Whether you’re a temporary visitor or long-time Los Angeles local, you probably already know by now that LA is home to many, many museums. Some of my favorites that I’ve blogged about before include LACMA, the Broad, MOCA, and the Getty. When I heard that LA was getting its very own MUSEUM OF ICE CREAM (say whaaat?), I knew this was going to be something I'd have to add to my LA bucket list stat. The Museum of Ice Cream (MOIC) got its start in New York last year and made its way to LA’s eclectic and trendy Arts District just this past month. As an ice cream lover (is there anyone who isn’t, though?) and a seeker of all things fun & adventurous in LA, I got a few girlfriends who were equally as interested and we bought tickets to visit this past weekend. 

The MOIC has 10 different colorful exhibits that you pretty much need to see to believe. It felt like we were on the set of a Katy Perry music video or walking through a real-life Candyland. The various exhibits will appease all of your senses, from sight (well, obviously – everything in the MOIC is colorful, vibrant, and uniquely aesthetically pleasing), taste (you get to taste Dove chocolate, a small scoop of McConnell's ice cream, a mini cone of cookie dough, half of a mint chocolate chip mochi, gummy bears and a pancake ice cream sandwich - aka sugar overload), to smell (there’s a scratch & sniff pink banana wall), to sounds (you can call an “ice cream” fairy from the pink telephones hanging on the wall in one of the exhibits), and even touch (there is none other than a pink pool full of plastic sprinkles that you can “splash” around in at your leisure). It’s basically sensory-overload in here. 

MOIC also creatively integrates some of LA's top tourist attractions into its decor, making it feel like you're in a dream-like California paradise. From pink ice cream cone palm trees, a "Venice Cream" and MOIC Hollywood sign, and even an ice cream Wake of Fame. I loved the attention to detail the organizers and artists put into making the museum specific to its Los Angeles location. This probably goes without saying, but make sure you bring something to snap pictures with at the MOIC – the aesthetic in here will make you want to capture each and every colorful, majestic moment. 

The Museum of Ice Cream is located at at 2018 E 7th Pl, Los Angeles, and admission is $29 per person. Tickets are not available at the door; all tickets must be purchased online prior to arrival. For more information or to see if there are any available tickets for purchase, visit this link:

https://www.museumoficecream.com/los-angeles/

I'll stop the world and melt with you, Los Angeles. <3

As busy and hectic as my life typically is, I’m always in search of a quiet and serene place to relax in this chaotic city. I’ve learned that sometimes you need to venture just outside of Los Angeles to really find and enjoy that peaceful and tranquil setting you’re looking for. This brings me to a new just-outside-of-LA destination that I recently discovered and wanted to share with you all: the little-known Los Angeles Arboretum. The LA Arboretum is located in Arcadia, just minutes away from the infamous Santa Anita Racetrack. I’d say from Downtown LA, it’s about a 30-45 minute drive over here (and parking here is free – woo!). The Arboretum is basically a giant park that will take you about 2-3 hours in total to fully walk through and explore. It’s home to a wide variety of plants, trees, flowers, green houses, animals (the prettiest peacocks are all over the place near the entrance), and plenty of areas to sit back and relax with a good book or good friend.
 
The LA Arboretum is local, hidden gem with plenty of photo ops, whether you’re looking for a spot to take some professional pictures or just snap some shots with your iPhone.  Make sure to grab a map on your way in to get the lay of the land and to ensure you stop by all the main attractions, and I'd recommend bringing a camera, water, sunscreen, hat, and comfortable shoes for walking.
 
Overall, any place near Los Angeles that allows me to explore beautiful nature in a peaceful and quiet setting gets an A in my book. Click here to read all about the lovely Los Angeles Arboretum, and click here for the Arboretum’s hours of admission.

If your childhood was anything like mine, Disney movies were probably a close fried of yours growing up. From Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, Aladdin, Pocahantas, The Lion King, and many more - these movies were such an integral part of shaping my - and so many other youngin’s - imagination and creativity. I'll always consider myself a kid at heart and am quite the dreamer/creative thinker, so of course I still enjoy watching both the classic and new Disney movies. Since moving to L.A. almost two years ago, Disneyland has been near the top of my L.A. Bucketlist. I've been to Disneyland a few times growing up and loved it, but it's been about 15 (ish?) years since my last visit so I was well overdue for a Disneyland outing. And, just as I remembered as a child way back then, it did not disappoint. :)
 
Disneyland is one of two theme parks (next to the newer California Adventure park) built at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim. Anaheim is about a 30-60 minute drive from L.A., depending on where you are coming from. It opened on July 17, 1955 and is the only theme park designed and built under the direct supervision of Walt Disney himself. Since 1955, more than 600 million guests have visited Disneyland, which is almost double the current population of the US. In 2012, Disneyland attracted 16 million visitors throughout the day, which equals to an average of 44,000 visitors per day. All I can say is WOWZA – it sure is popular! And obviously, for good reason. Disneyland, L.A.’s most beloved theme park, allows visitors to “enter a magical kingdom where you can sail with pirates, explore exotic jungles, meet fairy-tale princesses, dive under the ocean and rocket through the stars—all in the same day!” (thanks Disneyland website). Aaand it has plenty of yummy treats to enjoy, super fun rides, cute shops to peruse, and much more to be entertained by. There’s truly something for everyone here, and all ages are welcome!
 
For our trip to Disneyland on President's Day, we arrived at the Mickey & Friends Parking Lot at about 7:45am and made it to the front gate by about 8:15am. I am so glad we woke up extra early to enter right around opening time (8:00am), because the park was so nice and quiet until about 9:30am/10:00am. And then, as expected, it became extremely crowded and chaotic. I'd definitely recommend coming first thing in the morning to enjoy the park before it gets too busy.
 
We spent a solid half-day at Disneyland (it definitely wears you out, y'all) and felt like we got to see the whole park and experience (and eat) all of the top things we wanted to. Our favorite treats were the Mickey-shaped Beignets from Mint Julep Bar in New Orleans Square and the infamous Dole Whip (a tasty ice cream float with pineapple flavored frozen yogurt and fresh pineapple juice) from the Tiki Bar in Adventureland. Our favorite rides were all of the Star Wars rides (we love all things Star Wars!!) including Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters, Star Tours, and Hyperspace Mountain. Before your visit, I would highly recommend reading about Fast Passes HERE - we got fast passes for all our of top rides as soon as we entered the park, and the longest line we waited in was only about 10-15 minutes. This made our Disneyland experience so much more enjoyable.
 
Overall, who could not love Disneyland?! I had a really fun and memorable day at one of our world's most beloved them parks, and I'd love to go back soon (and hopefully before another 15 years passes me by...)! Click HERE for all of the details you need to know about Disneyland, and click HERE to purchase your tickets. 

 Out of all of the things I enjoy about living in Los Angeles, In-N-Out Burger is definitely near the top of the list (and it’s becoming a pretty long list). I mean, who could resist their perfectly cooked fries smothered in grilled onions, melted cheese, and tangy spread, or their delicious, fresh burgers with all of the fixings? And don’t even get me started on their creamy Neapolitan milkshakes…

BRB, I am now drooling.

But really – In-N-Out is a Los Angeles/California fave and something I will truly never tire of. In-N-Out Burger was founded in Baldwin Park, California, just about 20 minutes outside of Los Angeles, in 1948 by Harry and Esther Snyder. The restaurant was the first drive-through hamburger stand in California, and visitors could simply pull “In-N-Out” to order a burger, fries, and cold drink. This was a unique concept at the time and something that not surprisingly gained popularity. To date, there are hundreds of In-N-Out Burgers open in California, and it truly is “quality you can taste.”

When I saw a friend post on Instagram about visiting the replica of the first ever In-N-Out just outside of Los Angeles, I knew this detour would make a unique addition to my blog. This replica In-N-Out is tiny – only about 100 square feet inside – and it closely resembles the first of its kind built way back to almost 70 years ago. It’s adorably decorated with classic red and white awnings, vintage soda bottles in the window sill, a vintage cigarette vending machine, and a display of their classic menu - but with prices that will sorta blow you away.

This replica is free to visit and open to the public Thursday through Sunday from 11:00am – 2:00pm. If you stop by at any other time, you’ll still be able to see the cute burger stand but a big metal fence will be in your way – so I’d recommend going when this spot is open to visitors. While you can peer inside of the burger stand and see what In-N-Out’s first kitchen looked like, don’t expect to order your burger and fries here. The replica doesn’t serve food, but lucky for you (and me!) there is an In-N-Out Burger just a 2 minute drive away. So, if you’re an LA local, the next time you’re craving their incredibly delicious animal style fries or that juicy double-double, head on over to Baldwin Park and stop by the replica before/after you dine. The best adventures are those that come with a delicious meal on the side, and I hereby give you permission to fully and completely #treatyoself (not that you ever need anybody's permission to indulge - it just felt fun to write that). 

The replica of the first ever In-N-Out is located at 13766 Francisquito Ave., Baldwin Park, CA and from there you’ll see the “real” In-N-Out just beyond the freeway.
 
Enjoy, my friends! 

If you’re looking for your next great outdoor adventure in LA’s own backyard, Griffith Park is home to a wide variety of hiking trails. There’s something for everyone in these sprawling mountains, and I think we can all agree it’s sometimes necessary to escape the busy and bustling streets of LA and enjoy fresh air and nature all around us. Within Griffith Park, you can hike up to the hidden gem Wisdom Tree, the iconic Hollywood Sign, the famous Griffith Observatory, and many other trails varying in difficulty level. Griffith Park is also home to Bronson Canyon, and inside of it, the Bronson Caves – somewhat of a hidden gem, somewhat of a Hollywood iconic location. This man-made cave has become a well-known filming location for a wide variety of movies and TV shows over the past 50+ years. It’s most well known, though, for being the cave that the Batmobile stormed out of in the 1960’s Batman TV series starring Adam West. When it’s not being used for filming, visitors can walk right through the 50-foot tunnel-like cave and explore it at their leisure. Pretty cool, huh?
 
What’s great about these unique caves is that the hike to get up here is definitely an easy one. From the parking lot (more details on easy parking are below) to the caves, it was only about a 10-minute walk at a very small incline. Total, it’s about 0.6 miles round trip. So, it’s more of a leisurely walk than a hike, but you can continue to explore the trails within Bronson Canyon/Griffith Park beyond the cave if you’re interested in getting more of a workout.
 
For the best parking for the Bronson Caves hike, plug this trailhead address into your GPS: 3200 Canyon Drive, Griffith Park, Los Angeles, CA 90068. There is a small parking lot at the trailhead and there is street parking along Canyon Dr. if this lot is full. The trail to the Bronson Caves starts on the fire road (easily identified by the red steel gate closed shut) on the right hand side at the end of the road by the parking lot. You will take this road about a quarter of a mile until you see the Bronson Caves on your left hand side. While these directions may sound simple and probably even a little too vague, trust me - you can’t miss the caves! Overall, this is an easy and unique adventure to go on in if you’re looking for something simple and if you’re already in the area. Bring your buddies and a camera – that’s really all you need to go out there and explore! 
 
For other hiking ideas in LA, here are some of my favorites that I’ve blogged about before:

• Wisdom Tree & Hollywood Sign Hike
• Abalone Cove Shoreline Park Hike
• Debs Park Hike

Malibu Wine Safari Tours takes guests on a journey through the 1,000 acre Saddlerock Ranch and vineyards in the gorgeous back hills of Malibu, allowing you to taste delicious wine and meet & feed adorable safari animals on the way. This year instead of buying things I didn’t need on Black Friday, one of my best friends and I decided to go on a Black Friday adventure instead. I had been to the beautiful Malibu Wines outdoor winery before with friends, but had on my bucketlist the Malibu Wines Safari tour for something fun and unique to do in LA.  

My friend and I and a group of about 15 other people embarked on a fun 1.5 hour journey in a large, custom-built, open-air safari jeep. We chose the "Explorer Safari" tour for $65 each, which included a tasting of 6 different wines throughout various stops on the tour as well as adorable animals to see and feed. We got to meet some cute llamas (Michelle O'llama was my favorite furry friend!) and alpacas, a small family of zebras (the few week old baby was so adorable!), and some furry bison. Along the journey, our tour guide shared fun facts about the grounds, the history of Saddlerock family and ranch, and the stories of where the animals came from. Our tour didn't include meeting Stanley the Giraffe, but if it's within your budget, I'd recommend you add this on to your tour!

The tour was fun, the animals adorable, the wines tasty, and the scenery incredibly beautiful. This made for a wonderful post-Thanksgiving adventure, and I was so impressed by how beautiful and massive the rolling hills of vineyards were that supply wine directly to Malibu Wines. If you're looking for something fun and unique with a friend or family in town, I'd recommend you read more about the Malibu Wine Safari tours here - keep in mind that reservations are required in advance!

Los Angeles is full of some incredible hidden gems. Some of my favorites that I've explored so far are the Mosaic Tile House, Hollywood Reservoir, DTLA's Central Library, and the Fine Arts Building. Since living in Los Angeles for over a year now and exploring the ins and outs of this city, I'm learning that I sometimes need to step outside of the city lines to continue discovering exciting and special hidden gems to share with my beloved readers. This brings me to an adventure I recently went on in Laguna Beach, a beautiful coastal city just south of Los Angeles and in Orange County. Specifically, I visited Victoria Beach, a white sandy beach home to a whimsical, beautiful, straight-out-of-a-story-book, 60-foot cement tower, commonly known to locals as the “Pirate Tower" or "La Tour," which is french for tour.

According to a mini history lesson on CaliforniaBeaches.com, this tower was built during the same time as the house at the top of the cliff, all the way back in the 1920's. It was originally built as a way to get from the house down to the beach, and there is a spiral staircase built within the tower to enable people to do so. The staircase is not open to the public, and the public is not permitted to go inside of the tower. The house at the top of the tower is known as the "Norman House" and was built for CA State Senator William Edward Brown and his family as a vacation home.  

While Victoria Beach is lined with the Norman House and many other beautiful cliffside mansions, the beach itself is open to the public and there is a cement stairway leading directly to the beach from the neighborhood streets (direct address of home to the left of the staircase listed below). The staircase is fairly short (sandals will be just fine), and as you make your way onto the beach from the staircase, you will begin to walk down the beach to the right hand side. The tower is only about a 3-5 minute walk down the beach to the right, but this walk will be easy or more complicated due to the tide level at the time of your visit. I'd recommend looking up low-tide times before you go, since high-tide will make the trek over to the tower basically impossible (because there will be little to no beach and the waves will be crashing into the rocks). I looked up the low-tide levels before I made the trek down here, but the day I visited happened to be somewhat stormy (because, life) and the tide level seemed much higher than it should have been at the time. I was able to walk over to the tower but got slightly wet while doing so (not typically a big deal, but it was pretty chilly out) and could only stay for a few minutes before the incoming, crashing waves started to freak me out a little. If the tide is low and the weather nice, you should be able to easily walk around the large rock/cliffs. After you walk for a few minutes, you will soon approach a circular concrete pool full of sand and water. Continue to walk just past the pool and you will see the lovely tower on your right-hand side. Snap some pics, hang out and have a picnic with friends, go for a swim in the wavy waters, relax and read a good book - or whatever type of adventure your heart desires!

Here are the need-to-know details:

Address: Put this address into your GPS: 2713 Victoria Dr , Laguna Beach, CA 92651. The staircase is directly to the right of this address. 

Park: Visitors are not permitted to park in the neighborhood. Park on PCH and walk down to the address listed above (it shouldn't take you more than 5-10 minutes tops). People drive FAST on PCH so please be careful, folks.

More Info: Click here to read plenty more reviews, tips, and insights on Yelp.

Happy exploring, my friends!

P.S.: I included some additional pictures of the tower and beach below, but taken from others. I found them online and thought they were b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l! The day I visited it was obviously pretty crowded and not as picturesque as it would have been minus the high tide and cloudy skies. Enjoy!

​If you're looking for a (gorgeous) upscale food court with incredibly delicious food vendors just outside of Los Angeles, look no further! This historic railroad building in Anaheim has been transformed into a modern, whimsical, food lover's paradise. With immense natural lighting, succulents of all types hanging from the ceilings, minimalistic decor, boutique style food vendors, and live music - this place fits in quite nicely into the eclectic city of Los Angeles. The various 20 or so food merchants all appear to have high reviews on Yelp, which shows that each and every spot here is thoroughly enjoyed by its visitors. You can click here to review all of the vendors, to map your foodie adventure out before you go. No matter what you're craving (coffee? boba tea with cotton candy? goat cheese and apple grilled cheese sandwich? ice cream? dry shaved ice? #allthefoods), Anaheim Packing District has probably got it. And lucky for you, there is free parking on the streets nearby the Packing District, which can sometimes be a rarity around the LA area. But in case you go when it is unusually crowded, you can pay $3 for valet and then head in and explore to your hearts (and stomachs) content!

Anaheim Packing District is located at 440 S. Anaheim Blvd, Anaheim, CA, 92805 and is open from 9:00am - 10:00pm daily (but keep in mind some vendors don't open until 12:00pm daily).

Click HERE for more information. Enjoy, my friends!

I always appreciate when I can get outside and enjoy the fresh air on the weekends considering 90% of my week is spent indoors. And luckily, the day my friends and I decided to go hiking in Palos Verdes gifted us with the most beautiful Southern California weather – sunny and 75 degrees with a calming and cool breeze. As we drove into the beautiful city of Palos Verdes, just south of Los Angeles and near San Pedro, I felt a sense of calm come over me. I took in a deep breath of ocean air and was grateful to be away from honking horns, traffic, smog, and my typically busy weekend life for this short while.
 
After my friends and I easily parked at the parking lot directly next to Abalone Cove Shoreline Park, we made our way down the main path to the left of the parking lot. There are plenty of trails located here and it’s easy to find your own way without a map or any knowledge of the trails (or at least was the case for us). This trail is right along the coast the entire way and has limited shade (wear sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, etc.!), but the views from each and every turn were so beautiful! We all commented on how blue the water was, how stunning the cliffs were towering over it, and how it didn’t feel like we were in Los Angeles anymore. We followed the trail along the coastline for about 45 minutes or so before turning around and following the trail back the same way we came. We probably could have put in a little more effort during our hike, but... our stomaches were growling and burritos were calling our names! 
 
I’m not sure what the swimming conditions are like here or what it’s like to explore the tide pools (we didn’t bring swim suits so didn’t even try to swim, but I read online after we visited that the tide pools here are closed until further notice due to falling rocks and unstable cliffs above). But, even if you are unable to currently explore the tide pools, you can still treat yourself to a great hike with gorgeous coastline views!
 
The Details
Abalone Cove Shoreline Park is located at 5970 Palos Verdes Dr S., Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275. There is a parking lot directly next to this address that will cost you $0 for 30 minutes, $6 for 2 hours, or $12 for the day.
 
Click here for more information about the Abalone Cove Ecological Reserve. 

Since moving to Los Angeles in March 2015, I've had various moments that have taken my breath away and absolutely amazed me - the kind you "oooh" and "ahhh" over. And stepping inside this hidden gem, the Fine Arts building in the financial district of Downtown LA, was definitely one of them. LA: if you keep swooning me like this, I may never be able to move away from you!

Built in 1928, and today declared as an official Historic-Cultural Monument in Los Angeles, this Los Angeles landmark building was originally built to house galleries of local DTLA artists. Today it houses both studios and galleries for local artists throughout its 13 stories, and the lobby is open to the public daily, featuring rotating artist's work each month. My friend Crystal (@QueenofSmarts on Instagram; who introduced me to this space - thank you, my friend!) and I entered the space around 11:30am and on a Saturday, and other than a security guard standing behind a reception deck, we were the only ones in there. I immediately thought, "Whoa. How come I've never seen or heard anything about this building?" I guess that's what makes it such a special "hidden gem." Both the exterior and interior are impressively designed with a Romanesque style, and some of the interior design touches make me feel like I was back in the 1920's. I was especially a fan of the beautiful, vintage mailboxes toward the back of the lobby area, the intricate detail in the bronze elevator doors, and the decorated ceilings with vintage chandeliers. The artwork and sculptures in each of the glass casings lining the walls of the lobby were interesting to read about and beautiful as well. We took our time to visit each casing, read about the artist and their work, and soak in all that this special place had to offer.

If you're a fan of beautiful architecture, a free adventure, and love art - look no further, my friend. This almost 100-year old building is just the place for you to explore. Stat. Take your time to marvel in the design both outside and in, while you browse the works of art available for the public's enjoyment.

Hours of Operation
Unfortunately, I was unable to find the lobby's hours online and also couldn't find a contact phone number to call and ask. I visited on 11:30am on a Saturday and had no problem entering the space.

Address
811 W. 7th St., Los Angeles, CA 90017

Los Angeles continues to inspire me with its special hidden gems, one-of-a-kind historic landmarks, and impressively designed architecture. Looking forward to what I will discover next!

You don't need to dine atop a fancy rooftop in L.A. to see and enjoy sweeping views of the L.A. skyline. Enjoy my 10 favorite (free) downtown L.A. skyline views below - with pictures (100% of pictures are my own) and addresses for each of these spots. I hope you find this post helpful, and happy exploring to you!

Those with a government ID (drivers license or ID card) can visit the observation deck at Los Angeles City Hall for FREE on Monday-Friday from 9:00am-5:00pm. This observation deck is located on the 27th floor, and the views of the developing skyline from this spot are picturesque. Click here for more information about this spot in another one of my blog posts. Los Angeles City Hall is located at 200 N. Main Street in Downtown Los Angeles.

The views from the L.A.D.W.P. building in Downtown L.A. are some of my absolute favorite! Click here for more information about this spot in another one of my blog posts. This building (the surrounding grounds are open to the public) is located at 111 N. Hope Street in Downtown Los Angeles.

Pershing Square is a public park smack-dab in the middle of Downtown L.A. The park hosts some pretty amazing 360 degree views of the L.A. skyline. It's a peaceful and quite place to kick back and enjoy an urban picnic as you enjoy the views. Pershing Square is located at 532 S. Olive Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013. 

The First Street Bridge connecting East L.A. to Downtown L.A. is a great spot to enjoy D.T.L.A. skyline views because it is the bridge that runs perfectly perpendicular to it. You can see First Street Bridge's location here on Yelp.

Although not as impressive or perpendicular as the view from the First Street Bridge, the 4th street bridge also connects East L.A. to Downtown L.A. and has gorgeous views of the L.A. skyline. The bridge itself is impressively designed. You can see 4th Street Bridge's location here on Yelp.

I was driving from Downtown to my apartment recently and stumbled upon this beautiful view. There are meters nearby, so you will need to park at one of these, and then be careful as you walk to this overpass (look for traffic, waiting for the walking symbol, etc)! Cars drive very quickly around here.  The address here was near 505 S. Beaudry Ave; Los Angeles, CA 90017.

While Elysian Park in Los Angeles is home to a variety of hiking trails, it's also home to an incredible view of the L.A. skyline + Dodger Stadium. Click here for more information about this spot in another one of my blog posts. Angel's Point at Elysian Park is located at 1880 Academy Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90189.

Welcome to LA's gateway to the cosmos - the incredibly beautiful Griffith Observatory! Not only is this a great (free) location to check out and enjoy the impressive astronomy exhibits, but you will have beautiful views of the L.A. Skyline and even the Hollywood Sign. Click here for more information about this spot in another one of my blog posts. The Griffith Observatory is located at 2800 E. Observatory Road, Los Angeles, CA 90027.

As you enter the lookout point at the Hollywood Bowl Overlook, you will be greeted with a stunning view of the L.A. Skyline - especially as the city lights begin to twinkle in the early evening. Click here for more information about this spot in another one of my blog posts. Hollywood Bowl Overlook is located at 7036 Mulholland Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90068. 

If you're in the mood for an active adventure, the L.A. skyline view from the top of Debs Park in Northeast L.A. is both unique and impressive. Click here for more information about this spot in another one of my blog posts. To get to the entrance of Deb's Park that I prefer in Highland Park, put this address into your GPS: 4651 Griffin Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90031.

Since moving to the city of Los Angeles, I’ve fallen in love with many aspects of this sprawling urban mecca. From the variety of things to do and see here (I truly can’t remember the last time I was “bored”…), my ever-growing “foodie” bucketlist (one could eat at a new eatery daily and it’d take them years and years to try ‘em all), the beautiful landscapes and scenery, the history of some of this cities unique and fascinating locations, and even the creative opportunities my blog has given me, I guess you can say I’m still smitten as a kitten, nearly 14 months later. One of my favorite things in Los Angeles, though, especially to photograph, is the L.A. skyline and the architecture Downtown. I’ve scouted out many spots to go shooting with my friends, enjoy researching and learning about the evolving history of DTLA, and have enjoyed evenings out on most (actually, I think I’d say all at this point…) of the towering rooftop bars and eateries downtown. Since I’m a lover of heights, amazing views, and DTLA in general, you can only imagine how excited I was when I heard back in Fall 2015 that Skyspace was opening in June of 2016.

In case you haven’t yet heard, Skyspace, which opened to the public on Saturday, June 25, 2016, is the tallest open-air observation deck west of the Mississippi. Located nearly 1,000 feet above ground in the U.S. Bank Tower in the Financial District of DTLA, Skyspace will now be the premier destination for the most picturesque, 360 degree views of Los Angeles. After looking more into this observation deck online, I signed up to be on the priority list for tickets, and as soon as they become available to the public, I gathered a group of friends who were interested in attending the Grand Opening with me. It pays to be organized, and we snagged a group package before they were soon sold-out. 

To make things even more exciting, earlier this year Skyspace announced that in addition to the observation deck towering 1,000 feet above ground, they were beginning to install the very first of its kind: a Skyslide attached to the side of the building. The Skyslide is forty-five feet long, made of four-inch-thick glass, and is affixed from the 70th to the 69th floor of the US Bank Tower. I guess you could say this attraction wasn’t created for the faint hearted! Check out a short video of the Skyslide here.

It all sounds pretty darn amazing, huh? Unfortunately, the Grand Opening event was one of the most unorganized and, thus disappointing, events I've been to in Los Angeles. On Saturday evening, my friends (some who live outside of LA and drove in for the occasion) and I made our way downtown to the Skyspace grand opening, all feeling pretty pumped to partake in a special part of LA's history. Upon arrival, we easily grabbed our VIP tickets and headed into the building to go through security. Once we made it through the security line, we took the  elevator from the 1st to the 54th floor. As we explored the 54th floor, I was pretty amazed! There were large interactive screens showing a rolling film of the many scenes of Los Angeles at night, and the cinematography was absolutely breathtaking. There was also a beautiful, colorful infinity mirror that you can walk on top of (pictured above), and it was pretty intriguing. This was a great start to this event, so we were even more excited to make our way up from the 54th floor to the 70th floor, where the observation decks and Skyslide are. Once we made our way to the top of the 70th floor, right around 7:30pm (which is when our Skyslide was scheduled for), we were in shock to hear that we would have to wait in a 1.5-2 hour line to go on the Skyslide! There was very little AC, nowhere to sit, and it was very crowded and stuffy. We were all shocked. Hadn't we paid for VIP so we could get to the front of the line? Why did I schedule the Skyslide for 7:30pm if they weren't going to honor this? We attempted to ask staff members what the deal was and why we had paid extra to have a set Skyslide time.  Everyone seemed to be confused. No one had an answer. Everyone directed us to talk to someone else. 

So, we thought if we went outside to the observation deck for about an hour that we would come back inside and the line would be hopefully shorter. Unfortunately, the 2 observation decks were pretty small, were packed with people (I'm only 5'4'' so I couldn't see over everyone. I had to squeeze my way in to take any pictures and see the views), and while it's an "open air" observation deck, there were very large glass panels separating you from the views (I understand this is a safety measure, but there are many rooftops downtown with barriers with no large glass panels). It was hard to stay with my group because there was so many of us, so we kept getting separated and then having to find each other. After we enjoyed the sunset outside (it was definitely beautiful, and I love seeing Los Angeles all lit up! I have such an appreciation for the views we were able to experience, and I realize how lucky we all are to have even had a chance to see these views on opening night!), we made our back to the Skyslide line, hoping that it had shortened. To our disappointment, the line was now longer and it was completely stopped while Skyspace was setting up fireworks on the decks (which we could not see from inside). At this point, we weren't going to be on the slide until about 11:00pm, 3.5 hours after our scheduled entry time. We decided to leave, because we were all hot and tired from standing for over 3 hours, hungry and thirsty (they stopped selling water bottles at 9pm…), and were ready to make the night a little more fun. It pained me to leave without going on the sky slide that we paid so far in advance for. It seems as though many others shared our disappointment, and I overheard people asking for refunds, vouchers, etc. I do wonder if Skyspace will honor any of these requests.

Ultimately, while the night was partly disappointing, I understand that this is a grand opening for a huge event. Of course it was going to be packed. Of course it was going to be slightly unorganized. Of course it was going to be a little chaotic. But I didn't imagine I would leave without getting what we all paid for. I am thinking good thoughts for everyone at Skyspace and hope they not only figure out how to ease their processes and work out the kinks, but also apologize to the many excited folks who did not get what they paid for. I acknowledge my privilege that I had the opportunity to see the very beautiful views from this 70-floor-high observation deck (it was pretty amazing to be up that high!), and as always, I am hopeful and excited for the LA adventures to come. 

(Update on 6/28/16: Skyspace has sent me complimentary Skyspace & skyslide tickets for our entire group to try it out again. Great customer service. We're planning on doing the Skyslide in early August, and I will update this blog post when I go on it. Thank you, Skyspace!)
 
Basically, my advice to you would be to WAIT to go to Skyspace. Wait a few weeks, maybe even a few months, for them to smooth out their processes. And honestly, I wouldn't even say this a "must see" or a "must do." There are plenty of other fantastic views of Downtown LA that you can experience (and some for free!!) and without all of the chaos that ensued at this venue as it's in its beginning stages. I put together a short list below of some of my favorite DTLA views, linking them to my blog posts with all of the details for you:

• Los Angeles Department of Water & Power
• Perch
• Angel's Point at Elysian Park
• Griffith Observatory
• City Hall Observation Deck
• Vista Hermosa Park Bench

But, if you are set on going, here’s ticket information from the Skyspace website:

Guests can purchase tickets online, at the box office, or by phone.  To purchase tickets online, CLICK HERE and consider the tips below:

• When planning your visit, pre-purchasing tickets online is the best option. Ticket availability at the box office may be limited.
• All tickets are timed entry and available in 30-minute intervals, with the exception of VIP ticket packages. Add-ons including Skyslide, Day/Night entry, and parking are also available for an additional fee.

​I am truly grateful to have had this opportunity to attend the Grand Opening, and it's an evening I won't be forgetting anytime soon. Skyspace is located in the US Bank Building at 633 West Fifth Street; Los Angeles, CA 90071. You can call 213.894.9000 for more information or visit their website by clicking HERE.

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Update on 7/25/16
We finally went back to have a skyslide redo (thank you, Skyspace!), and I was happily surprised at how uncrowded Skyspace was on a Sunday afternoon, almost 2 months after the grand opening. The skyslide was really fun (and not scary at all - it goes by too fast to be scary!). The ride was probably about 2 seconds total, and before I could fully take in the views surrounding me, the ride was over. I was unable to upload the video to my blog that I took on the way down, but here's a few more pictures I took on our second time visiting: 

Happy first day of summer, Los Angeles! And wowza…is it HOT out or what?! I could personally do without this 100 degree+ heat, and I truly hope everyone is staying cool, hydrated, and safe out there.

I recently visited Echo Park Lake while I was in this Northeast L.A. neighborhood, and while I have previously featured Echo Park Lake Pedal Boating on my blog, I wanted to write another post on the lake and share with you a great eatery conveniently located on-site. As you can see from the pictures shared above, Echo Park Lake is a beautiful and lush oasis located smack-dab in the middle of urban Los Angeles. Although this spot continues to gain popularity among both locals and tourists, I’d still consider this location a “hidden gem” because of how peaceful and quiet it is here. While each time I visit there seems to be more and more people here, it’s still relatively uncrowded – which in Los Angeles, this is quite the nice treat.  Oh, and there’s free parking on the streets surrounding lake – sans meters! That’s one way to know that this is not yet a “tourist hot spot.” This is a great spot to bring a blanket and have a picnic, bring your running shoes and get in a workout, or bring out-of-town guests by to walk around the lake and see beautiful views of the DTLA skyline off in the distance.

While I’ve been to Echo Park Lake before, I had not yet visited the restaurant on-site…or even knew there was a restaurant here! When recently looking up brunch spots in Northeast L.A., I stumbled upon Square One at the Boathouse online and thought it looked like a spot I should add to my (ever expanding) LA Bucketlist. Lovely lakeside views and a delicious looking menu with both sweet and savory options are two ways to attract my interest, that’s for sure. :)

Square One at the Boathouse is a café located directly on the side of Echo Park Lake. You order your food at a counter inside, are presented with a number, and then grab a table outside on the patio where you wait for your food to be delivered to you. You can order a variety of coffee, juices, breakfast items, lunch items, vegan options, and more – I was definitely impressed with the overall contents of the menu considering this is a smaller, order-at-the-counter establishment. I was feeling pretty hungry the morning I visited so I ordered both the Avocado and Egg Toast (with arugula, pickled fennel and radish, sunny side egg on 5 grain bread) and the brioche French Toast Bites with maple-infused cream on the side. And, yep, I ate and enjoyed every bite. The food wasn’t to-die-for, but it was overall pretty good and definitely filled me up! I'd rate it a solid 7.5 out of 10. Lounging lakeside was very warm, but luckily there was shade from the various umbrellas, and the views surrounding me were beautiful. It felt calm and had a very casual vibe to it – which is a nice break from some of the more popular weekend brunch spots throughout Los Angeles. I probably wouldn’t go out of my way to dine here again, but I’d definitely stop by again if I’m hanging’ around Echo Park Lake...and would totally recommend you do the same! 

Square One at the Boathouse is open 8:00am-6:00pm daily, and the restaurant/Echo Park Lake is located at: 751 Echo Park Ave; Los Angeles, CA 90026.
 
Click here to read more about Square One at the Boathouse and here to see the full menu.

Click here to read more about the Echo Park Lake pedal boating experience.

Stay cool out there, my friends!

It’s no surprise that there is an overwhelming amount of special spaces & places in DTLA that are worth exploring. But if you’d consider yourself a junkie for beautiful architecture and capturing that perfect aesthetic shot, there’s one space in particular you’ll want to add to the top of your list. The Central Library in DTLA is an architectural gem and one of the most photogenic locations in all of DTLA. Whether or not you’re planning to rent any books (but hey, it’s free to get a library card and there’s also free wifi here!), exploring the Art Deco inspired building itself is well worth the visit. 

The Central Library opened in 1926 and is today considered a DTLA landmark, landing at #46 on the list of Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monuments. It’s currently the third largest central library in the nation, covering 538,000 square feet on 8 floors total. ​It has over 6 million books, free wifi to the LA community, free adult literacy programs, veterans resource center, and much, much more. This place is doing so much good for our community. And it's strikingly beautiful, obviously!

I recently teamed up with Happening in DTLA to explore LA's largest library and write a more detailed article about what makes this place so special. Rich in history and impressively designed and decorated, the Central Library is a one-of-a-kind space in DTLA. Click here to read my article Art Deco Lives! Checking Out DTLA's Central Library and make sure to check out all of the other great content at Happening in DTLA.

Time and time again, I read articles and online editorials about the value in trying new things in life. Whether it’s learning a new skill, trying out a new hobby, making a new friend, visiting a new place, etc. - these new opportunities allow us to learn more about the complexities and fascinations of the world, and more about ourselves, in the process. Something I love most about Los Angeles is that there is always an opportunity to learn, discover, or experience something NEW here. I’m pretty sure it would take hundreds of years to experience all of the adventures that Los Angeles has to offer. As a full-time working adult, this, of course, makes me thankful for my weekends. Weekends are the time I have to decompress from the work week, explore and photograph our vast and adventure-filled city, let my creative and innovative soul flow freely, and spend quality time with my dear loved ones – all while cultivating new experiences. To this end, something new that I tried last weekend was a fun double date outing to beautiful Newport, a coastal city about 45 minutes south of Los Angeles.
 
As much as I’m a fan of trying new things, I’m also a big fan of getting the most bang for my buck. :) I find myself frequently browsing discount sites/apps – like Groupon, Living Social, Amazon Local and Gold Star - to see if there is anything that especially sparks my interest and something that my readers and social media followers may also be interested in. I recently stumbled upon a Groupon deal for the Gondola Company of Newport that shared, “We will row you across the beautiful bay, through the canals and beneath the picturesque skyline; a taste of Italy in Newport Beach, California...” Ahhhh *insert peaceful sigh*. I was sold! 

I had no idea that Newport Beach was home to canals similar to those in Venice Beach and thought an hour gondola ride through the canals would make for a fun weekend adventure outing with friends. My hunch about this was right, and this double date turned out to be such a blast. Read more below for some of the highlights of the adventure and tips/things you should know before you go. Bon voyage!

Highlights

• The overall experience was both relaxing and fun. Gliding peacefully along the Newport canals in our comfortable and spacious gondola, enjoying a glass of crisp white wine and snacking on chips, and catching up with some friends made for a great Saturday evening outing.
• You can bring your own food and beverages aboard, including alcohol. Your gondolier will have plastic cups and a wine opener ready for you, if you request this when you check-in. 
• The gondola can carry up to six people. It’s your choice whether you’d like to plan a romantic date night or a small celebration with a few of your close friends. 
• We appreciated the Gondola Company of Newport’s attention to detail, making this experience more authentic rather than cheesy. From the make and design of the gondola, to the traditional uniform of our gondolier, to the Italian music playing quietly on board, you’ll feel as if you were whisked off to Italy for the evening!
• We went around golden hour so it was beautiful out. We liked pointing out the fancy houses lining the canals, saying hello to the other gondolas passing us by, and watching the sun slowly setting along the horizon. This was such a unique Los Angeles experience! 

​Tips & Things to Know Before You Go

• Make your reservations well in advance because apparently the company books up fast. They don’t take reservations over the internet, but you can call them at (949)675-1212 or email them directly at [email protected].
• There was no confirmation or reminder from the company of your reservation, so make sure you calendar this!
• Gondola ride prices do not include gratuity. I wasn’t sure what was appropriate to tip in this situation, so I call ahead of time and asked the receptionist. He recommended bringing $20 total for a tip. 
• Bring a warm sweater! It can get chilly on the water, especially once the sun begins to set.
• There is metered parking along the streets close to the check-in office. We only had to pay about 30 minutes for a meter because they stop charging at 6:00pm on Saturdays.
• Do you love getting a discount as much as I do? Get discounted tickets on Groupon by clicking HERE.  It’s $65 for a group of 4; or $16.25 per person. 

Have fun if you decide to go on this adventure, and feel free to let me know if you have any questions! Gondola Company of Newport is located at 3431 Via Oporto, Newport Beach, CA 92663. Call 949-675- 1212 with any questions or visit their website by clicking here. 

“Have you been to the Time Travel Mart?” a friend asked me, mid-conversation about being especially interested in finding and exploring Los Angele’s hidden gems. “No, tell me more!” was my response at the time, and after researching online and on social media, I became increasingly interested in visiting and writing about this unique and satirical gift shop. Our city is full of the most interesting places to explore, and my L.A. bucketlist seems to be growing by the week (if you have any other hidden gems you’d recommend to me, please comment below!). I added this store to my list to explore the next time I was in the Northeast L.A. neighborhood of Echo Park, so after a few girlfriends and I enjoyed brunch at Ostrich Farm this past weekend (which I would highly recommend, by the way), we walked just across the street to pay this spot a visit.

“Whenever you are, we’re already then” is the slogan for the Time Travel Mart. According to their website, “We are the convenience store for time travelers! No matter the era, we have just the thing to help you through your travels.” The Time Travel Mart in Echo Park is small but mighty – it’s about the size of a mid-sized living room but is packed to the gills with all sorts of bright colored posters, gag gifts, and novelty items galore. My friends and I were impressed at the wit and humor in some of the knick-knacks for sale, and my favorite items were some of the colorful, quirky T-shirts. These included a shirt for adults that stated, “former child,” a shirt for kids that stated, “future adult”, and a shirt with a big green dinosaur that stated, “All my friends are dead.” Ha!

This ain’t your average trendy or modern LA gift store, that’s for sure! This store draws you in and lets you use your imagination to explore (and laugh at) life in a different time – from either long ago in the past or far away to the future. You’ll find plenty of satirical gifts here like barbarian repellent, evil robot memory eraser, Viking deodorant, dinosaur eggs, mammoth chunks, and so much more. Other items for sale include coffee mugs, books, records, cards, posters, and all sorts of other random knick-knacks from different time periods, making for great gag/random gifts for your quirky friends or family members. What surprised me the most, and what I think is very important to mention, is that all proceeds from the Time Travel Mart help support the free programs at 826LA (think tutoring, creative writing workshops for kids, and more). 

Whether you want a blast from the past or a look into the world's future – visit Echo Park’s unique Time Travel Mart at 1714 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026. This mart is open daily from 12:00pm-6:00pm. Call (213) 413-3388 with any additional questions to visit their website by clicking here. 

Happy traveling through time, my friends!

​In my opinion, hiking has the ability to both make you happy and healthier. Not only does the physical exercise lower your risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and other physical ailments, it’s also been proven to help reduce stress, decrease anxiety, and help alleviate depressed moods. Outdoor exercise enables you to disconnect from our digital world, gives you a healthy dose of vitamin D from the sun (but don’t forget to wear sunscreen, pretty please!), and many think of being outside and connecting with nature as a spiritual and enlightening experience. As someone who works 40 hours/week at a desk (and blogs/works on social media almost every weekday evening and on-and-off throughout the weekend), it is imperative to my health and happiness alike that I not only exercise and move my body, but that I unplug and get outside as much as possible to enjoy the fresh air.

Since moving to Los Angeles over a year ago now (crazy how time flies!), I’ve been on the lookout for new and unique hikes and outdoor adventures. I’ve hiked some of the more popular spots – Runyon, Griffith Park, and Hollywood Sign - and have also discovered some hidden gems, including the Jim Morrison Cave, Baldwin Hills Park/Scenic Overlook, and now Deb’s Park in the beautiful Northeast LA neighborhood of Highland Park. Deb’s Park, short for Ernest E. Debs Regional Park, is a 300 acre state park northeast of Downtown L.A., named after former County Supervisor Ernest E. Debs. I condensed my thoughts on this hike into various categories below; enjoy and let me know if you have any additional questions! 

Highlights

• Overall, the views were incredible! If it’s a clear day out you will be able to see Northeast L.A. (Highland Park, Eagle Rock, etc.), Pasadena, the San Gabriel Mountains, and all the way in the opposite direction to the Downtown L.A. skyline. I loved the beautiful view of the L.A. skyline from up here – it was a unique view of L.A. that I don’t see much on the social media accounts/L.A. blogs that I follow (compared to the commonly posted views from Runyon, Griffith Observatory, etc). 
  
• In my experience, it seems much less crowded than Runyon Canyon or Griffith Park. I would consider it a “hidden gem” hike that is far lesser known than its sister-hikes in L.A. This not only makes parking easier, but it makes the trails almost empty and very quiet and tranquil.
  
• The park is children and dog-friendly. Each time I’ve hiked Deb Park I’ve noticed both families with young children and dogs of all types. Also, the people that I’ve come across in Deb’s park generally seem very kind and friendly. When I went hiking here with my friend Evelynn last weekend she pointed out, “Everyone we have come across has smiled and said hi to us!” 
  
• The trails are well maintained and very clean - I didn’t see one piece of trash on the trail. People here are doing a good job at following my dad’s age-old rule: “Take nothing but pictures;  leave nothing but foot prints.”
  
• The trail leads you to a pond/small lake at the top of Deb’s Park. Each time I go up there I ask myself, “How is this even in L.A. right now?” It feels like a stark contrast from the hustle-and-bustle of the city that some of us are all too familiar with. This is the perfect place to sit down, say hi to the ducks swimming merrily along, and relax for a few moments before making your way back down the trail. There are also plenty of pine trees and plants lining the pond, which make for pretty pictures as they reflect onto the water.

(Minor) Drawbacks

• The trail here that I have been on the past few times is relatively easy. This could be a highlight depending on how you look at it, but the hike roundtrip (to the lake at the top and back) is only about 1 hour. It’s more of a stroll than a hike, but it still makes you feel like you got some sort of exercise.
  
• It is very dusty, there is no shade on the trail, and gets pretty warm up there on a sunny afternoon. Make sure you bring plenty of water and wear a lot of sunscreen! 

Hiking Trails & Directions
To get to the entrance of Deb’s Park that I prefer in Highland Park, put this address into your GPS/maps app: 4651 Griffin Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90031. You can park on Griffin Ave, directly outside of the green gate and then walk up the paved path to the trailhead. Stay on the main trail as you make your way up the mountain – it will weave back and forth at a low/moderate incline. It shouldn’t be difficult to stay on the trail, but after about a half mile or so, you should see a short green staircase in the woods that leads to another trail. When you see this, stay to the main trail on the right and do not go up the staircase (as I’m not quite sure where that leads). 

There are a number of trails available to hikers in Deb’s Park. I’d recommend doing your research online (Here is a great Modern Hiker article and of course there is plenty of feedback on Yelp here) before venturing out there. Or, you can explore it at your leisure and discover your own path. 

Go and get your hike on!
I hope this information is helpful to you in either 1) inspiring you to get outside and hike more, or 2) or to visit Deb’s Park specifically and explore this beautiful Northeast L.A. hidden gem. The world - and all of the splendid, unique, and inspiring adventures in it - are yours for the taking!