I built in a 24-hour layover in Los Angeles on my way to New Zealand so that I could visit with my friends Kasey and Max, who live near the Venice Beach/Santa Monica part of LA. I’ve never been to California before (unless you count the LAX airport, which I don’t), so I was excited to get a taste.
Friday dawned warm and sunny (but not too hot), and Max suggested we borrow his dad’s classic convertible for a short drive up the Pacific Coast highway to grab some lunch.
I mean, can you get any more “California” than this?
We had lunch at a place called the Reel Inn, which serves delicious fresh seafood.
After that, Kasey and I headed back to Venice Beach to explore.
If you’ve heard anything about Venice Beach, it’s probably that the beach and boardwalk are full of all sorts of people. I can attest to this being completely true. Whether it’s families strolling along the sand or men running around with boxers on their heads and towels for capes, you’ll find them here.
The beach itself was fairly quiet, as there was a chilly breeze blowing in.
We walked all the way down to the Santa Monica Pier, which was pretty much exactly what I expected it to be — colorful and filled with buskers and the squeals of children on the rides at Pacific Park.
The Pier offered great views out over Venice Beach, though the view toward Malibu and further on up the coast was marred by smog, even on such a sunny day.
Kasey and I took our time strolling along the Pier, just taking it all in. There were a lot of other people doing the same thing on such a sunny Friday afternoon.
After we’d had our fill of the Pier, we headed back toward Venice Beach and the boardwalk. Because, you can’t come to Venice Beach and skip the boardwalk.
It’s lined with everything from boutiques to artists’ tents to shops selling “medicinal” marijuana. It definitely was a great way to round out my time in California.
Before heading to the airport, Kasey took me to a little restaurant not far from the beach called Sauce, where Max works. The restaurant is organic, and only uses locally-grown, raised and caught produce, meats, and seafood. It was delicious, and I highly recommend it!
But, while I thoroughly enjoyed my day in California, the real adventure was just about to begin…
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What gorgeous pictures! I’m so glad you enjoyed your time in Los Angeles. I’ve never seen Venice or Santa Monica so empty! Everytime I go there are always throngs of people. Have fun in NZ!
Sheryll recently posted..Words to Think About
Thanks, Sheryll! It certainly was a great day in LA. A great start to my trip, for sure!
Great photos of the pier. Sounds like you packed a lot into one LA day!
Scott – Quirky Travel Guy recently posted..LA In Songs
Thanks, Scott! And yes, I did pack in quite a bit! It was a blast, though. Loved it.
Love it! Gives me something to look forward to for when I get there later this summer! Enjoy NZ!
Annie recently posted..What happens when you know too much
Thanks, Annie! I definitely haven’t even scratched the surface of California. But it was a great way to get introduced to the state.
Love your photos! Has to be one of my favourite places in the World..
Lauren recently posted..A Private Tour of the Large Hadron Collider at CERN
Aww, thanks so much, Lauren! Glad you liked the photos. And I can see why it’s your favorite place in the world! California is a fun place.
cool car!
Oneika the Traveller recently posted..The one where I shake my groove thang whilst in Lembongan- Indonesia
Isn’t it, though! I felt way too cool cruising down the highway in the backseat of that!
The beaches in that area are divine! You’re right, you can’t go to Venice Beach without spending time at the boardwalk. Great place and great pictures too!
Debbie Beardsley recently posted..Montmartre a retreat in Paris
It just has such a great atmosphere! I’m so glad I built in such a long layover to my trip so that I could spend some time there.
Hey there you were in my neck of the woods. What a great day you got on the beach. I lived in LA so long that sometimes I forget how great the beach can be on the right day. Good Luck in NZ, can’t wait to see the pics.
Cheers!
J.
J is a Bird recently posted..Travel and Adventure Show – Los Angeles
Yes, I lucked out, I think, visiting when I did. It wasn’t crowded at all, and I was able to appreciate just how great that area is.
Looks fun, always cool to have a little unexpected or small little extra stop on a trip … sometimes these can be the most fun since they don’t have a ton of expectations on them!
Scott recently posted..A Locals Guide to Showing off St Louis- Part One
Exactly! I had no plans at all; I just let Kasey and Max take me wherever they wanted. And it was a blast! Great day for an adventure, too, with that sunny, blue sky!
I love layovers, it’s a bonus trip! I stopped in Fiji for 4 days on my way to New Zealand.
Ayngelina recently posted..The Boca Experience
I purposely built this layover in, both to break up the long journey from Ohio to NZ, and because I wanted to visit Kasey and see a bit of California! It ended up working out great. And yes, it was like a mini adventure before the main event! So fun.
As much as I’m not a fan of California (long story), I can’t help but enjoy how magical Santa Monica and the PCH is.
Erica recently posted..A Post For My Father – Templo Mayor- Mexico City
I think “magical” is a great word for it.
Hello,
I’m not surprised that you love California, I love California too. California is one of the most interesting places to go to. It’s not a surprise also that a lot of singers make songs about California or mention California in their songs. California really is like a paradise on Earth. Thanks for sharing, by the way – excellent pictures!
Keep up the good work,
Joshua
Joshua recently posted..How to Become a Plumber
Yes, it’s definitely not hard to understand why so many songs are written about California! It’s a popular place for a good reason.
Another beautiful photo essay! I love your use of colors throughout your imagery. And the Santa Monica pier is AWESOME!
Greg Goodman recently posted..Reflections on My Life Just Before Getting Married: My Seven Links
Thank you, Greg! I’m a girl who LOVES color. My eye is just drawn to it. You should have seen my wardrobe in high school… haha.
Reel Inn has great food and an even better view! Great photos
The food was delicious!!