Beautiful white beaches, desert oases under the stars, a touch of Tinseltown glamor, or a mecca of cool bars, trend shops and an eclectic oceanfront boardwalk. Whatever you’re looking for, California has it in spades.
We start our long weekend in Venice Beach has a buzzing, bohemian vibe, thanks to its punk rock, surfer and skater roots. But the beach town also boasts an array of high-end eateries and Instagram-friendly foodie spots, cozy coffee shops and shopping mecca Abbot Kinney Boulevard, which is full of stylish boutiques.
We are staying at Hotel Erwin – a four-star hotel that features eclectic décor, friendly staff, and stunning views over the world-famous Venice Beach Boardwalk. My boyfriend and I head checked in, and immediately headed to its High Rooftop Lounge for a craft cocktail as we watched the sun set behind the palm trees.
Beautiful white beaches, desert oases under the stars, a touch of Tinseltown glamor, or a mecca of cool bars, trend shops and an eclectic oceanfront boardwalk. Whatever you’re looking for, California has it in spades. Pictured is one of the surf instructors from Surf Diva in San Diego
One of the best ways to get around Venice Beach is on two wheels. LA has bicycles and electric scooters dotted around the city, but we took advantage of Erwin’s free bikes for guests to explore.
Our first stop was the boardwalk where we stopped to watch skaters jumping the half-pipe and bodybuilders pumping iron at the iconic Muscle Beach – where Arnold Schwarzenegger famously honed his Terminator muscles.
It’s a scenic three-mile bike ride down to the famous Santa Monica pier plus a plethora of bars and restaurants to enjoy a glass of wine overlooking the ocean. On the return to the hotel we visited the serene, picturesque canals from which Venice Beach takes its name.
After working up a sweat on the bikes, it was time to refuel. We tried Ospi, a modern, contemporary Italian which features eclectic pizzas and handmade pasta including a melt-in-your-mouth beef cheek Ragu.
We began our long weekend in Venice Beach at Hotel Erwin (pictured) – a four-star hotel that features eclectic décor, friendly staff, and stunning views over the world-famous Venice Beach Boardwalk
My boyfriend and I head straight to its High Rooftop Lounge (pictured) for a craft cocktail as we watched the sun set behind the palm trees
Venice Beach has a buzzing, bohemian vibe, thanks to its punk rock, surfer and skater roots. But it also boasts the shopping mecca Abbot Kinney Boulevard which is full of stylish boutiques, coffee shops and Instagram-friendly foodie spots
Our first stop was the boardwalk where we stopped to watch skaters jumping the half-pipe and bodybuilders pumping iron at the iconic Muscle Beach – where Arnold Schwarzenegger famously honed his Terminator muscles
Venice Beach, which attracts more than ten million visitors per year, has more than enough to keep visitors entertained without ever venturing into the rest of LA.
However, we decided to take in some Hollywood hotspots – just a 40 minute drive away – following the Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard, watching a movie at the famous Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and catching a show at the Comedy Store.
Then we were off to the next destination; Palm Springs, just a two hour drive away.
We checked in at the Alcazar Palm Springs – a gorgeous 34-room boutique hotel offering mountain views from the heart of the hip uptown design district.
Then we were off to the next destination; Palm Springs, just a two hour drive away. While there we joined the Palm Springs Mod Squad Essentials tour which took us to some of the city’s iconic midcentury desert modern homes
In the morning, we hike the Andreas Canyon in Indian Canyons before it got too hot. The scenic trail takes you through the arid desert mountains and into a beautiful lush oasis hidden inside a deep canyon, passing groves of skirted palms and the perennial Andreas Creek
We checked in at the Alcazar Palm Springs – a gorgeous 34-room boutique hotel offering mountain views from the heart of the hip uptown design district
In the evening, we headed into downtown for VillageFest, held every Thursday evening, featuring a diverse array of artists, entertainers and stalls selling crystals, jewelry, and food
Formally known as the Pepper Tree Inn, the hotel has been extensively refurbished and boasts fireplaces, patios and a big pool which opens late giving you an unobstructed view of the stars while you relax on your floatie.
But there is too much to see in Palm Springs to stay in the pool.
We head into downtown for VillageFest, held every Thursday evening, featuring a diverse array of artists, entertainers and stalls selling crystals, jewelry, and food.
Dinner was at Tac/Quila, a fun Mexican eatery with eclectic décor serving elevated street food and a big Mezcal cocktail menu.
The next morning was an early start to hike the Andreas Canyon in Indian Canyons before it got too hot.
The scenic trail takes you through the arid desert mountains and into a beautiful lush oasis hidden inside a deep canyon, passing groves of skirted palms and the perennial Andreas Creek.
After appreciating the area’s natural beauty, it was time to take in some of the local art and architecture.
We swung by the Palm Springs Art Museum, which features incredible modern art by local and western artists, before joining the Palm Springs Mod Squad Essentials tour.
During the midcentury, Palm Springs attracted some of the world’s pioneering architects who pushed the boundaries of home design, and played with glass, concrete and steel to create the city’s iconic desert modernism.
The guides on the Mod Squad tour know their stuff and highlighted works by architect rockstars such as William Cody, Albert Frey, Donald Wexler and E. Stewart Williams, as well as the homes of Hollywood stars such as Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra who used the town as an escape from the glitz and glamor of Tinseltown.
Sadly, it was time to get back on the road and after stopping for a bite at the cool, laid back Grand Central restaurant, we head south towards San Diego.
We pull up in front of the InterContinental San Diego, a stunning new waterfront hotel in the city’s downtown. Pictured is the outdoor pool
The immaculate hotel features two restaurants, three bars and a Starbucks, as well as a pool-with-a-view and 3,300 sq. ft. health and wellness center
Our first stop in San Diego was to ANIMAE, a world-class Asian fusion steakhouse, in the Marina District, which was the brainchild of celebrity chef and restaurateur Brian Malarkey
ANIMAE, a world-class Asian fusion steakhouse, in the Marina District, was the brainchild of celebrity chef and restaurateur Brian Malarkey and is one of the few restaurants in the city to serve Japan’s finest A5 wagyu beef
We returned to the ocean once more for the Everyday California sea cave kayak tour
All too soon it was our final day. After checking out, we swung by the quirky Craft & Commerce (right), a brunch bar big on taxidermy for an unusual breakfast. For the brave, I recommend the stuffed bone marrow (left) – followed by the bone marrow shot
We topped off the evening with dinner at one of the hotels two restaurants; Catch at Garibaldi (pictured) which offered beautiful views over the marina and Tikki themed cocktails
We pull up in front of the InterContinental San Diego, a stunning new waterfront hotel in the city’s downtown.
The immaculate hotel features two restaurants, three bars and a Starbucks, as well as a pool-with-a-view and 3,300 sq. ft. health and wellness center.
Our first stop in San Diego was to ANIMAE, a world-class Asian fusion steakhouse, in the Marina District, which was the brainchild of celebrity chef and restaurateur Brian Malarkey and is one of the few restaurants in the city to serve Japan’s finest A5 wagyu beef.
Our meal was exceptional. Both my boyfriend and I chose wagyu steaks which melted in the mouth. The caviar shrimp toast is another cannot miss menu item.
The next morning we set out to La Jolla, one of San Diego’s most popular neighborhoods, for a surfing lesson with Surf Diva. The lesson was great fun and, while I did not manage to stand on the board for more than 30 seconds before taking a face-first dive into the waves, our patient instructor made me believe I was just one step away from being a born again surfer.
After crashing through the waves we headed for some much needed tacos and cocktails at Puesto La Jolla before we returned to the ocean once more for the Everyday California sea cave kayak tour.
We topped off the evening with dinner at one of the hotels two restaurants; Catch at Garibaldi which offered beautiful views over the marina and Tikki themed cocktails.
All too soon it was our final day. After checking out, we swung by the quirky Craft & Commerce, a brunch bar big on taxidermy for an unusual breakfast. For the brave, I recommend the stuffed bone marrow – followed by the bone marrow shot.
