The City of Angels, Los Angeles, is the backdrop for thousands of films and music videos. Thanks to its mild climate and almost all-year-round sunny weather, LA is the perfect place to unwind, grab some drinks, eat to your heart’s content and enjoy the pure luxury that only a city this beautiful has to offer. Speaking of luxury, that’s one thing you won’t go without if you visit California, but Los Angeles doesn’t necessarily have to be an expensive visit. With so many different boroughs and areas to choose from, especially when it comes to dining and restaurants, you may want to skip the celeb hotspots and dine with the locals. Let’s dive in to the world of LA.
First, a Drink
It may seem strange to land at LAX and head straight out to Santa Barbara, but rest assured there’s a good reason for this. Los Angeles is a busy city, known for its bumper to bumper traffic at all times, and it could be a relaxing change to visit Santa Barbara first and kick your holiday off on a calm note. With a glass of wine in hand, it could also be easier to decide on the coming days and what to do in LA. Plus: who doesn’t love a road trip? Especially when you’ll be traveling via the Malibu Route, which is stunning and guarantees incredible coastal views and amazing restaurants. It’s a direct route where you’ll be cruising along the famous Pacific Coast Highway the entire way.
Once you’ve arrived in Santa Barbara, a breathtaking coastal town with the Santa Ynez Mountains as a dramatic backdrop, you’ll want to walk or drive downtown as it features white Mediterranean-style stucco buildings adorned with red-tile roofs—a reflection of the city’s Spanish colonial heritage. As your feet may be tired from all that walking, boutiques and restaurants offering local wines await you. It’s hard to believe that Santa Barbara boasts 20,000 acres of vineyards planted with over 65 different varietals. This quaint and stylish location has established a reputation for world-class Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah. Sip local wine and enjoy tapas with friend and family. An excellent first stop.
Rent a Ferrari
Back in Los Angeles, it’s time to see the sights—and there are lots of them. Depending on how much time you have, it’s a good idea to book accommodation in different areas so that you can see different parts of the city. Los Angeles is gigantic and the public transport is not as well set-up as in Europe, meaning that it could take hours to travel from one sight to the next. The best tip is to decide on activities that you want to do in a specific area, be it Downtown, West Hollywood, Santa Monica, Los Feliz or Venice Beach, and then book accommodation in that area, check out the interesting sights, and then move on to the next borough. LA has an anything-is-possible vibe, so visitors can do outrageously fun things like rent a Ferrari to cruise around LA. Anything goes here!
See the Dodgers
International travelers wanting to get a feel for American living simply can’t miss out on experiencing a live baseball game. The Dodgers are the epitome of Los Angeles and getting the opportunity to watch a Dodgers game is a bucket-list kind of activity. A cold beer in the one hand and a yummy hotdog in the other, the crowds’ enthusiasms will draw you in and make you a Dodgers fan in no time. The beauty of American baseball is that it’s a family affair. Take your children along and witness something truly magical.
It’s Time to Eat
The food scene in LA is as varied as its inhabitants. From Italian to Mexican, visitors can get the most authentic cuisine imaginable during a food tour in Venice Beach while discovering the city from a different perspective. Most tours are approximately 3 hours long and make several stops at authentic eateries in the area. An expert local guide will tell you everything you need to know, not only about the food, but about Venice Beach and its history. You’ll be joined by a small group of people ensuring that you get an immersive experience and can enjoy every bite in a friendly and social setting.
Star-struck
It wouldn’t be LA without seeing at least one movie star, and you may see even more than that on a Hollywood and Celebrity Homes Bus Tour that takes you past the actual homes that celebrities live in. How knows, perhaps you’ll drive by and see one of them tending to their garden or doing yoga outside. As you know, anything is possible in Los Angeles. People come here from all over the world to make their dreams of stardom come true, you may be lucky enough to see the one’s who have made it big.
There’s almost not enough time to see and experience everything Los Angeles has to offer, it would take months to explore all the areas, eat all the food and sip on all the delicious cocktails made here. With the city being as big as it is, and other gorgeous cities like San Francisco pretty close by, why not take a longer holiday to enjoy the vast beauty that is California. Your future self will thank you.