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50 States Series: California 🌊
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items My 3rd home <3 (I claim a lot of places). But, I did actually live here last year and am feeling super called to go back. I don't even think this is a hot take - I believe California is one of (if not THE) prettiest states in the country. There is so much diversi...
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Where to Stay 🛌
What to Eat/Drink 🍜
What do Do 🧘♀️
Where to Shop 🛍️
Where to Stay 🛌
Where to sleep your lil noggin
Last year I took a lil weekend trip from LA up to Santa Cruz and then to Big Sur. This is where I stayed. It felt relatively affordable + super cute with a pool. The area was sort of walkable with a park and trail nearby. I ended up being able to wal...
Hotel Paradox, Autograph Collection | Santa Cruz
This is located in Pacific Grove near Monterey and Carmel-By-The-Sea. I stayed here on my solo weekend roadtrip to Big Sur. Such a stunning historic hotel in an old victorian style home. Feels like a bed and breakfast. Super charming, especially if y...
Centrella Hotel, A Kirkwood Collection Property | Carmel-By-The-Sea
My best friend and I stayed here last year. We were invited to one of their private dinner events at the Blackbird restaurant. The whole stay was magical and the staff made sure we were comfortable. They have a spa, a rooftop pool with an incredible ...
Hotel Californian | Santa Barbara
One of my favorite places on this planet is Yosemite National Park. I went up a few times last year, and one of the times I stayed in this lovely little cabin hotel. It's in Oakhurst, only 30ish (if even) mins away from the park entrance. Soooo soo p...
Sierra Sky Ranch | Oakhurst Near Yosemite
I stayed here a few years back in the fall with a group of friends. Truly, one of my favorite trips. It's a little kitschy but in an endearing way. Right next to the Sugar Pine Railroad, you feel like you are in a summer camp village. You can take ri...
Narrow Gauge Inn | Yosemite
If you are in Palm Springs, looking for a classic 1950's aesthetic motel - this place has that vibe (they say this was one of the motels JFK took Marilyn Monroe to haaang out in - allegedly of course). The outdoor space is cute and very Palm Springsy...
The Monkey Tree Hotel | Palm Springs
Stayed at this airbnb in San Diego for a weekend trip with my sis. Super respondent host and in a walkable area close to the beach. Defs felt like a California surf spot - the interior was suuuch a vibe.
Guesthouse in San Diego · ★4.91 · Studio · 1 bed · 1 private bath
It's been a minute since we did this - but one year my friends and I stayed in a yurt in Joshua Tree. A cool experience to wake up with one of the prettiest sunrises I've ever seen.
Joshua Tree Yurts
Do you want an experience? If you ever find yourself near Borrego Springs and need a place to stay - this was it. Basically, the exterior all resemble old western buildings. We were here for a photoshoot and needed a place to stay before heading to C...
Palm Canyon Hotel and RV Resort | Borrego Springs
What to Eat/Drink 🍜
From Coffee Shops, Bars, to Dinner spots.
This was the first restaurant I went to the night I moved to LA. Right down the street from my old apartment I would walk here all the time. I am not an italian lover - but their food was sooo good. Light pasta + a little complimentary cup of ice cre...
Jon & Vinny's | Italian
My best friend and I loooove this place. They have multiple locations, so if one is busy, just go to the next. We just got a bunch of small plates and shared. There is a lot to choose from, but genuinely you cant go wrong with anything.
Bacari Silverlake | Small Plates
Love a good place with margarita options. I believe the chef was a Michilin Star chef. Great tapas and excellent choice of margs. Very vibey dark lit, chill.
Daisy | Margarita Bar
If you want truly a stunning date night experience - MAKE sure you come here at night. Get a seat outside on the patio overlooking LA. I beg you. It is stunning. The food was also sooo good. It really is such a beautiful spot. They also have a little...
Castaway | Dinner
If you love tacos, this place is a lil more upscale Mexican. Near North Hollywood, my friends and I would come here for good eats. The vibe is / date night-y inside.
Cascabel | Mexican
Vibes and good food. An all around favorite in my friend group. Always warranting the “have they been to Night Market yet??” on any hungry visitors / LA newcomers.
Night Market | Thai
In the heart of Korea town - oh my gosh this place is so fire. I went on my birthday one year. Small plates that you order for the table. Totally worth the struggle to find parking.
Dan Sung Sa | Korean
On my last night living in California, my bestfriend and I went here. I wish I knew about this place sooner. The owner and server was sooo nice and the food had large portions. The vibe inside was so cool - paper lanterns everywhere with different co...
Jakkapat | Thai
If you want a place that is absolutely stunning and greeeeaaat for date night… this is the place. Whether you are coming just for drinks, or for food, this place has such an aura. My favorite part is that the outside literally looks like a hardware s...
Laurel Hardware | Dinner
I am SUCH a fan of bagels. I swear. There were so many options - the staff was great. Keep in mind, they have a walk-up window so seating is limited to outside! Great for a grab and go bagel spot.
Courage Bagels
Clementime Oranges on a Bagel? Count me in. I'm always a fan of interesting food combinations ESPECIALLY when it has to do with bagels. They have a lot of different kinds of bagels. And if you can't choose - you can do half one thing, half the other!
Layla Bagels
A classic! I remember the first time I ever came to LA, my best friend took me to this cafe. They have super cool latte art and really good breakfast.
The Butcher, The Baker, The Cappuccino Maker | Cafe
Cute little coffee shop + their drinks were soooo good. They had like a cold foam on top that was fireeee. The inside is super vibey with two levels.
Camel Coffee
Kinda locals spot - this was walking distance from my apartment, I would come here and work. One time the owner offered for me to work in the back with wifi. Super nice workers. Love the place for a lil afternoon patio sit!
Aroma | Coffee and Tea
While living in LA, I made it a mission to try a bunch of coffee shops. This cute little shop on Sunset Blvd had such good drinks and food. Ambience 10/10 and the staff was nice.
Gong Gan | Coffee
This was kinda my spot in North Hollywood while WFH. They have plenty of seating inside and outside. Pretty sure this was an old train depot. Love the re-purposed places.
Groundwork Coffee | Organic Café
One of the more *busier* options. There are a few locations - but I will say, a lot of people go here. Their coffee is good, so I do get it. SO if you wanna feel a part of the crowd and try a trending spot, this is it.
Community Goods | Coffee
I've had many fun nights here. I mean its a classic. Cool space that makes you feel like you are walking through someone's house.
Good Times at Davey Wayne's | Bar
If you want a place with a little more history, this is a North Hollywood classic. This is an example of Programmatic architecture in the dawn of car culture becoming more prominent in LA.The solution? Create giant, eye catching store fronts showcasi...
Idle Hour | Bar
Love this spot, and weirdly have seen a lot of celebs here? Whenever our friends would have Bday's, usually we could come to celebrate. This was theeee neighborhood bar.
Laurel Tavern | Bar
Cool historic neighborhood bar in the heart of Silver Lake.
AKBAR – Bar
A whole experience - You walk under a bed to get in. Its a thing. Fancyyyyyy insideeee
No Vacancy | Speakeasy
Retro piano bar that makes you feel like you've stepped out of old hollywood. 1920's art deco decor. Super cool.
Tramp Stamp Granny's | Bar
Another one of those places that's stunning both day and night with great viewwws.
Bar Lis | Bar
If you can't decide what to eat - this market is icccconnniccc. So many options to choose from, honestly it might make decision paralysis worse.
Grand Central Market
What do Do 🧘♀️
Some of my top fav spots around town!
This is another touristy place, however for good reason. There are loads of hikes in the area that I would go on. One of my favs is Cathy’s Corner on Mt. Hollywood Drive in Griffith Park. This spot offers a panoramic view of the valley. It also was f...
Griffith Observatory - LA
They have a lot of these in different cities. I've done this a few times in DTLA. Some friends and I went and watched The Shining. They give you headphones and everything.
Rooftop Cinema Club DTLA
The way I missss Wi Spa. Relatively affordable day passes that literally let you go to 10000 different sauna rooms. Me and my friends will spend so much time here chillaaxxxinnnn
Wi Spa - LA
Maybe cliche of me to be like YOU GOTTA GO. But I lived in North Hollywood/Studio City so I got a locals pass for like $175 for 6 months and went literally EVERY DAY. It really is so worth it. Me and my best friend would get done from work and then j...
Universal Studios Hollywood
The reason I am putting a Westin Hotel on this list is because this isn't like any other hotel. This hotel has been in SO many movies. Including (the reason I went) Interstellar. Any Rocket Silo scenes were shot in their main lobby area. In the basem...
The Westin Bonaventure Hotel - LA
If you are into the more Hollywood historical movie stuff, this museum was super cool to go to. Lots of memorabilia from different movies, including Interstellar (my fav ahh), ANY Marvel, etc.
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures - LA
Technically a dog park - people come here to have picnics and hang out. One year my friend's surprised me for my bday here. You get a great view of the Hollywood Sign.
Lake Hollywood Park
There are a few locations sprinkled around, and sometimes they do popups (Costa Mesa Lab Anti-Mall is a big one). Fun if you want a cool vintage photo strip!
BOOTH BY BRYANT
If you are traveling through Palm Springs - there are a bunch of bronze statues of animals that are huuuuge, sprinkled along the highway. You can walk the desert out to them and take pics.
Metal Sculptures of Anza Borrego and Galleta Meadows
When I tell you this is my favorite place on planet earth, I severely mean it. I cannot express how special this place is to me. Every time I come here, it amazes me. If you ever want to look at a mountain and just… stare and think HOW… this is the p...
Yosemite National Park
Gosh darn California with the National Parks! Another fav! This one is a little drier but the night sky and sunsets are killlllllerrrrr
Joshua Tree - National Park Service
I LOVE THE SIERRA NEVADAS UGH IT MAKES meeee sick. The drive alone is beautiful. Once you get into the park you get to see the LARGEST trees ever. Actually literally…by volume, the General Sherman Tree is the largest known living single-stem tree on ...
Sequoia & Kings Canyon - National Park Service
Driving up the PCH to THIS? (if the PCH is open - there have been rockslides that have closed part of the road for like yeaars it's felt like … there is a short detour that I've had to take that was pretty nbd). I swear… every drop off, there was a p...
Big Sur
Another 10/10 stunning place. If you want to feel like you are at a summer camp - this is the place. It's so unfair how cool California gets to be I swear. The trees, the lake, the mountains - it is all SO picturesque.
Lake Tahoe
This… this is an interesting place with a bit of a darker history. If you are into abandon places, you can visit this lake where there used to be a bustling resort. Because of the high saline, a lot of fish died and made the resort town essentially u...
Salton Sea
One of the mannny beaches you can go to. I went here in the midst of June Gloom. Still a vibe none the less and not overly out of the way from LA
Laguna Beach, California
I have a few friends that live down in Huntington Beach that I would go and hang with every so often. Newport Beach was the place we would grab burritos and sit by a fire pit and hang.
Visit Newport Beach
I realize I didn't add a lot of San Fran into this list. One of my favorite places in California … This park is such a vibe to come with friends during sunset and have some wine / food. Right next to the infamous Painted Ladies (a row of pastel color...
Alamo Square Spark - San Fran
Where to Shop 🛍️
A girls gotta shop. And this is where she's gotta go.
If you are into bookstores, this place is cooool. We actually went to a movie in DTLA and then came here right after.
The Last Bookstore - LA
My faaaavorite. Every Sunday. Great selection (I mean you are walking around for hours) of Vendors. Artists, Vintage, Food…. you have it all. Probably one of the best markets I've been too. I miss it
Melrose Trading Post - LA
If you want a cool spot. Costa Mesa has an anti-mall which is basically an outdoor concept with shops intermingled in there. I've been back a few times.
The LAB Anti-Mall in Costa Mesa
If you are feeling artsy and vibey and girly and cute, this is the place.
Touch Art Supply
If you want generic shopping in a STUNNING outdoor mall, the Grove is the spot. Really pretty fountains + food spots. There is a little trolly that drives around. Weirdly the disney land of malls I suppose.
The Grove LA
If you don't want to go to Universal Studios, you can still get into City Walk to shop. This is right outside the park and is such an experience. Think everything is oddly larger than life. A Panda Express Logo 50x the normal size… all decked in Time...
Citywalk Hollywood
Maybe one of the more under-discussed places. It's a Wrap is technically a second hand store. They sell clothing that was used in Tv shows and Movies. On each item there is a tag with the Production Name code. At the front there is a binder where you...
It's A Wrap Hollywood - Movie and TV Props For Sale
Dude this store is HUGE and every Sunday they do $1 Clothing. I fell on this store while driving back from the Melrose Trading Post and couldn't resist. Lots of sickkk vintage
Jet Rag | Vintage