I have never stayed at any of these, just doing some research for you! These are near the Santa Monica Pier and had the best reviews. Travelodge Santa Monica Beach, Santa Monica 1525 Ocean Ave Santa Monica, CA 90401 $88 Pacific Sands Motel, Santa Monica 1515 Ocean Avenue Santa Monica, CA 90401 $90 Ocean Luxury Suites, Santa Monica 107 Broadway Santa Monica, CA 90401 Phone: 310-451-7657 No price given Ocean Lodge, Santa Monica 1667 Ocean Ave Santa Monica, CA 90401 Phone: 310-451-4146 $170.
Since LA is so spread out, there is no single place that is close to EVERYTHING. Most people who come here tend to stay in Hollywood, Santa Monica, or Anaheim. In Hollywood, I recommend the Orchid Suites, Hollywood Celebrity Hotel, or Hollywood Heights (formerly Holiday Inn Walk of Fame), all near Hollywood and Highland.
In Santa Monica, the Holiday Inn Santa Monica is close to the pier and reasonably priced. In Anaheim, I recommend the Howard Johnson (HoJo) Anaheim, and the Candy Cane Inn. There is also a nice place in Burbank called the Best Western Media Center, very close to Warner, NBC, and Universal Studios.
Two weeks is a good start, but allow 3 days for Chicago if you want.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.