I'm afraid I'm still not very familiar with LA geography - what exactly is there in West LA? I'd imagine that's the side of town with UCLA and some of Beverly Hills.

I really wish I had car or knew someone who has a car as I'd love to explore the area more. A friend and I took the bus to the Beverly Center just yesterday, which was a nice taste of Beverly Center. Are there any neighborhoods/other local spots in particular you'd recommend? I've been meaning to see the Santa Monica Pier and Griffith Park, and the Getty Museum and Huntington Library are quite lovely.