re: Spending a week in Los Angeles with kids - Ideas?

I just saw HoustonGumbeauxGuy's sticky for everyone to report back on threads where we have asked advice on areas, so I thought that I would give some feedback for anyone taking the family to Los Angeles.

Sunday - Got to the hotel in Hollywood and took the family to Killer Shrimp in Marina Del Rey. The restaurant was great, but I TOTALLY underestimated how far Marina Del Rey was from Hollywood. We were going there so that we could eat dinner by the ocean, but in retrospect, we should have gone to Santa Monica.

Monday - I had to work so the family just walked around Hollywood, went to the wax museum, walk of fame, Chinese Theatre, etc. Just touristy stuff around Hollywood. They enjoyed it. That afternoon, we went to the La Brea Tar Pit Museum. Very cool for anyone into that kind of thing - life science, nature, etc. Also, went to the Clippers game at the Staples Center, which was very cool.

Tuesday - Went to Universal Studios. That was a blast. I am very glad we didn't drive an hour down to Disneyland. Very convenient, much more manageable crowd, and probably less expensive. Ate dinner at El Comprende. Pretty good food, but not all that kid-friendly. But, it was good and cheap and close-by.

Wednesday - Adult night w/ friends. Babysitter for kids. Went to dinner at Coast and went to Shorebar afterward. Both were excellent. Highly recommend both, but they are not easy to get into. My friend had the hookup.

Thursday - Thanksgiving. No touristy stuff.

Friday - Brunch at Ashland Hill in Santa Monica. Very, very good. Then took kids to Santa Monica Pier. That was a great time for everyone. I highly recommend that.

Thank you for all of the recommendations. Hope this helps the next person.