Summer break is just around the corner and I’m still undecided as to where our family will travel. There are so many wonderful destinations, I’m having a hard time choosing. Maybe Italy for the coffee and art, or Spain for tapas and siestas, or maybe we’ll just stay home and be tourists in our own city? We’ve come nowhere near discovering all that Los Angeles has to offer.
This week I’ll be sharing a post about some of the most touristy placesiconic film locations in LA. My boys and I get so excited when we see these places in the movies or on television. Calling out, “We’ve been there!” As you can imagine this happens a lot when you live in Los Angeles. Over the years there have been countless references to many of LA’s landmarks in songs, movies, television and video games making them famous the world over. In fact, even if you’ve never been here before you’re probably already familiar with many of them.
James Dean Rebel Without A Cause
Angels Flight was featured in LA LA Land
What are your summer plans? Have you decided or are you still up in the air? Will you visit somewhere new, or a repeat destination? Maybe you’re coming to LA? If so, let me know, I’ll show you around!
Thanks to everyone who joined our Faraway Files link up last week hosted by Corey & Clare.
This is the place to link up your travel posts every Thursday. Faraway Files is a weekly file of the best travel ideas on the web. We want to dream of faraway places, to make new travel plans and share our travel secrets. Inspire us to travel to places we’ve never considered before or revisit a place we thought we knew. We know that you can feel faraway even when you’re close to home, so share your experiences of travels near and far wherever you are in the world.
If you join in, please reciprocate and comment on the hosts’ posts as well as any others that catch your eye. If we see a pattern of people not joining in, we have decided that it’s fairest to all of us to remove the links of those posters.
So let’s inspire and share each other’s posts. We’ll try to read and comment on every post and we’ll share them on social media too. Each week we’ll choose our favourites and highlight them on our blogs and social media channels using #FarawayFiles.
How it works:
Link up one travel-related post and add the Faraway Files badge onto the post or your blog (code below) or link back to the hosts.
The link up will go live every Thursday at 8am, UK time, until midnight on Friday. It will alternate between Untold Morsels, Suitcases and Sandcastles, Fifi + Hop, HilaryStyle and Oregon Girl around the World. This week’s link up is right here.
Link ups work best if everyone shares so please comment on all of the marked hosts’ posts and at least one other.
Tweet us your posts (@suitandsand, @UntoldMorsels, @oregongirlworld @fifiandhop @hilarystyleme) using the hashtag #FarawayFiles and we’ll retweet to our followers.
Love Instagram? Share your favourite photos from your posts with us, tagging #FarawayFiles and we’ll add our favourites to our Faraway Files Instagram feed.
Los Angeles isn’t just filled with iconic places, the entire city is an icon! The home of Hollywood, many places in the City of Angels have been featured* repeatedly in movies television shows, video games, and songs giving them a familiar feel to people around the world.
View from the Griffith Park Observatory
Touring around town for the first time, you’ll recognize familiar street names like Rodeo Drive or Sunset Boulevard, and sights like the Hollywood Sign or the Santa Monica Pier. Although there are countless places just waiting to be discovered it makes perfect sense to check a few of these icons off your list first!
Paradise Park Santa Monica Pier California
1. The Hollywood Sign
The Hollywood Sign is one of the most famous icons in the world, making it the perfect place to start! How can you come all the way to LA, and not see the Hollywood Sign! There are many places around town to get a view of the famous sign, but Bronson Caves or the Griffith Park Observatory, both in Griffith Park are nice options for closer views if you’re not up for a hike.
View from the Bronson Caves Walk
Featured in: San Andreas starting Dwayne Johnson, Grand Theft Auto, Miley Cyrus Party in the USA, Katy Perry California Gurls and so many more.
If you’re in the neighborhood viewing the Hollywood Sign why not check out The Griffith Observatory? Looking out from the Observatory and it’s grounds there are incredible views in every direction and on a clear day you can see forever.
A visit to the Griffith Park Observatory includes something for everyone! Fabulous views of Downtown Los Angeles and the Hollywood Sign, hiking, The Halls of Space, a planetarium, and a cafe. Entrance to the Observatory is free of charge.
Featured in: La La Land, Jurassic Park, Freaks and Geeks, Transformers, The Terminator, and Rebel Without A Cause are just a few of the many titles filmed in the area.
3. The Walk of Fame
Another nearby famous Hollywood institution is the Walk of Fame, which runs 1.3 miles along Hollywood Boulevard between Gower Street and La Brea Avenue. There are more than 2,500 stars along the Walk and you’ll be sure to recognize a few of your favorite entertainers.
Located on the famous corner of Hollywood & Vine, the iconic Capital Records Building isn’t open to the public, but its still a fun sight to see. The landmark building is designed to look like a stack of records and was the world’s first circular office building.
Capital Records Building
The red light at the top blinks the word Hollywood in morse code.
Featured in: Earthquake, Hancock, The Day After Tomorrow. Frank Sinatra, The Beach Boys, and Paul McCarney are just a few of the music legends who have recored at Capital Studios.
5. Graumans Chinese Theater
Don’t miss a visit to the famous Grauman’s Chinese theater located on Hollywood Boulevard. The theater is famous for the many celebrity prints which have been pressed into the courtyard floor and its fun to fit your hands and feet into molds of some of films greatest legends. The theater is operational, and many movies are premiered here.
Recent Premiers: Game Night, Tomb Raider, Pandas, Pacific Rim Uprising, and The Handmaid’s Tale
6. The Hollywood Bowl
The Hollywood Bowl is located one mile from the famed corner of Hollywood and Highland and is an amazing place to see a show, however, you don’t have to attend a show to see this wonderful landmark. The Hollywood Bowl is a public park! An easy walk from Hollywood Boulevard, the Bowl is open to the public during the day and very worth a look around. While you are there check out the free museum featuring artifacts from the Bowl’s history.
Featured in: A Star Is Born, Double Indemnity, Anchors Aweigh, Tom and Jerry in the Hollywood Bowl, Xanadu, Some Kind of Wonderful, Beaches Escape from L.A., and Zombieland
The Sunset Strip is a mile and a half stretch of Sunset Boulevard that passes though West Hollywood. It is home to many famous night clubs, massive billboards, hotels, and boutiques.
Whisky a Go Go
Famous Venues: The Viper Room, The Whiskey a Go Go, The Sky Bar, and The Chateau Marmont
Featured in: Sunset Boulevard, Sunset Strip
8. Rodeo Drive
First timer or resident, there’s something special about a stroll down Rode Drive. You’ll hear music as you stroll the down the street peeking in and out of the many world famous luxury boutiques. Looking for something a bit more affordable? Both the Paley Center for Media and the Beverly Hills Fountain are nearby and both are free.
Featured in: Pretty Woman, Beverly Hills Cop, Clueless
The Beverly Hills Hotel is located in the city of Beverly Hills on Sunset Boulevard, and opened in 1912, before Beverly Hills was even a city! You can’t miss its iconic pink paint and famous sign. The Hotel’s famous pink color and Polo Lounge didn’t come along until the early 1940s, but the Hotel has long been associated with the glamour of Hollywood’s film and rock stars.
Not a guest? Don’t worry, you can still visit the hotel. Eat in one of the hotel’s famous restaurants and enjoy the lovely ambiance.
Featured in: California Suite, The Way We Were, Shampoo, and American Gigolo. You might also recognize it from the cover of The Eagles’ Hotel California album.
Yes, it’s very touristy, but everyone should visit the Santa Monica Pier at least once! Not only does it boast the only over water Roller Coaster in the world, but it also has na adorable little aquarium and an old fashioned carousel. My favorite time to go is at night when it’s all lit up!
Featured in: A Night at the Roxbury, Miracle Beach, Forrest Gump, Not Another Teen Movie, Iron Man, Dark Ride, Cellular, Falling Down, Ruthless People, Love Stinks, Hancock, Hannah Montana, 2012, The Glenn Miller Story, Pacific Rim Uprising,
There’s nothing like the beach in Southern California, and when you throw in everything else that Venice has to offer you’ve got nothing short of paradise! Venice is easily my favorite place in all of LA and the first place I bring all newcomers. Don’t forget your sunscreen!
Featured in: Lords of Dogtown, The Real World, The A-Team, Three’s Company, The Truth About Cats and Dogs, Fletch, Skatetown USA, and The Seventh Sign
The newly reopened Angels Flight Railway has been in operation on and off since 1901, and at 298 feet is the world’s shortest railway. When it opened, one hundred years ago, its location was the main hub of commerce and entertainment in Downtown Los Angeles. The Angels Flight Railway is a treasured piece of LA history, and it has given more than 100 million rides!
*This is just a sampling of films, videos, tv show, and songs that each of these locations has been featured in. There is simply no way I could list them all.
I’m sure you’ve noticed the many amazing works of art on the streets these days? It’s hard not to when they are everywhere! Gorgeous works of fine art, and make no mistake that’s what they are, have been popping up in cities around the world. It makes sense! All those blank walls are perfect canvases, creating a world wide, never ending, always evolving art exhibition.
Bumblebeeloves you “Used to Bee” in Seattle, Washington
Who Is Behind This Worldwide Explosion Of Art?
The more I’ve seen the more I’ve wanted to learn about these artists, some of whom have pieces up around the world. I had questions:
Who are they, and what compels them to create? How did they get their start? Do they have formal training? Do they feel bad when their work is painted over or torn down Were they commissioned, or did they throw it up on the fly? What’s the meaning behind the paintings? Is there one? Do they consider their work graffiti, street art, or just plain art? Is it hard? How do they do it?
The artwork of Karlos Marquez
Meeting the (Street) Artists
Recently I’ve had the opportunity to meet some of these amazing artists, whether it be coming across a work in progress (these murals don’t appear magically), serendipity, a studio visit or at an art show. They’ve all been a real pleasure to meet and in some cases I even had a chance to take photos and ask questions.
The art of WRDSMTH
BumbleBeeLovesYou
The whimsical nature of BumbleeLovesYou‘s art has made him one of my favorite artists, and lucky for me he’s local, so I get to visit his various pieces regularly. His pieces evoke a feeling of childhood innocence, and often include fun little details, like hearts, animals, and flowers.
Girl in a Garden Superba Food and Bread
My initial meeting with BumbleebeeLovesYou came about via social media. I wondered where a certain piece (Take Note pictured below) would end up after its exhibition in Downtown Santa Monica ended. Before I knew it we were direct messaging about the piece coming home with me! Lesson here: It never hurts to ask!
Take Note is 8′ x 28′
I can’t express how excited I was when we actually met! Not only did I end up with a fabulous piece of artwork at my home, but I’ve made a new friend.
Take Note Installation
Tim and I with Bumblebeelovesyou
I’ve since visited his studio and had the chance to chat with him about his work, but I think this wonderful video tells the story better than I ever could.
Private Home
Karlos Marquez
I was Introduced to Karlos Marquez’s work through a mutual friend, and was immediately attracted to his combination of street inspired lettering and neon light.
I visited Karlos at his studio in South Central LA where he was gracious enough to show me around and answer my many questions.
In your opinion are street street art and graffiti one and the same?
In my opinion, Street Art” is just a name that has been given to “Graffiti” in the past few years. Its used by galleries, museums and art auctions to label Graffiti.
Graffiti has a negative connotation, and by nature its vandalism plain and simple, so to some its vandalism and to others its art. I think the elite have used the word STREET ART to give it a cool hip name to sell it.
All the large murals you see on th side of buildings today are just that, MURALS. Just because you used spray paint does not make it graffiti.
If you have permission to paint a MURAL on a wall with spray paint and I painted the other side with spray paint without permission they would both still be called STREET ART. Call me old fashioned, but I would rather see good old graffiti done on walls, it is a more raw and free expression of art.
When did your graffiti art move from the street to the studio?
I stopped doing graffiti over 20 years ago and I have been doing studio artwork over 10 years.
What type of artist to you consider yourself?
A visual artist because I like working not just with canvas, but I use all different media to create my artwork. I paint on furniture, sculptures, metal wood, cement, or anytime I can get my hands on.
Karlos will be exhibiting his abstract work at Fathom Gallery in the California Market Center Building located in Downtown Los Angeles on April 28, 2018 from 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm. Unable to make the show? You can learn more about Karlos and his art and where to see it on his website.
WRDSMTH
WRDSMTH refers to himself as a “Writer Doing Time in Hollywood.” His pieces can be found everywhere in Los Angeles, and around the world. It’s his positive and meaningful messages delivered in a simple way that make his work particularly appealing. He really puts himself out there, which is so refreshing since so many of us don’t feel comfortable enough to do such a thing, but wish we could.
Meeting WRDSMTH @ his Solo Show.
I attended his solo show “I’d Like To Have A WRD with You” where we had a chance to meet. Funny enough I was surprised when he introduced himself as Brody. It never occurred to me that he actually had a “real” name. We spoke about his inspiration, much of which comes from personal experiences or favorite songs.
Fais Dodo
Thinking that his technique must be a closely guarded secret I was delighted to find out that he was taught by another street artist and has been only too happy to pass on the knowledge. Who knows, maybe I’ll ask for a lesson one of these days? As I found out above it never hurts to ask, does it?
WRDSMTH Brick Lane
Fairfax District
The Hanger
Venice Beach
The Art of Chase
Chase is a Belgian artist, but has called Los Angeles his home for the past 20 years. I was recently invited to meet him and attended his solo show here in Los Angeles.
Chase’s signature eyeball makes his pieces easy to spot, haha, and there are plenty here in the LA area, especially in Venice Beach.
I’m hoping to catch up with him again soon, and when I do I’ll update this post.
Fanakapan
Okay, Fanakapan isn’t based in LA, but he does have a gorgeous collab piece in Downtown LA, and I can’t write this post without including my meeting with Fanakapan! I’m a big fan of his shiny but photorealistic style and knowing his work can occasionally be seen on London’s Brick Lane, I set out specifically to find one.
4th and Merrick Downtown Los Angeles
Not only did I find one, I found him! As I came around the corner I saw a man painting, and immediately upon seeing the shiny work in progress, I knew it was him. Serendipity!
You might find this hard to believe, but I can occasionally be shy. Not this time! I knew this was probably my one and only chance to speak up.
I’m VERY happy to be meeting Fanakapan on Brick Lane
Graciously taking the time to speak with me, we chatted about his work, the piece he was working on, and his visits to LA. He did tell me his real name, and we took some photos together, but like many street artists Fanakapan prefers not to show his full face online. He gave me permission to post this one with his face partially covered.
A work in progress
WIP
The piece he was working on was clearly political. It shows a fox (Trump) holding a dead duck in its mouth with more ducks (Americans) blindly following behind. We found ourselves in the area a few different times and so were able to watch the progression of this piece.
We located one other Fanakapan piece on our trip, also in Shoreditch, but no promises that either of these are still available to view.
Nicky Nailed It
“Nicky” is the most unknown of this bunch. I met him during one morning while on bike ride in Venice Beach. There is hardly a place in LA where you won’t find a Nicky Nailed It, so I shouldn’t have been surprised when I turned around and there he was installing one of his signature pieces, but I was. It was fun hearing about his many adventures, but I’m not sure he plans to do much more with this. His pieces are often found near murals and other works, and I asked if the other artists mind? He says he tries hard to be respectful. I think they do mind. Of all the artists I’ve met his pieces are the only ones that really feel illegal. They are definitely graffiti in the truest sense of the word.
He’s been plastering Nicky around town, and just about everywhere for the past seven years. Now that I’ve introduced him to you I guarantee you will see him EVERYWHERE made of whatever material he can get his hands on. If you’re wondering the stencil is a portrait of him as a child.
6 “Los Angeles” Artists & Where to Find Them
Would you like to visit some of these pieces yourself? This handy map will show you the way to the public pieces that were still available to view when I wrote this post.
This map should get you started, but is by no means a complete list. Each of these artists have multiple pieces around town and the world. Happy hunting, and do let me know if you find a new piece you think I’d like!
Its time for another edition of Faraway Files the fabulous travel blogging community, where travelers from all walks of life gather together and share their many adventures from around the globe. If you’re a traveler, a planner, or a dreamer this is the place for you, and if like me, you’re the main travel planner in your family then you’ll know that real world advice can make all the difference.
My Hometown Guide!
I recently put this real world advice theory to the test when I turned all the planning for our girls weekend in Atlanta over to my travel companion. Atlanta is her hometown after all and whats better than a local guide? Check out how we fared on this week’s blog post 3 Days in Atlanta.
Thanks to everyone who joined our Faraway Files link up last week hosted by Katy & Erin.
This is the place to link up your travel posts every Thursday. Faraway Files is a weekly file of the best travel ideas on the web. We want to dream of faraway places, to make new travel plans and share our travel secrets. Inspire us to travel to places we’ve never considered before or revisit a place we thought we knew. We know that you can feel faraway even when you’re close to home, so share your experiences of travels near and far wherever you are in the world.
If you join in, please reciprocate and comment on the hosts’ posts as well as any others that catch your eye. If we see a pattern of people not joining in, we have decided that it’s fairest to all of us to remove the links of those posters.
So let’s inspire and share each other’s posts. We’ll try to read and comment on every post and we’ll share them on social media too. Each week we’ll choose our favourites and highlight them on our blogs and social media channels using #FarawayFiles.
How it works:
Link up one travel-related post and add the Faraway Files badge onto the post or your blog (code below) or link back to the hosts.
The link up will go live every Thursday at 8am, UK time, until midnight on Friday. It will alternate between Untold Morsels, Suitcases and Sandcastles, Fifi + Hop, HilaryStyle and Oregon Girl around the World. This week’s link up is right here.
Link ups work best if everyone shares so please comment on all of the marked hosts’ posts and at least one other.
Tweet us your posts (@suitandsand, @UntoldMorsels, @oregongirlworld @fifiandhop @hilarystyleme) using the hashtag #FarawayFiles and we’ll retweet to our followers.
Love Instagram? Share your favourite photos from your posts with us, tagging #FarawayFiles and we’ll add our favourites to our Faraway Files Instagram feed.
Atlanta, Georgia was never on my vacation destination list, but when I received an invitation to a girls only weekend I never hesitated. I’d never visited or researched Atlanta before, so I really had no idea what to expect. Here’s what I did know: I would be traveling without my kids, to explore a new city, with one of my best friends! What more did I need to know?
Me and my Hometown Guide!
Turns out Atlanta has a lot to offer, and with stops in Virginia Highlands, Little Five Points, Decatur, Historic Downtown, Midtown, and Candler Park we covered a lot of ground. Of course having a hometown guide was invaluable, and because we visited many of her personal favorites at least one of us knew what to expect!
The Atlanta BeltLine
The BeltLine was the perfect place to get an overview of Atlanta. The addition of this mixed use redevelopment project, which takes advantage of the City’s existing railway corridors, is transforming and revitalizing the city of Atlanta in the best possible way.
Art By: Ouizi
The multi-use pedestrian friendly pathways are perfect for cycling, running, and walking, but the BeltLine is much more then just an exercise path getting you from point A to point B. With a skate park, shopping, restaurants and the South’s largest temporary public art installation the BeltLine is a destination!
The Historic Fox Theater has a long fascinating history, and in addition to the 250+ events, which take place there annually, the theater offers a variety of behind the scenes tours as well.
The Historic Fox Theater
Originally intended as a meeting place for the Shriner’s organization the theater was built to look like the ancient temples and palaces of Egypt and the Far East.
The financial burden proved too much and shortly before it was completed the Shriners leased the theater to Willam Fox who turned it into a movie palace. The theater opened to a sold out crowd on Christmas Day 1929. The move was Steam Boat Willie, starring Mickey Mouse!
The Theater seats 4,665 people!
During our tour we had a chance to explore the 250,000 square foot building, including the theater which seats 4,665, and has a twinkling ceiling, The Egyptian Ballroom, and many other ornately decorated spaces.
This lamp is 8 feet tall!
Interior of the Fox Theater Lobby
The Lobby of the Fox Theater Atlanta
Vintage Neon Sign at the Fox Theater Dancing Tonight!
The Egyptian Ballroom
By the mid 1970s the Fox Theater had fallen into disrepair and was facing demolition. The people of Atlanta realized what a great loss this would be and banded to gather to save The Fox.
This column shows the state of disrepair the theater was in prior to it’s being saved in 1974.
Margaret Mitchell House and Museum
More than 75 years after it was released Gone With The Wind is still considered one of America’s most successful films. A life long fan of both the book and the movie, I was delighted to discover that we’d be visiting the home of book’s author, Margaret Mitchell.
Margaret Mitchell Journalist
Gone With The Wind was written almost by accident. Yes, one of the most famous books of all time, was almost never written. A journalist, who unexpectedly became confined to her apartment due to an injury, Mitchell spent her recovery reading everything she could get her hands on. When she’d exhausted all the library had to offer, her husband suggested she try writing a book of her own. She never planned to publish the book, but when someone suggested that it would never amount to anything, she decided to show them a thing or two… And the rest is history!
The Margaret Mitchell house is run by the Atlanta History Center. Tours are offered daily, check the website for detailed information.
THE Door to Tara
After you’ve toured the home take some time to explore the museum, which has plenty of memorabilia including photos of the cast, premiere movie tickets, and even props from the set of Gone With The Wind.
Portrait of Scarlet from the film
Dish Towel
Ticket to the Opening Night of Gone With The Wind
Margret Mitchell and Clark Gable
Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier
Ponce City Market
The Ponce City Market is a trendy and fun shopping area located in what was once the Sears & Roebuck Company building. There are fun reminders of the building’s history throughout. Inside you’ll find multiple food choices, unique boutiques and plenty of insta opportunities.
The Market links directly to the Atlanta BeltLine and is directly across from the Historic Fourth Ward Park, making it a perfect place to stop for a quick bite or to meet friends and stay awhile.
The Atlanta Botanical gardens
Open all year round you’re sure to see and experience something different each time you visit the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. Visiting in the winter meant there weren’t as many outdoor flowers blooming, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t a lot to see.
Japanese Garden
The Chihully sculptures placed throughout the gardens provided a bright pop of color on a rainy winter afternoon.
The Orchid Festival was not only lovely, but provided the perfect backdrop for some fun group photos.
Atlanta Botanical Garden Atlanta Georgia
I wasn’t traveling with the boys this trip, but I know they would have loved this fabulous play space filled with so many things to discover and experience.
We loved our meal at Leon’s Full Service, which is located in a former service station. The vibe is hip, but casual, and they have an extensive list of local brews on tap. The food was delicious, but definitely on the heavier side.
The Livingston is located in the Georgian Terrace Hotel just across the street from the Historic Fox Theater. They serve southern style cuisine with a modern twist. I loved my chicken and waffles, don’t tell my mom, but the apple fennel slaw might have been the best coleslaw I’ve ever had!
Barcelona Vinoteca is a neighborhood wine shop/bar with a cozy vibe. Stop in for a drink, or bring a bottle home. The large pull down maps on the walls brought back memories of my pre smart board school days.
Located in the heart of the Little Five Points, we stopped at the Yacht Club for late night drinks. This place is the definition of a dive bar!
Have you ever turned over the travel planning to someone else? Was it a success? Would you do it again?
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Take Me With You!
Would you like directions to these fabulous places? Why not take me with you! You can download this and other fun hilarystyle articles using the GPSmyCity app!
Is there one thing you always do when visiting a new place? For our family it’s the zoo. We always said that having children wouldn’t stop us from seeing and doing all the things that interest us in a given place, but that doesn’t mean we can’t allow time for child friendly activities as well.
Finding a balance is key and the zoo with animals and beautiful gardens has often been the perfect place to achieve that balance. Though as my children are getting older I’ve recently started finding my own balance…
Over the years we’ve visited as many as 25 different zoological gardens around the world, so we consider ourselves something of zoo connoisseurs! Traveling with kids, and considering a zoo, take a look and see if your destination is on our list:
Audubon Zoo
Mexican Wolf
I don’t have photos from every one, but for the purposes of this post I dug out some old photos. I admit in advance that some of them aren’t the highest quality.
The Woodland Park Zoo has to be one of my favorites, probably because I grew up going there. However, the zoo is laid out really well and has a wide variety of animals. The Children’s Zoo has a lovely farm and a petting zoo.
A zoo and an aquarium, Point Defiance does a great job with both. We loved visiting the beluga whales and the zoo’s playground is quite good. I once rode a camel here, and really regretted it for a number of reasons, not the least of which is this awful photo.
We really enjoyed the Portland Zoo, which has a very Pacific northwest feel about it. The forested areas, natural habitats, and lots of interactive exhibits made the entire experience fun and immersive for the entire family.
I really enjoyed this zoo, that is until I decided that the white tiger exhibit wasn’t quite secure enough for my liking. That might have been because the zoo keeper told me that enclosures are really more to keep the people out than to keep the animals in… Yikes!
I admit San Francisco Zoo isn’t my favorite. The layout isn’t easy to follow, and the enclosures are spaced far from one another. They did have these fun interactive posters though…
Sadly, I don’t have any photos of our visit to the Oakland Zoo, but we really enjoyed our visit here. A pretty standard zoo, there are also rides and an overhead tram.
This was my neighborhood zoo for many years! I know, a neighborhood zoo, how cool is that?! So, why don’t I have ANY photos? Too busy enjoying ourselves I guess… This zoo may be small, but it has a lot to offer including a wonderful indoor area with science exhibits and play areas made just for the little ones.
A bit off the beaten path, this zoo is perfect for the younger set. It’s not terribly large, but there are interactive exhibits, and an amusement park with rides perfect for toddlers through age 8.
We always get lost in this zoo, but there is a really nice selection of animals and interactive exhibits, so we don’t mind. I especially loved watching these Chinese Cranes. Keep in mind the zoo is located in Griffith park, which is a giant hill.
The Santa Barbara Zoo is a family favorite. It’s an absolutely lovely little zoo with a fabulous ocean view! The gardens are beautiful and finding your way around is relatively easy. There are many unique animals and if you’re interested you can even feed the giraffe! We loved the playgrounds, and if you fancy it there is a little train around the zoo as well.
The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
Palm Desert, California
If you’re visiting the Palm Springs area with younger children consider a visit to the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens. We loved the Giraffe exhibit, and if you’re interested you can feed them for an additional fee. The animals featured here are from North America and Africa, and there are some unique and endangered species. Did you know the giraffe is endangered?
The desert gardens are beautiful and unique. A first at any zoo I’ve ever visited there were hiking trails and even the opportunity for camping overnight. It was a lovely afternoon out, though I don’t recommend a summer visit, as it was blazing hot even in March.
I know the San Diego Zoo is world famous zoo, but I admit it wasn’t my favorite. This was mainly due to a confusing layout and the many hills, which weren’t easy to navigate with a stroller. We did see pandas though, so thats something!
The Shark Reef Aquarium, located in Mandalay Bay, is a fully accredited aquarium, and is home to not only sharks, but many other fascinating creatures as well. I know this isn’t a zoo, but my sons insisted I include it here, as there were animals as well as fish.
Another favorite and well worth your time is the Lincoln Park Zoo, which is open and free 365 days a year. My parents grew up going to this zoo, and it’s been such a treat visiting with them and my own children. The enclosures are beautifully done and the play areas are wonderful. There are sea creatures here as well. A perfect zoo if you have limited time.
The Brookfield Zoo is a very large zoo, so you’ll want to allow the better part of an entire day if you decide to visit. A fairly standard zoo I prefer Lincoln Park zoo.
I feel pretty confident when I say the Audubon Zoo in Uptown New Orleans is pretty great! We’ve been three times! The zoo has a wide variety of animals from around the world, but my favorite part of any zoo is the exhibit showcasing the local area and the Audubon Zoo does a great job of this with their Louisiana swamp section, which features local animals and foliage. You can even get alligator jambalaya at the zoo cafe! We loved seeing the white alligators, and they have a white tiger too!
We visited the Brooklyn Zoo, when my older son was only 4 years old, and I admit to having only a vague recollection, so I can’t really tell you how it measures up.
Even though you won’t see all the animals from the Madagascar movies, The Central Park Zoo is a wonderful little zoo right in the heart of the city. A perfect place to give the kids a New York Minute before carrying on with the rest of your New York day.
The London Zoo, located in Regent’s Park is not only the worlds oldest scientific zoo, but it was also the home of Winnie the bear. A.A. Milne changed the name of his famous storybook character Pooh Bear to Winnie-The-Pooh after he and his son Christopher Robin visited the London Zoo. We’ve been to the London Zoo twice, 12 years ago, and again just this past Christmas Eve.
We had a really nice visit at the Edinburgh Zoo, even with the rain, because… Pandas and Penguins! I wouldn’t say this about every zoo we’ve seen, but if the littles are growing tired of yet another historic site or museum and just need a break this is a very nice place to visit.
The Barcelona Zoo was the perfect place to give our littles a break from all that sightseeing. On the smaller side, we were able to see it in just a few hours!
Bioparco di Roma, is one of the oldest zoos in Europe, and is located near the Villa Borghese Gardens. We wandered through the gardens and then around the zoo on Christmas Eve. It was a nice break, especially for the little guy.
The oldest zoo in Japan, the Ueno Zoo is located in Ueno Park in Taitō, Tokyo. We really enjoyed our afternoon here and saw animals that we’ve never seen in any western zoos.
My husband says The Tower of London Doesn’t count, but did you know that it was at one time a zoo. Yes, for 600 years the Tower of London was a zoo?! This is where Kings and queens kept the exotic animals gifted to them from other monarchs around the world. There is a great exhibit showcasing the different types of animals that lived here including a polar bear who once lived in the moat and fished in the River Thames! The wire replicas of animals throughout the grounds are pretty cool, even if they aren’t real…
Unfortunately, we were unable to visit the Paris Zoo, but the Jardin des Plantes is a fabulous place to visit with children, and I hope to find my way back.
That time we almost went to the Paris Zoo
Have you been to any of these zoos? What is your favorite go to family activity when traveling? How many times can one person say zoo?
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