Turning a work trip into a mini vacation is something I’ve mastered over the years. This year our annual speech pathology conference was in LA, which seemed like a great vacation spot for November; so my colleague Laura and I decided to submit a presentation and head west. A significant amount of my time was taken by the conference, but I still managed to squeeze in some fun in the afternoon/evenings. Since this wasn’t an actual vacation, I didn’t feel that I could give a proper Top 5 this time around.  However, I have some suggestions based on the fun things we did, that I would recommend on an LA vacation.

Getting the work part of the trip out of the way

Griffith Observatory
I stayed with my friend Andrew while I was in LA.  He suggested we go to the Griffith Observatory because they went there in La La Land and he LOVES that movie. Because neither of us had a car, we Uber-ed there, which was easy and relatively inexpensive. It’s free to visit and there are amazing views of the Hollywood sign, downtown LA and the beautiful mountains surrounding the city. We went at sunset which I would recommend, as it’s really picturesque.

SUR Restaurant and Lounge
As a self admitted Bravo addict, I have been dying to go to SUR. I know they are all terrible people and it’s trash tv but I don’t care because I love it. I made the reservation 2 months in advance to make sure we would be able to get in.  You only need a reservation if you plan on eating dinner, as the lounge is first come, first serve seating. The food was decent, a bit on the pricey side, but worth it. Unfortunately, the night we were there (also 2 nights later when we went back), not one person from the show was working. I was really bummed, but was still so excited to be there.

And bonus:  PUMP is literally down the block from SUR, so in just a few minutes walk, you can check out both of LVP’s restaurants in the same night. A real win-win.

Had to get my Bravo fix

My friend Shane also now lives in LA so I was able to see hime too!

Runyon Canyon hike
The Runyon Canyon hike is not only a way to get some gorg pictures, but also a way to get some great exercise. It’s a tough hike, about 5 miles long (at least the route we took) and very steep in parts. It’s also scary going down the steep areas, because the dirt is really loose and it’s easy to slip. I had to be super careful and go slow to save my klutzy self from injury or death. It’s a great way to be active and still see some sights.

The Late Late Show with James Corden
I managed to secure tickets to James Corden and was so excited because I love him. Andrew was able to upgrade our tickets to VIP and we ended up front row, right in front of the couch where the guests sit. Gael García Bernal and Jason Momoa were the guests for our show.  I didn’t know Gael, but was very excited to see Khal Drogo in real life. I was really hoping that Harry Styles would make a surprise appearance on the show, but unfortunately no such luck. Regardless, the show was so much fun….and free!

Side note:  Backpacks are not allowed inside the studio. Although you can store it at the packaging store across the street for $5 if you end up bringing one.

General Tips

1 – LA is super spread out, particularly when comparing it to a place like NYC. It is someplace that you definitely need a car, because public transportation isn’t everywhere. Although, if you don’t have a car, Uber and Lyft are nice options and less expensive than in NYC, which was beneficial.

2 – I expected LA to be warm and sunny, which it was for the most part during the day. But it got surprisingly cool at night, which I was not expecting. Definitely pack a jacket or some kind of layers so you’re more comfortable out and about.

3 – If you want to see a TV taping, just like in NYC, most are done Monday – Thursday.  I was really wanting to go to Ellen, but unfortunately even 3 months out, her show was completely booked.  However, check out 1iota.com for tickets for others (James Corden, Jimmy Kimmel, The Voice, etc), which are more likely to be available a few weeks out.

4 – If you are visiting the Los Angeles area, try to venture out of downtown and Hollywood.  Take time to check out Santa Monica, Malibu, Venice Beach, Orange County, and other areas near by.  I didn’t get the chance to explore much on this trip, but have on previous trip to LA and it’s worth it.  There are so many beautiful places to visit.

Every time I visit California, it reaffirms the fact that I am not a west coast California girl.  Although I have enjoyed my trips to California and think that it is beautiful and a nice place to vacation, it’s just not a place I could see myself living.  I enjoy the seasons and prefer the fast pace of New York to anywhere else.  But I do think that La La Land is a place everyone should visit at least once!