Perhaps one of the most referenced places in the world. Through movies, songs, popular culture, there’s few other places that can compare in terms of being so famous. And we finally got the chance to see if LA and California in general lived up to the hype.
Out of LAX, into the hot sunshine. Into our rental car, onto the Interstate. It was an experience already; eight lane highways busy with cars and trucks, dry desert hills on either side. There’s something to be said for a place where the sun always seems to shine. The area we were staying in Woodland Hills was like an American version of where we are in Bruinisse, with manicured lawns and flowers, just instead of pine trees there are palms, and the flowers are bougainvillea not tulips. Our Airbnb was super cute, with a little patio to sit out on, and a cool white interior.
We had much to do over the next three days. Starting with a little road trip, along the famous Pacific Coast Highway. Only recently reopened after the devastating fires earlier in the year, it was an epic drive, the Pacific glinting on the side. We started with Malibu walking along to Surfrider beach and nosing around chi chi boutiques. From there we carried on to Santa Monica, where we saw the famous pier and long boulevard. The people watching was first class and it was cool to tick off these must-sees. We especially liked Malibu. Driving back via the Topanga Canyon highway, we even saw two coyotes!
The next day, we set off early, to downtown LA. We met up with Ryan and Holly who had a pack of rescued pups. Brownie, Mojo, Princess and the gang were all so adorable, and we got to walk them in Runyon Canyon where we got incredible views from the top of the Hollywood sign, and the surrounding area. And it was such a worthwhile thing to do, giving these sweet doggos a walk and a chance to get lots of hugs and pets, and you get an insight into LA life with a local. Definitely a worthwhile thing to do here.
That afternoon we went to Topanga State Park not far from our place. We decided to walk the Eagle’s rock trail. It was beautiful; hot sun, blue skies, dry earth, greens and browns and khakis. Steep climbs, patches of shade to catch our breath, the calls of eagles above the valleys. One of the wilder places we’ve been. You felt free, light. But also quite hot and sweaty. Still, it was a great experience, and the landscape was amazing.
On our final day, we went to nearby Calabasas to feel like cool kids. Well, since some of the rich and famous have houses around here and in general it’s an upmarket place, with an old town based on an Italian riviera village, all fountains and gelato colored buildings. We got drinks in cute places, sunglasses on, watching the traffic of G-wagons and sports cars. And it was so close to our place, too. It’s a great place for people watching, and a bite to eat or drink in the sun at one of the outdoor cafes.
All too soon, our stay in LA was up. Driving back over the freeways at golden hour felt bittersweet. We’d come to love this place, just as so many before us have. Hopefully, we will be back one day.
Practical information
Getting here- LAX is served by most major airlines. You can get some good deals if you shop around.
Getting around- you have to rent a car. Driving here is an experience in itself and you need one to access most things as no one walks in America. Seriously. We used Alamo and were happy with the service.
Where to stay- we loved our Airbnb! Linking it below.
What to do- Some of the areas and things to do are above. And honestly, use Chat GPT for any help tailoring a road trip to your wants and needs. It can be quite confusing otherwise. You can book the dog walk experience via Airbnb on their LA experiences page.
When to visit- Cali is beautiful all year. That’s one of the joys of a visit here. Be aware of fires, especially in the summer.
Thank you to Maya for the photos, laughs and company xx