The most recent addition to the Insta experience club, opened this past weekend at Santa Monica Place in downtown Santa Monica. It’s called Candytopia, and Elliot and I were excited to be among some of the first to visit what turned out to be a pretty sweet time! Pun intended!
Candytopia? What’s that?
Candytopia, similar to The Museum of Ice Cream and The Happy Place, is a themed interactive experience with no real purpose other than fun and of course Instagram photo opportunities galore.
Once inside you’ll follow a one way path through a variety of brightly colored and very cheerful rooms full of interactive exhibits, photos ops, and of course all the sweet treats you can eat.
As soon as you enter the entrance hall you’ll be immersed in all things Candytopia, and not just sights, but sounds too!
The employees are dressed like Oompa Loompas, and a flair for the dramatic is most definitely a requirement for anyone seeking employment in Candytopia.
Library and Introduction
The “Library” is where you’ll hear a little bit about the founder of Candytopia, get your first candy treat, yummy chocolates, and sign the guest book.
Unlike the other interactive locations we experienced, visitors were welcome to take more than one treat.
Treat: Lindor Chocolates
Museum Gallery
This was one of my favorite rooms. The walls were lined with famous portraits and recreations of famous paintings and statues made completely of candy. In fact almost everything inside Candytopia was made of candy!
Alongside each piece of art was listed the amount of candy and type used, as well as the calories and grams of sugar.
Seeing all those calories in writing definitely helped keep my candy intake in check!
Treat: Candy Necklaces
Under the Sea
Candy sea creatures of all types filled this under the sea themed room, but the boys were on the fast track and didn’t stay long…
Treat: Pixie Sticks
💯Swing & Op Art Room
We all loved this room. The 💯 emoji swing was my favorite, but I think Elliot liked the whirlpool and flying among the clouds.
Treat: Airheads
Tropical Beach
We breezed through the beach area, but not before Elliot gave both the hammock and the surf board a quick spin.
Look out Elliot! Shark!
Treat: Saltwater Taffy
When Pigs Fly
What is it about confetti? I know this room had multiple interactive experiences, but honestly we were so busy playing in the confetti, which seemed to be flying out of a pig’s rear end that we didn’t pay much attention to anything else.
After we’d had our fill, and our clothes and hair were filled too, we set off for the next room…
Treat: Gummies
Marshmallow Pit
The final room, and Elliot’s favorite was the giant “marshmallow” pit, which filled the room entirely. In actuality they were foam pieces in the shape of jumbo marshmallows, but it was a great illusion, and the Elliot and his friend had a wonderful time romping around.
Personally, I found it quite difficult to move at all, and after a short while I gave up and enjoyed watching them from the sidelines.
Gift Shop
The gift shop was filled to the brim with delicious treats and fun gifts, but we’d had our fill during the visit, so after a quick look around we went on our merry way… After all that candy it was time for lunch!
These tickets were purchased as a holiday gift, which eased some of my guilt about them being on the expensive side. We had a lovely time, took a ton of photos and had more than our fill of candy. Of the three Insta experiences we’ve attended I felt that Candytopia was the most family friendly.
Tips & Advice:
Candytopia tickets are available online and must be purchased in advance.
Don’t be late. Only 30 ish people are allowed in for each time slot and if you’re late you’ll have to wait and hope there is room in the next time slot.
Candytopia is located on the East side of the Santa Monica Place Mall. The entrance is on the second floor. You’ll exit on the ground level.
Parking is available in the mall parking structure. Depending on where you park the first three hours are free.
No outside food or drinks are allowed inside Candytopia.
With just three days in which to explore Atlanta I knew I wouldn’t even scratch the surface, but I had to try, and what better place to get an overview than the Atlanta Beltline. 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. When complete The BeltLine’s 22 mile path will encircle and connect the city of Atlanta and its many diverse neighborhoods.
Bike rental stations can be found along the BeltLine
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!
This fun mural can be found at Paris on Ponce
Did someone say the South’s largest temporary public art installation?
As soon as I knew I would be visiting Atlanta I immediately started researching what the city had to offer in the way of public art, and boy did I hit the jackpot!
Guess what kind of business this is?
Essentially The BeltLine is an outdoor art gallery featuring a revolving display of both local and international artists. Additionally, Atlanta is host to multiple mural and art festivals each year, including the Outer space Project, and Living Walls. What all this means, is that you’ll find murals, sculpture, and performance art just about everywhere, much of it located along the BeltLine, or nearby!
Time Star by Charlie Smith in Historic Fourth Ward Park
Because the BeltLine is so big, and we had limited time, we chose one area, the Eastside Trail, and focused on that. In hindsight I might have walked the trail as we got on and off our bikes countless times to explore all the amazing art we saw. Starting at Park Street and ending at Edgewood Road, here is just some of what we found as we rode the Eastside Trail.
Piedmont Park
We rode through and along the edge of Piedmont Park with lovely views of Midtown Atlanta before connecting to the BeltLine at 10th & Monroe.
Skyline Midtown Atlanta as seen from Piedmont ParkPiedmont Park is beautiful even in the winter months
Title: The Service Station
Artist: Wesley Forlines
Location: 10th and Monroe Area
Fuel Station
Park Street Underpass
We found on-street parking and a Relay Bike rental station just off Park Street. This gravel path connected with the BeltLine’s paved path at 10th & Monroe.
Title: Purple Rain
Artists: Karl Addison & Jarus
Location: Piedmont Park at the Park Street Underpass
We loved these pinwheels, which were spinning in the breeze, and we stopped to explore some of the businesses along the trail, including Paris on Ponce a quirky collection of shops within a shop selling vintage and locally made items.
Title: Swirling Colors
Artist: Alex Rodriguez
Location: BeltLine at Dreary Street NE
Alex Rodriguez
Artist: OUIZI
Location: Paris on Ponce BeltLine side
Ouizi
Artist: James Bullough
Location: Paris on Ponce Street Side
James Bullough
Artist: Nate Frost
Location: Alley off of Paris on Ponce
Nate Frost
Artist: Thomas Turner
Location: Alley off of Paris on Ponce
Thomas Turner
Title: 10:28
Artist: Chris Veal
Location: BeltLine between Spot for Dogs and Paris on Ponce
While I wasn’t traveling with my kids I know they would love a visit to the Historic Fourth Ward park. The 17 acre park intersects with the BeltLine and includes Atlanta’s first public skatepark, a playground and athletic fields.
Old Fourth Ward Park Skatepark
Just next to the park is the Freedom Parkway Underpass and, much like the Venice Art Walls in my hometown of Los Angeles, people come here to express themselves via spray paint art. If you’re wondering I didn’t have time to make any of my own… this time…
Freedom Parkway Underpass
Artists:Unknown
Location: Freedom Parkway Underpass Old Fourth Ward
Ladybird Restaurant
While I admit I didn’t eat at Ladybird, if time had permitted I would have! Stopping here for a much needed drink, we encountered true Southern Hospitality either that, or I looked like I was desperate, because they wouldn’t let me pay for the soda I ordered. Located right on the BeltLine!
Edgewood
Towards the end of the day my desire to see a particular mural led us off the BeltLine and through the Sweet Auburn Historic District, the location of Dr. Martin Luther King’s Birth Home. Unfortunately daylight was running out, and we didn’t have time to visit. its on my list for next time…
Artist: Nychos
Location: Corner of Edgewood Avenue and Boulevard SE
Nychos
Artist: Tommy Bronx
Location: Corner of Edgewood Avenue and Krog Street
Tommy Bronx
Artist: Ricky Watts
Location: Edgewood Avenue & Krog Street
We were delighted to discover #tinydoorsatl (what is it about tiny things?) during our visit. Turns out there are a number of these adorable lilt doors throughout the city, but with limited time we only found the three located along the BeltLine. Adorable!
Location: Eastside Trail at Virginia Avenue
Location: Paris on Ponce
It’s polite to wipe your feet!
Location: Freedom Parkway Underpass Old Fourth Ward
Tips & Advice
There are multiple access points to the BeltLine.
Keep in mind that the BeltLine is a work in progress, and that you can complete as little or as much of the trail as you’d like. We chose the Eastside Trail and our route was 7. 25 miles roundtrip.
We parked on the street just outside Piedmont Park, but parking is also available at the northern end of the trail in the paid lot beside Park Tavern and at the Piedmont Park. You can also find on street parking at the Historic Fourth Ward Skatepark.
The Eastside Trail hours are 6 a.m. – 11 p.m.
If you don’t have access to a bicycle you can rent the city’s public Relay Bikes. You’ll need to download the app first.
Bring water!
Relay Bike Stations can be found along the BeltLine
Outer Space Project
If you’re interested in finding more of Atlanta’s amazing art, this map from the Outer Space Project should be helpful.
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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!
Having spent 8 years living in the Bay Area I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit that I spent very little time actually exploring the City by the Bay. You know that old saying… You don’t know what you have until its gone.
The good news is: Its not too late! I still have plenty of great reasons to visit the Bay Area, and to make up for some of that lost wasted time. In fact I recently spent the weekend visiting friends (those great reasons I mentioned), and got a chance to spend a rare girls day out in the city!
Shopping, eating and art were all on the day’s agenda! With an early start we managed to fit it all in including an impromptu visit to one of San Francisco’s most iconic attractions, the Coit Tower, a first for both of us. It was a great day!
Heath Factory and Showroom
Our first stop was the newest Heath showroom & Tile Factory, which is located in the Northeast Mission District. The store is beautiful as is every. single. item. inside. The showroom sells everything from the beautiful tiles they’re known for to one of a kind art pieces, pottery and housewares of all kinds.
As it happens my home has Heath tile in the kitchen and bathrooms, so a visit to their showroom was high on my list. There were so many wonderful items, but I restrained myself and only came home with one piece. A gorgeous ceramic serving platter, which I may or may not put food on.
Beyond housewares the little news shop located within the showroom had a wonderful selection of fun snack, drinks, and my favorite: travel books!
Fnnch
I’ve been following this San Francisco artist for a while now, but only discovered him after I moved away, so I was excited to see a few of his pieces in person.
These fabulous lips in the North Beach neighborhood have been on my list! They’re located on the side of Bodega.
Fnnch has pieces all over San Francisco including these adorable bears in the Mission District, and another set of lips which were located on Haight Street.
Coit Tower
On the way to our next destination we made a wrong turn and ended up at the Coit Tower, which is located on the top of Telegraph Hill. Neither of us had ever been before, and there was parking available, so why not? I highly recommend!
View of the parking lot from the top of the tower.
This 210 foot monument was built in 1933 with monies bequeathed by Lillie Hitchcock Coit to beautify the city she loved. Frescoes were painted in the interior of the newly built structure by local artists funded through the United States Government’s Public Works of Art Project. This Plaque is placed by the Recreation and Park Commission October 8, 1983 to mark Coit Tower’s 50th Anniversary and its designation as an historic landmark.
Coit Tower is 210 feet tall, but if you add in the height of Telegraph Hill you’ll find yourself 494 above sea level!
If you visit on a clear day (we had some haze) you’ll be treated to fabulous city and Bay views, which include both the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay Bridge as well as the Transamerica building, and Alcatraz.
AlcatrazThe Bay BridgeIf you look carefully you can see the Golden Gate Bridge through the haze.
Tickets for the elevator are $8 and can be purchased in the gift shop. The windows go all the way around the platform and allow for photos in every direction. You might also be interested to know that there are multiple restroom facilities on site.
The windows open so you can get a clear photo.
Haight Ashbury
Famous for being the birthplace of the hippie counterculture movement Haight Ashbury hasn’t exactly changed much over the years. As you stroll though this neighborhood you can expect to find funky shops, restaurants, art galleries, and plenty of people watching. A favorite neighborhood of mine this is one place I’ve visited multiple times over the years.
After we walked up and down Haight Street we stopped to grab a late lunch at Cha cha cha a Caribbean Cuban tapas restaurant with delicious but large portions. I’ve never seen this place empty, so be prepared to wait for a table.
Fried new potatoes with chile pasilla aioli
Pork quesadilla
Ricota spinach empanada
We left the kids at home, but if you’re traveling with yours you’ll definitely want to check out the Koret Playground and carousel located at the west end of Haight Street.
Dandelion Chocolate Factory – Coming soon
The new Dandelion factory located at the corner of 16th and Harrison wasn’t up and running yet, so no photos, but it looks like it’s going to be fabulous, so I’m mentioning it here in the hopes that I’ll get back there, and if not, then maybe you will! Look for the combination factory, shop, and restaurant to open soon! In the meantime they do have another SF location at 740 Valencia St (at 18th.)
Street Art… Of Course!
We saw a number of fun street art pieces throughout the city. Here are a few of my favorites:
All three of these colorful pieces were located just next to, or near the Heath Showroom. The above photo is by artist Jonathan Matas and was on Bryant Street at 19th Street. The bear with tennis shoes is part of a much larger mural by Sirron Norris.
Artist Unknown
Sirron Norris
We drove by these fun pieces at the corner of Alabama Street and Bernice.
2017 was the 50th anniversary of the Summer of Love. This piece by Apexer is located just off Haight Street on Masonic.
You’ll find this incredibly detailed Nychos piece just next to Aviator Nation on Haight Street.
I’m not sure who created these final pieces. We found them in an alley just off Haight not far from Cha Cha Cha.
Stay tuned for more San Francisco adventures…
You might also be interested in our other San Francisco Adventure: Mission San Francisco
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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!
I don’t know about you, but this year seemed to fly by! Like any year there were ups and there were downs, but happily it was mostly ups! As far as travel is concerned I wasn’t sure I’d ever beat 2016, but with trips to, New Orleans, the American Southwest, and London as well as road trips throughout California, and extensive exploration of my home town Los Angeles I would say 2017 definitely gave it a run for it’s money.
Plane View
2018 is already filling up with plans for Atlanta, Georgia and possibly Austin, Texas early in the year. Both are places I’ve never been, and of course I’m angling to get in another trip to my beloved NOLA, maybe Spring Break? As for the rest of the year, its still open, but I’m excited to see what’s in store, and I’m confident I’ll work out plenty of fun adventures! Before I close the book on 2017 here’s a look back at some of the highlights:
January
We took a mini road trip to meet friends in La Quinta and along with a visit to Joshua Tree National Park it was the perfect way to get the year started!
Sunrise over La Quinta
The Joshua Tree National Park is located just over two hours from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles. People come from all over the world to enjoy the park’s unique trees and alien like desert terrain. Hiking, camping, rock climbing and stargazing are just some of the activities available within the park.
We’ve always loved Santa Barbara, and its close proximity to LA is a real treat! Quick trips just for lunch have even been known to happen!
Lifeguard Tower Santa Barbara California
Even closer to home, but still feeling like a world away is Malibu. One of our favorite “escapes” is Sunday brunch at the Malibu Farms restaurant, located at the end of the Malibu Fishing Pier, which overlooks Surf Rider Beach.
A record year of rainfall and the resulting flower super bloom prompted our March visit to the Anza Borrego Desert State Park. I had to see all those amazing flowers!
Anza Borrego Desert
Deciding to go on this little adventure at the last minute meant accommodation choices were somewhat limited, so we decided to stay on the coast in La Jolla, the Jewel of San Diego. So, two birds with one road trip… Desert and Coast.
NOLA Again! In April, we visited NOLA for the sixth time. A day trip to visit the plantation homes was a highlight of our visit this year!
Oak Alley Plantation
As I write this I’m dreaming about 2018’s visit, because it’s definitely happening! If you haven’t been yet, consider making 2018 the year you finally go. It’s always amazing, but did you know that it’s the 300th anniversary of New Orleans? There’s sure to be plenty going on, so what are you waiting for? LAISSEZ LES BON TEMPS ROULER!
I already love all the lifeguard towers that dot the beaches here in SoCal, so imagine my surprise and delight when I came across this fabulousness during my morning ride! I’m so excited to say that the City of LA voted to make this wonderful statement permanent
I admit that during my 8 years living in the Bay Area, I spent very little time exploring San Francisco’s many unique neighborhoods. We did our best to remedy that during our June visit! We chose to explore the vibrant Mission District, where we discovered delicious food, a fabulous park, and amazing street art! So in other words, my perfect day!
July’s found us on an epic 2000 + mile road trip through the great American Southwest! We made stops in Las Vegas, Zion, Bryce, Arches, Monument Valley, the Antelope Slot Canyons, and the Grand Canyon to name a few!
The Famous Las Vegas SignZion National ParkBryce Canyon National ParkArches National ParkMonument Valley Tribal ParkUpper Antelope Valley Slot CanyonThe Grand Canyon
Although I was initially apprehensive about driving so far on my own, as you can see from the photos above the trip was a success!
To say I am a fan of public and street art would be an understatement! The idea of bringing a piece of it home a dream. Dreams can come true, and they did with the installation of this @bumblebeelovesyou’s piece in my own backyard!
Historically September has been a slow month for us, if you don’t count that one time, when we ditched work and school and set off for a road trip through Portugal and Spain! That was fun! However, like many before it, this September found us sticking close to home. Exploring Downtown LA and its many tasty treats was a highlight!
Bottega Louie’s Famous MacaronsHistoric Angels Flight
While I didn’t travel in the month of October, I had the best time playing tourist, or maybe I should say, tour guide, when friends flew in for a visit!
Downtown Los Angeles Art District
We hit the Hollywood Sign, the Bowl, Disneyland, Korea Town, Venice Beach, and Downtown LA to name just a few!
The Hollywood BowlUrban Lights Exhibition at LACMA on Museum Row
Grateful for friends and family who travelled from both near and far to celebrate Thanksgiving with us, we were also grateful for the amazing Southern California weather, which allowed all 25 of us to eat outside!
Ending 2017 just as we started it, on a high note, we celebrated the winter holidays in London! My favorite city in the world! Highlights include: Ice Skating at the Tower of London, meeting up with friends, attending A Christmas Carol at Windsor Castle, Afternoon Tea, New Year’s Eve fireworks and more… I’ll be sharing our many adventures in the coming weeks. Stay tuned…
Wishing you and yours all the best in the coming year.
I love receiving mail, don’t you? Not email, I’m talking about the old-fashioned paper kind that gets delivered to your postbox by a mailperson. I love to send it, and I love to receive it, but the truth is I’m sending and receiving almost no mail these days with one major exception: Holiday cards!
Merry Christmas from Venice Beach!
Every December I look forward to finding cards from friends and family near and far in my mailbox. I love to see how much everyone has changed over the past year and reading about what everyone is up to.
No matter how techy the world gets, I will still send an annual holiday card, and I plan to do so for the foreseeable future. However, I will admit to agonizing over getting it done.
For this year’s card, the boys are posing at the Venice Beach Art Walls, and in front of one of James Goldcrown’s newest #bleedinghearts Walls. There are a few of these Love Walls around town and I love how much joy they bring.
Bah Humbug
Even though Tim refuses to be on the card, and I refuse to be on it without him, that would be weird, I try to make sure the card represents us as family.
The last time Tim and I were on the card… Elliot wasn’t even born!
That’s why this year’s theme is centered around a love of street and public art! Our family has spent a large part of the last year creating, exploring and photographing art, which is why it made perfect sense that our card represent all of those things.
Outtakes
In my attempt to capture the perfect shot the boys and I visited some of our favorite areas of town, and I feel like we got two great photos! Two is great considering the antics, which ensued, and the location of the sun, which was definitely working against us.
Last year I lucked out, I told the kids we were just practicing, and I got what I felt was the “perfect” shot on my very first try! As you can see from the outtakes above this year didn’t go quite as smoothly, and after torturing both myself and the boys in my attempt to get ANY decent shot, I realized that last year’s greatness was in large part because that image is a silhouette. No weird faces, closed eyes, or silliness, at least none that anyone can see.
2016’s holiday card.
In preparation for this year’s card we actually tried our hand (finally) at creating our very own “graffiti” on the Venice Beach Art Walls! We had an amazing time spray-painting our beachy yet Christmassy mural then the boys posed while I took their photo!
We’re definitely hooked on wall painting, and will absolutely be creating more “masterpieces” in the very near future! I know posting here isn’t exactly the same as sending real snail mail, but I don’t have your address, so this will have to do.
Wherever you are and however you celebrate, we wish you the merriest of Christmases and a happy New Year!
What’s my favorite thing about living in a popular vacation destination? The number of visitors! I absolutely love it when friends and family come to visit (hint, hint), and not only do I love their company, but it’s the perfect opportunity to be a tourist in my own town! Bonus: All those delicious meals together!
Surfing with friends from out of town!
In my quest to discover new places and roam far, I’d been missing out on great experiences closer to home. Over the past year and a half I’ve been doing my best to remedy that, and featured many of our around town adventures in my previous list, 50 things to do in LA, but since then I have discovered a whole new mess of fun ideas, many within a few miles from my front door, but all within a days drive!
50 MORE Things To Do in Los Angeles:*
1.The Famous Santa Monica Stairs
Location: 699 Adelaide Drive, Santa Monica
You’ll feel less guilty about all the amazing LA food you’re going to eat if you start your day with a workout. At the top of “The Stairs” you’ll be rewarded with amazing views of the Pacific Ocean, and who knows, you might even find yourself working out next to your favorite celebrity…
2. Main Street Santa Monica
Location: Start Between 2nd and Nielson at Strand
Santa Monica’s Main Street, is just a bit off the main tourist path, which neans you’ll find plenty of one of a kind shopping, restaurants, street art, and less tourists!
3. Cookie Good
Location: 2448 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica
Cheeto flavored cookie anyone? Not your thing? Don’t worry Cookie Good, has “normal” flavors too! The cookies here are so delicious we bought a dozen different flavors and took a bite of every single one!
4. Kazu Nori
Location: 120 Broadway #104, Santa Monica
Kazu Nori is small and it’s popular, so get there early, or be prepared to wait. The menu consists of one thing: hand rolls. They’re made to order and to delicious perfection.
5. Patrick’s Roadhouse
Location: 106 Entrada Drive, Santa Monica
Just across the PCH from North Santa Monica Beach, Patricks Roadhouse has been a local and celebrity favorite since 1973. The old time atmosphere is quirky and very family friendly. The portions are huge!
6. Nighthawk Restaurant
Location: 417 Washington Blvd, Venice
You’ll find cereal milk cocktails and other breakfast items with a fun twist at Nighthawk a trendy late night spot just blocks from the beach.
7. Salt & Straw
Location: 1357 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice
Salt and Straw’s ice cream is delicious, but don’t take my word for it, the ever present line should speak for itself. One reason the line is so long… you can sample as many flavors as you want!
8. Wurstkuche
Location: 625 Lincoln Blvd, Venice
Wurstkuche’s exotic sausages and delicious fries are a savory and popular treat. There is a constant line out the door, but don’t be fooled you’ll find a large amount of communal seating in the back.
9. The Venice Sign
Location: Pacific Ave & Windward Ave
The Original Venice Sign was hung across Windward Avenue at Pacific by Abbot Kinney himself, this current version was installed in 2007. Most often lit with traditional white marquee lights, the Sign changes throughout the year in support of various events and holidays.
10. Hatchet Hall
Location: 12517 W Washington Blvd, Los Angeles
With it’s quirky decor, bustling atmosphere and fabulous service dining at Hatchett Hall is sure to please, but it was the rolls that really won me over! I just can’t stop thinking about them!
11. The Venice Canals
Location: Enter the Grand Canal at Washington Blvd and Strongs Drive
The famous Venice Canals! No, not that other city in Italy with canals, these are the ones in Los Angeles! Did you know we have our own?!
12. Sony Studios Tour
Location: 10202 Washington Blvd, Culver City
The Sony Studios Tour is a behind the scenes walking tour located on a working studio lot. You’ll get a chance to visit and see props from TV and Movie sets as well as learn about the magic of movie making. The tour is offered for ages 13 and up.
We love our excersie in LA, and we love our stairs. It’s even better if we combine them! Try the ones at the Baldwin Hills Overlook where on a clear day you can see all the way to Downtown LA and beyond.
14. Furaibo
Location: 2068 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles
You’ll find Furaibo in LA’s Japan Town, not to be confused with Little Tokyo. They are famous for their Japanese style chicken wings, which are amazing! Bonus: There is parking in the back.
15. Paley Center for Media
Location: 465 N Beverly Dr, Beverly Hills
Located in the heart of Beverly Hills, just one block off of Rodeo Drive, the Paley Center for Media has revolving exhibits that explore the connection between media and society.
16. Beverly Hills Hotel
Location: 9641 Sunset Blvd, Beverly Hills
The Beverly Hills Hotel opened in 1912, before Beverly Hills was even a city! You can’t miss its iconic pink paint and famous sign, and you don’t have to be a guest of the hotel to enjoy one of it’s many iconic dining establishments!
17. Sprinkles Cupcake ATM
Location: 9631 South Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills
Wait, what? A 24 hour ATM that only sells cupcakes and cookies? Where can I find that? Beverly Hills of course!
18. Sprinkles Ice Cream Shop
Location: 9631 South Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills
While vistiing #17 we discovered that Sprinkles also has an ice cream shop! We couldn’t resist, and I’m so glad we didn’t! This was some incredible ice cream, and the red velvet cones were amazing! You’ll find the Sprinkles ice cream shop just next to the Cupcake ATM.
19. Sugarfina Candy Boutique
Location: 9495 S Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills
Adults and children alike will enjoy a visit to this sweet spot! Sugarfina was born in LA, but features gourmet and unqiue candies from around the world. They even offer candy tastings!
20. Malibu Country Mart
Location: 3835 Cross Creek Rd, Malibu
The Malibu Country Mart feartures high end shopping, a wonderful playground and delicious dining options! The best part… it’s just a stones throw from the famous Malibu beach!
21. Neptune’s Net
Location: 42505 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu
Fish & Chips, motorcycles, and gorgeous ocean views! Need I say more? You’ll find Neptune’s Net just a short drive up the beautiful Pacific Coast Highway.
22. Folk Art & Craft Museum
Location: 5814 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles
The Craft and Folk Art Museum is housed in an adorable little building just opposite the Labrea Tar Pits. You can’t miss its cheerful black and yellow design. The exhibitions are revolving and feature current day artists with a unique twist or smaller exposure.
23. The Berlin Wall
Location: 5900 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles
Did you know you can view part of the Berlin Wall in LA? The largest remaining stretch of the original Berlin Wall is located just across from LACMA on Wilshire Blvd’s Museum Row.
24. Melrose Avenue Shopping
Location: Between La Cienega and North Highland
One of LA’s most famous streets, Melrose shops you’ll find everything from vintage Dr. Martens to today’s most current and upscale fashion brands. Stroll up one side and down the other and along the way keep your eye out for some of LA’s most popular Insta walls.
25. Fairfax Avenue
Location: Between Melrose and W. 3rd Street
Home to the ultra trendy Supreme and Rip n’ Dip streetwear shops, you’ll also find many other one of a kind shops and galleries, mixed in among this area’s excellent dining choices, which include Canter’s Deli, Prime Pizza, and number 26 on this list, which is so delicious it deserves it’s own spot!
26. Jon and Vinny’s
Location: 412 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles
Excellent food, service and celebrity sightings are what you can expect at Jon and Vinny’s. No wonder it’s consistently listed as one of LA’s top restaurants. Getting a table can be tough, so book ahead, or consider a late lunch when you might even be able to walk right in.
27. The Original Farmers Market LA
Location: 6333 W 3rd St, Los Angeles
The entire family will love wandering within LA’s Original Farmers Market where you’ll find stall after stall of delicious food items, restaurants, and shops.
28. Dupars Pancakes
Location: 6333 W 3rd St, Los Angeles
Located inside the Farmer’s Market listed above, Dupar’s has been whipping up their famous pancakes since 1938! They’re an LA institution, and they really are THAT good!
29. Georgetown Cupcakes (Free)
Location: 143 S Robertson Blvd, Los Angeles
Would you like a free cupcake? Georgetown Cupcakes is giving you one! All you have to do is check out their online fridge cam for the secret cupcake of the day. Tell them the flavor when you walk in and they’ll give each member of your group a complimentary cupcake!
30. Laurel Hardware
Location: 7984 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood
Don’t be fooled by the exterior when you pull up outside Laurel Hardware, one of West Hollywoods most trendy eateries. It may look like an old hardware store from the outside, but the inside is gorgeous and the food is delicious, as are the cocktails.
31. Brothers Korean BBQ
Location: 3680 W 6th St, Los Angeles
Brothers Korean BBQ is our family’s go to for special occasions. The service is excellent as is the food. My favorite part: all the “sides” that come with your meal.
32. The Wiltern
Location: 3790 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles
Located at the corner of Wilshire and Western the Wiltern was built in 1931 as a vaudville theater. It was restored to it’s original glory in 1981 and today its a live music venue.
33. Neutra VDL House
Location: 2300 Silver Lake Blvd, Los Angeles
Architecture lovers won’t want to miss a visit to the Neutra VDL House built by the famed Modernist architect Richard Neutra 75 years ago. Tours of the home and garden are available, and are given by architecture students.
34. Alfred’s Coffee
Location: 3337 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles (Multiple Locations)
If you ask me Alfred’s Coffee has their priorities straight, because, while it may be cliche, as far as I’m concerned nothing happens before coffee! With locations all over town, including a tea room, you’ll be able to get your priorities straight as well!
35. LA Zoo
Location: 5333 Zoo Dr, Los Angeles
We’ve been to over 25 zoo around the world, so I think you can trust me when I say the LA Zoo is fun for the entire family!
36. Greek Theater
Location: 2700 N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles
The Greek Theater is located inside Griffith Park and is an outdoor venue. The Theater seats less than 6000, and is a great place to see a show.
37. See a Movie at Hollywood Cemetery
Location: 6000 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles
Consider attending an outdoor movie screening at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery! Even if you can’t make it to an organized event you might consider a visit anyway, as the cemetery is the final resting place of many famous Hollywood and musical icons.
38. The Hollywood Bowl
Location: 2301 N Highland Ave, Los Angeles
The Hollywood Bowl is located one mile from the famed corner of Hollywood and Highland in… You guessed it, Hollywood! The Bowl seats 17,500 people and is an open-air venue. Getting there can be a challenge, but it’s worth it!
39. Capital Records Building
Location: 1750 Vine St, Los Angeles
The Capital Records Building is a historic landmark, and has been featured in a number of movies and television shows since it’s completion in 1956. Located just north of the famous corner of Hollywood and Vine you can’t miss it’s iconic round shape, which resembles a stack of records.
40. The Bradbury Building
Location: 304 South Broadway at West 3rd Street
Built in 1893, the Bradbury Building is an architectural landmark. While the outside might not seem like anything particularly special, its the inside’s Victorian Era atrium with it’s grandiose iron work, 50 foot ceilings, and open cage elevators that really shine. Fans of the movie Blade Runner, starring Harrison Ford, might recognize the atrium space as Sebastian’s home.
41. Angels Flight Railway
Location: 356 S Olive St, Los Angeles
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. The Angels Flight Railway is a treasured piece of LA history, and it has given more than 100 million rides!
42. Grand Central Market
Location: 317 S Broadway, Los Angeles
The Grand Central Market opened in 1917 and has been operating continuously ever since. A popular destination for locals and tourists alike, no matter you food tastes you’ll find something for everyone in your group! From Thai sticky rice to cheesecake, a Jewish deli, vegan choices, a cheese shop, Chinese food, produce stands, a butcher shop and so much more. There’s even a PB&J shop!
43. Birdies Restaurant
Location: 314 West Olympic Boulevard Los Angeles
Birdies, is well known in LA for both their donuts and fried chicken, so of course you have to try both! The donuts are baked fresh every two hours!
44. Sweet Tooth’s Walking Tour of DTLA
Location: Start Here
This family friendly dessert walking tour of Downtown Los Angeles includes delicious treats AND iconic sights, Life is short… dessert first!
45. Dodger Game
Location: 1000 Vin Scully Ave, Los Angeles
Baseball fans will love a visit to the iconic Dodger Stadium perched on the hill overlooking downtown LA. Be sure to get a Dodger Dog while you’re there! Play Ball!
46. Downtown Los Angeles Sample Sales
Location: 860 S Los Angeles St, Los Angeles
LA’s Fashion District is home to over 1,200 showrooms, representing over 4,500 fashion lines. Many of them hold sample sales on the last Friday of the month. The Cooper Design Space building right in the heart of the Fashion District is a great place to start.
47. Old Town Pasadena
Location: Colorado Boulevard
Old Town Pasadena is a great place to spend an afternoon! There are endless options for food, so you’ll be hard pressed to choose which of the many yummy treats you’ll try while walking around. We picked this taiyaki up from Stray Cat Poke & Dessert!
48. Rose Bowl Flea Market
Location: 1001 Rose Bowl Dr, Pasadena
The Rose Bowl, located in Pasadena, is about 25 minutes from Downtown Los Angeles. It is of course famous for hosting THE Rose Bowl of football fame, which is held on New Year’s Day, but it also plays host to a monthly flea market!
If thrill rides are your thing, you’ll want to head to Six Flags Magic Mountain for roller coasters galore!
50. Mini Monster Milk Tea
Location: Universal City Walk, Universal City
If you love boba tea (I do!) and cute things, then you’ll want to stop in at Mini Monster! The delicious boba is served in your choice of unique and reusable jars in various fun shapes!
Manhattan Beach has fabulous beaches and a quaint downtown. Its just one of the many wonderful smaller beach cities between LA and San Diego, and definitely my favorite!
*to help you make the most of your LA visit I’ve tried to group everything by neighborhood.
* As fast as we “check things off” we think up more fun and interesting ideas, so stay tuned for EVEN More Things To Do in Los Angeles coming soon…
*Be sure to check official websites for operating hours and ticket prices.
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Can a person be too happy? Is that even possible? I didn’t think so, but I admit to being accused of it on occasion. Yep, that’s right, I was once accused of smiling too much! That was awkward, but you can’t keep me down! I’m a morning person, I end most sentences with exclamation points, and in general I’m a pretty cheerful person, so when I heard about a place that was literally called: Happy Place, I knew I had to go there. Stat!
In fact the moment I saw the advertisement I clicked buy tickets and scooped up the max allowed (8) for opening day. My friends we were coming for the Thanksgiving holiday break and I just knew they would want to share in all that happiness… or at least I hoped they would! Lucky for me, they did and we had the best time!
If you’re wondering, Happy Place is very similar to The Museum of Ice Cream, which if you don’t already know, is basically room after room of colorful photo ops. If you’re into taking selfies this is your heaven, and even if you’re not… Wandering through 13 + brightly lit rooms decorated to the hilt, and filled with cheerful activities, photo ops and yummy treats is a pretty great way to spend an afternoon! Raise your hand if you love an afternoon of silly fun with your besties!
Raise your hand if you love fun!
Here is a preview of just some of the fun we had during our visit.
Upon entering Happy Place you’ll be asked to watch an adorable little video, which basically spells out the rules, no selfie sticks, enjoy yourself, the path is one way only…
For the sake of everyone’s happiness there are a few rules…
After the video you’ll head down the entrance hallway…
And through the door…
Giant Shoes
Can you guess what these shoes were made of?
Lovable Sea Monster
The first two rooms were cheerful, but we weren’t exactly sure how to interact with them, I guess we needed to warm up a bit…
XO
…Becuase we figured it out in the next room, which also happened to be my favorite!
If You’re Happy and You Know It…
Celebrate Everyday!
I’m a big fan of celebrating! Really, any excuse will do! We couldn’t open any of the 400 presents on the walls, but did get these delicious cake pops!
Balloons!
Pop Up Flowers
We all loved this fun room where you could pop up among the flowers like gophers!
Topsy Turvy
I’m afraid this room was a bit beyond our capabilites, we weren’t quite sure how to make ourselves appear upside down. I ended up rotating the photos. My dad was definitely the best at this, I think I may be choking that teddy bear!
Four in One
The next “four” rooms were really all in one room together. The lines to get photos were quite long,especially for the rubber ducky tub, but we perservered…
Live Laugh Love
Rainbow Hearts
Rubber Ducky You’re the One
Mirror Mirror
The End of the Rainbow
This room was fun, but the “gold” is a bit rough on your feet when you land, and if you’re wearing a skirt or dress, you’ll want to hold on to it as you jump!
Snow Confetti Angels
We don’t get much opportunity to make snow angels here in SoCal, but confetti works too!
Snow Confetti Globe
The final room, and a favorite of our group, we loved this confetti filled dome! Once the door was shut the fans came on and the confetti was flying! Lucky us, no one was waiting and we got to go twice! You can’t believe the places the confetti finds itself…
Once you’ve had your fill of photos head to the final room for popsicles, lemondade, the gift shop, and a few final photo ops!
One last Photo Op!
With the exception of a few rooms you’ll be taking all your own photos during your Happy Place visit, or you can ask the friendly staff to take your photo. This “garden” had a camera set up, which took us a few tries to get just right. Once we were satisfied we emailed the photos to oursleves!
Whoops! We weren’t ready!That’s better!Third times the charm!
You’ll work up an appetite during your Happy Place visit, but don’t worry, you’ll find delicious RAINBOW Grilled Cheese sandwhiches just outside at The Happy Toast food truck! The perfect way to end an already fun afternoon!
Tips & Advice:
The Happy Place is located in the Downtown Los Angeles Arts District at 1242 Palmetto Street.
Parking can be a bit hectic. If you can, I suggest grabbing a spot on the street, but if there isn’t any available there are number of nearby lots.
Arrive 20 minutes before you timed entry to queue up.
The only restroom is at the start.
Don’t forget to bring your camera!
The rainbow grilled cheese sandwiches were delicious, but at $12 each priced a bit high.
If you have time explore the neighborhood, its one of my favorites, you’ll find plenty of street art, shopping, and delicious food all within blocks of Happy Place.
Will you be in the LA area in the next few months? Check out the Happy Place official website for ticket information. Not coming to LA? Don’t worry, sign up online for updates and information on the Happy Place’s next destination. You never know where the Happy Place will pop up next. The Museum of Ice cream has since opened locations in both San Francisco and Miami, and I hear the Color Factory could be headed to LA soon. My fingers are crossed! Stay tuned…
Hilarystyle is about travel, fashion and fun, but I admit it’s been awhile since I’ve written about fashion. Truth be told it’s hard to think about a change in wardrobe when here in LA it hardly seems like we ever have a change in seasons. Not that I’m complaining about what feels like perpetual summer.
Late October in Los Angeles feels just like summer!
Recently I had a chance to visit the sample sales in LA’s fashion District and I’m hoping I’ll have a chance to get some use out of the more wintery items I picked up during my upcoming visit to England.
What is a Sample Sale?
Sample sales are a way for fashion brands to unload excess merchandise and make room for the upcomning season. You’ll find current season items including accessories and apparel all for very reduced prices. During my recent visit I picked up items for everyone in my family.
Some showrooms feature multiple fashion brands
Where can I find a Sample Sale?
Designer showrooms are located at 9th and Los Angeles Street in Downtown LA’s Fashion District.
Ted Baker has a showroom in the Cooper Design Space Building
The Fashion District is home to over 1,200 showrooms, which represent over 4,500 fashion lines. WOW, that’s a lot of shopping!
You’ll find a large majority of those 1,200 showrooms inside The Cooper Design Space building right in the heart of the Fashion District.
When Can I shop?
Sample sales are usually held on the last Friday of the month.
Not every showroom hosts a sale every last Friday, but many do, and its fun to go from floor to floor poking in and out of the different showrooms. Look for the boards in the lobby listing which showrooms are having a sale, and where they’re located.
What if I’m not there on the Last Friday?
Many brands will hold additional sample or warehouse sales throughout the year, so make sure to add your name to their showroom email list, and you’ll be notified of when and where.
How Do I Pay?
Not all of the showrooms accept credit, so make sure to bring plenty of cash.
Can I try stuff on?
For the most part Showrooms aren’t set up with dressing rooms, but many allow you to try items on over what you’re already wearing, or if you want you can find a spot off to the side and do a quick change… I wore a dress when I visited, which made trying on a little easier.
I’m hungry after all that shopping Is there food nearby?
Downtown Los Angeles is one of my favorite places to explore. There are endless options for fun and food! Here’s a list of some of our favorite spots:
Birdies, is well known in LA for their donuts and their fried chicken, so consider trying both! The donuts are baked fresh every two hours. Since you saved all that money at the sample sale you might consider trying the gold donut… it’s only $100!
Gold leaf donut a mere $100
Bottega Louie, is known for it’s colorful and photogenic macarons, but it isn’t just about the sweets and treats, it’s also a full service restaurant with a full bar and a gourmet market.
Kazu Nori is small and it’s popular, so get there early, or be prepared to wait. The menu consists of one thing: hand rolls. They’re made to order and to delicious perfection.
The Grand Central Market is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike, and no matter their food tastes you’ll find something for everyone in your group. From Thai sticky rice to cheesecake, whisky and cheese, a Jewish deli, vegan choices, coffee, Chinese food, green grocers and so much more. There’s even a PB&J shop!
Salt and Straw’s ice cream is delicious, but don’t take my word for it, the ever present line should speak for itself. One reason the line is so long… you can sample as many flavors as you want!
Salted Malted Cookie Dough
Pie Hole offers up a variety of fun pie flavors both savory and sweet, so no matter your tastes you’ll be guaranteed a unique and tasty treat! I wish I could show you a photo of the pie, but it never lasts long enough to take a photo!
Wurst Kuche’s exotic sausages and delicious fries are a savory and popular treat. There is a constant line out the door, but don’t be fooled you’ll find a large amount of communal seating in the back.
Little Damage is a family owned soft serve ice cream shop in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles. With trendy black cones and unique flavor choices, Little Damage, is not your average ice cream… its ice cream with a Goth twist!
I’m all shopped out. What else can I do in the Neighborhood?
Check you these related posts for even more downtown inspiration:
Music plays a large roll in our family’s everyday life; in fact as I write this I can hear my older son practicing his guitar in the other room. Lucky for us we all have similar taste in music. I’m not sure how this happened, but I know we really lucked out, and I’m so grateful! Especially, since the loud noises coming from the other room actually resemble songs I like!
Simon has been joining us for live music events since he was six years old (yes, we use earplugs), and now that Elliot is old enough all four of us are going! We’ve been busy these past few months exploring LA’s music scene.
Here’s the scoop on sound, seating, parking and everything in between at the 5 different venues we’ve recently visited. We’ve even included a few of our favorite songs for your listening pleasure!
5 LA Places to Get Your Groove On:
The Rose Bowl
Band: Green Day
The Rose Bowl is located in Pasadena, about 25 minutes from Downtown Los Angeles. It is of course famous for hosting THE Rose Bowl of football fame, which is held on New Year’s Day, but it also plays host to a monthly flea market. The stadium is open air and seats just under 91,000 people.
Billy Joe Armstrong puts on a fabulous show.
We all agreed that the sound was great! We had general admission floor tickets for this show, and if possible I would recommend them. The Rose Bowl is quite large and the stage is far from the stands.
A great show all around!
There were plenty of food and drink options inside the Rose Bowl, however if you have time you might consider grabbing a meal in Old Town, Pasadena, which is a fun place to explore.
Loved all the confetti!
Parking options: Parking at the Rose Bowl is expensive. There are shuttle options, but we wanted flexibility, so opted to pay the whopping $40 fee to park in the official lot. In the end it was worth it for the convenience, as it turned out we exited the parking lot right near the freeway.
Tip: Purses were not allowed at this show. You’ll want to check the venue’s website prior to your show for any restrictions.
Green Day: She from the album Dookie
Video of “She” from the show:
Forgive the quality of the video, but… dancing!
We saw this yummy treat in Old Town when we passed by Stray Cat Poke & Dessert! Funny thing is… we were on our way to dinner.
The Regent Theater
Band(s): Night Riot & The Dreamers
Located in Downtown Los Angeles, The Regent Theater originally opened in 1914, and is the oldest building on the block. The venue is quite small with a capacity of only 1,100 people, which in my mind makes it the perfect place to see a show. We all agreed the sound was good, and because of the intimate size of the theater so was the viewing.
NIght Riot
We had a great time at this venue, and will definitely be attending another show here! Its downtown location means you’ll find plenty of both parking and food nearby. We like Little Damage for it’s ice cream, Birdies for it’s chicken and waffles, and Kazu Nori for its hand rolls. Kazu Nori is just across the street!
The Dreamers
The Regent hosts other events as well, one of which is the Rock n’ Roll Flea Market held on the 1st Sunday of the month. I’m looking forward to checking this out soon!
The Dreamers and Night Riot opened for The Maine.
Tip: The Dreamers was an all ages show, but you’ll want to check before purchasing tickets.
Dreamers: Sweet Disaster from the Album This Album Does Not Exist
Night Riots: Contagious from the Album HOWL
Sweet Disaster Video:
Little Damage just happened to be on the way to the car, so of course we had to stop!
The Greek Theater
Band: The Shins
The Greek Theater is located inside Griffith Park and is an outdoor venue. The Theater seats less than 6000, and in my opinion is a great place to see a show. Tim wasn’t as sure, as he is more partial to the northern Greek Theater located in Berkeley, California. We both agreed the sound was only okay, but I loved the setting.
The Shins
There are concessions including a bar onsite, but as the venue is inside Griffith Park there are no other food options. You might consider grabbing a bite in nearby Silver Lake or Los Feliz.
A rare date night.
Parking options: There is plenty of parking available. We paid $15 and walked a short distance uphill to the Theater. Had we paid online in advance we would have saved $5, or alternatively we could have paid more and parked even closer to the venue’s door.
Tip: Purses were not allowed at this show. You’ll want to check the venue’s website prior to your show for any restrictions.
The Shins:
The grilled bread was delicious
Prior to the show we grabbed dinner at Wolfdown a fun laidback restaurant in Silver Lake, one of my favorite neighborhoods.
The Hollywood Bowl
Band: Depeche Mode
The Hollywood Bowl is located one mile from the famed corner of Hollywood and Highland in… You guessed it, Hollywood! The Bowl seats 17,500 people and is an open air venue. Getting there can be a challenge, but it’s worth it! I think the sound at the Bowl is great, and so is the service!
We chose to eat an early dinner on Hollywood Boulevard and walk to the venue, but there are plenty of food options within the venue as well.
Tip: Our seating choice came with the option to order food and beverage directly, which was very convenient. We ordered a bottle of wine right to our seats!
Parking options: Parking at the Bowl can be challenging and expensive, and once you’ve parked you can’t leave until the show is over. If you don’t want to drive there are shuttle options. Check the website for more information. We chose to use Lyft, and it worked perfectly for our needs.
Tip: if you must drive, and you don’t want to park onsite, park in the Hollywood & Highland Complex and walk one mile to the Bowl.
Even with a fancy ticket our seats weren’t that close.
Depeche Mode: Precious from the album Playing The Angel
Somebody Video:
If you’re hungry after the show look for the danger dog vendors. They can usually be found outside of any major event, and all over the city. I recently had my first one…Delicious!
The Forum Band: Fall Out Boy
The Forum, located in Inglewood, is the former home of the Los Angeles Lakers, and only about 3 miles from the Los Angeles International airport (LAX). Depending on the event The Forum seats as many as 17,500 people. I thought the sound was only okay, but my son loved it, and these tickets were his 15th birthday present, so in this case that’s all that mattered.
Not the best seats, but we had fun!
There are plenty of food and beverage options inside The Forum, including Pink’s Hot Dogs, which I happen to love. There is also a full bar. People were incredibly helpful and overall our experience at this venue was great!
Thankful I still get to come along
Parking options: Parking at The Forum ranges from $25 – $40, and traffic getting there is everything bad thing that you’ve ever heard about LA traffic, especially on a Friday night. We chose to take a Lyft, and there is a well marked dedicated area at the venue just for ride sharing services. They even had charging cables and coffee available while you waited for your ride.
Plenty of merchandise options.
Tip: If the line for merchandise is too long, there are places to buy inside as well.
Fall Out Boy: Immortals from the move Big Hero Six
Fall Out Boy Video:
Pink’s Chili Cheese Hot Dogs are an LA institution, so of course I had to have one!
What do you do in Los Angeles after you’ve spotted the stars, seen THE Sign, and brushed off the sand? How about a museum! With over 100 museums to choose from, you’ll get a dose of culture while giving yourself a break from all that sun.
The Broad Museum
Whatever your interests, art, architecture, entertainment, libraries, gardens, automobiles, or history I guarantee there is a museum in LA for you. I’m nowhere near making a dent, but I’ve checked off a few…
LA is a large city and many of it’s museums are spread out, but the area known as Museum Row on Wilshire Boulevard’s Miracle Mile has five wonderful museums all within steps of one another. If you were motivated it would be entirely possible to get a taste of all of them within one day.
LA County Museum of Art (LACMA)
They are: The LA County Museum of Art (LACMA), the Craft & Folk Art Museum (CAFAM), The Labrea Tar Pits, The Peterson Automotive Museum, and the Wende Museum exhibition of the Berlin Wall.
LACMA
It would take multiple visits to see everything the largest art museum on the West Coast has to offer, but if you’re short on time you can enjoy some of LACMA’s outdoor exhibits, like Chris Burden’s Urban Lights, Levitating Mass, or choose just one of the Museum’s many buildings and focus on that.
There is definitely something magical about Urban lights. The solar powered installation is made from 202 restored cast iron street lamps from 1920s and 30s Los Angeles. This is an incredibly popular place to take photos and hang out, so expect crowds.
LACMA on Museum Row
The boys loved Penetrable by artist Jesús Rafael Soto, an interactive art installation just outside the entrance to the Ahmanson Building. Made of simple yellow tubing hanging from a steel grid, this installation was meant to be touched!
Getting a people free photo is virually impossible
My older son and I visited the temporary Guillermo del Toro exhibition last year and loved it. You’ll want to check the Museum’s website for information on current and upcoming exhibitions.
We loved the Guillermo del Toro exhibition.
The Peterson Automotive Museum
Los Angeles is famous for many things, but one of them is not waking! In fact, “Nobody walks in LA”, or at least that’s how the song goes, so it makes perfect sense that there would be an automotive museum in the heart of Museum Row!
At the Peterson Automotive Museum, you’ll find cars and motorcycles representing the history of the automobile, including racecars, concept cars, movie cars and custom built cars. My favorite part was viewing the movie cars including, the bat cycle, Stephen King’s Christine, lightening McQueen and Herbie the Love Bug!
La Brea Tar Pits
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 La Brea Tar Pits and the George C. Page Museum offer a glimpse into what life was like in the LA basin long before people came along. A few things to keep in mind: There is an entrance fee to the museum, but viewing the outside exhibits is free. 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.
The Craft and Folk Art Museum is housed in an adorable little building just opposite the Labrea Tar Pits. You can’t miss its cheerful black and yellow design. The exhibitions are revolving and feature current day artists with a unique twist or smaller exposure.
The museum offers crafting opportunities and we had the good fortune to visit during a Japanese paper making demonstration.
CAFAM is special because it is a place to both see art and make art.
SAMSUNG CSC
The Berlin Wall
Did you know you can view part of the Berlin Wall in LA? The largest remaining stretch of the original Berlin Wall is located just across from LACMA on Wilshire Blvd.
The Wall is part of the Wende Museum collection. Street artists from around the world were invited to paint blank segments of the Wall to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Wall coming down.
Paley Center for Media
Located in the heart of Beverly Hills, just one block off of Rodeo Drive, the Paley Center for Media exhibits explore the connections between media and society.
During our visit we saw the Cartoon Network exhibition: 25 Years of Drawing On Creativity. We loved learning about the creation of some of our favorite cartoons! A visit to the Paley Center will give you access to their collection of over 160,000 programs covering almost 100 years of television and radio from around the world. The museum’s exhibits are revolving, so you’ll want to check the website to see what’s on.
The Broad
The Broad Museum located in DTLA is easily one of my favorite museums. Entry to the museum is free, and the collection of contemporary art is top notch! Not only that, the building itself is a work of art.
Advance reservations are required, however if you don’t have them there is a stand by line. Check the website for instructions on how best to visit and for information on current exhibitions.
The Getty Villa
Located on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, the Getty Villa is dedicated to the antiquities, and features 7000 years of ancient art. Even if antiquities aren’t your thing, The Villa itself is a site to see.
Built in the early 1970s it was modeled after the Villa dei Papiri, a roman country home that was located in Herculaneum, Italy. Herculaneum, along with Pompeii, was buried in the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD.
The Getty Center
If you’ve been to LA you might have noticed the Getty Center, a large white building perched on the hillside above the 405.
While the Getty Villa features antiquities through the fall of the Roman Empire, the Getty Center features American and European art from medieval times to the present. Not only is it considered an architectural masterpiece, but it’s surrounded by beautiful gardens and on a clear day the view of Downtown Los Angeles and the Pacific Ocean are spectacular.
The Huntington Botanical Gardens has something for everyone! Museums, a library and acres of beautiful and unique gardens, including a fabulous children’s garden!
Entrance tickets are all inclusive, but because the Huntington has so much to offer it would be tough to see everything in one visit.
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.
Try to time your visit to LACMA for sundown and you’ll see Urban Lights in action.
The Peterson Automotive Museum has a dedicated children’s area and parking lot.
If you’re short on time skip the George C. Page Museum at the Tar Pits and just view the outdoor exhibitions.
Be sure to check out CFAM’S calendar of crafting events for both children and adults.
Walk all the way around the Berlin Wall, so you don’t miss the fabulous art painted on the backside.
Entrance to The Paley Center for Media is free, as is parking in the building below.
Visiting the Broad? Consider eating lunch at Otium. Easily one of the best lunches I’ve had in LA.
Entry to both the Getty Villa and the Getty Center is free, but both charge a $15 parking fee. Entry to the Villa requires an advance reservation.
The Huntington Gardens aren’t technically in LA, but it’s worth the trek!
Admission to the Neutra House is $15 and tours are available on Saturdays from 11 am -3 pm.
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