Since Lyra has been too busy (being six) to update her blog, I thought I’d sneak in and post a draft list of fun things to do when you come visit. I’ll be updating this…

NEARBY

VENICE BEACH

Our favourite thing to do. Walk the boardwalk. People watch to see the crazies and posers. Skatepark is my favourite thing. Muscle beach, shell hunting, swimming, t-shirt buying.

Hotel Erwin has a rooftop bar if you want to escape.

http://www.hotelerwin.com/

Best coffee shop is on the street with the famous Venice sign (Windward Ave)

https://www.menottiscoffeeveniceca.com/

Eggslut is a mystery yet to be explored.

http://www.eggslut.com

VENICE CANALS

Our other favourite. The route to the beach. Explore, take photos, daydream which house you’d choose.

CYCLE TO SANTA MONICA

Awesome, flat bike lane through Venice beach to Santa Monica. If you keep going (under Santa Monica pier) it carries on and you can have coffee/lunch/wine at Back On The Beach.

Annenberg Community Beach House  is behind Back On The Beach, it has a swimming pool and has exhibitions but we are yet to visit (more a summer place)

http://www.backonthebeachcafe.com/

https://www.annenbergbeachhouse.com/

EAT AND DRINK ON WASHINGTON

Loads of choices of bars and restaurants. Our favourite is the Venice Whaler because of the location. C&O Cucina has endless dough balls and the Baja Cantina is fun, especially if you eat in the garden restaurant bit and the pizza place opposite Venice Whaler does good take-away to eat on the beach, loads more to try.

https://www.venicewhaler.com/

https://candorestaurants.com/

http://www.bajacantina.com/

FISHERMAN’S VILLAGE (CYCLE)

Fisherman’s Village is around the other side of Marina Del Rey. There are cycle lanes all the way there. They have live music 1-4pm weekends. Spot sea lions, pelicans, herons, gulls… Slightly OAP but restaurants (Sapiri menu looks good a veggie friendly, Whiskey Red looks a nice setting)

https://www.visitmarinadelrey.com/venue/fishermans-village

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g32684-d2073162-Reviews-Fisherman_s_Village-Marina_del_Rey_California.html

https://sapori-mdr.com/

https://www.whiskeyreds.com/

CYCLE SOUTH

Cycle around Marina Del Rey and the cycle path continues south for miles. Less crazy than Venice, an opportunity for a nice cycle along the beach.

SANTA MONICA

Our nearest proper shopping centre – pedestrianised high street with big brands. The pier is fun and worth a visit.

ABBOT KINNEY

Super trendy and overpriced for shopping but worth a wander.

Some lovely restaurants including Plant, Food + Wine, Neighbor, The Butcher’s Daughter ( a vegetable slaughterhouse!!), Zinque, Gjulina and many more. Lemonade good for ‘cheap’ lunch. Erewhon worth a visit (Most expensive grocery shop in the world!!)

http://www.matthewkenneycuisine.com/plant-food-wine-venice

https://neighborla.com/

https://lezinque.com/

Front Page

https://www.thebutchersdaughter.com/

MARINA DEL REY

Eat and drink at Beachside, paddle on Mother’s Beach. Options to paddleboard too.

https://www.jamaicabayinn.com/marina-del-rey-dining

MAIN STREET

Yet to explore properly ut know it has some good vintage shops.

ROMA COURT

Residential area to explore. Where Marina Del Rey meets the sea. Lovely houses and gardens.

SLIGHTLY FURTHER

GETTY CENTRE

Art gallery. Amazing location in hills. Free!

http://www.getty.edu/

GETTY VILLA

Museum. Amazing place, great views. Free! Must book though.

MALIBU

Explore beaches, hike the hills. Surfers and seals. I’m yet to be convinced what the fuss is about. But we had a nice lunch at The Sunset and The Farm seems to be the place to go

http://www.thesunsetrestaurant.com

https://www.malibu-farm.com/malibu-pier/

We did this walk, it was nice https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/point-dume-cove-trail

MUSEUMS INCLUDING CALIFORNIA SCIENCE CENTER

Free!

LA DOWNTOWN

Go to The Broad for modern art- definitely worth a visit (free but you must book online in advance)

Next to Walt Disney Concert Hall which is a beauty.

Combine with lunch at Grand Central Market

Round the corner from The last bookstore – not been, but top of my list

Loads more to explore….

https://www.thebroad.org/

http://www.grandcentralmarket.com/

http://www.lastbookstorela.com/

A BIT FURTHER STILL

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS

Speaks for itself!

GRIFFITHS OBSERVATORY

Good way to get close to Hollywood sign. Hard to park and very busy.

LEGOLAND

Great, if you’re 6.

KNOTT’S BERRY FARM

Mainly about the rides. Cheaper than others and good for kids.

https://www.knotts.com/

OVERNIGHTS

PALM SPRINGS & JOSHUA TREE

Amazing! Joshua TRee is like visiting another planet. Totally worth the trip. Palms Springs better than expected. Loads of restaurants.

SAN DIEGO

Lovely. Bilbao Park amazing. Zoo is so good we want to go back (only managed half in one day)

DISNEY

Yet to go…