L.A.

You can hike to the Hollywood Sign, but I prefer going to this park that's right down below it. You can get fun family pictures from here, play at the on-site park if you have little kids, or even have a picnic. There's street parking right next to the park. Since most people come quickly for the photo and then leave, parking spots (free of charge) are often made available. You can also drive up to the top of Beachwood Drive to get a close look of it. Fun facts about the sign: - Each letter is 50 feet tall (15m). - It was originally built by a real estate developer, Harry Chandler. - It was built in 1923 and used to light up with 4,000 lightbulbs. - An unemployed actress once jumped off the letter H to her death. If you decide you'd like to go on a hike to the Hollywood sign, I've heard many wonderful things about some hiking tours that takes place nearby.

One way to avoid lots of people, is to come on a weekday! It's free to enter and open from 10am - 10pm. At night, the telescopes are free to use.

If you want to watch a movie and grab some food, consider visiting Universal CityWalk, which is just outside of Universal Studios. Be aware though, parking is expensive! Buy movie tickets through their website and YOU'LL PAY A FRACTION of the price. Places you should try: - The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium! - Pink's Famous Hotdogs - Voodoo Doughnuts There are a total of 28 places to eat and drink so you're not limited to junk food. Just remember, you can go on a diet once you go home. :)

Portos is called Portos, not after the city in Portugal, but after the Portos family who started this massively popular bakery / restaurant / coffee shop in Echo Park in 1976. Today, there are numerous Portos locations in Southern California, and they draw in South and Central Americans eager to buy their exotic treats; You can buy cakes, cookies, croquets, smoothies, coffee drinks, full loaves of bread and more. The treat case is longer than any case I’ve ever seen. If you have a craving for something heartier, you can get sandwiches, Ropa Vieja with fried plantains and a number of options at a price cheaper than most restaurants in L.A..

Los Feliz is a cute neighborhood in L.A. that gives off vibes of Berlin / Brooklyn / Portland. It feels trendy, perhaps this is why many A-list actors and actresses have homes in Los Feliz and Silverlake. I've chosen this restaurant because of the neighborhood, it's not too far away from the Griffith Observatory (see the map), and the food, drinks and atmosphere are just all-around fantastic! They serve food all day, so whenever hunger strikes, head HOME. While in Los Feliz, I'd walk down Hillhurst and N. Vermont Avenue to see all of the action, there's a movie theater to catch a film and stop at Jeni's ice cream, which is a local favorite! If you have time, or just want to spend time outdoors, you can also walk towards Barnsdall Art Park. There are a lot of cultural events there - including a wine and sunset evening, that I recommend taking part in if you're there at the right time! Just check out their website to see the dates.

The walk of fame is longer than you might expect. I'd begin walking at this point and walk towards the Chinese Theater.

The last time I went to the Chinese Theater, I ran into David Hasselhof.

Is it worth walking Sunset Strip? One local says that between La Cienega and San Vicente streets, there are a lot of restaurants, shops and bars to hang at.

Famous. Famous. Famous.

Going out to eat a lot in Los Angeles can get expensive, the best way to counter the high prices is In-N-Out, debatably one of California's BEST fast-food restaurants, and it's affordable! If you came to California as a tourist and didn't try In-N-Out, I'd be embarrassed to say I was giving you tips, simple as that.

After a meal at the Original Farmer's Market, it only makes sense to visit The Grove. Watch the fountain! It dances to music.

The Original Farmer's Market was opened in 1934 by a local dairy farmer named Gilmore. One day, Gilmore decided he wanted to expand his farm and started drilling for water, but struck oil instead! He started the Gilmore Oil Company and also the Original Farmer's Market, giving local farmers a prime location to sell their produce / products to consumers. It was a hit, even throughout the Great Depression. Today there are over a hundred vendors whose shops have been passed down from one generation to the next. There's also a huge variety of food, for breakfast, lunch and dinner! We like grabbing unique items from Marcel's shop and indulging in Nonna's empanadas with their spicy vinegary sauce (the chicken, mushroom, cheese one is delicious). The location of this very impressive market is right next to The Grove, which is a popular outdoor shopping mall. I'd definitely walk off the calories you gained in the market. There's a 3-story Barnes and Noble and a fountain that dances to music! It's a must see. If you're eager to take a walk in the park, the Pan Pacific Park is next door. You can walk around, go to a kid's playground if you have little ones, or go to the Holocaust Museum which is at the far end. MONDAY-FRIDAY 9AM-9PM SATURDAY SUNDAY 9AM-8PM 10AM-7PM

It's tempting to go here just based on how the atrium looks, but people also rave about the food, specifically the breakfast and brunch. I haven't been here yet, so I won't pretend that I have, but my mouth is watering after looking at just about 20 of the 19,000 pictures on Yelp. The menu is really unique and diverse; they have everything from shakshuka and potato pancakes with smoked salmon to short ribs and sweet items as well, like ube brioche, Belgian waffles and pastries and many of the sweet treats shown on the British Baking Show, that you can't find anywhere in real life. This brunch place is also next to Milk Jar cookies (OMG).

Lots and lots of people and it's no wonder why, there's a bunch of rides and restaurants at the end of a pier, from which you have beautiful views of the Santa Monica mountains, Santa Monica proper and the long stretch of beach down to Venice. You gotta do it. It's also where the end of Route 66 is, so don't miss out on the opportunity to snap a front in front of the famous sign! If you're into arcade games, head to the area where the rides are!

Take a stroll through this park. It's located right next to the pier and it's just beautiful. While L.A. wasn't so great with city planning, Santa Monica was one smart cookie putting that park right next to the ocean. Not only are there great views from here, you're sort of out of the mess of people that are down at the pier. Why not have a picnic with a view?

Third Street Promenade is fun to walk, there are plenty of wonderful restaurants and shops. After you hit up the Apple Store, you can grab a gelato at Ugo! Another stunning street is Montana! It's long and has a lot going on; somehow it feels more local than Third Street Promenade also. We love an Italian restaurant there called Forma. If you're lactose intolerant, be sure to take some pills, this place has fridges full of cheese ready to serve you some of the best!

Elefante describes themselves as "serving light coastal Italian cuisine with cocktails inspired by the eccentric flavors of the Mediterranean." Yes, it's a bit on the pricier side, but the food, environment and views make it well worth it! It's a great place to bring groups and watch the sunset. :) When talking about Santa Monica to locals and tourists (who are knowledgeable!), almost everyone recommends this place! It's light, fresh and airy with ocean views from any of the seats in the main seating area. In the back seating area, there's also a large fireplace with roaring fire going on those cold evenings and wintery days. Be sure to make a reservation on their website prior to your visit, so that you get a table with an ocean view. While all of their pasta and pizza dishes are a hit, one of their most famous small dishes is the WHIPPED EGGPLANT puccia, olive oil $15. At lunchtime during the week, they do an express lunch meal with three courses for $35 (subject to change). It's a great way to try a variety of their offerings. We tried the pasta with vodka sauce, a margherita pizza, the brussel sprout salad and marscarpone and prosecco arancini. For dessert, we had the tiramisu and the affogato vanilla ice cream with espresso and caramel. We'll be going back soon; I can't stop thinking of the affogato! When we do, I'll update this review with any other dishes that blow our mind.

Wow. These are intense! We tried four different donuts from here, all were delicious. There was only one yeasted donut (fluffy) out of the four we got, the rest were heavy and cake-like. Come here with that in mind! It's also priced as if you're ordering a slice a cake! We paid $21 for 4 donuts :0 Gourmet, gourmet, gourmet.

When you think of California, you might think of rollerbladers, skateboarders, beaches and the sun. I think it's realistic to say that you're probably thinking of Venice Beach. In the summertime, this area is teeming with tourists and locals. To make the most of it, consider joining a drum circle, taking a surf lesson, or renting a scooter to zoom up and down the boardwalk. Be aware though, there are a lot of homeless people in Venice, especially near the beach. Can you blame them? Free beachfront property and nice tourists. :)

Want a touristy photo? I bet you've seen this one before. :)

Have you ever stuck some food in your mouth and instantly your eyes start to widen? Every bite here causes that reaction. Frankly, I've tried a lot of different dishes here; we came to a chic rooftop birthday party in the spring and they served up loads of appetizers, pasta, pizza, veggies and more. I'd go back in a heartbeat. Btw, I'm not a vegan, but the birthday girl was. There are options for everyone at this place!

The ice cream here is heavy, but delicious. Consider sharing one cone with someone else with whom you don't mind swapping spit.

A long time ago, I went to the Getty Center with a friend and was very impressed with the experience. It was free to enter, you just have to pay for parking! What's cool is how accommodating they are to families! Their website has a ton of recommendations on how to make the most of a trip with a family / kids; you can ride the train up, have a picnic on the grounds and even drop your kids off at their kid center so that you can enjoy the art in peace. I'm not so sure I'd do it, but one of the staff members at the Getty Villa was raving about how wonderful the kid center is! So, whatever floats your boat! :) Getty made his fortune in the oil industry and collected many types of art. The Getty Villa in Malibu, with the Landsdowne Herakles and stunning grounds is also worth visiting.

The ice cream here is heavy, but delicious. Consider sharing one cone with someone else with whom you don't mind swapping spit.