There are very few times when all four members of my family are equally excited about something, but our visit to Crater Lake was definitely one of those times. As soon as the lake came into view our mouths quite literally dropped open. We couldn’t believe what we were seeing!
Crater Lake
As soon as the car stopped all four of us jumped out. We just couldn’t believe our eyes! This was the bluest water we’d ever seen! Funny enough what turned out to be the grand finale of our vacation was chosen simply because it happened to be on the way home.
Our First View of Crater Lake!
Crater Lake National Park
The only National Park in Oregon, Crater Lake National Park is about a 4 hour drive from Portland. The Lake itself sits in the caldera of what was once Mount Mazama and at 1,949 feet deep it’s the 9th deepest lake in the world and the deepest lake in the United States.
Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States.
Crater Lake’s famous blue water is due to its extreme depth and clarity. Its thought to be the cleanest and clearest body of water in the world and it truly has to be seen to be believed.
The blue water in Crater Lake has to be seen to be believed
The caldera was created 7,700 years ago with the eruption and subsequent collapse of Mount Mazama, which allowed centuries of rainwater to collect. There are no rivers or streams flowing into the lake, but as much as 43′ of snowfall each year help to replenish and keep the lake full. These cute little squirrels hibernate during the winter months.
Crater Lake wildlife
Wildlife at Crater Lake Oregon
Crater Lake
The Lake is between 4.5 and 6 miles across and there are two islands, Wizards Island and the Phantom Ship, named for its shipwreck like appearance. Both were created during subsequent eruptions and of the two only Wizards Island is accessible.
Phantom Ship Island Crater Lake Oregon
Wizards Island Crater Lake Oregon
Things To Do at Crater Lake
Visitor Centers
The Visitor Center is always a great place to start any trip to a National Park, and Crater Lake has two. The Steel Visitor Center, which is open every day except December 25 and the Rim Visitor Center, which is open from late May to late September.
View from the Rim Visitor Center Crater Lake Oregon
Viewpoints
There are more than 30 view points along the Rim Road all of which will provide fabulous views. You’ll find The Sinnott Memorial Overlook just behind the Rim Visitor Center. This viewpoint is easily accessible via a short paved path and will provide you an amazing panoramic view of the lake and many of the Park’s most famous features.
Sinnott Memorial Overlook Crater Lake
Sinnott Memorial Overlook Crater Lake
Looking down into the caldera at Sinnott Memorial Overlook
Hiking
There are multiple walks and hikes available within the Park ranging from easy to strenuous. If you aren’t up for hiking many viewpoints are accessible via car, just pull in and take in the magnificent views.
Phantom Ship Overlook Crater Lake
Vidae Falls Crater Lake Oregon
Crater Lake Oregon
Swimming & Fishing
Swimming and fishing are both allowed, however the lake is surrounded by cliffs, so access is extremely limited. The only place to swim is at the bottom of the Cleetwood Cove Trail, but you’ll want to keep in mind that the 1.1 mile hike down to the water’s edge is strenuous. Due to its extreme depth the water never reaches more than 61 degrees. The combination of a strenuous hike and chilly water is why you won’t see any photos of us swimming in Crater Lake.
Volcano Boat Cruise
For those with more time the ranger led Volcano Boat Cruise is a two hour tour around the lake with options to disembark on Wizards Island where you’ll have three hours to explore.
Wizards Island Crater Lake
The boat tours leave from the bottom of the Cleetwood Cove Trail. Even using extreme zoom on my camera the tour boat is still a tiny blur.
Ranger led Volcanic Boat Tour Crater Lake
Tips & Advice:
Danger Keep Back Crater Lake Oregon
Crater Lake National Park is open every day of the year, but due to the large amounts of snowfall certain roads are inaccessible from mid November to mid June.
Crater Lake does not have an address, so if you’re using GPS you’ll want to enter the coordinates: 42° 53′ 48.91″ North / 122° 08′ 03.08″ West
Roads within the park are very narrow and there are no shoulders.
If you’re not interested in the boat tour there are direct shuttles to and from Wizard’s Island. Tickets for the boat tour can be reserved online in advance.
STAY on the path!
There are no gas stations within the Park.
Food options within the park include simple fare at the Rim Village Cafe and the Crater Lake Lodge Dining Room.
Crater Lake Lodge is the only in-park lodging and books up months in advance.
The Running Y Ranch, located 40 miles south of the Park was a nice alternative, with bike rentals, dining options, and an indoor pool.
The amount of street art going up in cities around the world is simply staggering, so you might think finding it would be easy, but strangely that’s not the case. It’s always a lovely surprise when you come around the corner and are greeted by a larger than life mural, but with limited time in a city wandering aimlessly and hoping to get lucky just won’t do.
Artist: Kevin Ledo Portland Oregon
As luck would have it I noticed the reflection of this Kevin Ledo mural in another building.
Street Art Scavenger Hunt
I think of finding street art as a giant scavenger hunt. I use clues from Google searches and Instagram to try and work out where I can find multiple murals or a specific piece within a city. Still, I can’t tell you how many times we have walked right by a piece, or simply can’t find it at all. I will even admit that I’ve walked within feet of amazing art, and never knew it was there until it was too late.
Artist: Faith47
I found this Faith47 piece just prior to leaving the city, it was around the corner from my hotel.
Once I do find a piece it’s not always easy to work out the artist’s name, but I will always do my best to share with you not only the artist’s name, but the mural’s exact location.
Artist: Unknown 125 NW 4th
During our recent visit to Portland we visited art in four different neighborhoods, including, Downtown Portland, The Alberta Arts District, the Central Eastside and SE Division.
Artist Unknown Invader?
Bad lighting, fencing, trash, dumpsters and parked cars can all get in the way of snapping an unobstructed photo of street art murals. Still, I was able to “collect” a large amount of art on this trip, and if you can believe it these are just the photos I deemed acceptable for sharing.
Pasteup Wall Portland Oregon
Street Art Walking Tour
To help make my Portland street art scavenger hunt successful I reached out to the Portland Street Art Alliance (PSAA) and arranged a walking tour in the Central Eastside Industrial District. Unfortunately it was 95 degrees out the day of our tour, making it difficult to stop and enjoy the art, but we did our best.
Artist Unknown
During my visit I learned of Forrest For the Trees a nonprofit organization that organizes and facilitates public art in the city of Portland. You’ll find a gallery of murals on their website, however the locations and murals aren’t listed together…
Artist: Kevin Ledo
Location: SW 2nd & SW Stark Street
Artist: Kevin Ledo Portland Oregon
Artist: Unknown
Location: Dante’s W Burnside & NW 3rd Street
Keep Portland Weird
Central Eastside Industrial District
Location: South of I-84 to Powell and the Willamette River to SE 12th.
Though still very much an area of industry the Central Eastside is also dotted with hip eateries, trendy bars, and one-of-a-kind shops. It’s also a hotspot for murals!
Central Eastside Industrial District Portland Oregon
Artist: Fin DAC
Location: SE Division & SE 10th Avenue
Artist: Fin DAC
The Taylor Electric Project
Curated by: The Portland Street Art Alliance
Artists: Multiple
Location: Parking Garage 240 SE Clay Street
Our tour started here write about what it is…
Artist: Ben Patterson
Taylor Electric Project RX Skulls
Taylor Electric Project Portland Oregon
Taylor Electric Street Art Project Portland Oregon
My family left, they’ve given up waiting on me to take just one more photo and are already blocks ahead of me. I run down the street after them, but then I see something. I stop to snap a few more pics of whatever it was that caught my eye, the view, a small detail, a piece of art… This is essentially the scenario everywhere we go. Snap and run, snap and run…
Triathlon Willamette River Portland Oregon
Occasionally, they’ll wait and even willingly be in a photo, but for the most part I’ve given up trying to get them to pose for me, and instead have been focusing more on trying to get what my husband refers to as the “beauty shot.”
You can run, but you can’t hide from mom’s camera
What is the Beauty Shot?
I know it’s different for everyone, but I always feel lucky if I come away from a destination with that one amazing photo. I used to think it had to be the most technically perfect shot, or agonize over trying to guess which picture would be the one that makes everyone go, ahhhh!, but now I realize that’s not the case at all.
International Test Rose Garden Portland Oregon
For me the beauty shot is the one that stands out in my mind long after the trip has ended, the one that gets printed, the one that finally makes it on the wall. It could be a sign, a landscape, a doorway, bicycles, or even street art nothing is ineligible, but more importantly does the photo evoke feeling? Sometimes I’m surprised at what turns out to be THE Shot.
Go By Streetcar Portland Oregon
Is this the beauty shot?
Getting the Beauty Shot
How do I get that shot, if I’m always snapping on the go? It’s not easy, and I’ve definitely been lucky, but rather than relying on luck, I’ve found that signing up for photo tours has been a great way to ensure that I get at least a few great photos. Not only that, but joining a tours allows me to shoot in the early morning and at night, which are often the best times for capturing photos, but the worst times to be out alone.
Hawthorne Bridge Portland Oregon at dusk
Portland Photo Tour Company
Narrowing down what I want to photograph makes it easier to chose a tour. I really wanted to shoot Portland’s bridges, so when I discovered The Portland Photo Comapany’s Night Photography Tour, where the main focus was bridges and the city skyline I knew it was the perfect tour for me.
Hawthorne Bridge Portland Oregon
We met at the East Bank Esplanade just before dark and spent two hours photographing the bridges, skyline, and anything else that struck our fancy in the nearby vicinity.
Downtown Portland Oregon
The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry’s submarine made a lovely subject.
OMSI Portland Oregon
As did the red glow of the Museum’s neon sign.
OMSI Portland Oregon
Sadly the Tilikum Crossing Bridge wasn’t lit the evening of the tour, but still made for a beautiful sight.
I’m very happy with the photos I took away from the evening tour, but they probably aren’t the beauty shot from this destination. I loved these colorful umbrellas on the ceiling of Boxer Ramen, and stopped to take a photo even though it was too hot out for soup.
Boxer Ramen Alberta Street Portland Oregon
Though the jury is still out on my stay at the Ace Hotel, I did fancy the lobby, especially this vintage sign, and there was just something about the cup of coffee someone left behind…
Ace hotel Portland Oregon
I really fancied these stairs in the Portland Japanese Garden and spent quite a bit of time with them.
Stone Staircase Japanese Garden Portland
I was delighted to discover that this vintage sign we admired has quite a history. Originally hung in 1928, the Hung Far Low Chop Suey Cocktails sign is a remnant of a bygone era and a beloved city icon. By the way, Hung Far Low means “red flower restaurant” in Cantonese.
A classic example of snap and run, I’d hoped to see this Faith 47 piece, and finally stumbled across it just before we left town. It happened to be just around the corner from the Ace.
Artist Faith 47 Portland Oregon
Walking along the river we saw the start of a triathlon in the Willamette River.
Triathlon Willamette River Portland Oregon
During our visit to the Rose City we took time to smell the roses and photograph them too.
Rose Garden Portland
The sun shinning upon our hotel room wall in the early hours of the morning meant no alarm clock necessary.
Ace Hotel Portland Oregon
You might be interested in photo tours from other cities:
Call it what you will, and it has a lot of names, Stumptown, Bridgetown, City of Roses, Rip City, or PDX but there’s just something about Portland, Oregon. A definite vibe, but it’s hard to sum up exactly, it’s a sort of Pacific Northwest Goth meets LA hipster vibe with a splash of… well, weird.
Keep Portland Weird
After 10 days exploring the Oregon Coast this self described city girl needed a dose of hustle and bustle and a good cup of coffee, so we made a beeline for Oregon’s biggest city.
Stumptown
We only had two full days, but we made the most of them. We took tours, visited multiple gardens and museums, ate delicious food and lost ourselves in the world’s largest bookstore!
Getting Around Town
In my humble opinion walking is the best way to discover a new city, and Portland is a very walkable city, but if you’re not up for walking the Portland Streetcars and Biketown rentals (sponsored by Nike) are both readily available.
Downtown Portland Oregon
Go By Streetcar Portland Oregon
Biketown Portland Oregon
Almost immediately we came upon the #instafamous Portland Oregon Old Town Sign.
Old Town Portland, Oregon
But First, Food.
Portland is well known for their food truck culture, there are literally hundreds of them set up in what are known as pods, but I’m going to admit to you right now, that I’m not a fan of food trucks, and didn’t eat at a single one.
Food Truck Portland Oregon
Don’t worry, we didn’t starve! In fact we ran out of time before we could eat at all the highly recommended places on our list. Here are just a few of our favorites:
Luc Lac Vietnamese Kitchen kept popping up during my Portland research, and as soon as I saw the ceiling covered in light pink umbrellas I knew I’d be going, but when my friend Erin, over at Oregon Girl Around the World, recommended it as well, that sealed the deal!
Luc Lac Vietnamese Kitchen Portland Oregon
Thankfully, we loved everything else about it too. From friendly fast service to delicious and plentiful servings, Luc Lac was a highlight of our Portland dining experience.
Pine State Biscuits
Location: Central East Industrial District – 1100 SE Division
I LOVE biscuits, so a visit to Pine State Biscuits was at the top of my dining wish list. We arrived just prior to closing, which meant we avoided the ever present out the door line I’d heard so much about.
Pine State Biscuits Portland Oregon
We went with the most popular item on the menu: The Reggie, a Fried chicken, bacon & cheese biscuit topped with gravy. Trust me, it tasted way better than my photo gives it credit for. We couldn’t resist a side of cheese fries and the seasonal pop tart, and washed all this deliciousness down with a large jar of sweet tea.
The Reggie with gravy on the side
Cheese Fries Pine State Biscuits
Seasonal pop tart
Carlita’s
Location: The Pearl District – 1101 NW Northrup Street
Carlita’s, described as Mexican with a Northwest flair, was walking distance from my hotel making it the perfect place to meet my bestie for a girls night out! The food was delicious, though spicy, and the service and atmosphere were great. Carlita’s is 21 and over.
Margarita at Carlita’s Mexican
Night in the Pearl District
Lauretta Jean’s Pie Bakery
Location: Division – 3402 SE Division Street
We are a pie loving family, so resistance was futile when we came across Lauretta Jean’s Pie Bakery. Nothing says summer like a fresh slice of warm pie with a scoop of melty ice cream, or a dollop of fresh whipped cream.
Don’t miss a visit to the quirky Portland favorite Voodoo Doughnut! As you might imagine they have a plethora of fun flavors and shapes on offer, all of which are delicious.
Voodoo Doughnut Downtown Portland location
Voodoo Doughnut
Voodoo Doughnut
Voodoo Doughnuts is cash only, but you’ll find an ATM onsite.P.S. We didn’t visit Blue Star or Salt N Straw, both of which are local favorites, because we visit the LA locations often.
Powell’s Books
Location: 1005 W Burnside Street
One of the first places we stopped upon our arrival, was Powell’s Books. They claim to be the world’s largest bookstore selling both new and used books, and I believe it. One could literally get lost, so we paired up and set off to explore. Good thing our hotel was just a few steps away because we came away with a bag of literary treasures.
Powell’s Books
Alberta Street Arts District
Location: Alberta Street between Approximately 15th and 30th
My never-ending quest for street art led me to the Alberta Arts District where we found street art murals and slap tags aplenty!
Blaine Fontana Mural 22nd and Alberta
Alberta Street & NW 22nd
@rather_severe Alberta & NW 29th
Artist: Mateu Valasco
Alberta & NW 26th Alley
Portland is a slaptaggers heaven @socialfatigue
This quirky and fun neighborhood is filled with one-of-a-kind boutiques, art galleries, coffee shops, dive bars and more.
Yarrington & Fontana Alberta & NE 21st
After we’d had our fill of art and the 95 degree heat, we settled into the blissfully air-conditioned and very friendly neighborhood bar, Binks.
Stay tuned for more about this fun area in a future post…
The Pearl District
You’ll be hard pressed to find any evidence of the once run down industrial warehouse district that is now known as the Pearl District. Instead you’ll find a vibrant and thriving neighborhood, with charming wooden sidewalks, city parks, and one-of-a-kind shops and restaurants.
Tanner Springs Park
Remnants from the old Warehouse days Pearl District
Tanner Springs Park Portland
Portland Rose Test Gardens
Location: Washington Park
Opened in 1917 the International Rose Test Garden is home to over 7,000 rose plants and 550 varieties. Roses are sent from around the world to be tested for color, fragrance, resistance to disease and other attributes.
International Test Rose Garden
Take time to smell the roses
Yellow Roses Portland Oregon
We loved walking up and down the rows taking time to smell the roses, and reading all the different names.
Portland Rose Garden
Golden Hour at the Portland Rose Garden
Portland Rose Garden
Rose Garden Portland Oregon
The Rose Test Garden is open from 7:30 am – 9:00 pm daily and offers free public tours daily at 1:00pm, from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.
Japanese Garden
Location: Washington Park
Having visited Portland’s Japanese Garden a few years ago, we were pleased to see the extensive renovations and additions, which were completed since our last visit, enhancing what was already a spectacular place.
Information Japanese Garden Portland
Koi Pond Portland Japanese Garden
Crane Statue Japanese Garden Portland
Check the Japanese Garden website for the information on the hours and admission prices as they vary throughout the year. Complimentary tours are included with your admission.
Ground Kontrol Arcade
Location: Old Town/Chinatown – 115 NW 5th Avenue
From Dig Dug to Mortal Combat, Centipede to Donkey Kong you’ll find all your old favorites at the Ground Control classic arcade, or if you prefer pin ball they have 27 different machines. We found this to be a perfect place to beat the heat on a sweltering hot summer day, and to give our kids a break from playing tourist.
Ground Kontrol Portland Oregon
If shoveling quarters into arcade games isn’t your thing, or if you run out of quarters before the rest of your crew there are multiple bar areas where one can hang out.
Ground Kontrol Portland Oregon
Ground Kontrol
All ages noon-5pm daily, 21+ from 4:30pm-close.
Street Art Walking Tour
Portland Street Art Alliance
In hindsight a walking tour on a 95 degree day probably wasn’t the best idea, but having scheduled it in advance we decided to give it a go. The extreme heat really put a damper on our ability to stop and enjoy the art, but we did our best, and saw quite a lot!
Artist: Ben Patterson
Artist: Yoshi 47
Artist: Fin DAC
Artist Unknown
Central East Industrial District Portland Oregon
CEID Taylor Electric Portland Oregon
Burnside Skateboard Park Portland Oregon
We may have stopped in the middle to cool down with boozy pops from the Portland Roasting Company.
Portland Roasting Company Boozy Pop
Our tour was booked through the Portland Street Art Alliance. Stay tuned for more about Portland’s street art scene.
Portland Photo Tour
Wanting to see the city’s skyline and bridges I decided to book a small group tour with Portland Photo Tour. This way I’d be able to take all the night photos I wanted safely and without torturing the rest of my family.
Downtown Portland
Hawthorne Bridge Portland Oregon
Tilikum Crossing Bridge Portland Oregon
Stay tuned for more about this fun experience…
The Ace Hotel Portland
Location: 1022 SW Stark Street
Prior to this trip the last time I stayed at an Ace Hotel, was my wedding night. I thought I’d give it another chance… the jury is still out. I will say that the location was great, as was the Stumptown coffee shop.
Did you know August 7 is National Lighthouse Day? It was news to me too. Coincidentally it’s also the day I’ve chosen to share our lighthouse tour of the West Coast. I’d call that Serendipity!
Cape Meares Lighthouse
Our family went on a most wonderful summer vacation this year, and a large part of it revolved around visiting lighthouses (something we’d never done before). Knowing we’d be driving along the coast we decided to guess in advance how many lighthouses we might see on our journey with guesses ranging from 2 – 12. Along the way we discovered what many people already know: Lighthouses are cool! How cool are lighthouses? So cool in fact, that we saw 15!
Umpqua Lighthouse
We couldn’t stop at every one, but driving gave us the freedom to stop at many, and the combination of history, architecture, and scenic beauty provided something for each of us.
Almost all of the lighthouses had stunning views and many had beach access with vibrant life filled tide pools and nature walks, or short hikes. Many were open to the public, some offered guided tours, or had museums and more than a few offered sleeping accommodations on site.
A rainy day at Heceta Head on the Oregon Coast
We were fascinated to learn about the inner workings of the lighthouses and their magnificent crystal lenses, which can shine light, in some cases, as far as 25 miles out to sea. Weighing thousands of pounds the lenses were crafted in Paris, France and then shipped to their respective lighthouses. Every lighthouse has its own unique light signal. My favorite were the red and white lenses!
Arena Point Lighthouse Fresnel Lens
View through the Cape Meares Lighthouse lens
The lives of the lighthouse keepers were hard, but their job of keeping the light shining was imperative to the lives and safety of the sailors navigating the rocky waters off the coast. They lived and worked within the lighthouses and farmed the land nearby.
Yaquina Head Lighthouse Cistern
13 Lighthouses of the West Coast
Santa Cruz Breakwater (Walton) Lighthouse
Location: Seabright State Beach, Santa Cruz, California
Height: 41.5 ft
Though there has been a guiding light in the Santa Cruz Harbor since the mid 60s the present lighthouse was only built in 2002, making it the youngest lighthouse of this bunch.
Walton Lighthouse Twin Lakes State Beach
You can’t enter the lighthouse, but Seabright Beach, located just off of East Cliff Drive and is part of the Twin Lakes State Beach, is a wonderful place to spend the day! Families stay all day and into the night picnicking, boogie boarding, swimming and roasting marshmallows.
Walton Lighthouse Seabright Beach
Walton Lighthouse Seabright Beach
The grounds are open to the public, but the tower is closed. The beaches are open until 10 pm and bonfires are permitted. During summer days there are lifeguards and restrooms.
Pigeon Point Ligthouse
Location: Pescadero, California
Height: 115 ft
Towering 115 feet above the windswept cliffs of the California Coastline the Pigeon Point Lighthouse has been guiding sailors safely home since 1872. Pigeon Point is one of two lighthouses that share the distinction of being the tallest on the West Coast and is also one of the tallest in the United States.
Pigeon Point Lighthouse
The lighthouse itself is currently under renovation, but don’t miss a walk around the grounds for the stunning views of both the lighthouse and surrounding coast. Had I known in advance about the Pigeon Point Hostel I might have considered a stay in this amazing setting.
View from Pigeon Point Lighthouse
Pigeon Point Lighthouse
Pigeon Point is 50 miles south of San Francisco and just south of Half Moon Bay. The Lighthouse grounds are open 8:00 am to Sunset and 30 min guided history walks are available daily at 1pm.
Point Reyes Lighthouse
Location: Point Reyes National Seashore, Point Reyes Station, California
Height: 35 ft
Point Reyes is the windiest place on the Pacific Coast and the second foggiest on the North American Continent, so it wasn’t really a surprise that it was fogged in the day of our visit. However, the wind did provide moments of clarity.
Point Reyes Lighthouse
The Point Reyes Lighthouse was built in 1870 and operated for 105 years before being automated by the Coast Guard. Although we missed the visitor center opening hours, the park was open, and we got a foggy view of the lighthouse from the viewing platform above.
Point Reyes National Seashore
Point Reyes Lighthouse
The Lighthouse Visitor Center and stairs (308) leading down to the lighthouse are open (weather permitting) Friday – Monday 10:00 am to 4:30 pm. Keep in mind that there are no gas stations or food services within 20 miles of the Lighthouse. In August 2018 the Lighthouse will undergo a large renovation project.
Point Arena Lighthouse
Location: Point Arena, California
Height: 115 ft
There are two lighthouses in California that claim the Tallest Lighthouse title. The first is Pigeon Point, and the other is Point Arena, they are both 115 feet tall. The original more traditional looking lighthouse was built in 1870, but was heavily damaged in the 1906 earthquake, and subsequently torn down.
Point Arena Lighthouse
The current lighthouse resembles a smokestack, which makes sense since it was built by a smokestack company. The original stairs were salvaged and are still in use today.
Point Arena Lighthouse
Point Arena Lighthouse
One of three lighthouses we had the opportunity to climb. I wished we’d had more time to enjoy the stunning views of the surrounding areas and coastline.
View from the top of Point Arena Lighthouse
Point Arena Lighthouse Stairs
Point Arena Lighthouse Fog Signal Building
View from the Point Arena Lighthouse
Point Arena Lighthouse is open every day of the year except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day Summer Hours: 10 am to 4:30 pm The last Tower Tour is at 4:15 pm The grounds, Museum and Gift Store are open until 4:30 pm. General admission including Tower tour: $7.50 per adult, $1 for children ages 5 – 11, under 5 free
Cabrillo Point Light Station
Location: Mendocino, California
Height: 47 ft
The Point Cabrillo Light Station, located just north of Mendocino was definitely a highlight (pun intended) of this trip. The walk to the Light Station is truly lovely, offering stunning views in every direction, and we were delighted to encounter wild turkeys and their young as well as a California condor along the way.
Cabrillo Light Station
Cabrillo Light Station Mendocino California
The lighthouse, built in 1909, has a small museum and gift shop inside. The tiniest aquarium you ever saw is just down the path. Should I find myself this way again, I’ll definitely be looking into the unique accommodations offered onsite.
Cabrillo Light Station Aquarium
Grey Whale Trivia Cabrillo Light Station
The Light Station is approximately one half mile walk from the entry gate on Point Cabrillo Drive. The parking area is open from sunrise – sunset daily. Entrance to the lighthouse museum and aquarium are free. Tours of the lighthouse lens are only offered 8 days per year and are $5. Check the website for dates.
Battery Point Lighthouse
Location: Crescent City, California
Height: 45 ft
Crescent City is the last city before crossing the California Oregon border. That novelty alone would have been enough reason to stop (for me), but the presence of the Battery Point Lighthouse, one of California’s first lighthouses, sealed the deal.
Built in 1856 this was the only lighthouse we visited with an active lighthouse keeper in residence.
Tide Pool Crescent City California
The Lighthouse is only accessible at low tide. We opted to explore the tide pools instead of taking the tour and had no regrets whatsoever.
Sea Star at low tide at Battery Point
Tide Pool Crescent City California
Tide Pool Crescent City California
The Lighthouse is open April – September, tides permitting, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, every day.There are no public restrooms on the island.
Cape Blanco Lighthouse
Location: Port Orford, Oregon
Height: 59 ft
Knowing we would arrive at Cape Blanco Lighthouse after opening hours, we decided to stop anyway. After all Cape Blanco, built in 1870, is the oldest continually operating and most westerly of all the lighthouses in Oregon, not only that it has the highest focal plane (256 ft above the sea) and Oregon’s first woman keeper started here in 1903.
The light is on at Cape Blanco Lighthouse
Cape Blanco Lighthouse
Cape Blanco LIghthouse
The Lighthouse is open Wednesday – Monday, 10:00 am – 3:30 pm. Guided tours are offered April – October $2 for adults; children 15 and under are free.
Umpqua Lighthouse
Location: Umpqua Lighthouse State Park, Oregon
Height: 65 ft
The original Umpqua Lighthouse, built in 1857, was the first lighthouse in the Oregon Territory. Destroyed by floods the new lighthouse was built in a new location overlooking Winchester Bay. It was completed in 1894.
Umpqua Lighthouse
The beautiful red and white first-order lens is one of just a few in the country that is still in operation.
Umpqua Lighthouse State Park
Umpqua Lighthouse First Order Lens
The lighthouse is open May 1 – October 30. Tours are offered from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm daily; $3 for adults, $2 for children.
Coquille River Lighthouse
Location: Bandon, Oregon
Height: 40 ft
The Coquille River Lighthouse, built in 1896, was definitely one of my favorite lighthouses. Its location in Bullards Beach State Park is just north of Bandon, but it can be seen from Old Town just across the river. I was so excited when the sky turned a vibrant shade of pink that I jumped up from the dinner table to grab this shot.
Coquille River Lighthouse as seen from Old Town Bandon, Oregon
The next morning we went to Bullards Beach State Park for a closer look. We were too early to go inside, but enjoyed walking around the outside and exploring the nearby driftwood beach.
Coquille River Lighthouse
Coquille River Lighthouse
The lighthouse is open 11:00 am – 5:00 pm mid-May – September. The tower is off limits due to safety concerns.
Heceta Head Lighthouse
Location: Between Florence & Yachats, Oregon
Height: 56 ft
Heceta Head Lighthouse, built in 1894, claims to be the most photographed lighthouse in the United States, and I believe it. It sits 200 feet above the sea, surrounded by breathtakingly beautiful scenery and I know I certainly took my fair share of photos during our visit.
Don’t miss the trail which takes you above the Heceta Head Lighthouse
A short .5 mile hike from Heceta Head Beach will take you up to the lighthouse where you’ll be treated to amazing views. Along the way you’ll find a gift shop, which sells ice cream. Heceta Head Beach with its many tide pools and rock formations is a fabulous place to go exploring.
Heceta Head Beach
The boys at Heceta Head Lighthouse
The interior of the lighthouse is closed through September 30, 2018, for renovations, but the gift shop and interpretive programs are open. Lighthouse programs run from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm Friday through Monday. Should you wish to spend more time in this gorgeous place you’ll find a B&B onsite as well.
Yaquina Head Lighthouse
Location: Newport, Oregon
Height: 92 ft
Our visit to Yaquina Head, an Outstanding Area of Natural Beauty, was easily my favorite day of the entire trip! We saw an abundance of wildlife, including whales, seals, and bald eagles, explored the Cobble Beach tide pools, and climbed to the top of Oregon’s tallest lighthouse.
Cobble Beach
Yaquina Head Lighthouse
As you tour the Yaquina Head Lighthouse you’ll go back in time and learn what it was like to be a lighthouse keeper in 1873.
Interior stair of the Yaquina Head Lighthouse
Yaquina Head Lighthouse Tour Passes
View from Yaquina Head Lighthouse Tower
The Yaquina Head Lighthouse Lens
Reflections inside Yaquina Head Lighthouse
The Yaquina Head Lighthouse
Planning our visit around the tide tables we spent hours peering into the water at the Cobble Beach marine garden, which sits just below the lighthouse. Brightly colored sea lemons, purple urchins, and giant sea stars, were just a few of the sea creatures we saw and touched.
Purple Urchins Cobble Beach
Free tours of the lighthouse are offered on a limited basis, and can be booked at the Interpretive center, which is open 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. Tip: Book your lighthouse tour early. They fill up!
Cape Meares Lighthouse
Location: Tillamook, Oregon
Height: 38 ft
You’ll find the Cape Meares Lighthouse Just 10 miles down the road, from the Tillamook Creamery. A bright and sunny day over in Tillamook, by the time we arrived at the lighthouse we were completely fogged in.
The shortest lighthouse in Oregon
Cape Meares Lighthouse, first lit in 1890, is the shortest lighthouse in Oregon. The approach from above was unique and picturesque, even with the ever present fog. We had the opportunity to tour the lighthouse, and I loved being inside the red and white lens.
Cape Meares
Inside the lens of the Cape Meares Lighthouse
Entrance to the lighthouse and tours are free. The lighthouse is open Monday – Thursday 11:00 am – 4:00pm and Friday – Sunday 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Bonus Lighthouse
Point Fermin Lighthouse
Location: Point Fermin Park, San Pedro, Los Angeles
The Point Fermin Lighthouse is located on the southernmost point of Los Angeles, open to the public, it includes a museum and guided tours.
Point Fermin Historic Lighthouse
Point Fermin Park, offers sweeping ocean views, wide grassy areas for running free, trees for climbing, a playground, and picnic areas. Take a stroll along the bluffs as we did, or bring a picnic and enjoy the view from one of the park’s many tables. If you keep your eyes open you just might see a dolphin.
View from Point Fermin Park
The Fermin Point Lighthouse and museum are open Tuesday – Sunday 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm. Admission is free.
If you’re wondering, it was Tim who won the guess how many lighthouses game with his guess of 12! Interested in viewing some of these magnificent lighthouses? Here is a handy map with their locations.
This is the continuation of a previous post about our family’s summer road trip along the West Coast of the United States. A road trip so epic, we just couldn’t share all the highlights in one post!
Thor’s Well Cape Perpetua
With its breathtaking scenery and quirky roadside attractions it was no surprise that Oregon turned out to be the perfect family destination. Having grown up in the Pacific Northwest this wouldn’t be our first trip to Oregon, but it would include a lot of unknown territory, and we’re always up for new adventures.
Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor State Park
The Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor is a coastal park which stretches 12 miles along Highway 101 in Southern Oregon. Even with cloudy skies it was one of the most visually stunning areas we visited on the entire trip. Given the opportunity one could easily spend 12 days exploring this area, but as it was we had only one.
View from the waterfall on Secret Beach
Natural Bridges
Having seen photos of Natural Bridges on Instagram, I had some idea of what to expect. Even better in person our first view of this beautiful spot with its emerald green waters took our breath away. Feeling adventurous? There is a steep trail leading down to the bridges, but watch your step.
Natural Bridges Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor
Secret Beach
Accessing the Secret Beach requires hiking down a steep rocky trail, but once you arrive I promise you won’t be disappointed. Had time and tides permitted we could/would have stayed at Secret Beach all day. After parking you’ll want to head to the right, look for a smaller trail heading down.
Fisherman on Secret Beach
Waterfall on Secret Beach
Secret Beach
Prehistoric Gardens
What can I say we love roadside attractions! If you have any dinosaur lovers in your group, you won’t want to miss a visit to The Prehistoric Gardens, located directly on Highway 101.
Prehistoric Gardens Roadside Attraction
Attracting road trippers since 1955 there are 23 life-size dinosaurs located in this perfectly kept beautiful forest setting. There are restrooms and a gift shop onsite as well.
Obligatory photo for mom
AHHHH!
Bandon
Face Rock Scenic Viewpoint
We loved exploring the beaches in Bandon, caves, wide swaths of sand, a friendly seal and a setting sun made for a truly magical experience.
Face Rock
Wizard’s Hat Rock
Bandon Beach
Hello seal!
The Coquille River Lighthouse
The Coquille River Lighthouse can easily be seen across the river from Old Town Bandon, and makes for a very pretty picture.
Coquille River Lighthouse
If you’re interested in a closer look head over to Bullards Beach State Park where you’ll also find a wonderful driftwood beach.
Bullards Beach
Florence
Sea Lion Caves
The Sea Lion Caves where Roadside America meets natures wonders! How could we miss the opportunity to take an elevator down into America’s largest sea cave? I was fascinated by all those sea lions, frolicking in the water, fighting for territory, napping all over one another. They made quite a racket and oh the smell!
Sea Lion Caves
My boys however, were more fascinated by a giant yellow slug on the wall. Go figure. I guess they haven’t seen many slugs before…
Sea Lion Cave Overlook
Slug in the Sea Lion Cave Florence Oregon
Heceta Head Lighthouse and Beach
Heceta Head Lighthouse claims to be the most photographed lighthouse in the United States, and I believe it. Its sits 200 feet above the sea, surrounded by breathtakingly beautiful scenery and I know I certainly took my fair share of photos during our visit.
Even on a rainy day Heceta Head is stunning
A short hike from Heceta Head Beach will take you up to the lighthouse where you’ll be treated to amazing views. Along the way you’ll find a gift shop, which also sells ice cream.
Heceta Head Beach
Heceta Head Lighthouse
Flowers at Heceta Head Beach
Looking down on a Sea Lion from Heceta Head Lighthouse
Heceta Head Beach with its many tide pools and rock formations is a fabulous place to go exploring. Do be mindful of the tides, especially if you decide to venture further out.
Marine Garden Heceta Head
Heceta Head Beach
Heceta Head Beach
Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park
The giant mountains of shifting golden sand were begging to be conquered, so we set about climbing, but within moments our shoes were filled with burning hot sand, and the struggle was real. Just over the crest was the river, and we were rewarded with a dip in the cool water.
Honeyman State Park Oregon
Honeyman State Park Oregon
Honeyman State Park Oregon
Honeyman State Park Oregon
Formed by wind, water, and time Oregon’s sand dunes stretch 40 miles along the coastline inland as far as 2.5 miles and rise as high as 500 feet! They are truly a sight to behold!
Honeyman State Park Oregon
Honeyman State Park Oregon
Honeyman Memorial State Park was the perfect place to stop and explore. The Park offers sand board and boat rentals, swimming, picnic areas, and even camping.
Yachats
Thor’s Well
You’ll find, Thor’s Well, a collapsed sea cave on the edge of a rocky shore just outside of the city of Yachats. Nothing is stopping you from walking right up to what looks and smells like a gaping maw, but beware!
Thor’s Well
This is popular place for photographers, especially at low tide when the water churns and froths angrily in and out of the cave with extreme force, I shudder to think what might happen if one fell in…
Photographers love Thor’s Well
Thor’s Well
Lincoln City
Yaquina Head Outstanding Area
Our visit to Yaquina Head, an Outstanding Area of Natural Beauty, was easily my favorite day of the entire trip! We saw gray whales, seals, bald eagles and countless other wild creatures.
Yaquina Head
Planning our visit around the tide tables (finally) we spent hours peering into the water at the Cobble Beach marine garden. Brightly colored sea lemons, purple urchins, California muscles, giant sea stars, and chitons were just a few of the sea creatures we saw and touched.
Purple Urchins Cobble Beach
Cobble Beach
Whale Fluke
Cobble Beach Marine Garden
A tour of the Yaquina Head Lighthouse, Oregon’s tallest, will take you back in time. You’ll climb to the top and learn about what it was like to be a lighthouse keeper in 1875.
Yaquina Head Lighthouse Interior
Tillamook
I LOVE cheese, so there was no question as to whether or not we’d be visiting the Tillamook Creamery. I’ve been enjoying Tillamook products my entire life, and in fact I visited the Creamery when I was just 8 years old. The idea of bringing my kids to a place I had such fond memories of really appealed to me.
We really enjoyed our visit to the brand new visitor center, which opened only a few weeks prior to our visit!
Tillamook Factory Tour
Tillamook Factory Tour
Tasting Cheese Tillamook Factory
After the tour we enjoyed a delicious lunch of Grilled Cheese, Mac & Cheese, and creamy Tillamook Ice Cream.
Tillamook Grilled Cheese
Tillamook Factory Tour
Tillamook Mac n Cheese
Tillamook Factory Tour
Tillamook Ice Cream
Yum! Tillamook!
Cape Meares Lighthouse
You’ll find the Cape Meares Lighthouse Just 10 miles down the road, from the Tillamook Creamery! A bright and sunny day over in Tillamook, by the time we arrived at the lighthouse we were completely fogged in.
Cape Meares
The shortest lighthouse in Oregon, the approach from above is unique and picturesque, even with the ever present fog.
Cape Meares Lighthouse
The shortest lighthouse in Oregon
Inside the lens of the Cape Meares Lighthouse
Take a short walk from the through the Sitka Spruce trees, and you’ll find the Octopus Tree. The 105 foot tree, thought to be 300 years old, has no central trunk, but instead many trunks some stretching outward as far as 16 feet before growing upward. No one knows if the tree grew this way naturally, or if it was trained by the Native Americans, but either way it’s impressive.
Octopus Tree Cape Meares
Octopus Tree
Portland
It’s hard to sum up our visit to Portland in just a few sentences, but believe me we made the most of our two and a half days there!
Bridgetown
We took tours, visited multiple gardens and museums, ate delicious food and lost ourselves in the world’s largest bookstore!
Crater Lake, famous for the clarity and deep blue color of it’s water, has to be seen to be believed. Our mouths dropped open at first sight. Sitting in the caldera of what was once Mount Mazama, Crater Lake is 2000 feet deep, and the deepest lake in the United States.
Crater Lake
The caldera was created 7,700 years ago with the eruption and subsequent collapse of Mount Mazama, which allowed centuries of rainwater to collect. There are no rivers or streams flowing into the lake, but as much as 43′ of snowfall each year help to replenish and keep the lake full.
Crater Lake
There are two islands in the Lake, Wizards Island and the Phantom Ship, both were created during subsequent eruptions.
Wizard’s Island Crater Lake
Phantom Ship Island Crater Lake
Phantom Ship Island Crater Lake
Should one desire, swimming is allowed in the Lake, but the hike down to the water’s edge is considered strenuous and the water is cold, so we satisfied ourselves with visiting some of the more than 30 view points along the Rim Road.
Squirrel Crater Lake
Crater Lake
Mount Shasta
Though we didn’t have time for a real visit to Mount Shasta, the second tallest mountain in the Cascade Range, we did make time to stop at a view point.
Mount Shasta
So there you have it! Our epic road trip from Los Angeles to Portland and back again! Two weeks, over 2300 miles, 15 lighthouses and countless other highlights. Stay tuned for more details, tips, and advice about all these places and more in future posts.
Having spent the majority of my life living on the West Coast of the United States I’ve driven up and down more times than I can count. Yet, even after a lifetime of road trips ranging from Seattle to LA, and back again, there is still so much to discover. With this in mind our most recent adventure took us north along the coast from Los Angeles to Portland, Oregon. We returned via central Oregon and over the course of two weeks drove 2300+ miles.
Cypress Trees along Highway 101 in Point Arena
Along the way we discovered a love of lighthouses (We saw 15!), spotted whales and other amazing wildlife, peered into countless tide pools, walked in ancient forests, explored secret beaches, and stared down into volcanic craters.
Swanton Berry Farm
The coast roads are winding and narrow, real nail biters, so we took our time, and stopped often, breaking up the miles. Our boys, ages 10 and 15, passed the time between stops enjoying the scenery, reading, drawing and (I’ll be honest) staring into their devices.
Road with a view
There were many highlights on this trip and we all agreed it was hard to choose a favorite. I’ll be sharing more details about our favorites (lighthouses anyone?) in the coming weeks but in the meantime here is an overview of this year’s, our third annual, epic road trip. Grab your cuppa, coffee, or a glass of wine, this is going to be a long one…
Santa Cruz
We wasted no time getting to Santa Cruz, located 340 miles from LA, and about 75 miles from San Francisco, where we met up with friends. Great beaches, an amusement park, and a vibrant downtown keep us coming back time and again.
The Hook
Highlights of this visit were surfing at The Hook, ice cream at The Penny Creamery, and roasting marshmallows around a beach campfire at Twin Lakes State Beach.
Don’t blink or you’ll miss Pescadero located on HWY 1 about halfway between Santa Cruz and San Francisco.
Swanton Berry Farm
There are many farms in the area, but Swanton Berry Farm is our favorite. We love the delicious pies and treats and the welcoming atmosphere reminiscent of a simpler time. You won’t find a shopkeeper, instead the till is operated on the honor system!
Welcome to Swanton Berry Farm
Swanton Berry Farm Chocolate Dipped Strawberries
Swanton Berry Farm
Swanton Berry Farm Honor Till
There is a lovely selection of jams and other items to take home, and depending on the season there is a U-pick patch. We never leave without a jar or two of Swanton’s Olallieberry Jam, but not before we’ve played some of the farm’s old fashioned games and enjoyed our pie!
Swanton Berry Farm Jam
Olallieberry Pie
Pigeon Point Light House
Pigeon Point Lighthouse is one of the two tallest lighthouses in California and in the United States. The lighthouse itself is currently under renovation, but the grounds are beautiful and provide stunning views of the lighthouse and surrounding coast.
Pigeon Point Lighthouse
Barbara’s Fish Trap, Half Moon Bay
Barbara’s Fish Trap is a casual dining restaurant with friendly service and consistently great food. We love the take away window, and over the years have met many interesting and fun people while sharing the restaurant’s sunny yellow picnic tables.
We didn’t stop in San Francisco on this trip, as we’ve been many times, but crossing the bridge is always special, and a stop to take in the view is an opportunity I never miss. If you have time consider parking on either side, and walking across.
Agate Beach was a great place to stop and stretch our legs. Upon our arrival we were told of some blue whale bones partially buried in the sand some distance down the beach. The tide was coming in, but we decided we had time.
Agate Beach
We poked around in the tide pools, a flock of pelicans flew overhead, and we met a friendly dog, who wanted to play fetch. It was such an idyllic setting, we soon lost track of time…
Agate Beach
Flock of Pelicans
Agate Beach Anemone
Blue Whale Bones
Pretty soon the dog stopped playing and started barking. He would run to us bark, and then run down the beach. He repeated this a number of times, before we realized, “He wants us to follow him!”
Our Rescuer
Whoops, the tide was coming in! We needed to hurry if we didn’t want to get stranded on this beach, or worse. We quickened our pace, and the dog was delighted we’d understood! Once we reached the trailhead he went to his family, and we went safely on our way. Thanks friendly dog!
Point Reyes National Seashore
Historic KPH Maritime Radio Receiving Station and Cypress Tree Tunnel
It was my love of tree tunnels that brought us to the Point Reyes National Seashore, I’d read about the Cypress Tree tunnel and was determined to see it.
Cypress Tree Tunnel Point Reyes StationCypress Tree Tunnel Point Reyes Station
Point Reyes is the windiest place on the Pacific Coast and the second foggiest on the North American Continent, so it wasn’t really a surprise that it was fogged in the day of our visit. Although we missed the Point Reyes Lighthouse opening hours (by minutes) we did get a foggy view of the lighthouse from above and enjoyed walking the grounds.
Point Reyes Lighthouse
Bodega Bay
Having visited Bodega Bay a number of years ago, our visit there was short, however it’s worth mentioning that we stayed in an Airstream trailer, which is way out of my comfort zone.
Bodega Bay Surf Shop
The boys thought it was the best thing ever, the sunset was spectacular, and we enjoyed a lovely campfire with a view.
Airstream accommodations Chanslor Ranch
Campfire with a view
Sunset over Bodega Bay
Chanslor Ranch
The Airstream is located on Chanslor Ranch with horses, a creek, and 400 acres of land in which to explore.
Sonoma Coast State Park
With the rare exception just about every mile along the Pacific Coast Highway is gorgeous, so stopping every time we saw something amazing wasn’t reasonable, but every now and again, we just had to stop…
Sonoma Coast State Park
The Sea Ranch
Architecture lovers won’t want to miss a stop at The Sea Ranch, a private community encompassing ten miles along the Sonoma County Coast. The community is known for it’s unique architecture, and the way in which the structures blend into the land.
View from The Sea Ranch Lodge
Though it is a private community there are public beaches and walking trails within the Sea Ranch. We loved our walk to Shell Beach, which was perfect for the timing of our stay.
Shell Beach Sea Ranch
Walk to Shell Beach
Walk to Shell Beach
Walk to Shell Beach
Shell Beach
If you’d like to stay longer The Sea Ranch Lodge has a lovely restaurant and rooms for rent. Additionally many of the homes are available for vacation rental.
Sea Ranch Lodge
Sea Ranch Lodge
Sea Ranch Lodge
Point Arena Lighthouse
There are two lighthouses in California that claim the Tallest Lighthouse title. The first is Pigeon Point, and the other is Point Arena, they are both 115 feet tall. The current Point Arena lighthouse was built after the first was heavily damaged in a 1906 earthquake.
The Point Arena Lighthouse is 115 feet tall.
Point Arena is open daily for tours and a climb to the top is included. The views of the coast line and surrounding areas were stunning.
The Fog Signal Building at Point Arena Lighthouse
Looking north from the Point Arena Lighthouse
Family photo
Mendocino
The Point Cabrillo Light Station, located just north of Mendocino was definitely a highlight (pun intended) of this trip!
Cabrillo Light Station
The walk to the station is truly lovely offering stunning views in every direction, and we were delighted to encounter wild turkeys and their young as well as a California condor along the way.
Scenic views await at Cabrillo Light Station
The lighthouse, built in 1909, has a small museum and gift shop inside. The tiniest aquarium you ever saw is just down the path.
The tiny aquarium at Cabrillo Light Station
Should I find myself this way again, I’ll definitely be looking into the unique accommodations offered onsite at the Point Cabrillo Light Station.
Fort Bragg
Famous for the large amounts of sea glass on its shores I’d always wanted to visit Glass Beach in Fort Bragg.
Glass Beach Fort Bragg
How did all that sea glass get there? At one time the beaches were used as dumping grounds by the city of Fort Bragg. over time the constant pounding of the waves transformed what was once trash into shining gems.
Glass Beach Fort Bragg
Temporary Treasures
Temporary treasure on Glass Beach
Glass Beach
Sadly most of the sea glass is now gone. What we found instead was a large number of people pilfering what little glass remains and leaving large amounts of trash in its place. Glass Beach was my one true disappointment on this trip.
Trash on Glass Beach
Glass Beach Tourists
Chandelier Drive-Thru Tree
You know what they say about the best laid plans… When we realized we wouldn’t make our original destination, Avenue of the Giants in Humboldt Redwoods State Park, before dark, we decided instead to visit the Chandelier Drive-Thru Tree in Leggett, California. I really wanted to show the kids giant redwood trees and what better way than to drive right through one?
Driving through a tree isn’t something you do everyday!
Have you ever driven through a tree?
Eureka
Would any hilarystyle trip be complete without street art?! We stumbled upon these fabulous murals during our brief stay in Eureka, and learned they’ll be holding a mural festival in the near future. We loved this Asian piece by Dan Kitchener, and marveled at the immense size of it!
Artist: Dan KitchenerArtists: Duncan Jago and Joe Murdter
Artist: Unknown
Artist: Unknown
This mural is huge!
Artists: Duncan Jago and Joe Murdter
Wildlife Stop
There was wildlife aplenty on this trip, and we saw everything from California condors and wild turkeys to whales and elk! Speaking of which, this herd of elk were just hanging out by the side of the road near Trinidad, California.
Klamath
America’s roadside attractions, are often incredibly silly, but at the same time irresistible, meaning there was no way we wouldn’t be stopping at the Trees of Mystery for a visit with its spokesman Paul Bunyan. The GIANT statue waves, talks and has a “hairy” chest!
Paul Bunyan and his Blue Ox Babe
Those are some big boots!
Once we arrived we decided a walk among those mysterious trees was also in order, after all we’d missed out on those other giants in Humboldt State Park.
Trees of Mystery
The Brotherhood tree is 19 feet in diameter.
I Love You Trees of Mystery
Crescent City
Crescent City is the last city before crossing the California Oregon border. That novelty alone would have been enough reason to stop (for me), but the presence of the Battery Point Lighthouse, one of California’s first lighthouses, sealed the deal. Exploring the area’s tide pools was a highlight of our visit.
Sea Star at low tide at Battery Point
Tide Pool Crescent City California
Tide Pool Crescent City California
Tide Pool Crescent City California
Welcome to Oregon
Welcome to Oregon Highway 101
If you’ve made it this far, thank you! If you can believe it that was just the first four days of our Northern California/Oregon road trip! We spent the next six days in Oregon, visiting lighthouses (yes, more lighthouses) sand dunes, prehistoric gardens, a cheese factory, the city of Portland, and so much more. Stay tuned I’ll be sharing all the Oregon highlights in my next post.
How many times have we asked the question, “What should we do today?” With a teen and a (soon to be) ten year old in the house, the problem really isn’t coming up with an idea, it’s coming up with an idea that appeals to all ages. And, let’s get real, finding an activity that my teen will agree to is no easy feat.
That’s the great thing about Los Angeles, no matter who you’re traveling with, toddlers, teens, or both you’ll find activities for every age. Many of which will appeal to all ages at the same time!
From San Pedro on one end of LA County to Malibu on the other, here are 10 fun ideas for the entire family.
Point Fermin Park & The Korean Bell of Friendship
Point Fermin Park
You’ll find Point Fermin Park perched high above the ocean on the southernmost point of Los Angeles. The park offers sweeping ocean views, wide grassy areas for running free, trees for climbing, a playground, picnic areas, and a historic lighthouse and museum.
Point Fermin Historic Lighthouse
Take a stroll along the bluffs as we did, or bring a picnic and enjoy the view from one of the park’s many tables. If you keep your eyes open you just might see a dolphin.
Trees for Climbing at Point Fermin Park
Picnic tables with a view at Point Fermin Park
View from Point Fermin Park
Korean Bell of Friendship
Gifted to the people of Los Angeles in 1976 by the people of the Republic of Korea the Korean Bell of Friendship is located in Angels Gate Park, also known as the Korean-American Peace Park.
Korean Bell of Friendship
The Bell, one of the largest in the world, weighs 17 tons and is rung when struck from the outside by a wooden log. The Bell’s pagoda, sometimes referred to as the Friendship Belfry, was built onsite by craftsmen flown in from Korea.
Friends at the Friendship Bell
Korean Friendship Bell
The bell is rung each year on the Fourth of July, Korean Independence Day, New Year’s Eve, and every September to celebrate Constitution week.
Point Fermin Park is located at 807 W Paseo Del Mar, San Pedro. The lighthouse and museum are open Tuesday through Sunday 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm. Admission is free.
Leo Carrillo State Park
Spend a glorious day out at Leo Carrillo State Park, which is located on the Pacific Coast Highway (HWY 1) in beautiful Malibu, California.
There are rocks and caves waiting to be explored at Leo Carrillo State park
Activities at the park are many and include, exploring the tide pools, swimming, surfing, windsurfing, surf fishing, and beach combing. There are also caves and reefs for exploring, hiking trails, picnic tables and camping.
We spent the majority of our time exploring Leo Carrillo’s tide pools. Among the many creatures we saw were striped shore crabs, a baby sea star, a sunburst anemone, a black sea hare (slug), mossy chiton, blue banded hermit crabs, and black tegula sea snails.
Striped Shore Crab
You never know what you might find inside the shells.
Sunburst Anemone
Leo Carrillo is located at 35000 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu and is open from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm. The entrance to the park is on the East side of the Pacific Coast Highway. There are bathrooms and pay showers on site. Camping is available via the Park’s online reservation system.
Parking Fees: All day – $12.00 per car, per day, 3 hours – $9.00 per car, 2 hours – $6.00 per car, 1 hour – $3.00 per car.
The Skirball Cultural Center is home to one of the oldest and largest collections of Jewish cultural artifacts both in the United States and in the world. It is LA’s first Jewish museum, and it’s their mission to preserve and advance Jewish heritage in both social and cultural contexts.
Surface Tension Street Art Exhibit at the Skirball
What does that mean? It means that if you visit the Skirball you’ll be treated to some pretty amazing exhibits. Currently Jim Henson and his Muppets are featured, but with past and future topics ranging from street art in LA to supreme court judge Ruth Bader Ginsberg you’re sure to find something of interest for all ages.
Ken Gonzalez-Day Exhibit
Ken Gonzales Day Surface Tension
The museum’s permanent collection displays Jewish artifacts, art and ceremonial objects from ancient to modern times and is both fascinating and at times heartbreaking.
Jewish Exhibit at the Skirball
Noah’s Ark
If you have younger children, you won’t want to miss Noah’s Ark, a permanent installation and playground within the Skirball museum.
Noah’s Ark at the Skirball
No matter your age, I guarantee you will be amazed when you step inside Noah’s Ark and are surrounded by the hundreds of amazing animal sculptures and puppets created from recycled materials and everyday objects. Activities inside the Ark include building an ark, conducting storms, and “feeding” the animals.
Noah’s Ark at the Skirball
Noah’s Ark Puppets
Noah’s Ark at the Skirball
Noah’s Ark at the Skirball
The Skirball Cultural Center is located at 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd. Parking is FREE on-site. The Skirball is open Tuesday – Friday, 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm and Saturday – Sunday, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm.
Admission for adults is $12 General, $9 Seniors, Full-Time Students with ID, and Children over 12 and $7 for Children 2–12. FREE to all on Thursdays.
Can you believe that at one time the bustling area that is now Museum Row was once the home of dire wolves, saber-tooth cats, and mammoths? It’s true! Of course that was 50,000 years ago, give or take a few thousand years…
The Outdoor Exhibits at The La Brea Tar Pits
The La Brea Tar Pits and Museum offer a glimpse into what life was like in the LA basin long before people came along. You won’t see dinosaurs here, as they’d already been extinct for 65 million years when animals started becoming entrapped in the tar pits, but my kids still love to see the ongoing excavation pits, test their strength pulling the tar, and roam the museum’s gardens. Excavator tours are free with admission.
Interactive exhibits inside the Tar Pits Museums
SAMSUNG CSC
SAMSUNG CSC
SAMSUNG CSC
The La Brea Tar Pits & Museum are located at 5801 Wilshire Blvd. The Museum is open 9:30 am to 5:00 pm 360 days per year.
Basic admission for adults is $15, students and seniors $12, and children $7. Viewing the outside exhibits is free.
They may not have dinosaurs at the Tar Pits, but don’t worry because the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County has that covered, and so much more! In fact we spent the better part of a day here and still left without seeing everything this amazing institution has to offer.
Dinosaurs aplenty at the NHMLA
Hall of Dinosaurs at the NHMLA
NHMLA
Did you know that skateboarding was invented in LA? So was the electric guitar! You can learn all about the City of Angels and its unique contributions to culture at the permanent exhibition: Becoming LA.
Skateboarding was invented in LA
We loved the recent temporary Tattoo exhibition, which traces the history of inking skin over 5000 years. Did you know the black and grey style originated here in East LA?
Tattoo is just one of many temporary exhibits available at the NHMLA
Younger kids will love the discovery center, the mammal halls, and roaming the museum’s gorgeous gardens.
Hall of African Mammals NHMLA
The unicorn may have originated from the Arabian Oryx
The NHMLA is in Exposition Park
Explore the gardens at NHMLA
The Natural History Museum is located at 900 W Exposition Blvd. The Museum is open 9:30 am to 5:00 pm 360 days per year. Basic admission for adults is $15, students and seniors $12, and children $7.
Young and old will enjoy a visit to the California Science Center where touching and interaction are a welcome and necessary part of any visit. From The Space Shuttle Endeavour to under the sea ecosystems, and the human body, there is no shortage of things to see and do.
Space Shuttle Endeavour
The Space Shuttle Endeavour
Ecosystems at the California Science Center
We love the adorable Axolotl!
King Tut: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh will be on display at the Science Center through January 2019 before it embarks on a ten city world tour. Many never before seen artifacts are on display including a bed, larger than life statues, and funerary jars. Children under 10 may not appreciate 3000 year old golden sandals, but I sure did!
The King Tut Exhibition
Do you fancy this golden bed?
King Tut
The King Tut Exhibition
The California Science Center is located at 700 W Exposition Blvd. The museum is open 10:00 am – 5:00 pm 7 days a week 362 days per year.
Admission to the Science Center is free, however certain exhibits are timed and ticketed.
The Expo Line
Both the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and the California Science center can be reached via the Expo Line, a newly operating commuter train, which runs east/west from the heart of Downtown Los Angeles to the Santa Monica Pier.
The Expo Line runs east/west from Downton LA to the Beach
Exit at the Vermont Station for both museums, as well as many other nearby areas of interest. Check the Metro website for timetables, fare information and routes.
Swan Boats on Echo Park Lake & The Echo Park Time Travel Mart
Swan Boats
The kids were very excited about our visit to Echo Park Lake, where our main goal was the Lake’s swan pedal boats. We took turns waiting in the line, while the rest of the group passed the time walking the lake path and watching the turtles and other wildlife in the park.
Echo Park Lake Swan Boats
Recently upgraded to include shade canopies, these brand new swan boats can hold from 2 – 5 guests. The kids really wanted to pedal, so we sat happily shaded in the back enjoying the fountain and city views while they did all the work.
Beautiful Echo Park
Echo Park Lake Lotus Flower
Echo Park Lake Fountain
The swan boats are open 7 days a week 9:00 am – Sunset. Adutls are $11 and children (17 years and under) $6 for a one hour rental.
Echo Park Time Travel Mart
With a motto like Wherever you are, we’re already then, how could we resist a visit to The Echo Park Time Travel Mart, a convenience store for time travelers? Inside we found fun from every era, past, present and future including, dinosaur eggs, robot milk, t-shirts, and so much more.
Wherever you are, we’re already then
All proceeds help support the free programs at 826LA a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6 to 18 with their creative writing skills.
Fresh Dinosaur Eggs!
Good humor at the Time Travel Mart
The Time Travel Mart is located at 1714 W Sunset Blvd., LA. The Mart is open Monday – Sunday 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm.
Stair Walk in Silver Lake
LA wasn’t always the car town it is now, and at one time public transportation was the primary mode of travel. People used an extensive network of staircases to get from their hillside homes to their transit stops. These days they are used primarily for urban hikes and exercise and a climb to the top will grant you fabulous views of the city.
View of Downtown LA from Silver Lake
Because these staircases are located within residential neighborhoods, they are often hidden from view, so finding them can be a challenge, but don’t worry I’ve got you covered.
je t’aime LA
Taking a break on the Swan Stairs
This activity is best suited to those 10 and up. The Hidden Staircases walk begins at the Micheltorena Stairs across the street from Alfred Coffee. You’ll find the route we took here: The Hidden Staircases of Silver Lake.
Chocolate Tea & Lawn Games at the Huntington Langham Hotel
The Sunday Chocolate tea at the Huntington Langham is a real treat! You’ll know you’re in the right place when you smell the chocolate.
Chocolate Fountain
In addition to chocolate you’ll be treated to traditional tea sandwiches, scones and cream, and bottomless champagne. Oh, and yes multiple tea selections are available as well. Kids will love the specially made children’s tea sandwiches with kid friendly toppings.
Tea Sandwiches
Bottomless Champagne or Sparkling Rose
Chocolate fountain treats
Work off all that chocolate playing lawn games in the Horseshoe Garden including, croquet, frisbee golf, and badminton.
Bean Bag Toss in the Horseshoe Garden
Croquet on the Horseshoe Lawn
The Huntington Langham is located at 1401 S Oak Knoll Ave, Pasadena. Tea service is held everyday of the week, however the Chocolate Tea is only held on Sundays. Reservations are required.
The Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
A library, science museums, and acres of unique and beautiful botanical gardens, including a fabulous children’s garden, make The Huntington a wonderful place for the entire family.
The Chinese Garden at The Huntington
The Cactus Garden at The Huntington
The Japanese Garden at The Huntington
The exhibit showcasing a selection of the Huntington’s collection of original books, documents and letters was a favorite of mine. Especially interesting to me were Jack London’s draft of White fang, Henry VIII’s document concerning Luther and a collection of Shakespeare’s works.
The Tempest
Defense of the Seven Sacraments
If you have young children the Huntington Children’s garden is the place for you! It’s a magical spot with plenty to explore including water play, magnetic sand, tunnels, a playhouse, and volcan. When visiting this garden a change of clothing might not be a bad idea!
The Huntington is located at 1151 Oxford Rd, San Marino
The Huntington is open Wednesday – Monday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. Admission for Adults is $25 on weekdays, and $29 on weekends. Seniors (65+) and students are $21 on weekdays, and $24 on weekends. Youth (4-11) are $13, and children under 4 are free.
I’m perched on a rock peering into the water, did something move? The sun shines brightly overhead, and the water is still for the moment, but it won’t be for long, the next wave will arrive soon. What is it? A crab, a fish, an anemone? My son calls out from his nearby rock, “I see something!” It’s so exciting! We hop from rock to rock exploring the magical world under the sea. Occasionally we reach in to touch, “OUCH!” what was that thing?
This is how we spent most of a glorious summer day out at Leo Carrillo State Park, located on the Pacific Coast Highway (HWY 1) in beautiful Malibu, California. Even my teen loved our visit here, and that’s saying something these days.
Named for Leo Carrillo, an actor, preservationist and conservationist, activities at the park are many and include, tide pools, swimming, surfing, windsurfing, surf fishing, and beach combing. There are also caves and reefs for exploring, hiking trails, picnic tables and camping.
There are rocks and caves waiting to be explored at Leo Carrillo State park
Tide Pooling
The Leo Carrillo tide pools were teeming with sea life and we spent the majority of our time peering into the water. Among the many creatures we saw were striped shore crabs, a baby sea star, sunburst anemone, a black sea hare (slug), mossy chiton, blue banded hermit crabs, and black tegula sea snails.
Striped Shore Crab
Black Tegula Sea Snail
The black sea hare, a type of sea slug, was a creature unlike any we’d ever seen in the wild. Its texture was hard to describe, squishy comes to mind. The woman holding this one was kind enough to let me take a photo before she released it back into the water. Unsure exactly what it was, we later learned, that these are gilled creatures and need water to breath. Amazingly they can grow as large as 33 pounds. Thats one big slug!
Sunburst Anemone
Black Sea Hare
A bucket is the perfect way to safely examine the sea creatures you find before gently returning them back to the sea where they belong. Remember Nemo…
Bring a bucket, so you can take time to safely examine the sea life
You never know what you might find inside the shells.
While I don’t think there is a perfect shoe for tide pooling, I can say with some certainty it’s not flip flops. A few cuts and scrapes later we wished we’d at least worn our wellies, or a shoe with more stability. An old pair of athletic shoes maybe?
Tide Pools at Leo Carrillo State Park
Surfing
Leo Carrillo appears to be a fabulous spot for surfing, though on the more advanced side. Watching others brave the waves was enough for us, as we explored closer to the shore.
Surfing at Leo Carrillo State Park
The North beach with its smoother shoreline will appeal to those looking to go for a swim.
Swimming at Leo Carrillo State Park
Neptune’s Net
I love the beach, but I don’t love eating in the sand, which makes Neptune’s Net, located just a few miles north of Leo Carrillo State Park, a great place to grab a bite to eat prior to hitting the beach. Since 1956 it’s been a favorite of motorcyclists, surfers, locals and anyone else looking for a delicious basket of golden fish and chips. Expect a crowd, especially on weekends.
Neptunes Net Fried Shrimp
Neptune’s Net on HWY 1
Neptune’s Net is located at 42505 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu.
Summer Hours: (May-Sept) Monday – Thursday 10:30 am – 8:00 pm (8:30 pm in July & August) Friday 10:30 am – 9:00 pm, and Saturday – Sunday 10:00 am – 8:00 pm.
Winter Hours (November – May Monday – Thursday 10:30 am – 7:00 pm, Friday 10:30 am – 8:00 pm, and Saturday – Sunday 10:00 am – 7:00 pm.
Alternatively, if you do like picnicking, Vintage Grocers, located in the Trancas Country Market, is a great place to pick up some delicious supplies.
Vintage Grocers is located at 30745 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu. They are open 6:30 am – 10:00 pm 7 days a week.
Leo Carrillo State Park Information
Keep an eye out for those seagulls, they aren’t shy!
Leo Carrillo is located at 35000 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu and is open from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm, after which the gate is locked. The entrance to the park is on the East side of the Pacific Coast Highway. There are bathroom and pay showers on site. Camping is available via the Park’s online reservation system.
Parking Fees: All day – $12.00 per car, per day, 3 hours – $9.00 per car, 2 hours – $6.00 per car, 1 hour – $3.00 per car.
LA, is Americas’s second largest city, encompassing over 500 square miles and home to just under four million people. Trying to “see it all” can seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Not if you think of LA as what it really is, a city of neighborhoods, each with its own unique character and charm.
View of Downtown LA from the 101 S Freeway
Whether you’re a local or just visiting I find the best way to see the City of Angels is to pick a specific area of town and focus on it. You’ll have to drive a few extra miles, Angelenos are famous for staying in their own neighborhoods, but you’ll get a whole day of exploration and fun for the price of a “little bit” of traffic! Feeling ambitious, pick two neighborhoods, we did!
Exploring Silver Lake and Echo Park
For the second installment of our culture club we chose Echo Park and Silver Lake two of LA’s most hipster neighborhoods. We started in Silver Lake, which is also the more gentrified of the two. Echo Park is on the grittier side, but I really like that about it. Both are a treasure trove of one-of-a-kind shops, restaurants and hidden gems just waiting for you to discover them.
We started our day at Alfred, which is famous around town for it’s But first, Coffee slogan. If you ask me, Alfred Coffee has their priorities straight, because as far as I’m concerned nothing happens before coffee! Beyond their coffee and tea beverages, Alfred also serves a lovely and delicious version of one of LA’s more popular dishes, avocado toast! Not an avocado fan? You’ll find other food items as well.
What could be more perfect than Alfred’s Iced Coffee on a hot day in LA!
LA’s signature dish Avocado Toast
Alfred Silver Lake is located at: 3337 1/2 W Sunset Blvd., LA. They are open Monday thru Friday 6:30am to 5:00pm and Saturday and Sunday 7:30am – 6:00pm.
Lark Cake Shop
Having just enjoyed a bite to eat next door at Alfred, we stopped in Lark Cake Shop at the request of the kids, and thankfully we were in the mood to say yes! The Ice Box Cake was delightful as was everything else we sampled.
Lark Bakery is located at 3337 W Sunset Blvd., LA
The Maven Store
Okay, so this wasn’t a kid friendly activity, but we couldn’t resist stopping in Maven, a Louisiana based clothing shop with it’s unique and affordable apparel, jewelry, and gift items for a bit of retail therapy.
Shopping in Silver Lake at Maven
The Maven Store is located at: 3333 W Sunset Blvd., LA. Hours: Monday – Saturday 11:00 am – 7:00 pm and Sunday 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm.
The Hidden Stairs of Silver Lake Walk
LA wasn’t always the car town it is now, and at one time public transportation was the primary mode of travel. People used an extensive network of staircases to get from their hillside homes to their transit stops, and many of these historic staircases are still in existence. These days they are used primarily for urban hikes and exercise and a climb to the top will grant you fabulous views of the city.
View from the top of the Micheltorena Stairs.
Because these staircases are located within residential neighborhoods, they are often hidden from view, so finding them can be a challenge, but don’t worry I’ve done that for you.
Along the way we took the time to stop for rest breaks and to enjoy the flowers, murals and art installations along the route.
je t’aime LA
Breaktime
Taking a break on the Swan Stairs
Can’t Stop the Dance
It Will End In Tears
Bougainvillea
We were surprised and delighted during one of our rest stops when we unexpectedly met up with Party Goats taking a break of their own between engagements. Apparently party goats is a thing!
Party Goats
The stairs are steep and some quite narrow. Bring plenty of water, be mindful of high temperatures and wear appropriate attire. The Goods Mart on Silver Lake Boulevard falls in the middle of the route and is a great place to stop for more water and snacks.
We stocked up on water at The Goods Mart.
The Hidden Staircases walk begins at the Micheltorena Stairs across the street from Alfred Coffee. Hours: 24 hours but remember it is a residential area, so be respectful. You’ll find the route we took here: The Hidden Staircases of Silver Lake.
Echo Park
@la_steez
Honey Hi
Honey Hi turned out to be a perfect place for us to grab a late lunch after climbing all those stairs. The menu is filled with organic, sustainable comfort food and is vegetarian and child friendly with a casual atmosphere. I thoroughly enjoyed my chimichurri skirt steak and the dragon fruit lemonade was as tasty as it was pretty.
Vegetarian options at Honey Hi
Skirt Steak with Chimichurri sauce
Honey Hi is located at 1620 Sunset Blvd., LA. The cafe is open every day from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm.
The Echo Park Time Travel Mart
Wherever you are, we’re already then.
How could we resist a visit to The Echo Park Time Travel Mart, a convenience store for time travelers? Inside we found fun from every era, past, present and future including, dinosaur eggs, robot milk, t-shirts, and so much more.
Wherever you are, we’re already then.
All proceeds help support the free programs at 826LA a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write.
Fresh Dinosaur Eggs!
Good humor at the Time Travel Mart
The Time Travel Mart is located at 1714 W Sunset Blvd., LA. The Mart is open Monday – Sunday 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm.
Echo Park Lake
The kids were very excited about our next stop, Echo Park Lake, where our main goal was the Lake’s swan pedal boats. We weren’t the only ones with this idea, and the line was long, but we took turns waiting, while the rest of the group passed the time walking the lake path and watching the turtles and other wildlife in the park.
Echo Park LakeMama and baby turtle
Recently upgraded to include shade canopies, these brand new swan boats can hold from 2 – 5 guests. Apparently our kids had forgotten how tired they were after our stair hike because they really wanted to pedal, so we sat happily shaded in the back enjoying the fountain and city views while they did all the work.
Echo Park Lake Swan Boats
Rainbow on Echo Park Lake
View of Downtown LA from Echo Park Lake
Echo Park Lake Fountain
Echo Park Lake Lotus Flower
The Lake’s annual Lotus Festival celebrates the bloom of Echo Park Lake’s famous floating flowers. This free event celebrates the Asian-American community in LA and has been taking place for 38 years. This year’s festival celebrates the Chinese community. Expect food, dragon boat races, and hundreds of glorious lotus flowers.
The swan boats are open 7 days a week 9 am – Sunset. The last boat goes out 1 hour before sunset. Adutls are $11 and children (17 years and under) $6 for a one hour rental.
Admission to The Lotus Festival is free. This year’s festival takes place on Saturday, July 14 and Sunday, July 15, 2018, from 12:00 pm.
Angelino Heights
Established in 1886 Angelino Heights is one of LA’s oldest neighborhoods and was the city’s first recognized Historic District. It is well known for it’s large concentration of unique architecture including Victorian, Turn of the Century and Revival. While again, not exactly a kid friendly activity, our drive through the neighborhood gave the kids a chance to rest before arriving at our final stop of the day.
The Charmed House
One of the homes was featured regularly on the television series Charmed. Due to its picturesque beauty the entire neighborhood has been featured in countless television shows and films.
Angelino Heights is located within the boundaries of the Echo Park neighborhood and just a short drive from Echo Park Lake.
Milk Shop
Our final stop of the day found us back in the Silver Lake neighborhood. We wanted to end our day with a visit to Milk Shop, an old fashioned ice cream parlor and bake shop with a modern day twist!
Macaron Ice Cream Sandwich
Not only were the treats Insta worthy, but they were delicious. I couldn’t resist the cookie dough to go, yes please!
Cookie dough to go!
Macaron with cream milk ice cream and fruity pebbles
Cookies & Cream Bar
Milk Shop is located at 1639 Silver Lake Blvd. They are open 12:00 pm to 10 pm Sunday to Thursday and 12:00 pm to midnight Friday & Saturday
Bonus Stops:
Fancy a little more time in this area? Here are three additional destinations very worth making time for with or without the kids.
Neutra VDL House
Architecture lovers won’t want to miss a visit to the Neutra VDL House located on Silver Lake Boulevard. Built by the famed Modernist architect Richard Neutra 75 years ago, the VDL house was named a National Historic Landmark in 2017. Tours of the home and garden are available, and are given by architecture students.
The Neutra house is located at 2300 Silver Lake Blvd., LA. Tours of the VDL House are ONLY on Saturdays from 11am to 3pm. Admission is $15 Adults and $10 Students and Seniors. Children under 15 are free as are members of the press and Cal Poly Pomona students, faculty and staff.
Pine & Crane
Pine & Crane is aTaiwanese restaurant in the heart of Silver Lake with a casual family friendly atmosphere. The food is fresh, delicious and affordable.
Pine and Crane is located at 1521 Griffith Park Blvd., LA. Their hours are Wednesday – Monday 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm. They are closed Tuesdays.
The Chandelier Tree
Should you find yourself in the area after dark I highly recommend stopping by The Chandelier Tree. Created by, Silver Lake resident and artist, Adam Tenenbaum the tree is located in his front yard. Visitors to the tree are very welcome and if you’re so inclined you can contribute to Adam’s electric bill, by inserting coins into the meter beneath the tree. Check out this neat little video to learn more about the Chandelier Tree.
The Chandelier Tree is located at 2811 W. Silver Lake Drive, LA.
Where we went:
SaveSave
SaveSave
SaveSave
Pin for later:
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!
