HOORAY FOR
KATE FIELDER saddles up for a whistle-stop tour of the City of Angels
DOWNTOWN Los Angeles – the old and the new stand proudly side by side, towers glisten alongside Art Deco façades.
Waking up to views of gigantic shiny skyscrapers is something I’ve grown to love – a good cityscape makes my heart sing. And there aren’t many finer than the one that greets me as I begin my long weekend in the City of Angels.
Now, a long weekend may sound foolhardy given such a long flight, but when Virgin Atlantic launched new direct flights from my hometown of Manchester, the destination became much more appealing for a city break.
Just a few decades ago, the downtown area was a shadow of what it is today. Once a snubbed city centre left to decline, the area has been developed into something special.
Wandering around the blocks of this part of the city I discovered museums and the amazing Grand Central Market, serving the area since 1917 and offering excellent food produce and a great atmosphere.
You’ll even find the shortest railway in the world – Angels Flight in downtown, made famous from the smash hit film La La Land and TV series Bosch.
I stayed at Level Furnished Living, the perfect base. My apartment had all the essentials you could need, offering a typical home-from-home experience. And in a room located on the 19th floor, I had amazing views of this magnificent city.
Los Angeles is a dynamic, ever-evolving destination where diversity thrives, and everyone is welcome.
You can discover the true LA by exploring its more than 30 culturally-rich neighbourhoods, each one offering a distinct vibe. Home to 300 days of warm sunshine, 75 miles of idyllic shoreline, more museums than any other US city, and an innovative culinary scene led by influential tastemakers, LA presents limitless possibilities for every taste and interest. That’s why more than 50 million visitors are drawn here every year.
And exploring LA is fun. Regular reminders of the great Hollywood hits give this city a unique feel.
Hollywood’s walk of fame and the TCL Chinese Theatre are probably the most iconic of those, but there’s much more on offer within this wonderful city for the curious traveller.
GO RIDE THE RANGE
ADMITTEDLY, I was apprehensive about the thought of horse riding.
But Hollywood’s Sunset Ranch was friendly and efficient, and before I had time to give in to my scaredy-cat thoughts I was kitted out and astride the lovely Bambino and trekking up the small hills with our expert guide Michaela.
Bambino, I discovered, was a beautiful wild horse that the ranch had expertly tamed.
What’s more, Bambino knew the route well and wanted to lead the group for our hour-long ride in the Hollywood Hills.
I’m pretty sure this will always be one of my top life experiences...
IT AIN’T ROCKET SCIENCE AT THE CALIFORNIA SCIENCE CENTER
HERE you’ll find the immersive and interactive exhibition Dogs! A Science Tail. But my favourite exhibit was the Space Shuttle Endeavour. I found it fascinating to be up close to something that has literally been out of this world on no less than 25 successful missions, before its final flight in 2011.
PAINTING THE TOWN RED
GET taken off the beaten track with a graffiti and mural tour with LA Art Tours. I met Galo, a local artist, for a two-hour tour around the art district. Galo introduced us to some of his favourite pieces and explained the techniques used, the crews, and some of the golden rules of LA street life they follow.
GO FOR A HOME RUN
TAKE a leaf out of the locals book and watch the baseball.
I started off my evening with a trip to Phillippe The Original for a signature French dip sandwich – seemingly the only place to go for a pre-match dinner when the LA Dodgers are playing at home.
At Dodger Stadium the atmosphere on a balmy summer evening was electric, the game was long, but the Margaritas, beers and constant chanting made it a great night out.
MAKE IT IN THE MOVIES
THE Warner Bros Studio Tour Hollywood promises to bring you closer to the magic of the movies.
Visiting the busiest working studio in LA, I was taken to see famous film sets, got to walk around the original Batmobile, and wear the Harry Potter sorting hat.
I finished my experience with a visit to the Central Perk set from Friends. Yes, the mega-successful sitcom was filmed in LA, not New York where it is set.
LIFE’S A BEACH
I JOINED an expert Walking Tours LA guide, who helped me understand the free-spirited and bohemian atmosphere of laidback Venice Beach.
I learned more about Abbot Kinney, the real estate developer who created the Venice canals, modelled on the city of the same name in Italy, and the man after whom Venice’s main street is named.
We strolled along Venice Boardwalk, home to Muscle Beach and the Venice Skate Park, wandered along the canals and admired the beautiful properties surrounding this once intricate canal system, ending the tour on the wonderful Abbot Kinney Boulevard, with its elegant boutiques and quirky cafes and hipster galleries and eateries.
EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY
ROSSOBLU is located in the fashion district of LA and offers a rustic Italian menu based on chef Steve Samson’s childhood memories with grandparents in Italy. Offering a varied menu including homemade pastas and delicious meats and fish. And the all important extensive Italian wine list.
Bottega Louie is an Italianinspired restaurant, patisserie and cafe located in downtown Los Angeles. We visited for brunch, and the menu is extensive with both sweet and savoury delights to tickle those taste buds.
Leaving without giving into the sea of delicate patisseries and macarons is the toughest thing I did all weekend.
Auburn is a fine dining restaurant on Melrose Avenue run by chef Eric