That's right... I am an official California Girl as the song says, and with so much to tell you about Los Angeles, I am going to break up my information into a three-part series. Yes... there really is that much to do and see, and Los Angeles is so vast, that breaking it down to you by area will give you more to check out when you visit this amazing City of Angels!
the coast to the westside
Here's some history -- LA didn't start off as grand as some might think...*The following information was taken from Herbert E. Bolton's book, Fray Juan Crespi: Missionary Explorer of the Pacific Coast, 1769-1774 .
In 1769, a party of Spanish explorers were developing a trail between San Diego and San Francisco, which became known as El Camino Real. A series of missions would be established along this trail. Led by Father Junipero Serra and Captain Gaspar de Portola, and with Father Juan Crespi to record what they saw, the expedition of about 67 men entered what is now Los Angeles by way of Elysian Park, on August 2, 1769. The area was a valley, which was beautifully landscaped with cottonwoods and alder trees, and graceful sloping hills. They came across a beautiful river from the north to the south.
Portola named the river, El Rio de Nuestra Senora la Reina de los Angeles de Porciuncula. The expedition left the area the next morning; during their brief stay, there had been three earthquakes. Nevertheless, Crespi saw the possibilities for a large settlement in this "delightful place" by the river.
The new governor of California, Felip de Neve, recommended to the viceroy in Mexico that the place suggested by Father Crespi was an ideal place for a mission to be developed into a pueblo. King Carlos III of Spain, in turn, took the recommendation and ordered Governor de Neve to establish the pueblo. De Neve took the job of establishing the settlement very seriously.
He drew up plans for the pueblo, including a plaza, fields, pastures, and royal lands. This surely is the first time a city has been planned before the first settler arrived, and ironic in view of the unfettered growth of Los Angeles.
Persuading settlers to come here from Mexico was another matter. In spite of many inducements, such as money and land, it took months before he was able to get enough settlers, and he had to go to Sonora to get them.
Finally, a group of 11 men, 11 women and 22 children were gathered together at the Mission San Gabriel. On September 4, 1781, they left San Gabriel, accompanied by de Neve, soldiers, mission priests, and a few Indians to settle the site along the river. There was a speech by Governor de Neve, a blessing and prayers from the mission fathers -- all witnessed by the Yang-Na Indians.
Thus El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de los Angeles de Porciuncula (The Town of Our Lady the Queen of the Angeles of Porciuncula) came into existence. The new pueblo grew slowly, and amenities were few. The houses were very small, usually of adobe with flat roofs -- glassless windows and rawhide doors. The narrow streets were almost impassable when it rained. There were, of course, no sidewalks or lawns, and the trees along the river rapidly disappeared.
By 1790, Los Angeles had 28 households and a population of 139. By 1800, the population was 70 households and a population of 315. There was also a town hall and guardhouse, as well as army barracks and granaries. This Spanish town neither knew nor cared that the United States had been born and was already moving relentlessly across the continent. The first Yankee settler did not arrive until about 1820.
fast forward, la today
Los Angeles has since exploded far beyond our original settlers' imaginations. It is one of the most sought after cities to visit in the world. The glamorous entertainment business blossoming in the early 1920s, brought an influx of some of the most beautiful people, coming to fulfill their dreams in the big lights and big city. Still today, the beautiful people come to Los Angeles, and if you know where to go, celebrity sightings are as typical as drinking your morning coffee!F.Y.I. You will need a car! Angelinos are as in love with their cars as their wives, kids and mothers... We've gotten a bad wrap over it, but let me explain why:
1-- It is so vast a city, most people commute to work from outlying areas and public transportation can be slow, daunting and unavailable.
2-- The city is not self-contained like New York or Chicago.
3-- There is basically little to no public transportation. What was set in place was not adequate to sustain the explosion of people coming to LA.
4-- There are attempts at public transportation, yet this does not affect most areas. For example, there is no subway system anywhere close to the Westside.
5-- We love how we look in our cars.
la lingo
Los Angeles has several great areas -- freeways and Boulevards separate these areas -- so you need to get a map and learn these terms. You will hear them and you may want to use them, so before I introduce you to some places, I must get you acquainted with some common area terms, like:Westside-- West of the 405 freeway. (The 405 runs north and south and reaches all the way from San Diego to the top of the San Fernando Valley.) Basically, West Los Angeles is the area, which is the closest part of Los Angeles to its beaches.
Pac Pal-- Pacific Palisades -- a suburb in Santa Monica -- mostly residential.
The Bu-- Malibu
PCH-- Pacific Coast Highway, which runs north and south, parallel to the coast.
Malibu is every bit as gorgeous as you have seen in movies, on TV and in those "visit California" ads. A beach community, famed by the California surfers lifestyle (don't let that fool you. Malibu is one of California's most expensive cities in which to purchase property, with a 2-bedroom shack on the beach starting at the $800,000 mark), Malibu is more of a spend-the-day-at-the-beach area, rather than stick-around-for-the-nightlife. In fact, there isn't much of a nightlife whatsoever.
Some of the favorite beaches and surf locales are Zuma Beach, Third Point, and a small area in between amazing houses on the beach and just east of the Malibu pier. There are lifeguard stations and restaurants in these areas, so make sure you have it all before going to the beach.
Visit La Salsa on PCH for a great burrito; stay at the Malibu Shores Motel if on a budget, or the Malibu Beach Inn right on the beach; eat at Gladstone's Restaurant and Cantina (great on a Sunday afternoon), and make sure you wait for the outside patio. There are also upscale dinner places such as Geoffrey's -- very pricey; Beau Rivage -- you'll feel like you're in Europe; Granita -- A Wolfgang Puck masterpiece; and Allegria -- gourmet Italian.
Santa Monica is a bustling little town with amazing restaurants, great hotels and an even greater nightlife. The beaches rest below on PCH and the town sits on the bluffs above. On a clear day, you can see all the way down the coast, and a little island called Catalina.
Santa Monica lies right next door to Brentwood and is about a 15-minute drive down Wilshire Blvd. to Beverly Hills. The weather is moderate, cool in the winter (around 50-60F during the day) and mild during the summer, with the average temperature of 78F degrees.
Where to stay? Well, there are several choices, from moderate to expensive. Let's start with my personal favorite: expensive! Most have ocean views and are just steps away from the sand. A personal favorite is Shutters on the Beach. It is a wonderful hotel with two great restaurants; a favorite of mine is upstairs near the piano lounge, One Pico. During the winter, you can request to sit near the roaring fireplace, which lends to a romantic and special experience.
Right across the street is the Casa Del Mar Hotel. A newly renovated California styled hotel, its bar area and lounge boast some of the most glorious architecture around. Its rooms are beautifully decorated.
Lowes is up the street on the bluffs, with incredible views. More modest accommodations are the Hotel Carmel on 2nd street and the Hotel Oceana on Ocean Avenue. There is also a Holiday Inn, right next door to Santa Monica Place, the shopping mall and Third Street Promenade.
just do it!
Third Street Promenade is located in the heart of Santa Monica. It's an actual street -- closed to traffic -- and converted into a four-block magical place filled with street acts, shopping, restaurants, movie theaters, and nightlife. Everything is within walking distance and you will have so much to see and do, that you could spend a week here and not have done everything. At the end of Third Street you'll find the Santa Monica Place Mall, offering additional shopping and eateries.Santa Monica not only boasts some of California's best beaches, but also its mountains. Hiking, horseback riding and ecological tours from the Santa Monica conservatory are all within minutes of the beach.
Montana Avenue, another area in Santa Monica, where the locals shop, eat and people watch. An exclusive part of Santa Monica, several celebrities call this area home. Who knows, you might be shopping next to Brooke Shields or Maria Shriver, or sipping a latte next to Kevin Costner.
Venice Beach is on the southern side, the neighboring city of Santa Monica. A quirky area filled with a unique blend of body builders, artisans, street acts, and shopping.
During the summer, in the parking lot next to the pier, a two-tiered tent arises and fireworks go off around dusk. Cirque de Soleil finds a home for the summer months and puts on a spectacular show. Seats are usually sold out ahead of time and are hard to come by, so if you are planning a trip, check the sites below for information on how to reserve tickets.
eat first -- play later!
With more than 400 eateries, Santa Monica dishes up a meal for everyone's taste. Third Street is known for its sidewalk Bistros, as is Montana Avenue. Here are a few of my all-time favorites. Don't miss Rebecca's at sunset for their happy hour and appetizers. Ocean Avenue Seafood and The Ivy at the Shore are two of my favorite restaurants on Ocean Avenue. They are pricey, but the menus are to die for.My all-time favorite restaurant in Los Angeles, on Channel Road, is a small and decadent little find called Café Delfini. So small and intimate (approximately 15 tables), the owners and waiters are from Italy, making this the best Italian restaurant in the city. It isn't rare to see Michelle Pfeiffer and David E. Kelly, or Cindy Crawford dining there. Another Italian restaurant off the Promenade that I recently came across is La Luna Mare. Weekends offer up live music.
Everyone dresses in black to go out here in Los Angeles, and Santa Monica is no exception. Winter, summer, spring, or fall, pack some black for your nights out. Speaking of nightlife, try a great bar with a New York edge called Voda. It is incredibly cool and hip, and known for its Vodkas from all over the world, which are placed on this incredible rock wall behind the bar.
Go to King's Head if you're looking for a great pub, complete with darts to go with your ale; Rix for dinner and jazz under the stars; Gotham Hall for drinks and shooting pool; and for dancing, don't miss the Lounge 217.
going on down
Moving onto our next Westside community, towards the 405 and closer to Beverly Hills and Bel Air, is Brentwood. If you blink, you'll miss it. Getting there from Santa Monica is just a 5-minute ride down one of Los Angeles' most beautiful and expensive neighborhoods.
The Beverly Hills of the Westside, Brentwood is extremely pricey to live in. Your neighbors include Cindy Crawford, Calista Flockhart and Jim Belushi, to name just a few. Once a sleepy community, OJ Simpson brought this quaint town into the spotlight. San Vicente Boulevard connects Santa Monica to "The Village," which is the heart of Brentwood.
San Vicente Boulevard is known for its beautiful tree-lined street and wide medium, where you'll see runners, and people walking and riding bikes down to the beach. Once you enter Brentwood, there are several places to eat and shop.
The Cheesecake Factory has one of the largest menus in Los Angeles and is known for its gigantic portion sizes. It has a great patio and is wonderful for lunch. Toscana is a wonderful Italian restaurant. For a great celebrity sightings place, go to Vicente for dinner. There is the Brentwood Garden Shopping Center with unique shops. For nightlife, check out the El Dorado Bar and Grill, which is full of beautiful people and a great atmosphere.
Cast your gaze upward to the backdrop of Brentwood's hills, just north and sitting just west of the 405: you'll see The Getty Center. Completed just a few years ago, this amazing museum is a spectacle for the eye, a masterpiece in architecture, and offers some of the most amazing views of the whole city and beyond. It will take you all day to conquer its many rooms and art exhibits, so plan to eat there, or bring a picnic lunch. If you choose to eat at The Restaurant, I suggest you call ahead for reservations.
I have only just begun to scratch the surface of this great area. So check out these sites for additional information, as listed below. Watch for Part 2 of Los Angeles!
Resources:
http://www.malibu.org/
http://www.malibusurfing.com/
http://www.ci.malibu.ca.us/
http://www.santamonica.com/
http://www.santa-monica-california.com/
http://www.downtownsm.com/
http://www.westland.net/piercam/
http://www.nps.gov/samo/
http://www.loewshotels.com/santamonicahome.html
http://www.santamonicaplace.com/
http://www.santa-monica.org/resource_mgmt/pier/
http://www.getty.edu/
Los Angeles Travel Guide
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