Three Days in LA
After waking up on our first day in LA we decided to make the most of the beautiful weather and headed straight to Santa Monica Pier. Right away we stopped at a little hole-in-the-wall pasta restaurant. If you ever want the most amazing fresh pasta made right in front of you, try Nuevo!
With happy tummies, we strolled down the iconic Santa Monica Pier. After walking within the giant mob of tourists for a bit we needed a change of scenery. That's when we learned about riding birds. Yes, that is literally what locals do, they ride birds. Okay, so they don't actually ride the feathery animals that try to steal your food at the beach. Bird is a company of electric scooters that are found all over Santa Monica. You download the app, connect it to your credit card, find the nearest scooter, scan the code, and rideeeeeee! Needless to say Austin and I zipped around on our little scooters like a couple of children all the way from Santa Monica Pier to Venice Beach and it only cost us $3. Crazy!
After ditching our scooters we walked around Venice Beach a bit. The area was alive with music and street performers. We stopped in at Menotti's Coffee Shop and got to judge a milk- foam art contest, my barista won!
Feeling our coffee buzz it was time to find a place to grab a snack, after all, I said I was here to eat food. Following a recommendation from our friends we made our way down a random back alley and stumbled into the cutest surf-shack restaurant. Bondi Harvest gives you that California beach vibe that you are looking for on a hot sunny day! From Kombucha on tap to acai bowls, and funky smoothies, this local secret hit the spot.
After a long drive home, some down time to get some work done, and maybe a quick cat nap, we headed out to dinner. With so much going on all at once, LA can be a little overwhelming, especially the food scene. Lucky for us, Austin's brother and his girlfriend brought us to a local Taco Tuesday at Trejo's Tacos.
The next day it was time to channel our inner movie stars and explore Hollywood. We started the day right at a popular breakfast spot, The Waffle. A couple of double mimosas and a waffle breakfast sandwich later and we were ready to tackle the day.
We spent most of the day just driving up and down streets, seeing one gorgeous house after another. And of course the famous palm trees.
Because we weren't very hungry during the day we decided to just a snack and then eat a really good dinner. This night we sided with noodles at Tatsu Ramen. You customize your bowl on an iPad at the door and then wait to get served at your table.
On our last day, we wanted a typical LA brunch. I am not lying when I say I have never had a brunch like the one at The Butcher, The Baker, The Cappuccino Maker. The waiter was so friendly and sat us in the gorgeous courtyard. We ordered the special colorful cappuccinos and browsed the menu. Austin and I decided to go all out for our last day and ordered three breakfast specials and a flight of mimosas. And just like that our table was full of amazing treats.
After stuffing our faces we drove through Beverly Hills all the way to Malibu. Driving along the coastline in California is beautiful! Once in the hills of Malibu, we arrived at Malibu Cafe. This hidden Oasis is a combination of fancy Malibu Brunch and a rustic cabin resort. Walking through this amazing indoor-outdoor bar and restaurant you are surrounded by bushes, roses, waterfalls, chandeliers, and of course champagne. It is a Malibu fairytale.
Stepping back out into the real world we said goodbye to Malibu Cafe and hit the beach. Being used to flat Florida beaches, El Matador State Beach was a great change of pace. With towering rock cliffs and a cool breeze, it was the perfect place to unwind.
As we headed home we decided to take one last detour up to Griffith Observatory. We arrived during the golden hour and were able to get the perfect view of the city on one side and a great look at the Hollywood sign on the other side.
It was crazy to think about how much we had done and seen in just three days yet there were still so many things on my list. Everyone underestimates how much there really is to do in LA. At least this way I know we will be coming back again soon!