Hi, I’m Kristen. I am your travel curator & local guide.
I shuffled around the Midwest for most of my life. I didn’t really feel like I was home until I moved to Los Angeles close to two decades ago. Los Angeles was the last place I thought I would end up.
Before I moved here, I was in the Los Angeles bashing camp. I thought that nothing here was real, especially the people, that most of your life is spent in traffic or the constant threat of a natural disaster.
I was so wrong.
I am glad I took that risk because Los Angeles constantly surprises me in wonderful ways. There is so much to love about this city, and I am here to share it with you.
I spoke about this in more depth in the interview I did here.
How I travel
To give you an idea of what this site is like, I will tell you how I travel. I love art, hidden gems, and mom-and-pop shops. Most of my pre-planning goes into finding can’t-miss exhibits and gallery shows or researching architecturally interesting neighborhoods. I love walking in cities because it allows me to justify all of the eating I do. I love people-watching, mainly to see what people are wearing.
This might lead you to believe that my recommendations will be city-based. As an introvert, I find solace in nature, which, surprisingly, the Los Angeles area has a lot of. My first tide pooling experience in Malibu was perspective-changing.
In 2024, I added travel planning and curation to my services. If you’d like to plan a trip with me, contact me.
My 10 favorite spots in Los Angeles (in no order)
Here are some of my favorite places in Los Angeles. They focus on nature, culture, food, and drink. This probably says more about me than the above paragraphs.
- Leo Carrillo State Beach [Website] [My post]
- Grand Central Market [Website]
- Museum of Jurassic Technology [Website] [My post]
- The Cicada Club [Website] [post to come]
- Grand Performances [Website] [post to come]
- Solstice Canyon [Website] [My post]
- Case Study Houses:
- The Last Bookstore [Website] [post to come]
- Smorgasburg [Website] [post to come]
My favorite places in the world–outside Los Angeles–also in no order
Tokyo, Japan
Granada, Spain
Going to the Alhambra was on my bucket list, and it did not disappoint!
Barcelona, Spain
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Chicago, IL
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Los Angeles Curated: A Los Angeles-focused newsletter
For those of you who want to know everything about Los Angeles, I have a newsletter called Los Angeles Curated where I talk about what is happening in L.A. each month. RSVP for the tours I give, get a list of recommended events, and the best things I ate over the month. Paid subscribers get deep discounts and bonus content.
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Out of Office Curated
All of the inspiration you need to get out and explore the world delivered directly in your inbox. Get free and discounted itineraries, property spotlights, and news that impacts your next trip.
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