photo by Spencer Weiner for the Los Angeles Times at Leo Carrillo State Beach

My husband is from California and, since meeting him, I’ve spent just under 6 months of each year living with him in Los Angeles. It was the latter part of 2019 when we first met so, at this point, it’s probably safe to say that I’ve spent about 2 years in L.A.. It’s also where I’m typing this blog post from.

With that in mind, I thought I’d share some of my favourite things to do, see and eat when I’m in Los Angeles.

1. Manhattan Beach Strand Walk

One of the things I do the most when I’m in L.A. is walk a miles/kilometers-long, coastal path/boardwalk-type thing called the Strand. I usually park at Manhattan Beach and then head South from there towards Hermosa Beach. You can walk or bike for miles so the duration is up to you. What I enjoy most about this walk is that you’re quite literally walking with the beach on one side of you and lovely beach homes on the other side. Inspiring and dreamy!

Here’s a YouTube video of part of the walk. And another one here.

In front of my favourite house on Manhattan Beach’s Strand

2. Wayfarer’s Chapel

Sometimes called “the Glass Church”, Wayfarer’s Chapel is located along the coast in Rancho Palos Verdes (not technically Los Angeles) but it is an absolutely stunning structure, designed by Lloyd Wright (son of Frank Lloyd Wright), and is 100% worth the detour.

It’s free to visit the chapel and surrounding gardens but please check their website for times as access to the chapel is closed when weddings are held there.

Bonus: The drive along the coast on Palos Verdes Drive (from San Pedro to about Torrance) also adds to the experience.

3. Salad Pizza (from Abbot’s Pizza Company)

I LOOOOOVE great cheap eats but, the first time my husband told me about salad pizza (which is exactly what the name suggests: a pizza with salad on top), I was not convinced it’d be up my alley. Exact thoughts were likely something along the lines of: “Oh, ‘Murica”. But I was wrong. As soon as I tried my first slice of salad pizza, I was converted, and it has since become my favourite thing to eat as soon as I get to L.A..

Second favourite: the chocolate chip cookies from the bakery section at a high end grocery store called Lazy Acres Natural Market (who have a few locations in Southern California). If you love chocolate cookies, I think you might fall in love with these. As their website states: they’re ooey-gooey, extra large cookies loaded with Belgian chocolate, walnuts and a sprinkling of sea salt, and they are irresistible!

4. Shops

There’s no shortage of great shops in Los Angeles. These are the ones I frequent most:
Midland (in Culver City)
Reformation (in Culver City)
Tortoise General Store (in Mar Vista)
Everlane (in Venice)
COS (in Century City Mall)
Bloomingdale’s (in Century City Mall)
Nordstrom (in Century City Mall)
Lake (in Silver Lake)
OK (in Silver Lake)
Mohawk General Store (in Silver Lake)
Golden Age (multiple locations)
Candid Home (in Silver Lake)

5. Hollywood Walk of Fame + Drive Through the Hollywood Hills + Laurel Canyon

Commercial attractions aren’t usually at the top of my list of things to visit but I feel like you can’t come to Los Angeles without seeing the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame, which honours some of the biggest names in the film, TV and music industries.

And, while I like the the kitchy-ness of visiting the Hollywood Walk of Fame, what I enjoy even more is the drive that my husband and I (and whoever is visiting us) always take afterwards to see the houses in the Hollywood Hills and Laurel Canyon, where the styles vary from old school Spanish and California Mid-Century to ultra modern architecture. It’s a real snapshot of classic Los Angeles architecture, and it’s just really pretty.

Worth a drive-by while you’re in Laurel Canyon is the house that inspired the song “Our House” by CSNY, which belonged to Joni Mitchell. It’s located at 8217 Lookout Mountain Avenue.

5. Leo Carrillo State Beach + Drive Along the Pacific Coast Highway

Again, not technically located in Los Angeles but rather in Malibu, Leo Carrillo Beach is further than, say, Venice or Santa Monica beaches but it’s much more rugged, quiet and, in my opinion, beautiful and absolutely worth the drive there along the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), which is iconic and breath-taking.

photo courtesy of Leo Carrillo State Park website

Honourable Beach Mention going out to El Matador Beach, which I’ve taken to calling the Instagram Beach for a reason: it’s pretty darned striking.

Los Angeles: My Favourite Things To Do There