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Travel Matters | by Stephen & Andie
  • Itineraries

2 Day Los Angeles Itinerary As Recommended By Locals

February 24, 2021 10
downtown Los Angeles at night

Forget about the tourist-y stuff like the Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard, or Universal Studios. After living in Los Angeles for decades, we’ve put together an awesome 48-hour Los Angeles itinerary for anyone who is looking for an insider’s take on the matter. Of course, this was not easy to boil down as such, given that A.) L.A. is MASSIVE, and B.) we’ve adopted so many favorite things about this town over the years, that it’s impossible to cover them in just 48 hours. This particular itinerary is heavily influenced by Andie’s favorite things to do, if she was to have to smoosh them into said 48 hours.

Day 1

Hiking In The Hollywood Hills

an aerial view of Runyon Canyon hiking trails in Los Angeles

Photo by Lisha Riabinina on Unsplash

This is an “either/or” hiking situation – either a Runyon Canyon hike, or a hike all the way up to the Hollywood Sign. The “or” depends on how ambitious you’re feeling, so we’re giving you those two options from which to choose your own adventure. The Hollywood Sign option is way more of an ass-kicker and takes more time, but has major payoffs: the ultimate up-close front view of the sign, and probably the most mind-blowing, iconic view of all of Los Angeles… from above and behind the sign – which is as close as you can get to it, BTW. Check out our  post  “The Best Way To Get The Best Views Of The Hollywood Sign” for deets on how-to!

The Runyon Canyon option will be more of a locals vibe, which ironically is where you’re likely to have more potential for celeb-in-the-wild sightings, if you’re into that kind of thing. The views are also beautiful and you’ll still get your steps in, just with more energy to spare in the end. Neither of these hikes will disappoint.

We recommend an early a.m. hike to beat the heat and leave time to get down on some brunch.

Brunch At Homegirl Cafe

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A post shared by homegirl_cafe (@homegirl_cafe_official)

Homegirl is the cafe at Homeboy Industries, one of our favorite L.A. non-profits. Located downtown, they do incredible work for the community and we can’t sing their praises enough. Homegirl Cafe also happens to have our favorite coffee in L.A. It’s got just the right touch of what seems like magical spices (cinnamon), along with a hint of orange. You can see bits of orange peel in their bags of coffee when you buy one. And trust us, you’re gonna buy one after you taste it at brunch. Unique, and surprisingly delicious! As is the case for everything on their menu. If we’ve only got 48 hours in town, we’re hitting Homegirl for brunch! 

Since we’re keepin’ it on the locals tip, we’re not gonna send you from the Hollywood Hills to DTLA for brunch, and then send you to a completely different area of town. Locals wouldn’t do it, so you shouldn’t either! Explore the downtown area for the day – maybe shopping for some deals in Santee Alley? – and then take some time to get ready for the evening out. 

Dinner At Bottega Louie

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A post shared by Bottega Louie (@bottegalouie)

 

macarons at Bottega Louie

©Stephen Mills

Bottega Louie is a restaurant, bar, gourmet market, patisserie, and cafe all in one big, open, yet smartly defined space. We can’t describe what it is about their Italian food that makes it so much better than other restaurants, but it just is. Dishes you’ve had elsewhere, are far better here. A really cool, kinda loud, and bustling atmosphere keeps the vibe exciting. Be prepared for a wait, as they don’t take reservations. 

Hot Tip: do not leave Bottega Louie without grabbing a bag of their super colorful and uniquely flavored macarons, whether you just had desert or not!

Entertainment At The Grammy Museum 

Stephen & Andie with Verdine White of Earth Wind and Fire

©Andie Mills

We absolutely love catching events here. Just around the way from Staples Center is the Grammy Museum. In the evenings, they host awesome events with artists from all genres of music, old and new. Tickets sell out very quickly after a monthly schedule is announced, as the capacity is only around 200. Definitely plan in advance! They do “storyteller” type semi-acoustic mini-concerts, or private screenings of documentaries, etc., and many of the performances are followed by Q&As with the artists. And they’ll usually pair the event with the opening of the exhibit that will remain on display for the month, so you can walk around after and check it out and sometimes even meet the artists out in the museum (like the time we met Verdine White of Earth Wind and Fire!).

Day 2

Brunch At Blu Jam Cafe

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A post shared by blujamcafe (@blujamcafe)

Located in Hollywood is Blu Jam Cafe. It’s a chill, go-to brunch and lunch spot for friends, family, and schmoozer-meetups alike. The menu is extensive, with plenty of health-conscious options if that’s your jam (hehe… see what we did there? ?) and the portions are generous. It has a great atmosphere, and an ample patio to take in the beautiful SoCal weather. Expect a bit of a wait to be seated as it’s a very popular hang, but you won’t be rushed out the door once you’re in, so take your time. 

Dinner At Pace

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A post shared by Pace Restaurant (@pacerestaurant)

Pronounced “pah-che” – the Italian word for “peace”. We hesitated to even mention this place, as it’s hidden in plain sight and an insider-secret, even to many locals. Heck, we didn’t even discover it until just a few years ago! Hands down, it’s our favorite restaurant in town. Nestled in the belly of Laurel Canyon and literally beneath the Country Store, Pace is this wonderful farm-to-table Italian restaurant. It’s on the pricey side, and worth every cent. The ambience is the best. Not stupid-fancy, but extremely charming and cozy, and filled with Boho charm. Semi-dark and mysterious, the walls are tastefully lined with images of rockstars and celebs from Laurel Canyon’s heyday, like Jim Morrison and Joni Mitchell. You’ll probably walk past some celebs and not even notice them – just like a real local! The service is perfect and the staff is friendly and ridiculously attentive, but without being overbearing. The food is simply unbelievable, as are the smells filling the restaurant inside as well as the lovely wrap-around patio. 

Morrison Hotel Gallery At The Sunset Marquis

Another fave hang of ours is any exhibit opening at the Morrison Hotel Gallery, which is inside and off the lobby of the Sunset Marquis Hotel.

a woman looks at photographs on exhibit at the Morrison Hotel Gallery in Los Angeles

©Andie Mills

Hot Tip: sign up for their mailing list so you know what’s coming down the pike in advance.

Famed rock photographer Henry Diltz owns the gallery. You’ve seen his work, and you’ll most likely see him hanging out at the openings and chatting inside Bar 1200, directly across the lobby from the gallery. There’s usually live piano music inside 1200, and if you see Henry in there, offer to buy him a drink – he loves to chat! The photography also spills out into the lobby, carrying the theme throughout the hotel. Hors d’oeuvres are usually served outside at the vibe-y patio/pool area, where there’s another bar and great people-watching, too. Live music performances and movies (projected onto a wall) frequently accompany the exhibit openings, too!

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A post shared by Sunset Marquis Hotel (@sunsetmarquis)

Hot Tip #2: stay close to the patio bar to be among the first to snag fresh hors d’oeuvres as they come out of the nearby kitchen. You’re welcome!


Well, that was a quick couple of days! There’s so much about this city that we love and want to share with you that we could go on forever. Fortunately for you this was only a 48-hour Los Angeles itinerary, so you won’t have to endure that. But we will continue to have lots of L.A.-related posts here, as no matter how far we might travel, it’s always our home. Are you planning to visit L.A.? Have some questions? Check out this post for a more in-depth look at Los Angeles from our locals’ perspective, or ask away in the comments. We’d love to chat and help in any way we can!

And if you’re looking for more itineraries, we’ve got you covered:

  • Lapland
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Tags:CaliforniacitiesHollywoodlocal perspectivesLos AngelesnatureNorth AmericaplanningUnited States
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Our Latest Vlog:
Today we explore the Amazon jungle by night. Our flashlights reveal plenty of creepy crawlies, including unusual insects, cute frogs, a variety of spiders – including a bizarre one that looked like a robot, and Andie got her wish when we saw not one, but two tarantulas! Stephen was relieved to not run into any snakes, but later that night he was jolted awake by an an uninvited “guest” in our bed!

Only 2% of the #Amazon Jungle is in Ecuador, and part of that is in the #Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, which is where we visited during our Ecuador trip. It was our first visit to the world's largest rainforest, and we already can't wait to go back and see more!

This is the sixth video in our first-ever international series! Quito, Ecuador was the first international trip we took together back in 2011. Eleven years later, it’s where we filmed our first international series and first drone footage for our channel! 

We spent two weeks in Ecuador this time, including Quito, day-trips to Mindo and Cotopaxi National Park, the Amazon, and one of our top-3 bucket list destinations: the Galápagos Islands! 

If you’ve missed our previous Ecuador videos, you can catch up on the series here:
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VLOG no. 69

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📍LOCATION: Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, Ecuador, South America

✦ PLACES VISITED IN THIS VLOG: 

Cuyabeno Dolphin Lodge
https://www.cuyabenodolphinlodge.com/

**this video is not sponsored, nor have we received any product or in-kind consideration. We just like to provide the info and especially shout-out the small businesses we patronize.

PREVIOUS VIDEO ▶ The Amazon Rainforest | Travel Vlog | Ecuador Series, ep. 5
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CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
00:28 Lagoon Swimming
01:00 Caiman Search
01:38 Baby Snake
02:30 Claustrophobia
02:43 Night 2
03:58 Venus & Sunset
04:18 Nightwalk in the Jungle
04:54 Big Creepy Spider(s)!
04:29 Nocturnal Bird & Frogs
05:57 Tarantula!
06:27 Another Tarantula!
07:03 IT WAS IN OUR BED!

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THE JUNGLE at NIGHT | Ecuador Travel Vlog | Ecuador Series, ep. 6
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Follow Our Mission to See ALL 50 STATES! 🇺🇸 🚐

Stephen & Andie | Travel Stuff
Oregon’s got #mood for days! Oregon is state no Oregon’s got #mood for days!

Oregon is state no. 22 in our mission to see ALL 50 STATES (plus DC & Puerto Rico)! Our first sleep and first morning of #vanlife was in Astoria, then we headed to Cannon Beach and were bowled over by the foggy views of majestic Haystack Rock. 

👉 LINK IN BIO 👈 to see more of the beautiful Oregon coast in our latest vlog, “First Night In Our Van!”

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#traveloregon #cannonbeach #oregoncoast #cannonbeachoregon #oregon #haystackrock #travelmatters #all50states #vanlife
We fell in love with Oregon! Swipe 👉 to see why We fell in love with Oregon! Swipe 👉 to see why!

After buying our Sprinter in Portland we headed for the Oregon coast to spend our first night in her in Astoria. The next day we explored town and also made our way to Cannon Beach. Both were nothing short of stunning! Our drives through the state just got more and more beautiful and we couldn’t stop thinking how grateful and excited we are to be new #vanlifers. 

This is going to be an amazing year!

📷 Our first coffee on our first morning after our first night sleeping in our campervan. 📍Astoria.

📷 Isn’t she lovely? 😍 That’s Haystack Rock behind Andie. You might recognize it from movies like Point Break and GOONIES! 📍Cannon Beach.

📷 Having too much fun watching a pile of giant sea lions sleeping peacefully. 📍Astoria

📷 Loving our lives! 📍 Cannon Beach

👉 Link in bio 👈 to see all of this and more in our latest vlog “First Night In Our Van!”

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#oregon #oregoncoast #astoria #cannonbeach #haystackrock #lewisandclarkrvpark #vanlife #sprintervan #sprintervanlife #all50states
Hello #vanlife! 🚐 We’re so excited to finally Hello #vanlife! 🚐 We’re so excited to finally share this news with you – we bought a camper van! *Join us at 12:15pm EST today (Monday)* for a live chat during the Premiere of our new vlog, where we spill the tea.

After months of behind the scenes planning and hunting, we settled on this beauty at the end of October: a 170” wheelbase, high top Sprinter, located in Portland, OR. In this video we fly to the Pacific Northwest to make the purchase and begin our two and a half week, cross-country journey from Portland back to North Carolina. But not before grabbing a rainy day lunch at one of Portland’s food cart havens – Cartlandia. Some hot grits from Grits Gone Wild warm us up to send us on our first outing in our new home on wheels.

We couldn’t be more excited, and this trip already kicks off our mission to see all 50 states (plus DC and Puerto Rico!). You’ll be seeing this cross-country trip, plus another month-long run in her over the holidays –  all in our upcoming vlogs!

Now — any guesses what we named her? 
Hint: any fans of the movie Role Models? 😜

PLACES VISITED IN THIS VLOG:

@gritsgonewildpnw 

#cartlandia

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#sprinter #sprintervan #sprinter2500 #campervan #vantravel  #vanlifers #roadtrip #roadtrippers #travelmatters #travelvloggers #UStravel #USAtravel #youtubers #DIY #Ace #kissmyvanthia #vanlifeusa
$150 train ticket from New York to… New York? $150 train ticket from New York to… New York? 

We REALLY loved our first time doing some train travel in the U.S. together! We rode the Hudson River Rail aboard the 20th Century Limited – the last two remaining, fully restored, 1940s train cars from what was “The Most Famous Train In the World” in its day. 

Our journey took us from Penn Station in Manhattan up to Albany and back. 

Sit back and enjoy the views! 👉 Link in bio 👈 to see the vlog!

📷 1: on the platform in Albany

📷 2: Penn Station, NYC

🎥 3: enjoying the VIP lounge at Penn Station pre-boarding

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#newyork #traintravel #hudsonriverrail #20thcenturylimited #1940s #vintagetrain #hudsonriver #travelmatters #travelvloggers #youtubers
California sunsets just hit different. 🌅 We we California sunsets just hit different. 🌅

We were Angelenos for literal decades and we still can’t believe how many iconic places in California we took for granted and never visited! Morro Bay is just one of them, and we’re SO STOKED that a recent cross-country road trip (big announcement on that front soon!) took us right past the area. Naturally, we looked at each other, said “Morro Bay?,” and turned the 🚐 around to head back just in time for a gorgeous sunset. 

Now we’re even more determined to hit all the spots that we took for granted and we’ll always find excuses to make our way back through Cali! Yosemite, Redwoods, Death Valley – we’re talking to you! 

What other spots do we need to hit? Shout ‘em out in the comments!

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#morrobay #sunset #centralcoast #SLO  #SanLuisObispo #california #southerncalifornia #daytrip #roadtrip #californialandmarks
We saw ALL THE MANATEES today! This was our second We saw ALL THE MANATEES today!
This was our second attempt at @bluespringstatepark within a couple weeks. We saw zero manatees the first time, and committed to returning after spending some time in Southern Florida. Turns out, we happened upon some manatees in the marina @evergladesnps, but the water was so murky we could only see parts of them… if they surfaced. 

Today was the day we got to return to Blue Spring. The weather was much cooler this time (great conditions for spotting manatees in the springs), and when we pulled up to the entrance, the sign read “MANATEE COUNT *288*” For context, there was no count on the sign for our previous visit, so… YAY! 

Can’t say exactly what OUR manatee count was, but we easily saw dozens in a short amount of time – from adorable little babies to giants! The water was crystal clear. It was so serene – watching them graciously glide through, only occasionally making a splash. Hearing that beautiful sound when they surfaced for air. Today was an AWESOME day, and we’re so thankful that we had the flexibility to come back and spend some quality time with these beautiful, unique creatures. 🥰

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#manatees #bluespringstatepark #centralflorida #orlando #florida #therealflorida #wildlife #statepark #bluespring #bluesprings #manateestatepark #bluespringmanatees #travelmatters #travelvloggers
Is this seat taken? Nothing says “classic New J Is this seat taken? 
Nothing says “classic New Jersey” like Asbury Park! We visited the boardwalk for the first time this summer as part of our DIY food tour of New Jersey. 

A killer coffee roastery? ✅
Cereal pancakes? ✅
Disco fries? ✅
$27 milkshake??? ✅

LINK IN BIO to see all that, plus a unique Jersey twist on “the slushee” in our latest vlog, now live on YouTube! 

This is state #20 in our mission to visit all 50 states (plus DC & Puerto Rico) - join our adventures! 

PLACES VISITED IN THIS VLOG:
@buddysjc
@roastd.coffee
@thetopsdiner
@coneywaffleasburypark

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#newjersey #asburypark #newjerseyfood #foodtour #jerseycity #fortlee #jerseyshore #travelvlog #travelmatters
As you set your goals for 2023, don’t be afraid As you set your goals for 2023, don’t be afraid to be the orange fish. If an idea or dream scares you or feels too different, it’s probably the one you should go for!

We spotted these guys while snorkeling in the Galápagos Islands. See the full vlogs on our YouTube channel. LINK IN BIO!

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#fish #schooloffish #galapagos #galapagosislands #ecuador #travelmatters #travelvloggers #wildlife #conservation #underwatervideo #snorkeling🐠 
#newyeargoals #lifegoals
We saw so much cool wildlife in the Galapagos! See We saw so much cool wildlife in the Galapagos! See the full vlogs on our YouTube channel. LINK IN BIO!

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#galapagos #galapagosislands #ecuador #travelmatters #travelvloggers #wildlife #conservation #sealion #bluefootedbooby #tortoise #frigate #iguana #crab #fish
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