Although the activities during the dg.o2001 Conference may leave you with little free time, you may want to extend your visit to take advantage of the varied attractions in the Redondo Beach area and throughout Los Angeles.

For starters, a short walk right outside the hotel is Redondo Beach's King Harbor Marina, which serves as a major sport-fishing center. Along the double-tiered pier are dozens of shops, arcades and restaurants. Visitors often stop and select a live crab or lobster, have it cooked on the spot, and enjoy it at a nearby picnic table. Just south of the Redondo Pier and boardwalk is the comfortable and sunny Redondo County Beach.

One of Southern California's newest and most important landmarks is the new Getty Center - home to one of the country's largest art collections. In addition to the galleries, the dramatic Richard Meier-designed complex offers panoramic views of the region stretching from the ocean to downtown. Admission is free, but parking is $5 and requires advanc ed reservations by calling (310) 440-7300. Or, you may prefer to simply take the public 561 bus from the corner of Hilgard and Sunset ($1.35 each way) or a taxi cab.

In addition to the Getty, visitors may want to visit the L.A. County Museum of Art, located at 5905 Wilshire Blvd. Call (213) 857-6000 for information on exhibits. And be sure to visit the La Brea Tar Pits next door, containing Ice Age fossils discovered in tar pits along with exhibits and a paleontology laboratory.

Take advantage of sunny skies and the Conference's coastal location to visit Venice Beach, whose boardwalk is famous for entertainment, restaurants, unique shopping and the type of eclectic "characters" found only in LA. A similar though less-hectic experience can be enjoyed at the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica.

If upscale shopping is of interest, Los Angeles provides several destinations on the Westside. Among them:

• Rodeo -- 2 Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. (310) 247-7040
• Beverly Center -- 8500 Beverly Blvd. in Los Angeles. (310) 854-0070
• Century City Shopping Center & Marketplace -- 10250 Santa Monica Blvd. in Century City. (310) 553-5300

As a dining destination, Los Angeles offers a choice of restaurants too numerous to list. Within walking distance of the hotel alone, there are 15 restaurants to choose from, several on the ocean. Contact the hotel concierge for assistance.

Baseball fans may be disappointed to learn that the Los Angeles Dodgers will be in Denver playing the Colorado Rockies during the Conference. But the Dodgers will return Friday, May 25th to open a 3-game series against the Houston Astros. Call (323) 224-1- HIT for ticket information.

In addition, there are numerous publications and websites devoted to the attractions and destinations offered through the Los Angeles area. Or, simply contact the hotel concierge for guidance.