los angeles, California- one of the states in the U.S. that you always return to. L.A. offers range. the most amazing thing about California is there is so much to experience. you can drive a couple of hours and you’ll be in a place that’s different than the last. in between your drives, you’ll find the most scenic routes with stunning views of the ocean and mountains.
getting here: fly into LAX (L.A. International Airport). there are usually a lot of non-stop and affordable flights with different times available. if the flight to LA is a long haul flight for you, try to arrange your flight time strategically, so you’re not as jet lag.
where to stay: always consider basing your trip around a central location. the best areas to stay are Brentwood and Santa Monica. airbnb is a must when it comes to a week-long + vacation. one of the main reasons why we went with an Airbnb instead of a hotel is to feel more at home. the little things like a coffee machine or tea kettle make a difference. stop by a grocery store to pick up what you’ll need for breakfast. as you can guess, breakfast at home saves time and money.
getting around: los angeles is best visited by car because you commonly drive everywhere. you can easily get to your rental car from LAX. once you leave the airport, you take a shuttle based on the car rental company and they drop you off. most car rentals are open 24 hours but double check this in case you’re arriving in the middle of the night. L.A. traffic is real, so try to plan your activities and day trips around traffic. this is key to using your time wisely. the one thing about driving is there will be charges for parking that range from $3 -$20 based on where you go and how long you stay.
restaurants:
there is every type of dinner in L.A. you can either go with relatively inexpensive restaurants or an expensive restaurant. both are good choices for good food. be sure to make reservations well in advance for more upscale restaurants.
felix trattoria: this restaurant definitely channels italy. i still dream about the focaccia. the pasta is so fresh- it’s hand rolled and hand cut.
scopa italian roots: try the lobster fra diavolo with mussels, fennel and garlic- a dish cooked to perfection. we so wished we went back to scopa for another meal.
great white: a place for breakfast, lunch and dinner in venice. it’s all in the details here. from the food to the decor to the ambiance.
malibu farm: ocean front dining? farm fresh food? best fish tacos i’ve ever had. after you’re done eating, you can take a walk on the pier and breathe in some fresh ocean air.
salt & straw – the rumors are true. this place is really good. it’s a perfect way to end your day. p.s. there are multiple locations.
sprinkles – the red velvet cupcake is light chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting and the dark chocolate cupcake is Belgian chocolate cake with bittersweet chocolate frosting rolled in dark chocolate sprinkles. need i say more?
- other recommended restaurants:
- - avra
- - nobu
- - elephante
leisure and activities:
getty villa –
one of the best hidden gems in west L.A. is the Getty Villa. it’s like a little piece of Europe with it’s classical architecture and Roman-inspired garden. get a reservation online beforehand, it’s free. parking is $20 on-site but you can park on PCH (Pacific Coast Highway).
venice canals – the beautiful and serene Venice canals. to get to the canals, enter in S Dell avenue, 25th Avenue, 27th Avenue, or Sanborn Avenue.
venice beach and boardwalk – a California classic. the atmosphere here is like no other. the sunsets are beyond beautiful. such a fun place to rent bikes and bike up and down the beach. there is a 2 mile stretch that has a bike path that leads to Santa Monica to the north.
sofi stadium- the reason this trip came to be in the first place- to watch the New England Patriots play the Los Angeles Chargers. sofi stadium is a masterpiece. the 360 degree, HDR video board is double sided and offers every person a perfect, close up view of the game.
griffith observatory – the perfect spot for soaking in California or the cosmos. you can also get a view of the Hollywood sign from here. there are hiking trails nearby and you can hike toward the sign along trails in Griffith park. admission is free but there are parking costs. they are closed Monday-Thursday. check out their website for more information.
santa monica pier and beach- this is a must stop. take in the beach view from the Ferris wheel or walk onto the sand. you can play a game of volleyball or have lunch on the beach. it is always famously crowded depending on day/season, so plan that finding parking can be a little tough.
beverly hills and rodeo drive – it’s so easy to fall in love with Beverly hills. it is one of the most luxurious places with high-end designer shops. unsuprisingly, the endless palm tree lined streets and beautiful mansions will leave you in awe.
day-trips:
los angeles → santa barbara → los angeles (about 1.5 hours from Los Angeles)
santa barbara – if you like being surrounded by nature and trees, mountains and ocean, then i imagine santa barbara is the place for you. santa barbara was even perfect on a cloudy day. we fell in love with santa barbara after only having spent a day here. it was a place that felt like home. steam wharf is a bit touristy but for good reason. you can get the best seafood here. don’t forget to check out butterfly beach and mission rose garden. the roses actually smell good.
toma – this is the most romantic restaurant with the best italian and mediterrean dishes. the ambience is perfect for a date night.
los angeles → san diego → los angeles (about 2 hours from Los Angeles)
san diego – a family friendly place where you can keep the kids so happy. there’s the san diego zoo and balboa park, which are in close proximity to each other. there is also the san diego safari. you can also head over to la jolla cova where you can enjoy the parks, playgrounds and incredible views of the beach. if you’re looking for a water activity, you can explore the sea caves on kayak tours. for dinner, there is a lot of options in little italy.
born and raised- it’s hard to think of a more scenic spot. the rooftop sets the scene with spectacular dinner views. try the french onion soup – so much flavor!
los angeles → laguna beach → los angeles (about 1 hour from los angeles)
laguna beach – a high end beach town. if it’s a gorgeous and sunny day, take advantage of a beach day. thousand steps beach is worth the leg workout (~150 steps). it’s a great swimming spot.
beaches:
el matador – this beach is a stand-out with it’s stunning cliffs and rock formations. it’s a place to laze out on a warm afternoon.
huntington beach – huntington beach is one of the busier beaches because it really is an ideal beach. after you’re done swimming or surfing, there are plenty of restaurants within walking distance to check out.
the best time to visit: the temperatures are definitely way hotter in the summer, so the most comfortable time to visit would be springtime and fall.
weather: california has almost perfect temperatures throughout the year.
locals: californians are friendly and have a more relaxed vibe.
language: English
currency: United States Dollar (USD)
power outlet: plug type A (two-prong plug)
safety: don’t leave valuable items displaying in the open in your car because we did see the aftermath of a car break in. i would say this applies to all places.
this has me california dreaming 💭 🌴☀️