This was our first time in LA. Our flight was delayed and I felt a bit nervous getting in after dark, not knowing about the neighborhood and stuff like that. So dumb! The neighborhood is wonderful - quiet, but totally safe. Great location, the canals are sooo close and you can walk to the beach and boardwalk in less than 10 minutes. Marina del Rey is about that same distance and also worth checking out. If you're unfamiliar with LA, everything else is really far flung, so staying in an area like this, where you can just stay put and have fun is very valuable.