If the January cold and gray has you longing for warm breezes and sunshine and a weekend in the City of Angels is just what you need.

Check out what our (somewhat) experienced tour guide discovered to make sure you have a blockbuster break.

In-N-Out burger.

An absolute can’t miss is In-N-Out burger. Expect long lines but exceptional service and, obviously, delicious burgers.

Worth the Hype

Order the “Double Double, Protein & Animal style.”

on the beach

Tuna “sliced as you order” & served atop sliced avocado

Yep. That’s the only way we’ll eat it now. With a “Pier 19” Paloma on the side.

We stayed in Hermosa Beach and loved it. Walk the pier, drink/dine at any of the wonderful restaurants or bars, shop the cutest stores, or sit on the beach relax.

hit the road

Oh, baby, fly away to Malibu

Rent a car, drive up the coast through Malibu to Santa Barbara. Enjoy the views, food and sightseeing.

Rent a car and drive the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) up or down the coast. We drove north a few hours to Santa Barbara. It.was.lovely.

studio magic

Head into Downtown LA and explore. But pack your patience –Traffic nightmares are very real. Instead of sitting in traffic, head over to Burbank and Warner Brother’s Studios for the backlot tour.

Did (or do) you watch Friends, The Big Bang Theory, Charmed, Gilmore Girls, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, or ER?

You’ll see where memorable scenes were filmed and more!

We had a blast. There were shows filming while we were there!

Best view in town

Outsmart the crowds and get there a few hours before sunset.

admire the view

Visit Griffith Observatory! Another traffic heads up…Get there a few hours before sunset to soak in everything Griffith Observatory has to offer. A plus? You won’t sit in traffic and have to hike a couple miles up the canyon like we did. But that view is worth it.

We packed a lot into two days! Great food, sightseeing and passing out in the comfiest hotel bed after a busy day – Isn’t that what vacations are all about?

– Lauren Artino