Drinking at Disney - Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar

Krakatoa at Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar.

If you're like me, you want to enjoy the Disney experience every now and then, without the Disney prices. Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar is your chance!  With a large selection of alcohol, Trader Sam's offers the Disney atmosphere, fun and entertainment without ever entering the park.  Located at the Disneyland Hotel, with easy access from Downtown Disney, Sam's offers a variety of island themed drinks, snacks, and entertaining surprises with certain orders.  Free 3 hour parking is available at the Downtown Disney lot, making this Disney adventure cost only the gas it takes to drive there and your bar tab. 

Ice Cream Cookies on the Westside

Chocolate Chip with Chocolate Chip. 



One of the hot spots every student at UCLA knows about is Diddy Riese Cookies in Westwood.  Lines can stretch out the door, and around the corner, for a taste of cookie and ice cream heaven.  What makes Diddy Riese so popular?   Prices and selection.  Diddy Riese offers 10 different kinds of cookies and 12 types of ice cream to make your custom ice cream sandwich dreams come true.  There are coffee and cookie, cookie and milk or ice cream sandwich combos, each for $2 or less, making it the #1 destination for a quick study break, and a must visit for tourists.  Parking can be tricky, and its cash only, so take the family or buy in bulk to make your trip worth while.  There are dozens of restaurants and architectural wonders in the area as well, so you can justify your cookie quest to the non-believers.  Just one taste will help them see the light!

Travel Town - Trains, Trains, Trains!

Trains at Travel Town Museum.

Trains played a large role in the creation and foundation of our country, and Travel Town Museum in Griffith Park gives visitors a chance to walk through and interact with that history.  In addition to picnic areas and displays of historical engines and train cars, visitors can climb up and pretend they are driving the engines, walk across the tracks, and even have parties in the dining cars.  There is a miniature train giving rides around the park, a gift shop and vendors with snacks.  Best of all, admission is FREE, and the park is open most days 10-4, with an extra hour on weekends and special children’s events throughout the month.  A great place to play, explore, and learn!

Trade Rush Hour for Happy Hour!




Credit: Reuters/Lucy Nicholson.



Cheesecake Factory Specials.

One of the biggest complaints about Los Angeles is the traffic.  From 4-7pm each weekday, LA freeways are packed with commuters trying to get home.  It can take 2 hours (or longer) to go 13 miles, and commuters find themselves tired, frustrated, angry, and wasting precious gas and time sitting on the roads.  But I have a different suggestion for the weary traveler!  Happy Hour!  Is it coincidence, or fortune, that makes Happy Hour and Rush Hour both occur from 4-7pm?  I'm not saying you should pull over and get blitzed before you drive home.  On the contrary, I regularly enjoy Happy Hour, instead of traffic, with no alcohol at all!  Many local restaurants off great food specials in addition to drinks for the hours between 4pm and 7pm, and since many commuters are trying to race home to eat, it seems to be a perfect fit!  With the rising costs of gas, it may actually be more cost effective to pull over and spend $8 for an appetizer and drink than to sit in traffic burning fuel for 2-3 hours.  And after 7pm, the roads clear and you can get home at a reasonable pace, relaxed and refreshed.  If at least half of the commuters in Los Angeles would take this advice, we may find ourselves with less traffic in the first place!  In the panic of Carmageddon, so many people stayed off of the freeways to avoid the expected chaos, that drive times were the lowest that they had ever been!  I understand that many people are racing home to spend time with family, or get to a meeting or event, and there are times when you can't spare an extra few minutes to stay clear of the madness, but there are plenty of people, like myself, who are just trying to get home to eat dinner, or relax.  So I say, why wait?  Don't worry, beat traffic, try Happy Hour instead!

Hiking the Hummingbird Trail

Sandstone formations along Hummingbird Trail. 

Just over the hill from the San Fernando Valley, you can find some rugged terrain filled with geographic wonders and adventure.  Hummingbird Trail starts at Kuehner Drive, just 0.2 miles north at the Kuehner exit off of the 118 fwy, and leads you through canyons, boulders and massive formations of sandstone from the Cretaceous Period.  The elevations of over 1,000ft at the top of the trail present beautiful views of the valleys and, on a clear day, the ocean.  Not for the faint of heart, Hummingbird Trail is a moderately challenging hike, though a path is marked out with painted arrows to guide you along the easiest route.  The brave can explore rock formations, caves and crevasses along the way.  The trail is 5 miles long, round trip, with no restrooms other than those nature provides, but there is free parking at the trail head on Kuehner Drive.  Hikers should be alert for rattlesnakes and mountain lions, though the number of people on the trails suggests these are rarely sighted.  Personally, I was enchanted by the wild bunnies and ground squirrels, and awed by the incredible rock formations.  Definately a sight to see.

It's A Wrap - Hollywood's Thrift Stop



Shoes from the big and small screens, for sale at Its A Wrap!

 Ever wanted to walk in your favorite celebrity's shoes?  Well, you can, literally.  It's A Wrap is a "thrift" store that sells clothing that has been previously used in movies and television.  Want to get an outfit from All My Children?  A prom dress you saw on Glee?  A suit from CSI?  All this and more is available at two locations in the Los Angeles area.  Items are marked by codes to let you know which production they came from with helpful charts on the walls to identify the show or movie.  Prices can be a little steap, but most items are one of a kind and have all been used in a film or television production!  In addition to the items for sale, Its a Wrap displays many famous movie and TV posters and costumes making it a fun spot for the serious collector or the Sunday window shopper.

Secret Garden of San Marino - Huntington Gardens

Chinese Gardens at the Huntington Gardens in San Marino.

The Huntington Gardens are perhaps my favorite hideaway in Los Angeles, and a must see for tourists and locals alike.  The grounds include several themed gardens, including the newest Chinese garden (pictured above), a Japanese garden, Greek statues and fountains, rose and herb gardens, large sprawling lawns, and even an extensive desert garden which I highly recommend on a rainy day!  There is an interactive children's garden for the younger guests, or the young at heart, with interactive exhibits, fountains, tunnels, mist sprays, musical rocks and magnetic dust!  Annual passes are available, as well as one day admission, and the first Thursday of every month is free admission with reservation (call on the first day of the month before as tickets go fast!).  There are cafes on the grounds and picture taking is encouraged.  There are also several museums, a library with exhibit, and a tea room, all of which I will address in future blogs!