Los Angeles: A 5-Day Itinerary

Upon landing in LAX, take a shuttle to the car rental facility and make your way to the hotel. Get situated and then begin to explore. Sightseeing and shopping around your area is a great idea when staying in the city. You can get used to your neighborhood’s layout and run into some interesting shopping and eateries. I suggest checking out Luv2Eat Bistro, a Michelin Star Thai restaurant that serves up some spicy and unique dishes.

After a snack or some lunch, look for the Walk of Fame. It’s hard to miss and covers several blocks of West Hollywood. You’ll run into stars such as Jimmy Stewart, Audrey Hepburn, and Green Day. Well, their stars anyway. If you are a music lover, stop into Amoeba Music for some cool t-shirts and other great souvenirs. After that, catch a glimpse of the Hollywood sign and the entire city while sipping a cocktail at The Dream, Rooftop Bar. If you prefer to take a sunset cruise over to Beverly Hills, check out Rodeo Drive for amazing high-end shopping. Then pop into The Hideaway for some delicious margaritas and flambeed queso dip. That evening, make your way to The Comedy Store for some live standup. They have tons of shows with big-name comedians to choose from, and the comedy goes deep into the night.

After the morning coffee, head out to Santa Monica Beach and Venice Beach. There is so much to do out there and an easy ride from the city. There is plenty of parking in February because it’s the off season. But you wouldn’t be able to tell that from the weather.

Stop in for a casual Tex Mex brunch at Holy Guacamole, where they serve yummy breakfast burritos, tacos, and Mexican Coke, great quality food with fresh and delicious ingredients. Then it is time to take a stroll down Santa Monica Beach, a short walk from the restaurant. There you will find a huge beach with tons of action, people rollerskating, biking, and jogging. You may even catch a tournament or two of volleyball or beach tennis, a unique sport using a volleyball net and a racket and ball. If you head north, you will see the Santa Monica Pier. It has lots of fun shops, restaurants, and an amusement park.

Stop in to Maria Sol at the end of the pier for a Sangria to quench your thirst before you head south towards Venice Beach. There you will find lots of good people watching, muscle men, and skateboarders at the famous skatepark, a tribute to Dogtown skate culture.

After the long day at the beach, head back into the city for some dinner. If you are a fan of Bravo TV, I would suggest SUR Restaurant and Lounge from the reality show Vanderpump Rules. They have amazing cocktails like the Pumptini, and the food is delicious! Taking a Waymo, a self driving taxi, is a must while you are in LA. This would be a good night to try that out. After dinner, hit the town and check out the iconic Viper Room, previously owned by Johnny Depp, for some cool rock and roll bands. It is right around the corner from SUR. And right around the corner from that is The Rainbow Bar and Grill, a super cool, kind of dive bar that has endless rooms to explore with eccentric decor. Maybe you’ll even run into a celebrity.

Start your day with a coffee and a stroll to the Farmers Market, where you will see an array of delicious vegetables, fresh flowers, and other savory treats. Then take a drive up the scenic Pacific Coast Highway to Malibu. The drive is beautiful and takes about 40 minutes from the center of West Hollywood. The views are picturesque, with the mountains and the sea peeking from behind them. Park your car at Matador Beach and explore the rocky and cave filled beach, a short but fairly steep walk from the parking area. The temperatures should be around the mid 70's, making short sleeves a comfortable choice even with the sea breeze.

After you finish exploring the breathtaking beach, cliffs, and natural rock formations, head over to the Malibu Pier near Surf Rider Beach. Take a nice stroll down the pier right before sunset and then stop in to the Malibu Farm Restaurant. Ask for an outside table where you can enjoy a never-ending bowl of ceviche with taro chips or an off-the-charts delicious clam chowder and a superb cocktail with picture-perfect views of the sunset and landscape. On your way back to the city, stop at the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook and take in the views of the massive city and it's glittering lights.

Today, take a trip to the amazing zoo. During February and during the week, it is ideal for no crowds and delightful weather. It is an easy 15/minute drive from West Hollywood. The zoo is very well maintained with happy, healthy, and active animals. It has a beautiful array of flora and fauna to attract your attention as well. Don’t forget to visit the chimpanzees while you are there. They are quite a clan with lots of community interaction with each other. You may even be lucky to see a mama carrying and cradling her baby. After a nice spell at the zoo, drive over to the Silver Lake neighborhood. This is a cool, hip, and fashionable area with shopping and great food. Stop in for some wine and charcuterie at Seco. Top notch!

Head out to Joshua Tree in the Mojave Desert and you won’t regret it. It takes about two hours to get there from West Hollywood, but it will be an experience you will not forget. On the way, take a drive through Palm Springs and take in the amazing mid-century architecture with the backdrop of mountains and desert terrain; palm trees, succulents, and cacti abound throughout the landscaping of every neighborhood.

Then before you reach the desert, pop into Pioneer Town for a bit of unique scenery, shopping, and lunch. Pioneer Town was made as a movie set for westerns back in the day. It now has interesting shops where you can buy cowboy boots, belt buckles, and other Western style souvenirs. After you get some cool pics of the “ghost town”, head into Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneer Palace. It’s set up like a saloon from the West and has live music every night. Enjoy a Bison burger and a delicious peach lemonade and vodka cocktail while admiring the atmosphere and buzz of people coming and going.

Next stop, Joshua Tree State Park. Make sure to get there before the sun goes down because it is dark in the desert park, the only false light coming from the headlights of other cars. Enjoy the gorgeous scenery of rocks and boulders making mountains, the desert blooms and tumbleweeds, and most of all, the Joshua trees unique to the Mojave Desert. They are actually yucca succulents that grow up to 50 feet tall. On the way back into the city, stop into Seymour's, a hidden gem found in the back of Mr. Lyon’s Steakhouse. The speakeasy cocktail lounge gives a nod to Old Hollywood with it's decor. The walls are covered with hand drawn illustrations of bygone movie stars and they play movies in black and white behind the bar. The drinks are impeccable, garnished with the freshest fruit, and the ambiance is moody and chill. Enjoy your cocktail inside at the stylish bar or take it to the patio, where they have a nice fireplace going.