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Posts Tagged ‘LA tours’
Embracing the West Coast Lifestyle
When my husband and I moved to Los Angeles, we immediately noticed that people do things a bit differently on the West Coast. The first thing that struck us was the casualness – I don’t think I’ve seen a single person at work wearing a suit or even khakis. Negotiating all the traffic on the Santa Monica Freeway has been a sobering experience to say the least, but for the most part we’ve adapted quickly.
I particularly like the fact that people in L.A. are so health-conscious. I had never so much as tasted tofu before moving out here, and now it’s one of my favorite garnishes. All of our friends back in Boston were intrigued by our new way of life, and many of them have made the trip out here to see how we’re doing. We love taking them around the city and usually make reservations for LA helicopter tours one day so we don’t have to battle the traffic.
Acclimating to LA
When I visited Europe in college, I was completely prepared for the culture shock that ensued. After all, it’s not fair to expect the residents of a foreign country to speak my language and conform to my cultural expectations. However, I was taken unawares when my husband and I moved to California. It really is true what they say: the West Coast of America is unlike any other place within our borders.
While it took some getting used to at first, we soon fell into the trappings of the L.A. lifestyle. During our first weeks in the city, we took a couple of LA guided tours to get acquainted with our surroundings. Since we’ve settled in, we’ve explored acupuncture, started doing yoga and generally adopted a healthier way of living. I still haven’t fully embraced the idea of spending so much time in bumper-to-bumper traffic on the way to work each morning, but you’ve got to take the good with the bad.
Planning Your Los Angeles Vacation
There is certainly no shortage of things to do in Los Angeles; in fact, the sheer number of options often intimidates many people. This is why it’s a good idea to plot out your itinerary beforehand, identifying things you “have to see” and those that can be skipped. Not only will this help you consolidate your list of attractions, it will also help you maximize your time in the City of Angels.
LA is notorious for its traffic, and the last thing you want to do when you’re on vacation is sit in gridlock for hours on end. Part of your itinerary planning should include visiting locations close to each other on the same day. This will eliminate driving back and forth across the city incessantly. Before you begin, get a map and mark off everywhere you want to visit; this way, you can see what is close to what and determine the best means of transportation.
Star Tours in Hollywood
When most people think of star tours Hollywood, they conjure images of guided tours through gated communities with fans hoping to catch a glimpse of their favorite celebs. This is certainly one of the most popular forms of star tours in LA, but it’s not the only one. Disneyland boasts its own version of Star Tours, although you won’t be driving through the pristine gardens of Beverly Hills.
Disneyland’s Star Tours is a Star Wars-themed ride that has been a part of the park for years. Unlike other rides which take you on a track, Star Tours is more like an interactive movie theatre. You sit in theatre style chairs with about 25 other people and watch an immense screen take you through the Star Wars universe. During the ride, the entire platform the seats are connected to moves and gyrates, giving you the impression that you are actually flying through a galaxy far, far away.
Tour Los Angeles
No trip to Southern California is complete without a guided tour around the city of Los Angeles. As the largest and most influential city of the West Coast, Los Angeles is a hub of economic and social activity. If you plan to tour Los Angeles, however, it is important that you do your research to find a qualified guide and reliable transportation.
There are several options for touring the city—from buses and vans to helicopters. While they may be more expensive, helicopter tours are the way to go in my opinion. They usually allow you to go with only friends and family, making for a more personable atmosphere. Helicopter tours also allow you to see more of the city and afford you the freedom to go where you please.
Hollywood Tours
When people go on Hollywood tours, there usually is a clear divide on what they want to see. Older generations often want to be taken to nostalgic areas that were emblematic of early films and classic stars from generations ago. New fans, however, are more enamored with the current wave of stardom and high-tech movie making that is ubiquitous in the area.
Fortunately, many Hollywood tours are able to strike a balance between these two desires and appease both parties. Although today big studios have a propensity to churn out multi-million dollar blockbusters, many of these same studios are the ones that created classic films. Visiting these locations allows fans of old and new films alike a chance to see where there favorite stars worked to create their beloved movies.
Los Angeles Tours
In most cities, a tour takes you to all of the locales that are typically plastered on postcards and used to stereotype the area: Los Angeles is different. While the Hollywood Sign and Dodger Stadium are emblematic of LA, myriad other locations help define the area. Due to this array of attractions, there is no such thing as “one size fits all” Los Angeles tours.
When making your arrangements, it is important to choose a tour catered to what you want to see. Many companies offer a variety of options that have different themes and durations. It’s a good idea to consult everyone in your parry to come to a consensus on what you all want to see.
Los Angeles Sightseeing Tours
Certain cities have so many attractions and historic locations to experience that the only logical option is to hire a professional guide; Los Angeles is one of those places. Trying to locate and enjoy all that the city has to offer will take days or weeks on your own. From historic theatres to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, you will never be able to experience everything without sightseeing tours Los Angeles.
Not only will a guided tour ensure that you see all of the highlights, but you will also receive professional insights and information that you never would have known. These guided tours are carefully planned out so that you maximize every minute that you spend in the city. During the tour, you will inevitably also learn about some of the city’s premier eateries and attractions to go visit later as well.
Cat in a Cab
If you live in LA, the phrase, “Now I have seen it all” should never depart your lips. In fact I have embraced the fun things I encounter on a daily basis as the most enjoyable aspect of being a local!
Seriously, when will I ever see a cat lounging in the back of a cab again? While I enjoy being in a Los Angeles helicopter and flying around above traffic, there are certain sights that only can be see on the ground and in the right place at the right time. I would not make a good paparazzi!
Cupcakes: Beverly Hills Style!
There is a line that forms daily on Little Santa Monica Blvd. in Beverly Hills, CA. Sweet cakey goodness like no other is what makes Sprinkles so special. I always gravitate back toward the Red Velvet Cup Cake; but there is simply no way to go wrong.
Do not let the line outside the door intimidate you. There is very little standing room inside the front door and it creates the illusion that the line is longer than it is. I have never waited more than 20 minutes, which is worth every second if you have to. Enjoy them fresh! The perfect guilty pleasure before or after star tours Hollywood. Sprinkles Beverly Hills is located @ 9635 Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210. (310) 274-8765