Michelle’s Insider Guide to LA
Looking to incorporate some shopping, yoga, dining into your snow holiday? LA has so much to offer and is the perfect stopover for those going skiing/boarding in the USA or Canada. If you have the opportunity to spend a few days there, do it as there is so much to see even if you have been a million times before.
Touristy stuff
- Disneyland (Anaheim)
- Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills
- Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica
- Venice Boardwalk, Venice
- Lakers Game, Downtown LA
- Walk of Fame, Hollywood
- Universal Studios, Hollywood
Michelle’s INSIDER tips!
Take a hike
If you want to have a very stereotypical ‘LA’ experience there are a few thing you need to do. Obviously hike Runyon Canyon in your cutest activewear. You may see a B or C list celebrity and there will be more young girls taking selfies that you have ever seen.
After the hike go and get a green juice from Kreation Juicery. They have locations everywhere but you are most likely to see a celebrity from the one of Santa Monica Blvd in Beverly Hills. Just saying.
Nameste
OMG do a YOGA CLASS. I suggest you do a class at ALO yoga. If you’ve never heard of Alo they make yoga clothes and are more popular than Lulu Lemon in LA. Alo have a few stores with yoga sanctuaries inside and they have classes every day. The instructors are amazing and they look like models. I suggest going to either AlO in Beverly Hills (their flagship store) or Alo in Pacific Palisades. *Look out for Shayna on the schedule, she teaches at Pacific Palisades and is the best
Venice Beach
When you are in Venice don’t just go to the boardwalk, go to Abbot Kinney which has lots of boutique store and the street is lined with palms trees (like so many streets are in LA). There is great coffee, food and ice cream, what else could you possibly need?
Downtown LA
Downtown LA has completely transformed and is the definition of ‘gentrification’, well parts of it anyway. Go to the Arts District. It is so trendy and fun. Downtown LA has become so walkable and is so much safer than it used to be. I don’t even know if ‘skid row’ still exists! Apartments downtown are just as expensive as Beverly Hills! Perch is great for happy hour! Go up City Hall for free for great views of all of LA.
Vegan Food!
Vegan food is so popular in LA. Café Gratitude has to be the ultimate LA experience. All of their dishes have names likes ‘Exquisite or Enchanting or Glorious or Elated or Dedicated’ you get the idea and if you like, you can order by saying I AM and then the name of your dish. It’s totally corny and super LA and fun!
Dining in Malibu
Malibu. If you want to go to the beach in LA go to Zuma Beach in Malibu. The water is so much clearer than Santa Monica. And for lunch, you have 2 options and 2 options only. Either Malibu Farm on the pier, yes a café on a pier which actually has incredible food. It’s just like Boathouse in Palm Beach but in Malibu. The other place to eat is the very fancy Nobu which is also on the beach front. Look out for the Kardashians here!
Day tripping
If you have a spare day or do, hire a car and drive down to Laguna Beach. It is paradise!! Even better, stay at the Montage. Its heavenly. If you only have a day, don’t go to the main beach, go to either Crescent Beach or Shaw’s Cove. If you are doing Laguna in a day watch the traffic because the 405 is a nightmare, better stay overnight.
Shopping
Century City Mall has been completely redone. It’s a Westfield so has a similar to feel to our shopping malls except that it’s in Los Angeles and has all the US brands we love! It’s fresher and more updated compared to 3rd Street in Santa Monica, and there is an EATLY which is such a fun Italian dining experience because everyone loves pizza and pasta, right?!
Travelplan will tailor an LA stopover package to suit your needs so you can experience the perfect ski holiday. Call 1300 754 754 and speak with a Michelle or another specialised travel agent today.