If you’re like me, the times you’ve visited LA are becoming hard to count on both hands. Granted, most of the times I’ve visited have been to sunny Santa Monica, where I’ve attended a flurry of coaching intensives over the past few years.
Regardless, when you visit a place frequently, each subsequent visit demands a level of exploration that will take you deeper than what you’ve previously experienced.
—So, when my mom announced that she wanted to check the Rose Bowl Parade off her bucket list for her 60th birthday, I jumped into action, planning another, albeit more rounded trip to the magical land I love.
Excited to explore the range of what Southern California has to offer, I rented a car and dotted our itinerary with destinations as far as Santa Barbara.
Now it’s no secret that I’ve felt drawn to California for quite some time. I know, deep in my bones, that it’s a place I will call home for at least a point in my life, if not, forever. So, while we were there to celebrate two birthdays {my sister’s also}, the tandem intention was to visit places I could perhaps see myself taking up permanent residence in.
While I won’t bore you with the pros and cons of each destination, I will share the new and different experiences I had this time around, which left a positive impact.
My hope is that you’ll feel inclined to discover the gem within each of these experiences yourself, the next time you plan a trip to LA.
1.) Celebrate New Year’s Day at the Rose Bowl Parade.
If the time of year aligns {which is only ever January 1st}, do go to the Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena. While I’ve watched major parades on television my entire life, going to a parade in real time is a once in a life time experience, especially one where you won’t freeze your butt off. *Ahem* No thank you, New York in November.
Tips:
➳ Book lodging outside of Pasadena to avoid outlandish, inflated holiday prices.
➳ Buy tickets to sit in the bleachers at the very beginning of the parade, on the side that’s in the sun, so as to avoid an early morning chill.
➳ Bring breakfast or eat beforehand.
➳ Bring a blanket to sit on {those bleachers are darn cold!}.
➳ Uber in by 7:15am to have enough time to get to your seats.
2.) Eat at Crossroads Kitchen.
Calling all gluten intolerant foodies who just want to indulge in a fine, fresh meal—this is your place!
I’m all about Flower Chid and Backyard Bowls, but if I can get Fettuccini Alfredo with HANDMADE gluten-free fettuccini that mimics the soft, pillowy texture of regular fetttuccini, I’m IN.
In fact, even my mom and sister, who ordered regular pasta dishes off the menu, claimed it was their best and favorite meal of the trip!
Tips:
➳ Do not wait to make a reservation!
➳ Beware—the plates are small, despite the price tag. Depending on how hungry you are, choose 1-3 plates per person.
3.) Visit a Cat Cafe.
Seriously—why don’t we have these on the East Coast?! If ever I open a second business, this will be it. For a fee, you can book a time to grab a beverage, hang out, snuggle, and play with your new adorable feline friends.
The cats range from kittens to veterans, each with a different personality, and all are up for adoption! While the fee could be substantial to some, it goes towards caring for the cats, who otherwise may be put down or left to survive the streets.
We personally visited the CatCafe Lounge and had a great experience! The only tough part was—we wanted to take all of them home!
Tips:
➳ Book the first time in the morning. The cats will be much more lively and happy to play with a fresh batch of humans!
4.) Take a day trip to Ojai and feast your eyes on the Pink Moment.
OJAI! How I’ve longed to visit Ojai since it graced my awareness a year ago. This small, magical town is a quiet, golden reprieve, tucked in the spoon of a valley on the outskirts of the Los Padres National Forest.
Compared to LA, it is a haven of solitude, populated by only 7,000 people. Driving here felt like we were transported to another world—one much farther from the bustling city streets we had left only an hour ago.
While I was unable to explore the wilderness and other outdoor adventures that caught my interest {my family has different ideas of fun}, I did get to experience Ojai’s charm in other ways.
In the morning, we strolled down the main drag, lined with white-washed shops and cafes of all sorts. Be prepared to discover a must-have treasure or trinket that’s handcrafted and unique to the area. For lunch, I grabbed a kombucha on tap and a gluten-free treat from Food Harmonics.
In the heat of the afternoon, we took a short drive to Bart’s Books, where I spent an hour wandering the dusty shelves of this charming open-air, outdoor book swap. After a lengthy search, I settled on a $7 copy of Outlander by Diana Gabaldon.
Last, but not least, as the light started to fade, we made our way to Topa Mountain Winery. This was where we planned to catch Ojai’s infamous Pink Moment with hands wrapped around a refreshing glass of white wine.
The Pink Moment occurs when the mountains that fringe the valley to the East are lit with a pink glow that deepens and brightens as the sun sinks lower behind the mountains in the West.
While it lasted all of ten minutes, it was truly an unforgettable moment to behold and one that is worth the 90 minute drive from LA.
Tips:
➳ Leave early and come back late so as to avoid traffic.
➳ To glimpse the Pink Moment in the most spectacular way, grab a seat outdoors at the winery or drive up to Meditation Mount {which is currently closed}, but has another path that leads to a viewing area.
So there you have it!—the best memories of my umpteenth trip to LA.
All in all, I enjoyed my time here. So much so, that on an early morning run along the spine of the pacific coast, I found myself struck with an intense desire to overhaul my life and immediately move into a beautiful condo, painted with windows and set upon a high hill that looks out over the ocean.
Even now, I find myself grappling with the decision. Do I move to California? Do I convert a bus and travel the country?
Both feel like an edge for me. Both feel “impossible.”
Perhaps, only more time, and travel, will tell.
Until next time,
-Kayla
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