Hi, I’m Kristen. I am your curator & 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 17 years 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 am glad I took that risk and moved because Los Angeles is a place that 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 more in-depth in the interview I did here.
How I travel
To get an idea of what this site is like, I will tell you how I travel. I love art, hidden gems, and mom & 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.
All 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 whole lot of. My first tide pooling experience in Malibu was perspective-changing.
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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