Thursday, October 10, 2013

The Best In L.A.: A One-Day Excursion

By Marquerite Velasquez


Los Angeles is one of the hottest vacation destinations in the country and for good reason. With great weather and plenty to do, there's something for every visitor to do. But what happens if you're here for just one day? How do you pick and choose? Well, consider the following itinerary for you one day of fun in L.A.

The county of Los Angeles offers hundreds of amazing places to visits, but with more than 9 million residents and 4,000 square miles, seeing it all in one day is impossible. So instead of worrying about what you will miss, take advantage of some of the cool things that you can see, such as a trip to Southern California's famous coastline.

Santa Monica, with its famous pier and boardwalk, is an excellent choice. Not only can you play in the surf and on the beach, there is a roller coaster, historic carousel and Ferris wheel powered by solar energy. There are carnival games, an arcade and plenty of shops, cafes and restaurants. Start off with a quick breakfast at a local bistro and then head to the pier or the beach for a few hours of fun.

When you think of history, Los Angeles doesn't immediately spring to mind. However, there are many historic sites in the area and some are older than the United States. In the 18th Century, Spaniards sent Franciscan priests to California to establish a series of missions from San Diego up to Northern California. Two of these missions are located in Los Angeles County and both offer tours. The Mission San Gabriel Arcangel is the older of the two, built in 1771. Mission San Fernando Rey is the other option, and this mission dates back to 1797.

After Santa Monica and a visit to the mission, grab a picnic lunch and head to Griffith Park. This park is the second largest park in the country, and larger than Central Park in New York City. In addition to plenty of picnic spots and walking or hiking trails, the park is home to the Los Angeles Zoo, a planetarium and observatory, and a museum called Travel Town which celebrates trains and automobiles with displays of freight cars, passenger trains, locomotives and other vehicles.

At this point, you will definitely be need of some refreshment, so drive to Culver City and enjoy the confections at YoKuMon. This popular eatery sells a variety of sweet treats, including shaved ice, ice cream, freshly baked cookies and their most popular treat, the $2 ice cream sandwich. This isn't just a plain old ice cream sandwich either; this is a scoop of gourmet ice cream placed between two large and freshly made cookies. You can choose any combination of ice cream and cookies, and there is more than a dozen of each option.

At this point, you will want to head over to Hollywood for an evening of entertainment at the Hollywood Bowl. This outdoor amphitheatre is surrounded by the Hollywood Hills, and you can even see the famed Hollywood Sign from many of the seats. Classical concerts, jazz concerts, musical theater and modern artists from the Beatles to Pearl Jam have hit the stage at the Hollywood Bowl, so check out the offerings available during your stay.




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