Our big California adventure: itinerary - Now our Venice trip almost seems like a distant memory, our feet have been a bit getting twitchy. So after enduring a typical wash-out UK summer (and a sports crazed London) it’s safe to say we’ve been counting down the days until our part-sponsored big California trip. We fly out to Los Angeles this weekend with Air Zealand (Gray is looking forward to trying out their new SkyCouch seats aka the cuddle couch) and as well as catching up with travel blog friends, we’re looking to pack in as much as possible. Here’s what we’re up to:

Los Angeles

Although we’ve been slow to join the AirBnB accommodation revolution, we thought LA would be the perfect place to try them out. We chose a one bed apartment just off Sunset Strip within staggering distance of the bars, cafes and restaurants of West Hollywood.

Handily we arrive just in time for the FYF Festival, a two day event held at L.A State Historic Park. We’ll try our best to blend in with the cool kids and to see some of our favourite bands and comedians including David Cross and BJ Novak.

We’ll also squeezing in a night out at the House of Blues, dinner at Harrison Ford’s son’s restaurant, vintage store shopping on Melrose Avenue, a dive bar crawl in Echo Park, a stroll along Venice Boardwalk and making a Swinger’s film bar pilgrimage and seeing a few Malibu sunsets. Phew! We’ll even be trying the Ultimate Gin & Tonic at SLS Beverley Hills (thanks Mrs O Around the World for the recommendation).

Palm Springs

The lovely people at the retro themed Palm Springs Rendezvous hotel have very kindly offered us a stay at their hotel. So after LA, we’ll be driving though the desert and checking into the hotel’s “Stage Coach” room for two nights. Apparently we’ll find cowboy paraphernalia and a John Wayne mug shot hanging above the bed. Superb!

Joshua Tree National Park

Surely it would be a crime to travel to Palm Springs and not visit the The Joshua Tree National Park (only an hour’s journey away)?

San Diego

We’ll drive back to LA and then head down the coast to San Diego. We’ll be stopping off at Coronado to check out Hotel Del Coronado (made famous by the Marilyn Monroe film “Some Like it Hotel”) visiting the gorgeous beaches (and resident seals) of La Jolla and maybe ride a roller coaster or two at Mission Beach.

Tequilas in Tijuana

We decided we’re willing to chance border queues and trashed college kids to sample a couple of tequilas in the legendary Mexican border town. Can’t wait to write an article about that one.

For the first time ever, we’ll also be attempting to record some trip highlights in time lapse photography. Our practice run outside Grasshopper towers:

We’ll being adding updates and photos on our Facebook, Twitter (check out #CaliHopper) and Instagram – then, if that wasn’t enough we’ll be heading over to Girona for our first ever TBEX conference. Be sure to say hi if you spot us wandering about in our jet-lagged state!

 

 

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