Los Angeles Recap - Running Erins

What’s not to love about the West Coast? It’s warm, there are palm trees, and so much to explore. My trip to Los Angeles embodied all of that! Being that it was my first time in California, there was so much to do, see and eat.

Where to Stay

I wasn’t really a big fan of AirBnB after my experience in Canada but it is so much cheaper than hotels in California that we didn’t really have a choice. We were able to get a place 1 block away from Sunset Blvd and live like locals. The apartment was very nice and clean. And our host actually owned the whole building so we didn’t have to worry about upsetting neighbors. The neighborhood was very quiet. The only problem we had was finding parking on the street. But in the grand scheme of things that isn’t too bad when the place is nice.

Get a Rental!

The best decision of the trip? Getting a rental car! We went back and forth on this decision for awhile before the trip. I’ve never rented a car on vacation and thought it would be easy to get around. There’s Uber and Lyft everywhere right? But in California nothing was really that close because of traffic and highways. LAX was about 45 minutes from where we were staying. But that’s normal driving distance for EVERYTHING in California. The closest thing to us was an In-N-Out Burger which wasn’t a disappointment. It also allowed us to drive to Vegas for 2 trips in 1. I booked a rental through Expedia for fairly cheap, however, they make you use their insurance of course which made it more expensive. But it was a decision I don’t regret! I’m actually considering renting a car more often.

What to Do

There’s definitely tons of things to do in LA but we took the more scenic route. From visiting Candytopia, an interactive pop-up shop, to the Museum of Illusions. It was more about creating experiences rather than partying. We also went hiking to the top of Mount Hollywood which I will never do again in my entire life! We took steep hills all the way up and you can’t even get close to the Hollywood sign. It definitely showed me how out of shape I am but the site at the top is definitely breathtaking. And our hiking guide, Leo, gets a full 5 stars! We found him through AirBnB experiences for $20 per person. Last but not least, you can’t go to LA without hitting the beach. We spent a few hours on Santa Monica Beach just taking in the sun.

We also made the 4-hour drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas to visit my friends! Originally, we had plans to leave early in the morning but we were so tired from the night before that we didn’t get up early. There isn’t much to see along the way but we did stop for food and gas. Leo told us to stop at Peggy Sue’s 50’s Diner so we did. It was a very dope restaurant that reminded me of one of my favorite movies, Grease. From the juke box to the records on the wall and even the waitresses uniform it did not disappoint! And the food options were endless; from breakfast to burgers. Speaking of food….

Where to Eat

When I go on vacation, I try my best to eat a places we don’t have at home. Any foodie knows that when you visit the West Coast you have to try In-N-Out Burger. My first time eating there was actually when I went to Nevada but of course I went again in Cali. We also hit the world famous chicken spot, Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles. The restaurant was nothing how I imagined it would look (it gives the hole in the wall feel) but the food was still great! Another brunch spot we loved was Blu Jam Cafe in Hollywood. The wait was a little long (about an hour and a half) but we expected it and the food didn’t disappoint. If you’re looking for a spot dinner, try Saddle Ranch Chop House on Sunset Blvd. There’s a mechanical bull, a duo who sings covers of whatever you request, and menu options from nachos to steak. If you’re headed to Vegas check out Tacos and Beer. It’s an authentic Mexican Restaurant with amazing empanadas!