It’s fun in the sun and sand in Los Angeles. As I said with San Diego, lots of info exists about LA and we hardly scratched the surface in the City of Angels. There’s so much in the city, but even more to do when you consider the surrounding areas. An hour or two from Los Angeles brings so many awesome adventures. So… let’s go north, south, east, west and inside LA.
There is a mix here with 5 things to do in LA: We visited LA this past summer and it was big fun. We left San Diego and drove up the Pacific Coast Highway to LA. It’s been my dream to drive that highway and the scenic views did not disappoint. (I’ve got to drive the part from LA to San Francisco too, which I hear is even more incredible).
- If you’re south of the city, you can hit the Aquarium of the Pacific. We love Aquariums and definitely had to hit it up. Pre pandemic, there were days that were free and it could get pretty crowded. The aquarium is in Long Beach, with good parking and lots of food nearby. https://www.aquariumofpacific.org.
- Universal Studios – For your day inside the city, add some adventure with Universal Studios. Amusement parks abound in LA, with Disney Land, Knott’s Berry Farms and Six Flags. We only had time to hit up Universal Studios. My girls love the Minions, so there you go. A visit can take a full day so pack your good shoes!https://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/web/en/us?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=GMB
- Venice Beach- A little slice of Italy can be found in Venice Beach! Right in the middle of the city is a canal modeled after the canals of Venice Italy. It’s beautiful! https://www.visitcalifornia.com/places-to-visit/venice-beach/ After taking a Cali trip to Italy, head west to the beaches for some good food and a swim.
We also enjoyed an afternoon at Santa Monica Pier, shopping on Rodeo Drive and walking around Hollywood. 
- After going south and west of the city, it’s time to head north to Solvang and get another taste of Europe. As with many things California, the drive up is beautiful. It takes you through Ventura and the Los Padres mountains.
Solvang is knows as the Danish capital of the USA. It’s filled with delicious Danish treats, windmills and Dutch goods. If you can’t get away to Amsterdam any time soon, Solvang just might be the next best thing! https://www.solvangusa.com/ 
- San Bernardino mountains– Its time to head east of the city to the great ourdoors. We are outdoor lovers all the way, so no trip is complete without the mountains. We hike in every city we go to. We headed 100 miles west of LA to the San Bernadino mountains. We were actually out that way visiting family in Victorville. The mountain is wide open and no ranger is on duty in every place so be careful when you hike and let someone know you’re going. Yeah, I sound like such a mom! https://www.americansouthwest.net/california/san-bernardino-mountains/index.html
More to come for Cali! We have yet to hit San Francisco, Oakland and the national parks. Stay tuned!