I lived in Northern California for two years and regrettably only made my way down to the City of Angels once for a weekend.
I only just scratched the sides of this city, but I was pleasantly surprised to learn it offers far more than just the glitz and glamour of Hollywood.
I knew to expect a surplus of palm trees, shocking traffic, attractive people in abundance, the hot beams of the sun and a fun and relaxed outlook; what I didn’t plan for was such an eclectic mix of creative people (who aren’t all in the film industry) and such rich and diverse sub-cultures.
I’ll be the first to admit, that because I only spent a weekend here my recommendations are by no means off-the-beaten-track – but while some of these spots may be considered touristy, I loved visiting them and wouldn’t hesitate sending first-timers to LA to do the same.
Of the areas we explored in LA, Venice was my favourite. It was nice to finally add myself to the mass statistic of tourists who have hired bikes and cycled along the Venice Beach foreshore.
“Expect a surplus of palm trees, shocking traffic, attractive people in abundance, the hot beams of the sun and a fun and relaxed outlook.”
Thanks to Hollywood, when I imagine Los Angeles I instantly see a string of beautiful houses covering Malibu beach, so naturally this was on the top of my list of things to tick-off in real-life. We hired a car and decided to take a morning drive over to Malibu and mosey about. It felt surreal to walk along the beach after watching it in so many films before. We found a stunning beachside setting for lunch at Geoffrey’s Malibu (the former Holiday House), which opened its doors in 1948 and entertained the likes of Shirley MacLaine and Frank Sinatra. With magnificent ocean views from almost every seat and a menu filled with delicious seafood, this is a great ‘special occasion’ spot.
The Venice Canal District was without doubt a highlight. As I wandered along admiring the architecture and peeking in at all the cute little shacks that lined the canals, my mind started soaring with visuals of me living there, spending my days perched out on one of the little lawn patches, gardening and listening to Nina Simone. After the canals, we explored the stylish Abbot Kinney block, filled with great restaurants, bars, boutique shops and galleries. If you can manage to get a booking, then I definitely recommend lunch at Gjelina’s – delicious farm-to-table cooking and a very LA vibe.
I may be biased as this restaurant is owned by a couple of Aussie expats, but I absolutely loved dinner at The Eveleigh. Located on the ever-buzzing Sunset Strip, its the sister of New York’s Kingswood and with its industrial walls, high-pitched ceiling and a great rustic design, it definitely has a trendy New York feel. European and American country cooking influence the market driven menu. They serve a combination of small and large plates, so it’s a great spot for a quick bite and a drink, or if you decide to settle in for the evening then they do great mains as well. Definitely worth a visit.
LA is widespread – if you want to accomplish seeing a lot in a short amount of time, you’re going to need to hire a car. The traffic here is notoriously bad so make sure to always factor this in. If you do drive up to Malibu, it can take around 30 minutes but can also be heavily congested, so I’d recommend leaving an hour each way to be on the safe-side.
Heidi Mortlock is an Australian travel and lifestyle writer who has spent the last five years travelling the globe and living in London, San Francisco and Amsterdam. Heidi will share travel stories from across the globe, and some travel gems that will help you navigate your favourite destinations.
Heidi is the Founder and Editor of her own blog, adrift, which chronicles her travels and features stories on inspirational women all over the globe who have at times found themselves on a road less travelled or unforeseen – they are making their mark on the world in disparate ways.
Heidi’s work has been published on a range of topics, including travel, restaurants & bars, architecture, art, design, lifestyle products, food and wine. Follow Heidi on Instagram @heidimortlock.adrift
image kimberlygenevieve.com
