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Notes -
This is pretty similar to my sentiments as well. The version of LA you may think of from the movies no longer exists and the city has been coasting on its reputation for a while. That being said, LA is an agglomeration of cities of varying sizes, some doing better than others, and many of them are still fantastic places to visit.
If you're looking for a place to stay with family, I'd suggest the area around Marina Del Rey - Playa Vista - Culver City. It's just a short drive from all the interesting bits of Westside LA but also relatively quiet. There are also a lot of small boutique hotels up West Hollywood/Beverly Hills/Sunset Strip which are quite nice and walking distance to a lot of restaurants and nightlife if that's on the agenda. I wouldn't stay in DTLA unless it's a high-end hotel. Pasadena is also just a short drive from DTLA, and may be a destination on its own. It has very "classic California" vibes. There isn't a lot for tourists immediately South or East of DTLA.
LA during the holiday season is very pleasant, you will find that many people in the city have "gone home" for the holidays. Traffic will be a lot lighter than usual around the time you're visiting. Hopefully you don't encounter gloomy weather during your travels here.
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