 & I-10, Wilshire & I-405, I-5 where they found the dead body in Norwalk, half the cross-streets along Sunset Blvd.