The city of angels is home to A-list celebrities and is an idyllic dream of California. With ocean side views in Malibu and boujee fashion boutiques on Rodeo Drive, LA is a bold and eventful destination. Although I only lived in Los Angeles for the first few years of my life, I have roots here as it is the city I was born in. Luckily, I have plenty of close friends that have brought me coming back on annual visits. A short 45 minute plane ride from San Francisco, LA makes for the perfect long weekend get away. Travel tip: I recommend flying into Burbank Airport rather than LAX. The Uber/Lyft prices and the overall congestion of LAX is highly chaotic.
Mode of Transportation
To get around Los Angeles, a car is an absolute must. There are several highways that run through the city. Those living in SoCal add the word “the” before the highway number, something us Northern Californians do not do 😜 For example in LA, it’s called ‘the 101.’ In the Bay, it’s just called 101! While making trips to Los Angeles, I am fortunate enough to be visiting friends who graciously drive me around the city. As a tourist, it is recommended to rent a car if you are flying in. Hollywood films often showcase bumper to bumper cars on the road. Be prepared to sit in traffic - it’s not an over exaggeration!
![Not depicted: the LA traffic, but a Range Rover cruising down Sunset Blvd. Be sure to visit this iconic road!](https://www.notion.so/image/https%3A%2F%2Fs3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fsecure.notion-static.com%2F071031d5-c9b6-4614-8743-6b3c5ae34d12%2F3E46E027-BA32-4EE1-9C8D-3BA961E7FB2A.jpeg?table=block&id=21052e4e-d5a6-429d-abdb-b63725c678ab&cache=v2)
The Hotel
While making many trips to Southern California, my friends are sweet enough to host me in their homes for a few days. On my most recent trip with my family, we stayed at the luxury Beverly Wilshire, a Four Seasons Hotel. Just steps away from Rodeo Drive, this stay was my favorite, as it was my first time staying at a 5-star hotel. The hotel exudes elegance and classic tribute to old Hollywood.
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To make your reservation, book here:
The Itinerary
University of Southern California
In May of 2021, I attended my graduation ceremony from USC. I was working towards my Master of Science in Human Resource Management and was on the one year, accelerated track. My family, Trevor, and I made the trip to Los Angeles to celebrate this milestone achievement from my dream university. The USC campus is full of water fountains, brick buildings, and an aura so strong of the Trojan spirit. The campus is worth visiting, especially during football season. Home to many famous alumni such as George Lucas, Judd Apatow, Will Ferrell, Lily Colins, Penn Badgley, Dave Franco and Neil Armstrong, this community is truly special!
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I was honored to be a part of the first class to ever graduate at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Under the warm Southern California sun, I walked the stage and felt so grateful for my loved ones who endured the heat to watch my special moment. Fight on forever! ✌🏼 🎓
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Moonshadow
Following a long day of the commencement ceremony, we made our way over to Malibu to enjoy an oceanside dinner. Having come here once before with my best friend Rita and her family, I wanted to bring my own family to experience dining by the surrounding sea.
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Perch LA
Located in downtown Los Angeles, we went to the rooftop restaurant where we enjoyed views of the city skyscrapers, live music, drinks, and food. Reservations are required at least several weeks in advance. Make sure to arrive on time, as there is only a 15 minute grace period. Take into account that LA traffic too! There is a parking lot with a fee right across the street for convenience.
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Umbrella Cafe
Located on Melrose Avenue is a strip of boutiques, restaurants, and cafes to check out. We met up with two of Trevor’s close friends for lunch at the Umbrella Cafe. I ordered a fun tiki drink and burger. Actor Nolan Gould, Luke from Modern Family, walked by our table and commented on my tiki drink 🤩 You never know who you’ll run into in LA!
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Melrose Ave
Following our delicious lunch, we checked out the famous Paul Smith Pink Wall, located on Melrose Ave. This spot is famous for its pink exterior and is the perfect place to pose for an Instagram photo.
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Rodeo Drive
Located right across the street from our stay at The Four Seasons, we enjoyed walking along Rodeo. You’ll witness flashy cars, people dressed in designer clothes, and boutiques selling items only the rich and famous can afford. Some parts of Rodeo reminded me of Vegas, with its boujee, high-end stores and dining. Rodeo Drive encapsulates the high-end life style of Beverly Hills.
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Cantina Frida
Just a block down from Rodeo, you can find delicious restaurants and bars. We enjoyed cocktails and tacos for lunch. The ambience of the restaurant was very pleasant. Make sure to stop by to fulfill your cravings!
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The BLVD PRIVÉ
Located at the Beverly Wilshire, a Four Season’s Hotel, this restaurant has charming decor and lights to make for a unique experience. I highly recommend coming here for a fancy occasion or for dessert and drinks.
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Kobe Bryant Mural
Growing up in my household, we were very big Lakers fans. The most exciting sports games I ever watched on my TV was when the talented Kobe Bryant was shooting a basketball. The whole world mourned the loss of the Black Mamba, his daughter Gigi, and the other 7 passengers in January of 2020. There are murals sprinkled around LA to pay tribute to the legend and his impact on so many.
![Although I have not yet gotten to visit this mural, my dad and brother Danny stopped by while leaving LA and roadtripping back to SF.](https://www.notion.so/image/https%3A%2F%2Fs3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fsecure.notion-static.com%2Faaf072a9-9f6a-4bb0-931f-f8c7d2e8e572%2FIMG_5806.heic?table=block&id=de30c951-8d9d-499e-97be-4484e44db3b2&cache=v2)
Survivor Finale
I was lucky enough to travel to LA on two separate occasions to experience being a seat filler at the CBS Television Studio. Watching host Jeff Probst read the votes out loud and announce the winner of that season of Survivor will forever be highlights of my life. I have never missed a single episode of Survivor and have been a loyal fan since season 1. Every week, I gather with family and friends as we analyze, cheer, and follow the journey of 18 strangers competing for the title of sole Survivor and the 1 million dollar prize.
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Cast Party
One of my friends works for Survivor and let us in on the whereabouts of the cast. The night before the finale and the night of, the contestants, fans, and famous alumni of the show gather together for a reunion for drinks and celebrations. I got to meet some of my favorite players and have real conversations with them. So. Much. Fun.
![Spoiler Alert: meeting Kentucky Nick, winner of Season 37, David vs. Goliath. Fun fact: The runner up, Mike White, is the producer and writer of the series The White Lotus. Angelina Jolie and a few of her kids were in attendance of the live finale as she is a friend of Mike’s.](https://www.notion.so/image/https%3A%2F%2Fs3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fsecure.notion-static.com%2F68e7c146-4854-464d-8486-766fab5f859d%2FIMG_9942.heic?table=block&id=0fa16619-fbe2-4dcc-b8ba-b8fed10a9dec&cache=v2)
Disneyland
One of my favorite places on earth is Disneyland, located 45 minutes south of Los Angeles in Anaheim. The magic of Disney is unmatched, as your biggest worry here is if you are able to catch every single ride before closing. My favorite time of year to go to the park is during the fall, as it’s covered with pumpkins.
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Several years ago, California Adventure had a night time show called World of Color. An absolutely enchanting and whimsical experience for us Disney fans! Make sure to catch the night time shows that are offered. I can’t wait for my next visit, where Trevor will see me in full Disney fanatic mode 😆
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Celebrity Run-In
Los Angeles is home to many celebrities. I’ve had several celebrity encounters, including seeing the cast of Modern Family at Disneyland when I went on a school trip with my choir. During a different Disneyland visit, I spotted the actor Drake Bell, from Nickelodeon’s Drake and Josh. One of my absolute favorite shows growing up, this was a big moment for me 🤣 Drake even wished me a happy birthday!
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Universal Studios Hollywood
Another famous theme park that is sure to entertain you is Universal Studios. The park gives tribute to Hollywood, including a red carpet entrance. My favorite part of the visit included the studio tour. During the tour, you will get to travel through working movie and television sets, see special effects, and exclusive behind-the-scenes secrets to film making.
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Griffith Observatory
The observatory is a staple monument to LA. So much so, it’s where Adele recently performed her comeback concert, broadcasted live with Oprah hosting. Griffith offers some of the best views in all of Los Angeles. The observatory also has a planetarium where you can watch a capturing show about astrology. You can purchase your tickets at the entrance.
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Hollywood Sign
Arguably one of the most iconic symbols of Los Angeles, one must visit the sign to mark your presence in the city of angels. Located adjacent to the Griffith Observatory, you can hike this mountain peak for a good workout. Make sure to bring water and wear tennis shoes for this activity!
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The Grove
Similar to Silicon Valley’s Stanford Shopping Center, The Grove is an outdoor shopping mall with many clothing boutiques, retail stores, cafes, and restaurants.
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New Year’s Eve
I closed out 2016 and rang in the near year of 2017 visiting Rita, where we met up with a group of friends for dinner and participated in a Hollywood bar crawl. We purchased a wrist band, where we had access to enter bars and some complimentary drinks were included. If you are in search of a travel destination for your next NYE, LA makes for a lively one!
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The Getty Center
Full of enchanting gardens and art exhibits, the Getty is a beautiful site to see. I visited with my girlfriends while here for my 25th birthday. We happily walked the grounds, taking in the views of the city of LA and the colorful flowers.
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You must make a reservation in advance to gain access to this museum. When I visited, admission was free of price. Check out their website to reserve your tickets for both The Getty Center and Villa.
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The Getty Villa
A separate attraction from the Getty Center, the Villa pays tribute to European culture and houses ancient Greek and Roman exhibits. The museum has gorgeous outdoor gardens and fountains to explore and wander.
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Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
One of the most famous scenes from the movie No Strings Attached was filmed here, where Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman get into an argument. Given the lampposts are outside of the museum grounds, no fee is required to see this iconic site.
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The yellow strings on the outside grounds of LACMA also make for a fun photo opportunity. It felt like I was walking in between strings of pasta!
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Hollywood Blvd
The famous Hollywood Walk of Fame is internationally recognized. It is a 15 block stretch that holds the most elite names of famous stars on the pavement. The Blvd is also home to the Dolby Theater and the TCL Chinese Theater, which is where many movie premieres are hosted.
![Featuring Courtney’s husky Skylar Brown and a Beverly Hills chihuahua enjoying a pup-o-chino](https://www.notion.so/image/https%3A%2F%2Fs3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fsecure.notion-static.com%2Fbcd555a3-896c-4a6f-8083-a8e6b593fdb4%2FIMG_5191.heic?table=block&id=fdaa0563-9992-4d5b-bfbb-0e32939c5f34&cache=v2)
Beverly Hills Sign
An iconic neighborhood and sign, this is the perfect spot to capture a souvenir photo. Located in the Beverly Hills Garden, this park is surrounded by lily pads. Make sure to stop here for pictures and play the song Beverly Hills by Weezer.
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The Broad
Want to see contemporary art? This museum is full of fun surprises. With free admission, be sure to reserve your tickets in advance through their website.
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The famous infinity mirror room by Yayoi Kasama is located at The Broad. Note that a chance to visit this room requires a reservation. When we visited, there was an iPad where you could enter your information and be added to the waitlist queue. Although a lengthy time until we got our reservation, it was one minute of pure magic. Check out the museum’s website for protocol to ensure the chance to experience this wonder.
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Echo Park
Surrounded by green lily pads and swan boats, this park is a hidden gem. For my next visit to LA, I am planning on renting a paddle boat and experiencing being on the lake for myself! The view from afar was lovely too 😊
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Malibu Farm
Located on the Malibu pier, this rustic bistro offers smoothies, coffee, cocktails, and other goodies to snack on while you overlook the gorgeous scenes of the ocean on the deck.
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Malibu Wine Safari
For my 25th birthday, I made a trip to LA with my gals by my side. Courtney was sweet enough to host us at her apartment for the weekend. The highlight activity included visiting Stanley the Giraffe. The tour includes being driven around in a large jeep. There are stops along the way for wine tasting in the hills of Malibu and feeding exotic animals. Stanley grabbed Gabby’s hat straight from her head thinking it was food 🤣 ❤️ 🦒
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We also got to feed zebras during the tour. I never thought I could get that close to one before! They were very friendly and eager to eat the lettuce from our hands 🦓 Make sure to book your tour at least a month in advance to ensure you get to take part in this memorable experience.
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Rosenthal Wine Bar and Patio
Located along the highway of Malibu, the giant chair, table, and wine cannot be missed. Although we did not get the chance to go inside for a glass, Rosenthal offers oceanside views, live music, and food trucks on certain days. Check their website for details to plan your visit.
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El Matador Beach
The views from this beach are absolutely breathtaking. Located further down in Malibu, there is a parking lot for easy access and a trail with stairs that takes you down to the beachfront. It was like I had found the stairway to heaven. Shoutout to Rita for showing me this magical spot.
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Santa Monica
With a lively pier and lots of restaurants to explore, Santa Monica is a beachfront destination that is a fun spot for everyone to enjoy. The pier has several rides and carnival games. We rented electric scooters and went up and down the streets, taking in the beach views and salty air. You can also rent bikes as a super fun activity, allowing you to maximize the views.
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The Bungalow
Looking for a fun place to grab drinks with friends? The Bungalow in Santa Monica won’t disappoint. Located at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel, there is usually a line that you have to wait in to get inside. I have come both during the day and on a separate visit in the evening. Both times, my friends and I enjoyed the cocktails and lively spirit.
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Fab Fit Fun Party
My friend Courtney is the queen of finding the coolest events in town. She scored us access to attend a party hosted by fab fit fun. The event took place at a mansion in Beverly Hills, where attendees enjoyed free facials, a pool party, drinks, flower bouquets, and lots of free beauty products.
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Home to iconic pop culture, you are guaranteed to get your fix of celebrity tributes and Hollywood monuments. Whether you are looking for an escape to warmer weather or in search of a city full of entertainment, Los Angeles is your destination. With the most renowned amusement parks, fashion boutiques, museums, and restaurants, you are sure to be in for a treat visiting the city of angels.