Oh, Los Angeles. I never thought I'd fall in love with the West Coast lifestyle. I’m now starting to reconsider this sentiment. This past weekend I took a memorable trip to the City of Angels for the very first time (well I went to Disneyland when I was 3, but I don't think that quite counts). California is exactly what it seems like in the movies. The breeze of the palm trees, the populated/animated city life, and the hours and hours of bumper-to-bumper traffic- which no, sorry I won’t miss. Rolling hills and mountains kissing the warm sand and golden coast. Big hopes and even bigger dreams greet you with every breath of fresh air. Los Angeles just feels different than anywhere else in the world. There’s so much I didn’t get to see, but it just leaves more to do for the next trip- which hopefully will be soon iA (fingers crossed). I feel incredibly grateful I got to visit such a magical place. For now, here are some highlights of an unforgettable trip.
In N Out
Our first stop- and I literally mean first stop. We hopped off the plane and drove straight to In N Out. I've never tried it before and because Cali is famous for it I definitely wanted to give it a try. For a fast food chain, it's not bad- at all. But keep in mind- it is FAST FOOD, so it's not going to be some fancy, gourmet burger. Nonetheless, it was yummy.
Griffith Observatory
I think this is one of my favorite places in the world. The view is incredible and everything seems so peaceful from the top of a mountain. You get to hit pause on the world, and everything is still. Walking around the observatory is calming. Views of downtown L.A. and the Hollywood sign are clearly visible. Parking is a mess, so plan to walk-I mean hike- A LOT. This place was breathtakingly beautiful, I couldn't get enough.
Hollywood Boulevard
Here you'll find the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Chinese Theater and the Dolby Theater (where the Academy Awards are held). It's super crowded with tourists but STILL one of those places you just gotta see. The Roosevelt Hotel (where Marilyn Monroe once resided), and the Jimmy Kimmel Studio are also located here. This area briefly reminded me of Vegas because of how animated and touristy it felt.
Hollywood and Highland Center
We just stumbled upon this little shopping center and ended up having dinner here. There was a full on live concert happening at the bottom (don't know who the artist was). If you're in the area, it's nice to walk around and do a little shopping.
Urban Light @ LACMA
One of the most popular L.A. tourist destinations. We came at night but it was extremely difficult to get a good picture for the gram. Had we stuck around longer, we might've gotten a good one. Nonetheless, it was a really cool spot and really stunning to walk through.
Rodeo Drive- Beverly Hills
Glitz, glamour. The land of the rich and famous. Let's just say, money talks. This area is so chic and so aesthetically pleasing to the eye.
Santa Monica
We were only able to check out one beach, but, I mean... anything beats Galveston. This area is so lively and again heavily populated with tourists. I wish we were able to walk the pier, but again we ran out of time.
Stout
We grabbed lunch in Santa Monica at a craft burger and beer joint. The burgers were delicious and I highly recommend it if you happen to be in the area.
Anaheim Packing House
Since we stayed in Anaheim, this was only 10 minutes away from our hotel. It's sort of like a food court- but a trendy one. There are so many food choices, and such innovative showcases of the food itself. If you do end up visiting, check out Mini Monster for their Matcha. You get to keep the light bulb "glass" as a souvenir. The gelato milkshake from Popbar was surprisingly yum (I got the coffee flavor).
California is vast, and there's so much to do but only so little time. The traffic will double your drive times everywhere so plan ahead, and try not to do too many things in one day. I really want to come back and see everything I wasn't able to. California gave me a new perspective on life and I did a lot of soul searching here. It gave me an opportunity to really think and clear my mind, and for that, it'll always be special to me.
-love Sof
Comments