At a Glance

One of first things you’ll notice about Los Angeles is that it feels like a never-ending sprawl. You can live there for years, and still manage to be a stranger to neighbourhoods nearby. You’ll come to terms with that fact that you’re more likely to visit Santa Barbara than Santa Monica, as a Silver Lake resident, while Echo Park might as well be in a different state if Venice is your dwelling. But it all adds to the charm of this famed So Cal city. Once there it feels like a one stop shop. There are so many experiences to be had, for even the most discerning tastes. Macrobiotic lifestyle? Check. Ironman trek? Check. Astronomy patrons? You bet. It was precisely this variety of options combined with the ease of movement that was the influential factor to journey so far west. In total we spent close to three weeks exploring the LA terrain, and barely scratched the surface of this vibrant city. We did however pick up a few good tips along the way; ones, which I hope you’ll use in future travels.

Neighbourhoods

The City of Angels is divided into 16 counties that harbour 114 neighbourhoods. Moving to and from locale is charming, but also serves as an indicator of your surroundings, and typically what to expect in terms of dining, activities and culture. And though we passed through several boroughs, the reviews focus on areas that we took time to enjoy an experience. In the coming articles I’ll explore shopping districts in Venice, farmers’ markets in West Hollywood, and food culture in Koreatown, just to name a few. And while the list is not exhaustive, as there are innumerous events either upcoming or longstanding; it is meant to serve as an introductory guide to this vast city. As an added bonus, I’ve included two nearby destinations, intended as a country break, with stunning views. Santa Barbara with its rolling coastline and Temecula’s mountain drive are worth the extra days.

Beverly Hills

West Hollywood & Hollywood

Venice

Santa Monica

Malibu

Koreatown

Downtown LA

Pasadena

Santa Barbara

Temecula