Los Angeles is such a grand conglomeration of all things great: good food, beautiful weather, great people, ect. ect. ect. One of the great things about LA is its massive size. It's as if one took the concentration of great museums, restaurants, and shops of Manhattan and spread them into the Coastal Plain of California. However, the one downside to LA's spacious nature is that visitors are often overwhelmed with the conundrum of having a laundry list of sites to see and only a finite amount of time. Traveling from place to place eats up more valuable time, so it is imperative to move efficiently.
The guide of places to go may not necessarily fit in with the typical tourist agenda of hitting Universal and Harry Potter World, but it is more tuned towards individuals who seek to experience LA in its true form (while also seeing some iconic places). This itinerary is full of incredible shopping, art museums, and iconic landmarks, all of which can be explored in one day.
9:00: Start: Due to the amount of travel time by car and traffic, it's best to get an early start to your day (for the timing's sake, we'll start our day at 8)! Although it seems like nothing special, we'd recommend grabbing coffee and a small breakfast from Starbuck's, Peet's, or the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf and eat it in the car while you're en route. These locations are present on virtually every block in Los Angeles, so you won't need to sidetrack your day while hunting for a trendy breakfast eatery.
9:30-12:00: LACMA
LACMA is one of the many incredible museums on Museum Row, and its central location on Fairfax makes it easy to go onward to other destination. There are a multitude of iconic permanent installations such as the Levitating Mass and Urban Light. Additionally, inside the museum, there are iconic modern art pieces from the likes of Andy Warhol and Henri Matisse. Also, a tip is to research LACMA's website and see if there are any special exhibitions that interest you. If you do choose to visit a special collection, it is necessary that you buy tickets in advanced and allot a time slot that you will see the exhibit at. The beauty of the LACMA experience is that only a select amount of people are allowed in each special exhibition at a time which greatly improves the environment and allows for a proper absorption of the art. Leisurely stroll throughout galleries and let the sensation of serendipity fill your being as you appreciate the beautiful creations that surround you. The high concentration of famous art at LACMA will fulfill your desires to expand your knowledge, and I believe that if you are to visit any art museum in LA, let it be LACMA. After you have been saturated with enough art, make your way to our next destination: Abbot Kinney.
12:00-15:00: Abbot Kinney
Next, make your way seaward towards Abbot Kinney in Venice Beach. Parking here is tricky because the street itself offers primarily 2 hour parking only; however, some places valet, and there are parking spots and self park valet lots along side streets. This street is home to a multitude of cute boutiques, vintage shops, and great eateries. Pick up an extra pick-me-up at Blue Bottle Coffee and browse the eclectic shops along the way. Abbot Kinney exemplifies the typical Californian lifestyle with its chill atmosphere and connection to nature. A lot of the shops have alcoves on the side or back that are tiny terraces with small plants and seating. These adorable minute details add to the overall appeal to the area. After working up an appetite shopping, you will come to the ever difficult decision of deciding a place to eat. For something substantial yet healthy, try 3 Square, a German-themed bakery and cafe with incredible burgers, soups, and salads. If you are in the mood for indulging in an iconic LA chain, eat at Lemonade for a quintessential Californian experience. Lemonade offers small plates which allows you to try a wide variety of food without feeling stuffed. After lunch, it is time to head a little ways up the coast to Santa Monica.
15:00-19:00: Santa Monica 3rd Street Promenade
Santa Monica is yet another typical Californian beach town. Take 4th Street up to the Promenade, as 4th street has a lot of great parking structures and lots. Park and walk down Arizona until you hit the hub of the shops and restaurants. Santa Monica has more mainstream shops than Abbot Kinney, so it appeals more to the typical tourist. This day long trip emphasizes the importance of the coast, as there can be no true California experience without traveling to the beach. So, after shopping amply (once again :))) drop your bags off in your car and head past the Promenade to the beach. To your left you'll be able to see the iconic Santa Monica Pier while to your right you'll see the eternally tranquil Malibu. Although the Pier seems like a "must" for a trip to Los Angeles, it is typically overcrowded with tourists and not nearly as thrilling as it may appear to be, trust us. If you went to the Pier you'd leave feeling sick from fair food and dizzy from rides. Instead, cross over the 1 and make your way to the endless golden beaches. Walk down the sidewalks and boardwalks and make your way onto the sand. If you still have time, rest on the warm beach and let the cool salty sea breeze blow your hair into effortless beach waves. The sounds of waves crashing will soothe your mind after the hectic day. The calming sound of the wax and wane of the tide replaces thoughts of the rush of cars from driving destination to destination. After your pseudo meditation, head back to reality and embark on a journey up the 1 to Malibu.
19:00-22:00: Dinner in Malibu
Following a frenzied trip through LA, seek solace in the relaxed beaches of Malibu. Due to Malibu's popularity, we'd recommend making reservations several days before at a restaurant of your choice. Also, be wary to check traffic, and give yourself at least half an hour to make your journey up the coast. The view of the 1 should not be simply glazed over, as it completely exemplifies Californian culture with mixtures of cute bungalows and modern mansions lining the beach along the freeway. Once you arrive in Malibu, make your way to your dinner reservation and indulge in the incredible food that the region has to offer. One of our favorite spots Nobu, which hosts an array of incredible sushi and assorted Japanese food. In order to properly enjoy your food, take your time, relax, and enjoy the environment around you. A great feat about Nobu is that they serve you your plates in small quantities versus inundating you with every item at once. This last stop signals the conclusion of the allotted day long period, so after dinner make your way to your hotel and begin to feel premature nostalgia and reflect on all of the great memories you made while sitting in copious amounts of traffic.