I’m excited to share my tips for a fun Los Angeles vacation! After a cold Midwest winter, last spring my friend Vida Mia Cocktails and I made a game time decision to fly from Chicago to Los Angeles for a weekend of food, drinks, and the fabulous life! I was excited to check out a few places on my bucket list. With temperatures dropping again, I might need to consider another trip to somewhere warm! Photo Credits: Julie Schuford Photography.
1.Go to Places Off the Beaten Path:
I’ve done the standard LA tourist spots on previous trips. This time I wanted to visit places that are more off the beaten path.
W – West Beverly Hills: We stayed at The W – West Beverly Hills. It’s near the UCLA campus, and only a 15 minute ride through Beverly Hills to the West Hollywood hot spots. Great hotel to be near the action, but far enough away to chill out.
Griffith Observatory: Go to Griffith Observatory for a fun work-out with a view! It’s a popular attraction, so I recommend going early. We hit the trail around 8AM. There are a few different trails; we started at the Trail Cafe and took the short 30 minute hiking route to the top. The views were breathtaking, and it’s a great way to start off the day.
Poketo: We went to the Poketo outpost at The Line Hotel where they have tons of cool gift items like the Cocktail Carry-On Kit, fun mugs, and apparel. Per their website, Poketo focuses on items that “cultivate a creative lifestyle.” I’d love to check out their flagship store as well next time.
Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) Urban Light Installation: The Urban Light Installation outside of LACMA features 202 restored antique lanterns. We went at night and walked among the twinkling lights. So pretty!
2.Stay Hydrated
Since “juicing” is such a trend, I decided to check out one of the best places in town! I also love a good cup of tea, so I was on a mission to find some of LA’s most unique tea experiences.
Juice Served Here: I like this juice bar because they serve cold pressed juice “flights” where you can try shots of 10 different juices. They have a cute little patio in the back where we enjoyed the sun and delicious juice! We visited the West Hollywood location, and they have many other locations throughout LA.
Alfred Tea: I had to check out this legendary instagrammable hot spot. I enjoyed a chai tea latte in their cute (and very pink) Melrose place store. Pro Tip: Go on a Sunday morning and check out the Farmer’s Market out front. I got a hearty breakfast sandwich from Free Range LA that was #SandwichGoals. Alfred Coffee is just a few doors down, and there are several clothing boutiques along that stretch. Perfect for a relaxing afternoon!
American Tea Room: The teas they prepare are delicious and gorgeous! We tried the Green Tea Terere and the Pink Latte. The drinks were sooo instagram worthy! We definitely spent several minutes taking photos of our drinks. In addition, the outdoor patio is also super cute! They have a living plant wall on the patio, which means you can sip your tea in style. Pics from our visit to American Tea Room are below.
3.Relax and Recharge
You can’t go to LA and not indulge in a little self-care.
The Now Massage: Step inside and you’re whisked away to a Tulum, Mexico inspired paradise. With white walls, succulent plants, and massage rooms that look like private beach cabanas, you won’t want to leave! In fact, they even take last minute appointments, and massages are only $25 for 30 minutes! Excellent service, clean, and really cool vibe. We went to the Silver Lake location (and it happened to be opening weekend). Score!
Blushington: I got my makeup done at Blushington. Great place to go for a quick and affordable makeup application. I was in and out in about 45 minutes!
4.Have a Treat…Ice Cream!
Yes, ice cream get’s it’s own line item on this trip! Los Angeles is a hotbed of cool ice cream shops. I made it to two of LA’s coolest ice cream spots. Can’t wait to try more on my next Los Angeles vacation!
Peddler’s Creamery: I first heard about this place while watching TV show The Real Girl’s Kitchen. The cool thing about this shop is that they manually churn the ice cream…by peddling a bike to power the machine! Visitors can even sit on the bike and take a try churning the ice cream!
Churro Borough: Churros +Ice Cream = it’s officially a great day! We headed over to Churro Borough to try ice cream layered between churros to make an ice cream sandwich. Definitely a fun concept, and we enjoyed sitting at the picnic tables out front to devour these tasty treats.
5.Eat
LA has so many great restaurants. In fact, we were so busy eating that we didn’t get tons of pictures during our Los Angelse vacation, but here are some of my faves:
Cecconi’s West Hollywood: This place has great service, great food, and great scene! It was packed, but we were able to snag a seat at the bar, and the bartender was really nice! The house made wood oven pizza was great; I paired mine with a smooth and crisp glass of white wine. Definitely a “see and be seen” place, but the food also lives up to the hype.
Gracias Madre: This restaurant focuses on vegetarian dishes, but the food is still approachable and substantial for meat eaters. Cocktails are great and they have a nice outdoor patio. If you’re looking for a laid back California vibe, this is the place to go.
Free Range LA: I briefly mentioned this above; this food truck has some legit breakfast sandwiches. I had one with egg, sausage and cheese. Sounds simple, but they turn those ingredients into something amazing, and everything is made fresh and to order. I’m still dreaming about that sandwich!
6.Rent a Car
LA is really spread out, and therefore my rideshare charges added up very quickly. Although it was nice to not drive in LA traffic, next time I’ll rent a car and just use ride share for going out in the evenings.
Bonus – Nightlife: We went to the Hollywood Roosevelt to check out the craft cocktail scene at The Library Bar, which has a serious mixology program. Although I didn’t drink that night, I enjoyed watching the mastery and artistry of the mixologist crafting drinks with fresh ingredients. Truly mesmerizing!
We really enjoyed our trip to LA, and I can’t wait to go back! I wasn’t able to get tickets to the Museum of Ice Cream, so that’s on my bucket list for next time. What are some of your Los Angeles favorites? Let me know in the comments.
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Photo Credit: All images in this post are by Julie Schuford Photography