“An afternoon drive from Los Angeles will take you up into the high mountains, where eagles circle above the forests and the cold blue lakes, or out over the Mojave Desert, with its weird vegetation and immense vistas. Not very far away are Death Valley, and Yosemite, and Sequoia Forest with its giant trees which were growing long before the Parthenon was built; they are the oldest living things in the world. One should visit such places often, and be conscious, in the midst of the city, of their surrounding presence.” ― Christopher Isherwood, Exhumations
- Downtown
When you think of Downtown Los Angeles, you may picture sky scrapers and offices, but once you get your feet on the ground you can see how much more there is to L.A. than the city skyline. When you get to street level, there is so much to see. Colorful murals, modern and art deco architecture, hidden gems of horticulture, and the sights and smells of hole-in-the-wall cafes and restaurants. What you don't see in pictures of the Downtown skyline is the heart of the city; a place where people from all walks of life intersect and a city's imagination can run wild. - Dodger Stadium
One of the only original baseball stadiums left, Dodger Stadium still bears the name of its home team instead of a sponsor. This is a baseball fan's stadium. There are no distractions from the game. It is plain and simple all about baseball. You have the Dodger Vision screen and a few scoreboards. Nancy B. plays the organ when the Dodgers are up to bat to get the fans behind the team. Clapping, stomping, and chanting echo throughout the stadium and into Elysian Park. Here you can enjoy a hot dog, peanuts, and Cracker Jacks and forget everything outside the stadium walls. Vendors toss bags of peanuts to fans while people pass money and change along the row. It creates its own community that you will not likely see anywhere else.
- Griffith Observatory
Los Angeles is huge. Sprawling. Getting from one end of the city to the other can sometimes take up to an hour. Up in the quiet hills of Griffith Park, you can get away from the hustle and bustle of the City of Angels and see (on a clear day) the full expanse of the city. The observatory itself is beautiful. Its 1920's art deco ceiling and architecture are breathtaking against the backdrop of the city lights. It's hard not to fall in love with the city when you're standing on the deck of the observatory at sunset on a clear, breezy summer evening. - Echo Park
Another community space. Once a reservoir for Northeast Los Angeles, Echo Park Lake is one of the largest man made lakes in Southern California. Recently renovated, the pedal boats are back as are the signature lotus flowers that rest on one edge of the lake. With beautiful views of the city skyline and a mile-long (roughly) path surrounding it, the lake is a public space that can accommodate many a whim that you might have on a temperate afternoon in Northeast L.A.
Photo Courtesy: Bethany Meyer - Life Absorbed - Food
Where else can you get almost ANY kind of cuisine known to humanity at almost any time of day or night? Soul food, Mexican, Italian, Japanese, Hawaiian, Ethiopian, German, Thai - you name it, you can most likely find it in L.A. Tired of burgers and sandwiches? Just browse the interwebs for some culinary inspiration. Every neighborhood of L.A. has something different to offer.
- Secret Stairs
One word: AMAZING! Who knew that you could still walk paths that you only thought existed in 1940's black & white movies? They take you every which way to quaint neighborhoods that you'd likely miss driving around. I can't wait to get started on these gems. See for yourself.
Photo Courtesy: Bethany Meyer - Life Absorbed - History
The city is full of history. Everywhere you go there was someone in that very spot before you. The neighborhood I live in started out being a Polish neighborhood settled around the railroad tracks and in the shadow of the cemetery. Gradually the Pols moved out and the Italians moved in, then the Mexicans, then all Fillipinos, and now there is an interesting mix of ethnic groups. The railroad doesn't cut through the neighborhood anymore, but on quiet nights you can hear it in the distance. You can go as far back as the Native Americans (or Mexicans, depending on your perspective) and the Spanish conquistadors, the missions, ebbs and flows of migration, the Olympics, the mob, artistic movements, architecture - no matter where you go there is history and even in the slightest places you can find amazing things. - Beaches
If you're willing to drive about 20 minutes west of downtown (give or take a few minutes in infamous L.A. traffic), you will find some great beaches. Drive a little further north and you will find some quieter, off-the-beaten-path beaches. No matter what your taste, you will be able to find some great activities (think bike rentals or para sailing), good eats (fresh seafood, burgers, and pubs - yummy chowdah), and interesting crowds ranging from hippies to hipsters and bikers and beach bums.
- Coffee Shops
As an avid coffee lover who enjoys variety and spontaneity, I adore that the city has such a mix of coffee shops. From ambiance to flavor to signature drinks, L.A. can offer just about everything. At work, I indulge in the regular tall Starbucks beverage. The baristas in my building are fantastic! There are some drinks, like my shaken black tea lemonade that I will ONLY buy at work because the crew downstairs makes it so well that it tastes bland at almost every other Starbucks. Other days, I will swing by Silverlake Coffee for an espresso banana or a blueberry banana smoothie. Sooooo good. Most days I will go for the espresso (I'm a coffee/espresso fiend), but when I'm feeling particularly health conscious I'll grab a blueberry smoothie. Almond milk, please. Then, when I want to study, I'll mosey on over to Swork. Great environment and better drinks. There is a good blend of college students, young parents, and businesspeople who frequent this spot so it generally lends itself to a productive mood. They also make a great Swiss Latte - condensed milk instead of your run of the mill moo milk.
- And saving the best for last...Disneyland!
As an Annual Passholder, I make sure to go to Disneyland whenever I can. I LOVE it! Technically, Disneyland is in Anaheim, but its proximity to L.A. makes it one of my favorite things. I am a total Disney kid. I grew up on the fairy tales we all know and love, I can sing most of the songs to the animated movies, and I still cry when Mufasa and Bambi's mother die. Some friends have asked how it is that I can go to Disneyland so often and still enjoy it. The answer is simple:"Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world." - Walt Disney
I have imagination in spades. There is always something new to see and something that you didn't know about before. Things that remind you of your childhood or new details that you just didn't notice last week or in the afternoon shadow. This place really is magic. Whether the magic is in the people you came with, the way the sun hit the Matterhorn, or the feelings and memories that certain rides, characters, or delectable eats (like sharing turkey legs my brother or a churro with my mom or dad) is all up to you, but you CAN find magic in this happy place.
