Take a Vacation in Your Home City of Los Angeles: Part II

In Part I of this series, you learned ways to appreciate your own city by taking weekend vacations exploring the colleges and universities of the area, as well as visiting downtown. Part II of this series will give you a wider appreciation for some of the destinations in the area that may be familiar, yet unexplored.

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Venice Beach: The boardwalk along the beach is about 1.5 miles long. Spend weekends exploring it three different ways: By foot, by bicycle, and on inline skates. Walking by foot, you will be able to view the interesting people and sights. On one side of the boardwalk is the ocean and beach. On the other side are buildings that look like they could be at home in Miami Beach. In front and to the side of you are people with painted faces, bathing suits, parrots on their shoulders, and folks performing juggling and feats of strength. And make sure you visit Muscle Beach, the outdoor gym where Arnold Schwarzenegger and other body builders worked on their physiques.

The Strand: On the day that you decide to bike the Venice Beach boardwalk, make sure you continue on the 20 mile strand that runs along the coast from Torrance Beach to Pacific Palisades. During your ride, you will pass plenty of places to stop for a bite or a beer. If you are riding with one other person, consider renting a tandem so that you can easily talk during your ride. College students often schedule a pub crawl along this route, which means that they walk, bike, or skate from one bar to another, meeting up with friends at each one.

Louis Habash is a travel writer based out of Los Angeles. He will be the first person to tell you that he, Louis Habash, does not appreciate his fair city often enough.Visit this Facebook page for more.

Take a Vacation in Your Home City of Los Angeles: Part I

The greater Los Angeles area is such an interesting blend of cultures, landmarks, diversions, and types of entertainment that people visit from around the world for their vacations. Those who live in this city do not consider the fact that they spend every day in a location that others choose as a vacation spot. If you live in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, you can create vacations for yourself every weekend.

The College Weekend: Los Angeles is home to USC, UCLA, Whittier College, Loyola Marymount, Pepperdine, and many more. Spend a day walking around the expansive and beautiful UCLA campus, watching students throw Frisbees and relaxing in the sun. Walk into some of the old and new buildings. Visit adjoining Westwood for lunch. Check out the Pepperdine campus, which overlooks the ocean at Malibu. Walk around the USC, urban campus. Get a feel for the differences in cultures and student bodies at these institutions.

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The Downtown Weekend: This part of the city holds great interest for its art, Asian and Latino cultures, its Red Line and its architecture. You can see multicultural murals in many locations, including parts of the subway. Visit the Central Library and gasp at the painted ceiling in the lobby and the Ivanhoe paintings around the building. Get lunch in Little Tokyo, then take a ride up Angel’s Flight. On a different weekend, visit the Jewelry District to find a special ring at discount prices. Then top off your wardrobe at the Fashion District. On a third weekend, visit Olvera Street, the birthplace of the city and home to a Mexican-style plaza and buildings dating to 1818. And make sure you run across the street to Union Station to sit in the lobby and look up at the ceiling.

Louis Habash is a travel writer based out of Los Angeles. As a person, who understands the appeal of vacation spots to visitors, Louis Habash also appreciates the appeal of his hometown.Visit this blog site for more about him.