Hello friends! I’m happy to report that I recently returned from one of my favorite places. It’s no surprise that I left half of my heart on the West Coast, where the sun is always shining and the beach is always calling. After having the absolute pleasure of visiting both San Diego and Laguna Beach last spring, I was so excited to add more than ready to head back and explore more of Southern California. And having scoured the internet for months to find all the best places to hit in a long weekend, I thought I should probably document all of my favorite spots from my trip, since it certainly would have helped me! You’re greeted with incredible views and upscale vibes – not to mention lots of sunshine and happiness – practically everywhere you go, so you really can’t go wrong. But without further ado, here’s your guide to a sunshine-filled So-Cal adventure!
First stop, Santa Monica. This portion of the trip was quick, so we’re really hitting the must-sees here.
Where to stay: We chose a more budget-friendly option for our first night and went with Le Meridien. It’s more affordable due to being a bit of a walk from the beach and downtown, but we were actually pleasantly surprised with how nice it was! The staff was incredibly friendly, the room was great and complete with a balcony and a lovely view of the water, we were greeted with several glasses of champagne and rented bikes for free.. honestly, I have no complaints! Otherwise, I would recommend staying closer to the water – and if you’re looking to treat yourself to more of a splurge option, I have heard great things about The Georgian.
What to do:
- Grab coffee – my personal favorite spot is La La Land, but there’s plenty of cutie spots to go around
- Stroll along Montana Ave – and house hunt along North of Montana
- Go to Pacific Palisades for a little shopping and a little more house hunting
- Walk along Palisades Park and down to the boardwalk
- Go to the beach (duh)
- Rent bikes and take a spin over to Venice
- Shop on Abbott Kinney Boulevard
- Explore the Venice canals
- Go to The Penmar for live music every Friday night
- Grab (many) drinks at the Bungalow
Where to eat:
- Layla Bagels for literally the best sourdough bagels you will ever taste with a menu to satisfy everyone.
- Bluey’s for an Australian-style brunch featuring the most unique and delicious pancakes I’ve ever had.
- Great White in Venice for brunch. I don’t know if it’s because it was the first meal I had after our big morning of travel, but that iced coffee and avocado toast combo has never tasted better. And as a vegetarian, I can still confidently say that their turkey club is to die for.
- Le Great Outdoor for incredible farm to table food and an adorable outdoor patio.
- Elephante for amazing views, vibes, and even better food. We tried to go for dinner but they were full, but the lunch certainly did not disappoint! Dare I say some of the best pizza and pasta… ever?!
- Loulou for a fun rooftop dinner – we honestly booked this one solely for the view that we saw on TikTok, and were pleasantly surprised by the food as well – particularly the mussel / truffle fry combo we had to start.
- And last but not least, Erewhon!!! Get all the free samples, enjoy the most aesthetically pleasing grocery store aisles in existence, and grab yourself a delicious $20 smoothie or a sushi sandwich – you won’t regret it.
What to know: If you don’t have a car with a resident permit, parking is limited. It was going to cost $50 per day at our hotel, BUT we found a garage right next to the boardwalk entrance for $20 per day that absolutely saved the day!
Next up, Newport. This was our home base for the next few days and it was just simply LOVELY. It’s a bit more relaxed than Santa Monica, but still full of plenty of places to see and things to do!
Where to stay: Lido House. This is not budget friendly in the slightest, but after our experience, I truly can’t recommend anywhere else. It’s beautiful, the pool is amazing, and it’s right in the heart of Lido Village, with all the shopping your heart could ever desire at your doorstep.
What to do:
- Take a quick stroll over to Lido Marina Village and do some shopping – and make sure to grab a coffee from Herst.
- Go to Fashion Island for even more – and certainly more affordable – shopping.
- Go to Kit and get a strawberry iced latte. Just trust me.
- Hit the beach, of course! We actually spent our down time soaking up some sun at the pool, but there’s plenty of beach to go around right in the area as well.
- Grab drinks at Topside for a lovely rooftop fireside experience.
Where to eat:
- Malibu Farm of course – potentially overhyped but you have to cross it off the list. It’s a great lunch spot and overlooks the marina, so you can’t go wrong.
- Bear Flag Fish for a quick bite and the best fish tacos you’ve ever had.
- Shorebird for amazing seafood in a more lowkey spot – complete with another scenic view of the marina, of course.
- Farmhouse at Roger’s Gardens for lunch or brunch in the middle of – you guessed it – a giant garden. It was actually so beautiful and so was the food!
- NOBU!!! Can you feel my enthusiasm? I’m happy to report that my first ever Nobu experience was even better than I hoped. Just make sure to grab a reservation ahead of time!
What to know: Two notes here. One, parking is once again not free – but we found a GREAT lot with hourly parking that you only pay for during the day. And two – we grabbed drinks near the pier one night and it was honestly very sketchy. Would not recommend to a friend!
And now, I potentially saved the best for last: Laguna Beach. I was so happy to be back, and even just the drive down the PCH makes it worth it.
Where to stay: There are plenty of little hotels right at the heart of Laguna, but it’s also very easy to make the trip from Newport! And of course, if you’re looking to live the dream, there’s always the Waldorf Astoria right nearby.
What to do:
- Go for a walk in Crystal Cove State Park.
- Walk around Forest Ave and do some more shopping, especially at Stitch and Feather.
- Take a leisurely stroll in Heisler Park to watch the surfers work their magic.
- Drive up to see the Top of the World for panoramic views.
- Head to the beach, again – especially Table Rock Beach if you’re looking for the classic cliffside beach experience.
- Go to Skyloft for stunning rooftop drinks – bonus points if you stay for sunset. It made me cry.
- Treat yourself to some delicious gelato from Gelato Paradiso.
Where to eat:
- Banzai Bowls for a literal bucket of the most delicious acai bowl ever.
- Urth Caffe or Zinc Cafe for a delicious quintessential brunch – but be prepared to wait in a pretty hefty line.
- For lunch or dinner, you can’t go wrong with Las Brisas, The Cliff, or Nick’s.
What to know: Everything here feels very hit or miss – i.e., it’s either the place to be with a super long line, or it’s completely empty. So I suggest planning ahead here and reserving where you want to go ahead of time, or going at off times if possible, to hit every place on your list!
Whew! That’s all I’ve got. I’ve by no means touched on everything here, but if you’re able to incorporate any of these spots into your next California adventure, I promise they won’t disappoint. Enjoy! ☼
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