Destinations
Come for the Rose Bowl Vacation, Then Go West
This is the third in a series of travel tips for making the most of your Rose Bowl vacation. We cover a few highlights of Points West of Pasadena in this article. There are so many things to see and do, it’ll be hard to choose!
Heading west, within a few miles of Pasadena, you’ll find a lot of fun things to do, from a fun family time to girl’s shopping day and relaxing outdoors in Griffith Park; depending on where you are in the park, you’ll forget you’re in the middle of a metropolitan city. Keep traveling west to find the thrills of LA entertainment industry at Universal City.
What to Do Westward?
Shopaholic Heaven: Glendale Galleria and The Americana
The City of Glendale is just west of Pasadena and is home to two shopping malls; The Galleria is a classic indoor mall with four anchor department stores, countless shops, restaurants and an extensive food court. You can get a good workout walking from end to end in this mall. The second is a European-city-inspired pedestrian mall, The Americana at Brand. Its shops are more boutique although the mall does house some anchor stores and larger restaurants. Both malls have parking structures; The Americana has a movie theatre and a hypnotic fountain to stare at. You can find entrances to the Galleria on Broadway and Columbus Street; to the American on Brand or Glendale Boulevards.
Griffith Park
One of the country’s largest municipal parks, Griffith Park sits on over 4,200 acres of beautiful landscape with California oak trees, walnut, wild sage, berberis and manzanita. The terrain provides various hiking trails leading all around the park’s hills and canyons, some lead up to the Griffith Observatory. Once you get to the Observatory, you’re also able to see the world-famous Hollywood sign, which also sits on Park property. Griffith Park has developed many family attractions, picnic areas and activities though much of the land remains almost unchanged from
Get lost in LA at The Griffith Park: golf course, tennis courts, The Pony Ride, Merry-Go-Round Carousel and, Southern Railroad and Travel Town Museum, Gene Autry Museum of Western Heritage, The Greek Theatre, hiking, horseback riding trails.
Griffith Park is just west of the I-5 freeway with entrances on Los Feliz Boulevard or Griffith Park and Zoo Drive (I-5); Forest Lawn Drive or Victory Boulevard (134 Freeway, eastbound), Forest Lawn Drive or Zoo Drive (134 Freeway, westbound). 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles 90027, (323) 913-4688. Open to the public from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily; check park web site for changes in season hours.
Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens
More than 1,100 animals from around the world call the Los Angeles, Zoo home. They represent more than 250 different species. Many of the animals who live in the Zoo are ambassadors for endangered or threatened species. Explore the new Campo Gorilla Reserve and meet the chimpanzee and orangutang families in the Great Ape Forest. The Zoo offers many special seasonal events as well as on-going educational programs, children’s and school programs, camps and other outreach programs and field studies. The website offers a downloadable map so that you can plan your own LA animal “safari.”
Budget Travel Deal: Explore LA’s Zoo and the wonders of the sea for one great price. Combo deal for the LA Zoo and the Aquarium of the Pacific.
5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027-1451, (323) 644-4200. Open daily 10 am to 5 pm, last tickets sold 1 hour before Zoo closes and animals are put in for the night at 4 pm. Adults (13 and up) $13, Seniors (62 and up) $10, Children 2-12 $8, under 2 free, parking is free. Group rates for 15 people or more.
Universal Studios-Hollywood
Spend an action-packed day at the Universal Studios and you’ll get a great glimpse of the movie and TV industry. Tour the park’s real studio lots behind the scenes. Get your thrills from rides like the Revenge of the Mummy and Jurassic Park (80-foot raft plunge). The park also features attractions like Shrek 4-D where you can meet Shrek and Donkey; the new blockbuster ride based on The Simpsons; The Adventures of Curious George and Universal’s Animal Actors.
Budget Travel Deal: Universal Studios offers online only offers such as $5 off Front of the Line Pass, 10% off All You Can Eat Pass and a 2fer – 2 Days for the Price of 1.
1000 Universal Center Drive, Universal City, CA 91608, 1-800-UNIVERSAL. Should it be a rainy day, The park offers The World’s First-Ever Theme Park Guarantee Rain Check. (Check website for hours and admission ticket prices.)
Universal Studios City Walk-Hollywood
Known as “LA’s favorite place to play” City Walk offers special season events, dining at over 30 eateries, shopping, the CityWalk Cinema Stadium (19 “ginormous” movie screens with digital surround sound and plush seats) and the 8-story IMAX theatre, and various night spots – the Hard Rock Cafe, Jillian’s Hi Life Lanes and the Jon Lovitz Comedy Club.
100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608 (Check website for days and hours of operation).
Good Food!
Poquito Mas-Universal Studios
Don’t blink or you’ll miss this tiny great find in Studio City. It’s always a great value for the meal, all the food is fresh but fresh tortillas and salsa can’t be beat. Horchata is fresh too. Quick and friendly service, yummy salsa bar…Poquito Mas is a local fave so be prepared to wait… 3701 Cahuenga Blvd Ste 1, Studio City, CA 91604, (818) 760-8226 ( $ casual, kids/groups, patio dining, parking is squishy).
Miceli’s
Dark and cozy old world charm complete with singing waiters and live piano during dinner. Miceli’s is an LA standard and once you eat here, you’ll understand why. It’s a dining “experience” from the atmosphere, authentic Italian menu selection…and table-side serenades. And the portions are very generous – mangia! 3655 Cahuenga Blvd West, Los Angeles, CA 90068, (323) 851-3344 ($$, casual, kids/groups ok, full bar, reservations, call for hours).
Carousel Restaurant
Step inside the Carousel and you’ll forget you’ll be transported to Lebanon…if you want to experience great Lebanese cuisine, hospitality and depending on the day, live music, this is the right spot for you. Portions are large and each meal starts with a plate of Lebanese pickles. The menu is extensive, but there’s something for everyone…and everything is good! 304 N Brand Boulevard, Glendale, CA 91203, (818) 246-7775 ($$, dressy for dinner, casual for lunch, kids/groups ok, full bar, reservations, call for hours).
Little Dom’s
Little Dom’s gives you a little New York feel in the middle of LA. It’s housed in Los Feliz’s former La Belle Epoque and is part of the Dominick’s and 101 Coffee Shop family. Classic Italian fare is prepared with season and local ingredients. Start with everyone’s favorite – the rice balls – and go for paper-thin oven wood pizzas…or mouth-watering ricotta blueberry pancakes for breakfast.
2064 Hillhurst Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90027, (323) 667-1357 ($$, casual, small groups ok, full bar, reservations, call for hours).
_______________________________________________________________
