Things To Do in Los Angeles
Purposeful Traveling
Being a business owner, sometimes it’s hard to unplug from the entrepreneurial life. Physically departing Chicago is one of the only ways that allows my mind to leave the day to day thinking of the brand and allow the creativity of bigger picture brainstorming.
I used LA as a time to connect and network with amazing community builders here, picture Sin Título in a new city, and find inspiration in a different environment.
This trip also had an emotional roller coaster element of stress, grief, and reminiscing. From work to business and the passing of my aunt, this trip holds a special time stamp of maneuvering life living.
Airbnb
When thinking of visiting LA, it’s a strategic balance between location and budget on my temporary home. The purpose of this trip for me was to take in the sun as much as I could, be centrally located to drive, and work from home. My top area to stay in is Culver City. It’s calm, great restaurant options, solid parking options, and close enough to the beach. To put into perspective my preference for this city, I’ve stayed in Culver City for three of my four LA visits.
The Sunny Culver Casita became my home away from home for my 11 day stay in LA. The modern kitchen was perfect for making breakfast and lunch, having a pull-out bed in the living room for movie nights, outdoor patio for working outside, and of course the pool view made me forget it was October.
The little things you don’t think about prior to booking, this home had. For example, when getting ready, having two mirrors (a full length one for outfits and a long full portrait length one in the bathroom) was appreciated.
Although I didn’t fully go into the pool, I did dip my feet in while journaling or just admired being adjacent to water while destressing from work.
Being in a space for that long, we invested in going grocery shopping and even buying small things to make it feel more like home with flowers and a candle.
This Airbnb really did become my sanctuary of preserving my peace while being productive.
See if Sunny Culver Casita works for your next LA trip.
Mija Restaurant
We paid a visit to this restaurant, situated incredibly close to the Airbnb and adorned in shades of pink, on a laid-back brunch day. Opting for the outdoor patio, we soaked up the LA sun. From the rosy napkins to the background Latino music, the place exuded an Instagram-worthy vibe, complemented by delectable food. It was evident that great attention had been given to crafting this space. As a fan of french toast, Mija's version did not disappoint.
I was particularly impressed with the customer service as well as the various seating options including the outdoor patio, well-decorated interior, and the inviting fireplace area. Culver City, with its thoughtfully curated restaurants, offered a pleasant dining experience without the usual drawbacks of wait times and parking hassles. Starting the day in this calm setting before diving into the hustle and bustle of LA traffic and attractions was truly refreshing. The location of our Airbnb, especially for places like Mija, added to the overall enjoyment.
Overall Rating: 4.2/5
Universal Studios
We spent two separate days at Universal. The first was Horror Nights. The acting and atmosphere very much instilled horror, to me at least. Take into consideration that this is a thriller environment with people scaring you from all angles throughout certain park areas during the entirety of time you’re there. The money, energy from the actors, and installations was very much felt. It’s a great seasonal activation if you’re really trying to get into the spooky season.
Most of the rides were open, they also had curated haunted houses. I personally only went through the Strangers Things and The Last of Us because I reached my scared limit. Reflecting on the night, I’m glad I faced my fears multiple times and stepped into the Halloween spirit. We stayed at the park from 7PM – 2AM.
Day two of Universal was spent in daylight and more vibrant vibes. With the park closing at 5:30 for Horror Nights visitors to continue the rest of the night, we opted in for the Express Access to skip the lines. It was truly the move as Universal had long lines that didn’t move as fast as expected. The pass allowed us to practically be at the front of the line the day we went.
Harry Potter was my favorite portion of the park with the Butterbeer drink and feeling transported to Hogwarts. The Jurassic World ride was a fun ride with moments of water splashes and robotic dinosaurs that really got close to us. Being in Nintendo World was surreal. They had mini games with the feeling of really stepping into the cartoon world. I was disappointed by the Mario Kart ride experience, that one had the longest wait time but still glad I got to experience my childhood favorite video game in real life.
Fitting in time to go to Universal Studios Hollywood with the rides and the tour of TV sets was nice to schedule on a day off after a work week. I reflected on the parents with their kids at the park. Then I began to think of my parents saving money for us to do the same thing years back. In a way, amusement parks can serve as a time capsule or memory jogger. The time stamp of the first time you played Mario Kart, who you watched Fast & Furious with, and overall seeing flashes of years go by. In a beautiful way, it’s memories building upon memories because now I have this day at Universal associated with my growing up memories.
Overall Rating: 4/5
Apothéke
This establishment featured a mixology space designed like a pharmacy, complete with comfortable seating and enticing beverages. Our visit was centered around late-night drinks in a group setting. After the entire group assembled, we relocated from inside seating to the outdoor patio, where we spent the remainder of the evening.
The menu here is unconventional. During our ordering process, we were captivated by the creation of a drink called High Plains Drifter, which involved an impressive fire show. My second drink, the Miracle of Mazunte, was a delightful concoction of mezcal with a blend of beet and habanero.
Apothéke provided a sophisticated and elevated experience for our night out, setting it apart from the typical bar scene.
Overall Rating: 4/5
Mr. Tempo Cantina
Following an early night out, a few of us decided to wrap up the evening at a Mexican cantina that had a glow in the dark atmosphere. It struck me as a popular spot for groups looking to kick off their night with hearty food and indulge in the cantina's sizable margaritas.
We ordered ceviche, pulpo, birria tacos, and the bone marrow tacos. Judging the bit of trashy nightclub vibes, the food exceeded my expectations with the flavor and appearance.
They had TVs around the eating area with reggaetón music videos playing. A photographer approached our table to snap photos of us. They even went as far as printing and framing those same photos from minutes ago. They sold them for $15.
The food was great, and the service was speedy and friendly. My local friend recommended this place. The interior was clubby and not my preference for a nice dinner, but the food was flavorful.
Overall Rating: 3.9/5
Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area
Making the park our outdoor gym, we went to this scenic mile long hilly trail. I plugged in an Unbreakable Latina podcast episode and ran my little heart out. Being a Midwest girl, the hills was something new for me. The park is huge, as we drove to the trail, I saw family parties, picnics, dog walkers, and photoshoots happening.
This was a great way of keeping my routine of going to the gym but making it unique to my environment of being in LA.
Overall Rating: 4/5
Will Rogers State Beach
Opting for a more laid-back beach experience than Venice Beach, we headed to Will Rogers State Beach. Despite it being a Saturday, I was pleasantly surprised to discover a nearby parking spot. We took a blanket and speaker to sunbathe. There was a shack restaurant with food and snacks available or you can bring your own food and drinks.
I really wanted to make sure I got a beach day even if the Pacific water was cold. Where I find my purest points of relaxation is near water where the sun is beaming as I’m forced to be away from my phone. I brought a book to read on and off while I played Jazz music in the background. It was nice to get a beach day in October.
Overall Rating: 4/5
Mama Shelter
I went with my LA friend here on a Sunday night. The music was bumping, and the daybeds were packed with groups of people winding down. We sat along the glass wall rooftop edge to grab a drink and some bites. The drinks and food menu had variety. The taste of everything was good too. This had lounge, dance, and late dinner vibes. If you want to have this be your first stop for a Hollywood outing, it was centrally located to the bars in the area.
Overall Rating: 4/5
Santa Monica Pier
This is always a must for me every time I visit LA. We went during sunset time for a conversation amongst the waves with the amusement lights of the pier completing the view. It’s nice to just walk around the pier and beach or take some time to enjoy the rides and/or eat there too.
Overall Rating: 4.2/5
Mercado
Just beyond the Universal grounds, we headed straight to this spot following our day in the park. This Mexican eatery boasted an extensive menu, and I was particularly impressed by their diverse drink options. Opting for a guava mezcal and a watermelon basil margarita, I thoroughly enjoyed the refreshing choices. Our ultimate selection was the Surf & Turf Tabla dish, offering a plethora of chicken, carnitas, steak, shrimp, beans, rice, beans, chiles, and more.
Being of Mexican descent, I found the food to be satisfactory, though not exceptionally remarkable, if that makes sense. The standouts for me were undeniably the drinks and the steak.
Overall Rating: 3.8/5
Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream
This place is conveniently located near Airbnb, offering another nearby option. Before our movie night, we decided to indulge in a late-night dessert run. I picked the waffle cone option with cookie dough and cookies 'n cream ice cream. While I usually prefer creamier ice cream, this one leaned towards a thicker consistency with generous cookie chunks. Despite that, treating ourselves to ice cream on a Sunday night felt like splurging with adult money and providing some inner child healing during our movie night.
Overall Rating: 3.8/5
The Grove
We spent some time shopping and checking out the farmer’s market at The Grove. We got Sprinkles cupcakes and pickles as snacks, weird combo but the cupcake were saved for later. The farmer’s market had fall decorations and cute kiosk shopping.
The Grove is very LA specific, it’s cool to go if you have to get some shopping done from retail shops and/or curated shops.
We checked out Drake’s OVO shop. The displayed items were minimalistic but diverse. Seeing the collaboration pieces such as Bugs Bunny and college universities was dope and inspirational as an apparel business owner.
Going to the mall has a distant kid memory for me. Did anyone else’s family go to the mall to window shop? We’d get a few things that were on sale sometimes and as a family we’d share Chinese food in the food court. That’s how I remember my experiences going to the mall. My time in LA served as a reflection trip for me. Doing activities that I did as a kid with my parents and siblings, now as an adult was life connecting.
Overall Rating: 3.7/5
Roxy’s & Jo’s Seafood Grill and Oyster Bar
Located within The Grove, we opted to dine here following some shopping. We selected a Lobster Roll and oysters. As a lobster roll enthusiast, I must say this one fell short. It lacked sufficient mayo and seasoning. On the bright side, the oysters were enjoyable. Regrettably, I wish I had taken the recommendations for other dining spots, as my selection left me somewhat disappointed.
Overall Rating: 2.5/5
Playa del Rey
Combining getting my steps in and going to the beach, we took a stroll along Playa del Rey. Located in Marina del Rey, we witnessed seals, a practice session of the UCLA rowing team, a trumpet playing lesson, runners, and fishermen along the shore. I appreciated the chill walkway verses the crowded Venice one. This is a great picnic location with plenty of parking during the fall season.
Overall Rating: 4.3/5
Transportation
Attempting to start off our trip without a car was an instant reminder of how LA is such a driving city. Destinations are distant and Ubers vary so much. We had a scenario where we got a good rate for our ride, but everyone cancelled so it delayed our arrival time.
We ended up booking our car through Turbo the second day with the pick up location near the airport so drop off is smoother. A tip we learned on this trip is to check with your credit card company if they provide car rental insurance, so you don’t have to accept Turbo’s cost of it and still be covered.
One last tip with transportation, check traffic often based on time. Google Maps allows you to check forecasted driving time.
Soho House Warehouse
Thankfully through the business, I was awarded being a recipient of a Soho House fellowship. There was a mixer being hosted for both present and past fellows and mentors for LA creatives but I was extended an invite after they heard I’d be in town.
I was nervous to go solo without knowing anyone. One comment of liking someone’s tattoo while in line for food connected me with a string of new connections. I’m so grateful I went and genuinely connected with creatives in LA. It’s interesting to hear the difference of passions between my city and the city of dreams.
Love checking out different houses under the Soho umbrella as each one has its own identity. Warehouse is very young, diverse, and uniquely fashionable. There’s a pool rooftop and a garden patio area that I’ve spend most of my time both this time and the last time I was in LA.
Overall Rating: 4/5
Village Well
A bookstore with co-working and coffee as add-ons. I gravitate towards small, cute bookstores as books tend to find me here so easily. The staff was friendly, and the atmosphere is welcoming. I picked up two books and two cards. This is located off Culver Blvd with restaurants across the street.
Overall Rating: 4.2/5
