The Ultimate Guide to a Weekend in L.A.

A couple of weeks ago, two of our best friends were getting married in Los Angeles, and since Ryan and I will take just about any opportunity to go to California, we were more than excited to be able to spend the weekend exploring, eating, and celebrating. From Rodeo Drive to The Grove and Disneyland to Venice Beach, L.A. is the perfect place to go for a getaway weekend. With endless sunshine, countless museums, warm beaches, the Hollywood hike, and the most delicious food in the world (honestly, I think there’s a special place in heaven for the California food Gods), we just can never get enough of this city. So, we’ve compiled a list of some of our absolute favorite things to do when we’re in L.A.  

Kreation

This place is all organic and absolutely delicious. The menus are on a tablet, which is highly entertaining and allows for people like me (I’m literally the absolute worst at making food decisions 🙈) to see pictures of absolutely everything. Also, it kind of feels like online shopping, but it’s even better, because you don’t have to wait for it to arrive in the mail! They servers go around and put liquid chlorophyll in your water, so you’ll be extra-hydrated. Chlorophyll has lots of health benefits, like removing toxins and heavy metals from your body and increasing your energy levels. But as far as I’m concerned it means my skin will absorb the sun better, so my tan will last longer. 😜 There are cute little succulent walls everywhere, and positive vibes all around. Don’t go without getting the chocolate goji berry smoothie. I literally dream about it. 

Cafe Gratitude

You’ll feel like you walked into a blogger’s house, and as soon as you sit down, you’ll be overwhelmed with a sense of peace and gratitude. All of the meals are named based off of the energy behind it, for instance, “happy,” “content,” or “open-hearted” (the gluten-free pancakes–my personal favorite). You can choose what you order based off of your personal feeling, and when they deliver your food, they say, “You are happy/(insert meal name here).” So you literally feel happy about the food that you’re eating. They also help you set an intention for your meal, by asking you a new question everyday, so you can practice mindfulness during your meal and throughout your day. Try the gluten-free, refined sugar-free donuts. I promise they’ll change your life. 

 

Pressed Juicery

Not only do they have the best cold-pressed juice I’ve ever had as well as an incredibly large selection, but they also have the “Freeze.” The Freeze is their juice (Greens, Citrus, Fruit, Vanilla, or Chocolate) put in a soft-serve style ice cream maker, and turned into the most delicious, healthy, guilt-free treat of all time. Everything is all-natural, vegan, dairy-free, and sugar-free. Top it off with almond butter, honey, fruit, chia seeds, chocolate covered goji berries, and a selection of other healthy toppings. Literally every single time we’re in California, we go every. single. day haha. I’ve considered making an entire Instagram account dedicated solely to Pressed Juicery, so yeah.. I might be a liiiiitle bit obsessed. 

Griffith Observatory

For one of the best view of the entire city, head over to the Griffeth Observatory. Not only will you be able to see the all of downtown Los Angeles, but you’ll also get an awesome view of the Hollywood Sign. Plus, you can go to planetarium shows and see various science-related exhibits. And at night, you can go look through huge telescopes to admire the stars shining down on the city. ✨

The Broad Museum

I’m a sucker for all things art, and the Broad Museum is full of absolutely stunning pieces of contemporary and modern art. I could’ve spent hours here. If you want to go to the Infinity Room, and you definitely should, get to the museum early (like before it opens early) or go on a random day of the week to make sure you can be the first ones in line. Each visitor gets 45 seconds alone in the room, so the line builds up pretty quickly. Wander around the rest of the museum and be mesmerized by the unique art, like a ginormous desk and a giant balloon animal. 

 

The LACMA

Another must-visit on your trip to LA is the LACMA. It is the largest art museum in the western United States and full of incredibly beautiful art by major artists like Monet, Matisse, Picasso, and Degas. Also, I’ve been in love with the iconic light installation ever since I knew it existed, so I was giddy running through it with Ryan. The museum just extended the Rain Room exhibition through July, so try to get tickets and plan ahead. We’re on an eternal mission to make it to the Rain Room (literally, we’ve been trying to go since November). The entire museum is an art lover’s dream, and one day I’ll become a member. Also, it’s located across the street from The Grove, so you can grab a delicious dinner and do some shopping right after. Add the beach, and honestly, that’s my idea of a perfect day. 

Santa Monica Pier

You can’t go to LA without going to the Santa Monica Pier. It doesn’t matter whether you take a ride on the ferris wheel, eat all the cotton candy, surf the waves, or lay out on the beach, you’ll love it. Go up the street just a little bit and the area is covered in restaurants and shopping, so it’s a great place to spend the afternoon. 

And you can’t miss the theme parks or sports culture. That’s why we’re planning on going to Harry Potter World next time we’re there and why Ryan goes to a Laker’s game literally every time we visit. 

L.A. is a big city full of incredible things to do. What are some of your favorite things to do in the city?

 

 

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