The Hobbit's House is just a cute house to see if you are in the area. It is not a must stop. The…read morehouse actually has an owner and there is an apartment there. It was built by a former artist for Disney Studios and the builder, Lawrence Joseph worked on all of it for decades. There are adorable cottages and a view from the street is super. I think some of it may be occupied, I am not sure, so I did not venture far, just the front and back yard and stopped when I saw what looked like an apartment building. It is an LA Historical Landmark and just so cute. It is near Sony pictures. It almost looks like you are walking into a movie set. There is a great garden and a pond and it really does look like a Hobbit house. We were not there long, maybe 15 minutes and did not need to be. So, if you have 15 minutes and want to see a super cool house go take a peek.

When in LA on a rainy bank holiday (dramatically less traffic) do what Angelenos do! See the…read moresights!! These are people's homes aka the Lawrence and Martha Joseph Residence and Apartments, commonly known as the "Hobbit Houses," located in Culver City, California. The structures were designed and built by Lawrence Joseph, a former artist for Walt Disney Studios, starting in the 1940s and continuing construction for decades. Now surrounded by high rises it is difficult to land a parking spot but worth it to get a closer look. For a moment imagine yourself on a walk through emerald green grass & fields of wildflowers. And then look up & see these enchanting cottages.

I got a chance to check this place out one day! It is…read moreGoogle's LA office. It is on the smaller side compared to other Google locations. There are two Google buildings and this is one of them. There is a parking garage when you go under the binoculars. You can only get in if you know someone who works at Google. Once inside the building, you check-in and receive a badge. You have to be with your host at all times because host's badge is needed to enter in/out of some places within this facility. Also, you can take pictures inside the building with your host's permission. Honestly, I was really looking forward to free lunch at Google LA because that is the main reason why I drove all the way to Venice, CA. I was very disappointed when I found out that I could not get free lunch (not even snacks) because of the holidays! The place was completely emptied out. This place has a game room, fitness center, shower, bike rentals, mini basketball court, conference rooms, quiet rooms, kitchens, and a nice outdoor space. I hope I can come back to try their free lunch one day! I can't wait to visit other Google locations.

This is definitely not my favorite Frank Gehry building, but it's still architecturally interesting…read moreand famous. And if you're in Venice, absolutely drive down Main street and see this. It's stunning. As it is now a Google building, if you're taking pictures of this wonder of architecture, security WILL come out to question you. Because, you know, Google cares about privacy. Theirs.

We had as one of our final destinations, the WALKING PATHS AND CANALS of Venice, CA!!!…read more We are sure glad that we did. It was spectacular!!! It was like stepping into another world, with all of the water ways and bridges. In addition, there were the most amazing houses lining the canals. I know that it was in the movie VALENTINE'S DAY. I felt like Ashton Kutcher, delivering flowers. We walked around for about 30 Minutes, down one walkway, down another. THEN, OVER THE VERY CUTE BRIDGES!!!

It's a free and unique spot to visit if you're in SoCal or as I tell my friend when we were there,…read moreVenice, Italy? We got Venice at home. If you're already in the area, it's worth a stop to walk through if you've never been before. There's free street parking, just make sure to read the signs and be wary of the area that you're in. It didn't take too long for us to navigate here. Alright. Now here's the issue. We came in the dead heat of summer, so there's a LOT of still water. Maybe it's much better during other times of the year, but I gagged a couple times during our visit. Especially the parts where the water meets the corner end. SO MUCH garbage, algae, sludge, detritus, potentially floating turds too and it smelled like hot, stewed sewage and overly green algae, if that makes sense. I cannot imagine paying a jillion dollars and then facing that every day and also the potential of getting destroyed by mosquitos. I would not even want to get onto a boat and be near that water let alone in it. YET! If you go further towards where the ocean is or where the water actually flows, it's super nice and clean. You can see the bottom of the canal and no gross smell either. Now this is premium real estate. There's bridges that connects neighborhoods and it's nice to see the differences in architecture, the boats each house has, and much more. Would be neat to see how this neighborhood celebrates Halloween or Christmas. On our way back we also passed by a small park with a section for ducks only which is nice.

One of my favorite streets in Los Angeles. Abbot Kinney has a unique atmosphere with local vendors,…read moreboutiques, cafés, street musicians, and interesting architecture. It's a great place to walk around, grab a coffee, and enjoy the Venice vibe. Every visit feels a little different, and there is always something new to discover.

Abbott Kinney is only a mile long but there's so much to see. Whenever I'm in Venice, I never miss…read morecoming in here and strolling around the neighborhood. So many things to see in here such as checking the small businesses , view the colorful murals and attending pop up events. Also love dining here as there's so many different options as well. I love hanging out the stores which has either front and back patios. I really like the vibes and atmosphere here.

I visited the Santa Monica Pier and Boardwalk with my boyfriend and had a really fun time. It is…read moredefinitely a classic tourist spot, but the ocean views are beautiful and the pier has over a century of history. There is a lot to do, especially for families and kids. The Ferris wheel is iconic and gives great views of the coastline, and there are plenty of fun shops and snack spots to explore. The whole area has that classic Southern California beach vibe. We enjoyed walking around, taking in the ocean breeze, and people watching. The only downside for me was seeing the large homeless population in the area. It made me a little sad because you can tell some people are really struggling. It did not ruin the visit, but it is something you notice. Overall, I would still recommend visiting if you are in Santa Monica. It is a fun place to spend a couple of hours and enjoy the beach atmosphere.

My husband and I decided to go to the Santa Monica Boardwalk while in California. We took a Waymo…read morethere so we didn't have to worry about parking. When we got there we walked around and saw so many different things. There was an amusement park with rides, shops, restaurants, and people performing. It was really crowded. It can be overstimulating with all of the sounds and smells but the view of the ocean and beach is nice. Overall it was a positive experience. I loved the view of the water and being immersed in this lively place.

Excellent place to hang out and shop. Came to check out the Dodgers Clubhouse for my Japanese…read moretourists I'll be bringing them, after we check the pier.

What happened here?…read more The last time I had visited Third Street Promenade was... checks calendar ...fifteen years ago. Okay, so it's been a minute. Back then, this was the place to be. The energy was contagious. People were everywhere, the shops felt relevant, and there was a sense that something was always happening. Returning recently felt a bit like running into an old friend you barely recognized. Maybe this is simply the fate of the modern shopping district. Online retail changed everything, and malls across America have been fighting a losing battle for years. Whatever the cause, the Promenade feels like it's missing its heartbeat. Storefronts sit empty, foot traffic feels sparse, and what was once a lively destination now feels more like a collection of memories. That's not to say there aren't still pockets of life here and there. The location remains excellent, and you can still catch glimpses of what made this place special. But those moments are fleeting. More than anything, a visit to Third Street Promenade feels nostalgic. Not because of what it is today, but because of what it used to be. It's hard not to walk away wishing you could have experienced it in its prime.

Another awesome public art mural in Santa Monica. It is colorful and awesome to see. Definitely…read moremake this a stop on your visit.

Some of my friends love to do this ride and they talked me into going. I'm glad I did but it was…read morenot any easy sell for my friends. Ride a bike on the streets of LA/Santa Monica; (no offense to Santa Monica but unless you see a sign how do you really know what city you are in?). Were they nuts? I imagined us being road, kill done in by distracted, cell phone toten, soccer moms & finished off by yuppies hurrying to happy hour; (they do, do it on a Friday afternoon, prime happy hour time). Actually, it turns out there is safety in numbers and the most folks on the road just seemed bemused by the temporary flood of urban bikers. Where did we go? I don't know for sure, I was having such a good time I just followed the crowd and my friends. Afterwards we went to a well deserved but belated happy hour. But that's another story. If you have never been it's one of those greater Los Angeles moments that you should experience. Oh, and you don't have to be a hard core biker to enjoy the ride. I certinly wasn't.

If you live any where in or near the west side and you own a bike you need to be coming to Santa…read moreMonica Critical Mass. Why? Because it's the most fun you'll have on the first friday of EVERY month. Because it is the most inclusive/diverse group of people all out to have a good time. Because it's free. Meet at the Santa Monica Pier at 6:30 on the first Friday of every month and join hundreds of fellow cyclists in a casual ride through the streets of Santa Monica and West LA. The ride is usually accompanied by several patrons blasting classic tracks such as MJ's "Billy Jean," Hall & Oates "Man Eater," Tupac's "2 Live & Die in LA" and many more. A really fun/free thing to do on the West side that ends with drinks and dining for those so inclined. You need to come out, for sure.

Great place for a quick bite. It's been busy here but worth the wait…read more I'd recommend going here for food with friends and family.