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As a resident of the Valley, I can certainly say you did not miss anything by not making it to Van Nuys. Don't get me wrong, the San Fernando Valley can certainly be a nice place to live (unless it's summer, then standing outisde in 120 degree heat is a bit of a buzzkill).
Things that are great about the Valley are...um, let me think... North Hollywood weird art galleries and shops. Lair De Sade. Ummm...still trying to think...nope, that's really about it. Until someone comes up with a porn valley tour bus, we pretty much look the same as everywhere else.
Places in the LA Area in general I can reccomend are Downtown Culver City (and the Museum of Jurassic Technology). Downtown Hollywood has gotten much better in the past 10 years so I can reccomend that. Melrose. Universal City Walk. Downtown Burbank. Beverly Hills...oh, and Jesus lives at Venice Beach, I'm convinced of it. Rent a bicycle for a ride down the venice beach bike paths, it's fantastic (and it's a good way to zip away from the crowds). Griffith Park. Santa Monica's art colonies and major shows (such as Cannibal Flower).
Places I personally would avoid are Chinatown and Olvera Street. Definitely overrated.
Places I personally enjoy are the Downtown LA Public Library. USC, CSUN, Stony Point in Chatsworth, the bazillion places to eat virtually anywhere, the Malibu beach, the Gene Autry Museum, Bob's Big Boy car night in Toluca Lake (every Friday). Granted, many people would be bored to tears by these things.
Oh yeah, and there's always Disneyland, Magic Mountain, or Knottsberry Farm. Those places kind of bore me though.
Best wishes always,
Jay
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