The Ultimate Couples Guide to LA

Los Angeles; L.A, The city of angels, Tinseltown or even La La Land. Whatever you want to call it, this city undeniably has something for everyone. If you aren’t an Angeleno you probably have this image in your head of possibly running into your favorite celebrity, the perfect climate all year round, beautiful beaches, and the sweet smell of weed in the air. To which we say…YES!…But there are so many other reasons to love LA!

(disclaimer: Traffic and smog not being one of them)

  Leo and I are pretty well traveled… We love getting out and exploring and make it a point to do it as much as possible. If we had it our way we would be full time world travelers, but we all know life isn’t as easy as the Burger King slogan. We both have to work; specially to afford LA rent!  But at this point in our lives we enjoy the work, play, hustle, travel, repeat method!

Los Angeles is definitely a city for dreamers, lovers and adventure seekers alike. I was born and raised here in and still haven’t seen half of what LA has to offer! This city if filled to the brim with new things to discover daily! I am extremely grateful to call this my hometown! What’s more exciting though is, not only do I get explore the city to the fullest for the first time with the love of my life, but I also get to share all the local spots I grew up going to with him.

We get asked all the time where to go on dates, dinners, drinks, where to working out, shop, where to take your mom when she’s in town…you name it! With so many things to do here, and new things popping up all the time it would be hard to make a fixed list. There definitely are some LA staples that we recommend for people who have never been here like, The Hollywood Sign and Venice Beach. Those are all great and are definitely listed below but, we really wanna share some of our favorite things to do on the reg. Whether your a couple, going out with friends or hitting the town solo your sure to find something fun to get into below!

Like a Local:

Take a stroll down Abbot Kinney Blvd to check out the latest fashion, art and food just minutes from venice beach 

Catch the lunch special at Izaka-ya by Katsu-ya in West Hollywood

Go have a cold one at Angel City Brewery, an LA based craft brewery and check out any one of their awesome events! ~Dog Friendly

Go spend the day at the California Science Center and check out the Endeavour

Find your inner peace at the Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine; a Temple, Shrine, and a Meditation Garden in Malibu

Get a full blown work out at the Santa Monica Stairs

Hang out at our favorite little secret – Broad Beach

Go have a champange Brunch at The Sunny Spot 

Eat the best Mexican vegan food that we have ever had at Gracia Madre

Catch a USC Trojan game at Exposition park

Watch the sunset over the city and have a swanky cocktail from 1,000 ft up at 71 above 

Watch skateboarders and street performers at the Venice Beach Boardwalk

Visit Grand Central Market

See the latest exhibit at The Getty

Get a workout climbing the Culver City Stairs

Have a cocktail on the rooftop at Perch

Eat an Eggslut breakfast sandwich

Get the full Japanese Spa experience in Beverly Hills with a couples massage and a private sushi dinner for two.

Grab a coffee at Intellegentsia

Stay/visit/dine at Chateau Marmont

Check out the Santa Monica Farmers Market

Take adoptable dogs for a walk from Bark n’ Bitches

See a movie or a concert at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery

Rent an old muscle car and drive down the PCH

Pick up some local fresh produce and watch the sunset over Hollywood at Yamashiros Farmers market

Walk or bike along the Manhattan Beach Boardwalk

Go bowling at the Spare Room in the Roosevelt Hotel

Take a stroll through Descando Gardens

Drive down Mullholland Drive

Rent a pedal boat at Echo Park Lake

Go on a wine safari with Malibu Wines

Attend a Clippers/Lakers/Kings game at Staples Center

Enjoy cocktails by the pool at the Roosevelt Hotel

Have cocktails at sunset on the rooftop of Hotel Erwin

Go rollerskating at Moonlight Rollerway Skating Rink

Watch the surfers at county line and grab a bite on PCH at Neptune’s Net

See the LA Philharmonic perform at the Disney Concert Hall

Check out LA’s museums on “Free Museum Day”

Go horseback riding in Malibu and ride through the West World cowboy town set

Have dinner on the patio at Nobu Malibu

Visit the Museum of Jurassic Technology

Go to a Dodger game

Play to Drag Queen Bingo night at Hamburger Mary’s

Do karaoke in Koreatown

Have a late night meal at Canter’s

Drink wine and learn to paint – at the same time…

Go to Wi Spa in Korea Town after 1am

Have a night at The Magic Castle

See a concert at The Greek Theatre

Go to the Rose Bowl Flea Market – Get there early!

See a show at The Troubadour

Check out NOHO Art District and grab a drink at The Federal

While in NOHO go to Salsa & Beer – Disclaimer – BEST.MEXICAN.FOOD.EVER

Have a beach bonfire at Dockweiler ~ Dog Friendly!

Order the Trust Me at Sugarfish

Do some major vintage shopping on Melrose Ave

Attend LA Food & Wine Festival

Take a picnic to see a show at the Hollywood Bowl

Hike up to the bridge to nowhere and bungee jump off of it 

Get dinner at The Sunset in Malibu with waterfront views

Watch The Los Angeles Rams play at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

Buy a delicious treat from Bottega Louie

Kayak on the LA River! If you dare

Have a drink in the heart of Hollywood on the rooftop at Mamas Shelter

Try the vegan ice cream at Magpies

Paddle Board in Marina Del Rey

Be a tourist for a day:

Grab a Nespresso coffee while shopping on Rodeo Drive and possibly spot your favorite celeb

Compare your hands and feet prints to the infamous icons at Grauman’s Chinese theatre

Go Grab a bite on a vintage railcar on Sunset Blvd. at Carney’s

View LA From nearly 1,000 feet above the city in the iconic US Bank Tower and take a slide down the sky slide

Take a ride on Angels Flight!

Ride the train to union station

Go checkout all the amazing LA Street Art and insta-upgrade your Instagram

Do some shopping on Third Street Promenade and explore Downtown Santa Monica

Spend the day at Zuma beach in Malibu – Tower 4

Ride the trolley while shopping at The Grove

Take surf lessons and catch a Gnarly wave dude!

Check out the new Dinosaur Hall at the Natural History Museum – one of the most extraordinary dinosaur exhibits in the world!

See the planetary show at Griffith Park Observatory

Ride the Ferris Wheel at Santa Monica Pier

Walk the boardwalk from Santa Monica to Venice

Take a hike through Runyon Canyon

Take a ride on the bull at Saddle Ranch

Tour the La Brea Tar Pits

Take a hike to the Hollywood Sign

Watch skateboarders and street performers at the Venice Beach Boardwalk

Grab some mexican food down on Olvera Street

Be an audience member on the Ellen Show

Ride the rollercoasters at Six Flags Magic Mountain

Take a photo in front of the Urban Light installation at LACMA and tour the exhibits 

Walk down the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Spend the day at Paradise Cove in Malibu!

Be a contestant on The Price Is Right

Hike to a waterfall in Malibu at Escondido falls

Go watch or pump some iron at muscle beach

Ride horseback through the Hollywood Hills

Go enjoy the calmness of the Venice Canals

Get a Sprinkles cupcake from the Cupcake ATM

Rent a bike and ride on the Venice bike path

Get on all the rides at Universal Studios

Take a Starline Celebrity Homes Tour (and sit on the top of the double decker!)

Do a studio tour at Paramount Pictures

…And here are a few trips just outside of LA that we take when we need a lil stay-cation:

Disneyland….because, Disneyland.

Take a quick drive down to San Diego and visit Coronado island

Head on up to San Francisco and eat in China Town

Lounge by the pool all day down in Palm Springs and act like a star from the Silver Screen

Go hang out with a wolf pack in Lucerne Valley

Sky Dive over Santa Barbra 

Camp In Sequoia National Park

Take the ferry to Catalina for your birthday

Go hiking, have a relaxing retreat or stay in an airstream camp in Ojai

Snowboard, hike or Mountain Bike in Mammoth, June Lake or Big Bear Mountains

Go wine tasting up north and visit Solvange

Camp on the beach in Leo Carrillo with your pup

Drive parts of the infamous Route 66 to Las Vegas

Get your drank on in Paso Robles

Take a beer hop tour in Manhattan Beach

Go aboard the Queen Mary and relive its rich history in Long Beach 

Take the trip up the coast to Big Sur

Check out the California Poppy bloom which lasts from as early as mid-February through May in Antelope Valley

Watch the calm water and spot the giant American white pelicans at Morro Bay

These are a few of our favorite things! As we explore more of what this city has to offer this list will continue to grow! So check back often for date ideas, fun events going on in Los Angeles and where to take your mom ;p

xo

Callie & Leo