As soon as we arrived at LAX, our jetlag was replaced by the excitement (or maybe hysteria) of being in California, as we were picked up by our driver (sorry…glamazons!) we got our first glimpse of sunshine and it was divine!
Our family friends, Vicki and Tom kindly said we could stay with them in their beautiful pink house. It’s just like a doll’s house inside and out, and it brought back so many happy memories of when I lived with them a few years ago.
We had our first American breakfast in the garden with Vicki and Tom. Their chef made us pancakes, fruit, eggs, bacon and maple syrup (bikini body diet) along with a few glasses of champagne of course (we were on holiday after all!) and we relaxed into the LA life. It was so lovely to catch up with them both and hear all their amazing stories.
We decided to explore Venice beach and Santa Monica for our first day. LA is really spread out so if you only have a few days there, it’s good to figure out what you want to do and then you can work out exactly what you want to see. Luckily Uber is big over here so we just jumped in taxis everywhere.
First things first, head to the beach! Obviously at the sight of sunlight we wanted to get straight into our bikinis and work on our tans! After walking along and exploring all the weird and wonderful Venice beach shops and stalls (weed everywhere FYI) we headed to the beach.
Make sure you take a stroll along the Santa Monica pier and relive BIG and all the other films filmed here. They even have a Bubba Gump restaurant if you’re a Forrest Gump fan! It’s a beautiful beach and people do actually rollerskate past you so the cliché is real!
Where to eat and drink
Venice Ale House (Venice)
If you want a relaxed, cool, fun vibe head to Venice Ale House. It’s right on the beach and you can sit out in the sunshine or inside. It’s very casual and you can get food and drinks and sit at big tables with long benches, as the afternoon goes on it turns into a party vibe.
Hotel Erwin Rooftop (Venice)
If you fancy something a little more glam, head to the rooftop at Hotel Erwin, we loved it here, chilled house music, great nibbles and amazing cocktails, all with a view across venice…perfect for watching the sun go down!
Ivy (Santa Monica)
This is very old school California and has a sort of 80’s beach look. The cocktails again are great and it’s fun to see, but we found a lot of the more prestigious American bars like this had this sort of dated vibe.
Bungalow (Santa Monica)
This place is amazing! So cool with a huge outdoor area. Definitely add to your list for a late brunch accompanied by a cocktail or two of course!
We had such an amazing day! If you’re planning your trip now and want any more details or advice just ask me below, would love to help! xxx
Manolos and Martinis - Lifestyle, fashion and travel blog By Georgia Burke @GeorgiaBurkexx 