Not Ranked
My sons live respectively in Marina del Rey and Santa Monica.
LAX is about 45-minutes North or so (much depending on time of day) up the 405 from Hillbank Motorsports in Irvine. Peterson is off of Wilshire, very near Rodeo Drive. Again, depending on time of day, this is easily a one to two hour drive from LAX.
In regards to other things to see, Santa Monica is fun (albeit touristy), recommended restaurants include The Lobster (right on Santa Monica Pier/be warned though it is pricey). Best BBQ Ribs in LA are at a little hole in the wall restaurant off of Pico Blvd in Santa Monica called Mr. Cecils (right next to an Adult Book Store and across the street from an authentic Speed Shop). Old Santa Monica is also neat and generally it is where locals frequent. On Pico as well, is a Morgan dealer (always fun to visit as Morgan's are rare even in California).
Shelby's original location is in Venice (somebody mentioned earlier that although the building is still there, not exactly something you would appreciate unless you have a picture as a frame of reference). Venice is neat, in the process of being gentrified, but very SoCal. South of LAX is Manhatten Beach, El Segundo and other towns. Make sure you enjoy a fish taco at Waco Taco on the beach. Another little town 10-minutes from LAX and so far missed in the gentrifaction effort, is Playa del Rey. Many good family owned restaurants and the beach is usually empty as tourists have no idea it exists.
Generally when I visit the boys (I live in Northern California), we make it a Cars and Guitars weekend. Sons are both into guitars and some of the finest examples of both are found in LA if you know where to look.
Hope this helps.
Bob
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