You know those friends who will say yes to making plans, any plans, including doing a road trip up the West Coast? That's me, and Jenni is the dear friend that invited me along. I hadn't been to the West Coast in a few years and was ready for the next adventure.
The trip started in Los Angeles, we rented a hipster's paradise Airbnb in the Venice Beach area. The space was quaint and charming. Although we only met our hosts once, they were absolutely wonderful. We also rented a car so we would have mobility as LA is a driving city and soon we were California Dreaming!
Venice Beach Airbnb
Our Airbnb was the perfect little bungalow for the two of us with a serene back yard and about a 20 minute walk from the beach.
All of LA in a Day
Jenni and I are happy walkers and we both want to see it all. What is so nice about traveling with Jen is that she and I are on the same page about getting an early start and wanting to see as much as we can!
Now, of course you can't do LA in a day but Jenni and I got pretty close.The first full day in LA it felt like we saw almost all of it! We visited Venice Beach, hiked in Griffith Park, drove to the St Monica Pier, and did the Hollywood Walk of Fame all in one day.
A hike through Griffith park is best done before 11:00 on a weekend. Since we both rise and shine early we were there by 8:30am. The early start has two benefits, first it's cooler in the morning to take some ease off the hike, and second, you don't have to start paying for parking until 11:00 and we had wanted to be heading out by then anyway.
Don't be fooled we are both just airing out our armpits.
The trails are extensive, for example the hike to the famous Hollywood sign takes three hours, we did not do that one, but you can lose yourself (in a good way) in the hills.
After our morning hike we also went swung by the St Monica Pier and the Hollywood walk of fame.
A Day in Malibu
Our lovely hosts, the one time we met them, suggested we avoid the popular beach Zumma Beach in exchange for a beach called Staircase, assumably named after the built in natural staircase you take to get down to the waterfront. This was a much nicer spot, quiet, and down a magnificent cliff to get to the water.
Only thing, if you do choose to go to this beach, remember to pack bug spray!
Warner Brothers Studios
So what I do for a living is work on movies, I'm a Production Designer for film so of course Jenni and I, accompanied by one of Jenni's friends from college, had to check out Warner Brother Studios. There is a guided tour where you are driven all over the studios. The tour guides are charming with extensive movie making knowledge. If you're lucky you can catch some sets from your favorite shows like Gilmore Girls, Shameless, or the studio for the late night show The Colbert Report and always get to see the famous coffee set from Friends. If you're REALLY lucky you might see a favorite celebrity walking around. We weren't that lucky but the tour was wonderful!
OUE Skyspace LA
Lastly for LA was seeing the city 360. Jenni and I finished our trip with seeing LA in all her glory. We opted against the additional 20 bucks to go down the clear slide to the observation deck but if your wallet can swing it, looks like a fun choice. We decided a glass of wine would be a better use of funds and we stayed until the sun set.
Next up was Camping
Jenni and drove away from the coast into the valley to go camping and hike in Sequoia National Park. Our next Airbnb was about 20 minutes from the border of Sequoia National park and situated on 5 acres of land we were free to explore.
Along the way made a K9 friend named Dutchess and 10 out of 10 was a good dogger.
A Day in Sequoia National Park
Jenni is incredibly outdoorsy, more then I knew before this trip! So she was most excited about going to hike in Sequoia National Park. The park spans 404,064 acres and is responsible for preserving the Giant Sequoia trees. Jenni and I chose a six mile round-trip hike to see General Sherman, an incredibly large Redwood in the Giant Forrest.
You can drive strait to the Giant Forrest and "cheat" in Jenni, and I's opinion, or you can park at Lodgebowl and do the three mile hike to General Sherman. The hike is on the easier side, not too much up and down, and gives you some great views of the magnificent park. It took me and Jenni about 3 and a half hours to complete our hike there and back.
BIG DAY
On the Road to Point Lobos
After two nights in the valley we headed to San Fransisco, stopping in Point Lobos. I had never heard of the place but Jenni had, and I will tell you it is a must see spot! Point Lobos is a national park that protects wildlife along the coast. If you're lucky you might catch a blue wale or a gray humpback whale migrate through the area, but you can almost always catch dozens and dozens of barking seals. There is no other word to describe this park other then glorious.
The park isn't very large, you could walk the whole thing in about three hours and is situated like a half circle. We parked somewhere in the middle so we could do a large loop and come back to the car.
Last Stop San Fransisco
Last stop on the trip was San Fransisco. Jenni had family friends who had recently moved out to San Fransisco and we stayed with them. I had 24 hours in this city (Jenni had a few more days before heading back) and one thing in mind. I wanted to see the Golden Gate Bridge, and in true Jenni and Kierra fashion, we walked there, from Fisherman's Wharf. If you haven't been to this city, let me tell you, that is a LONG walk. But we made it!
Pro Tip: Layer up in San Fransisco the weather changes randomly and drastically.
And a trip to California is not complete without a stop to In and Out burger!
Up Next
After my real fast 24 hours in San Fransisco, I headed home to catch the Childish Gabino concert in NYC and Jenni stayed for a couple more days. What is so lovely about traveling with good friends goes without saying. It's nice to have people to share these places with, and occasionally take an absurd amount of pictures of you... maybe not occasionally.
Anyway planning the next adventure and always keeping curious.
-Kierella
