What’s up trvl likers? Today I consider myself a “Picasso of words” and I will depict below what to visit in California if you haven’t done that already. Or if you did, maybe you missed something and remember it for the next time.
I will start with….
Staying in Downtown LA
This might strike you as an intimidating, somewhat dizzying proposition. But, look past the skyscrapers and never-ending traffic, and you’ll discover that there’s a lot more to the area than what first springs to mind.
Cutting-edge architecture, world-renowned art galleries, gourmet experiences as good as anywhere else in the United States – the cultural vibrancy of Downtown is a big part of what makes LA the ‘Entertainment Capital of the World.’
The ethnic enclaves of Chinatown, Little Tokyo, and Korea town are all nearby, while sports fans can try to score tickets for basketball or ice hockey at Staples Center.
The nightlife needs little introduction other than to say that the dive bars, brew-pubs and exclusive cocktail joints make for an eclectic night out that you’re not likely to forget in a hurry.
Downtown LA is big and unashamedly boisterous, but once you’ve taken the plunge you might find yourself not wanting to leave.
Memories of … Beverly Hills
Glistening mansions, manicured lawns, tiny dogs in handbags: Beverly Hills is LA at its show-offy best. Hollywood makes the movies and Burbank hosts the media companies, but the actors, actresses, and film executives live in Beverly Hills.
The movie connections don’t stop there. The nominations for the annual Academy Awards are revealed at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater each January, where you can also catch screenings of Hollywood classics in their technicolor format.
The hyper-exclusive and hyper-expensive fashion boutiques on Rodeo Drive are famous for being exactly that. Spend an hour or two window-shopping here and you might even spot a member of Hollywood’s great and good (or not so good).
No introduction needed – Hollywood
No trip to LA would be complete without stopping for a moment to gaze up at those famous, pearly-white letters: HOLLYWOOD. But never mind stopping for a moment, how about using Tinseltown as a base from which to set off and discover all of LA?
You can get up early to stroll along the Walk of Fame and find the perfect spot to snap an unimpeded shot of the sign, before heading over to West Hollywood late afternoon to check out the restaurants, bars, and clubs on the Sunset Strip.
Yet for all the glitz, glamour, and excitable crowds on Hollywood Boulevard, this is a neighborhood for which the rewards of scratching beneath the surface are only all too apparent.
Local farmers’ markets, restaurants where you can hear yourself talk, intimate art galleries and music venues – you might visit to experience the magic of the movies, but that’s only the tip of the iceberg.
Ooh yeess, as you know life is a … beach and nothing is complete without a map of California coast beaches.
So, here it is a list with the best beaches in California and some say … in the world. That said, let’s continue with what to see in California.
Their own Venice Beach
Perhaps the most distinctive area of Los Angeles, Abbot Kinney founded Venice in 1905 when realized his ambition of creating the ‘Venice of America.’
Strolling along the canals before treating yourself to something from a food truck on Abbot Kinney Boulevard is a great way to introduce yourself to the neighborhood. LA is one of the world’s best street art destinations and Venice is no exception, with vibrant murals adorning many walls and buildings.
Venice Beach is a hive of activity, with surfing, beach volleyball and basketball making the area a great spot for people watching. The beach itself is one of LA’s widest and Santa Monica is just 30 minutes away on bike.
Just … Long Beach
Long Beach is the perfect spot for when you can’t choose between Los Angeles and Orange County. Situated just a 40-minute drive from the center of both, this coastal city-suburb of LA has plenty of its own distractions to keep you occupied, too.
The great beaches are matched only in quality by its fantastic art galleries, which include the Long Beach Museum of Art and the Museum of Latin American Art.
Time your visit to coincide with the Second Saturday Art Walk in the East Village Art District and you’ll be able to join the locals on their monthly wander around the neighborhood’s art galleries and cafes.
Looking for somewhere really special and just a little bit unusual? Look no further than The Queen Mary – the iconic ocean liner built in 1936 but which is now permanently moored up right here.
Hello Santa Monica
Santa Monica is a feel-good seaside city just a 20-minute drive from the heart of LA. The city just loves the great outdoors, with cycling routes, hiking trails and open, green parks lining the coast.
Get your feet wet with a paddle in the sea or go surfing to get everything wet, and you’ll quickly fall back in love with mother nature, too. There is more to Santa Monica than beaches and the nostalgia-inducing amusements on the pier, however.
Explore the laid-back downtown and you’ll stumble across great restaurants, stylish bars, and boutique stores, with the sea air and progressive mindset of the local population leaving you feeling very content indeed.
Glorious beaches one day, glitz and glamour in LA the next: staying in Santa Monica can give you the best of both worlds.
The ‘Bu = Malibu
This laid-back, star-studded beach town is one for lovers of the great outdoors. Whether you’re surfing, strolling on the sand, or hiking and biking your way through parks and forests, this is coastal LA at its most glorious.
With 51 kilometers of golden beaches and never straying very far at all from the wonderful coastline, “the ‘Bu” is less than an hour away by car from LA but feels like another planet altogether.
Watch the surfers at Surfrider Beach from Malibu Pier or soak up some weekday sun with the locals on Zuma Beach and you’ll quickly realize why.
To tear yourself away from the beach might seem like a mad idea, but when you do you’ll discover a lively town center and, beyond, the likes of Malibu Creek State Park, the Santa Monica Mountains and the Zuma and Trancas Canyons.
As I said …
“Life is short and the world is wide”, with a whole bunch of amazing places outside our “bubble”.
So, go explore it, before you realize it is too late. Actually, it is never too late…
Just THINK of THAT for 1 whole Minute!
