1. The Venice Boardwalk
Venice Beach is the place to go if you are into people watching. The mile and a half stretch is full of street vendors, performers and sights you may not see elsewhere. From jugglers to magicians, break-dancers to mimes you are sure to be entertained. Check out local artists’ paintings and sculptures, purchase t-shirts, or get a tattoo or piercing. You can dine in restaurants or cafes, or just grab a beer or cocktail. A bike path is also available, along with roller-skating and skateboard ramps. Remember to bring some ones with you to tip performers!
 
2. Marina Del Rey
Marina Del Rey is great for water sports. Hop on a cruise, or do some fishing. You can rent all kinds of water vehicles, such as a paddleboard, kayak, sailboat or motor boat. You can also take off on a jet-ski! There are plenty of monthly events held here, such as concerts, plays and special tours.
 
3. Flight Path Learning Center
The center, located in LAX airport, is an aviation museum and a hands-on learning environment. Offering free parking and free admission, it is a great place to spend some time browsing aircraft models, photographs and history of the area. You can check out the Howard Hughes memorabilia.
 
4. Santa Monica Place
If you love shopping, this is the place for you. Browse high end fashions from Coach and Louis Vuitton, Pandora and Swarovski. Check out some delectable goodies from The Cheesecake Factory, or grab a burger from Johnny Rockets. The Santa Monica Pier is close by, and the home of Pacific Park, the only amusement park on the west coast that is located on a pier.
 
5. Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area
Head to the great outdoors and enjoy nature at this beautiful park. There are some awesome hiking trails where you can spot plenty of wildlife. Coyotes, rabbits, lizards and snakes all make their homes here. You might spot a barn owl or hawk. Relax by the Japanese garden and gaze at the pond and waterfalls. There are also exotic koi swimming around. If the kids need some exercise, this is the perfect place for them to go. There are plenty of play areas to keep them well entertained.
 
6. Manhattan Beach
This is the perfect mini-vacation spot if you are on a tight schedule. If you only have a few hours due to a long layover, de-stress and recharge by heading here. You can rent a bike and cruise the bike path, or just check out the surfers or watch a volleyball game. There is a small aquarium at the end of the pier with touch tanks and a kids area. There are restaurants scattered throughout the area to please any palette.
 
7. Hollywood
You can never go wrong with a stop in Hollywood. Whether you have plenty of time to spend or just need to fill a few hours, Hollywood won’t disappoint. Check out the boulevard, see the famous sign, or just browse the Walk of Fame. You might get lucky and spot one of your favorite celebrities!
 
8. Westchester
If you have the spare time, stop in the Westchester Golf Course and play a round. The course is lighted at night and open until 10 p.m. While in Westchester, stop in the famous In-N-Out Burger. Their burgers are 100% beef made fresh to order. Don’t forget the hand cut fries and real ice cream shakes!
 
9. Abbot Kinney Boulevard
Another area great for the shopaholic! The area features local artists and designers, showcasing the best in artwork, jewelry, furniture and boutique clothing.
 
10. Ocean Express Trolley
The trolley is actually a bus, but it offers $5 round-trip rides to the local beaches, shops and restaurants. Tickets can be purchased at LAX.

Filed under: Traveling by Michelle Gushard
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Los Angeles is not only a city full of celebrities and traffic, but there are beautiful scenic drives, awesome hiking trails, sunny beaches and even skiing. Here are some tips to get the best out of your visit to the City of Angels.

The city of LA is home to about 4 million people, so it is easy to feel lost or overwhelmed when you are one of 42 million people who visit the area every year.

The best time of year to visit is from April through September, when it is not quite as crowded. You can spend about $200 a day, including your hotel and meals, so be prepared.

There are several cities that connect to form this awesome area, and it can seem bewildering getting around on the massive freeways, but it doesn’t have to be a hassle. Let’s start with one of the most famous areas, Hollywood.

One of the hottest spots in the city would be TCL Chinese Theater, which was once known as Grauman’s. It opened in 1927, and has been a popular sight, not only for the awesome architecture of the building itself, but for the thousands of celebrity hand and footprints placed around the building in the cement. The Hollywood Museum is where you will find props, costumes and photos from many classic films.

The Dolby Theatre is where you can find the awesome red carpet so famous at the Academy Awards. You can see the Hollywood Sign through the archways of the Hollywood & Highland Center, which is next door to the Dolby. Here you can find some awesome eateries offering foods of all types.

If you feel like hiking, check out Griffith Park. Here you can do some stargazing at the observatory, or just hike the trails and see the spectacular views of the city around you.

The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel is an icon you won’t want to miss. This is where the first Academy Awards ceremony was held in 1929. Loews Hollywood Hotel is another place you can star search, especially on Oscars night.

Santa Monica & Venice Beach are the perfect spots for people watching. Here you will find surfers, volleyball games, cyclists, skateboarders and plenty of street performers to entertain you. Santa Monica Pier is home to the only beachfront amusement park in the area. The Venice Beach Boardwalk is another place to spot all sorts of performers, from bodybuilders to magicians, dozens of craft vendors, and entertainment all around you.

In Downtown Los Angeles you can relax at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, home to the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The Museum of Contemporary Art has an awesome art collection from the 1940s to the present. Find works by Mark Rothko, Dan Flavin and Joseph Cornell, among many others.

Be sure to bring a small jacket or sweater when visiting in the evening as it can get chilly. Remember it is illegal to use your cell phone while driving, so be sure to have a hands free device, or just wait till you reach your destination before using your phone.

Filed under: Travel Tips, Traveling by Michelle Gushard
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There’s nothing worse than sitting in a car for hours on end trying to get to your destination. Travelers find this happening in Los Angeles more than anywhere else. The busy freeways can make for an exhausting, stress-filled commute. Here are some ideas to see things without sitting in the bumper to bumper madness.

Flyaway buses are becoming the way to get around the area. For just $8, these buses connect Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) with Downtown Los Angeles ( about 35 minutes travel time) Santa Monica (about 40 minutes) and Hollywood (1 to 1-1/2 hours). These buses leave from the arrival level of each terminal. Look for the green signs. You can get tickets online or on board the bus, and they do accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express!

For public transportation, check out Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority, or Metro, for only $1.75 fare or $7 for unlimited day passes. $25 will get you a weekly pass. In Santa Monica the Big Blue Bus company will get you around for only $1.

Flyaway shuttle buses let you off at Union Station. This is Los Angeles’s main rail terminal, and was built in 1939. The architecture is worth a look, and you can get quick access to hotels from here.

In Hollywood the Flyaway bus ends near the Metro Red Line Subway stop at Hollywood & Vine. You can also depart at the intersection of Hollywood Blvd and Highland Ave, for super quick access to the Chinese Theatre, Dolby Theatre, and the Hollywood Museum.

A couple miles away is West Hollywood, or WeHo as they call it. It is an awesome walking area during the day and you can find sizzling nightlife in the evening. Check out the Sunset Strip, Santa Monica Blvd, or just do some window shopping at some designer boutiques.

You can rent bikes or take a cycling tour of Hollywood and Beverly Hills, go celebrity hunting on a stars’ homes tour, or go all out on the 32-mile “LA in a Day” tour that will take you from West Hollywood to the ocean.

Head to the beaches of Santa Monica and Venice on the Flyaway Bus…it will take you to the Civic Center area, with plenty of things within walking distance. Check out the ocean, hop on some rides at Santa Monica Pier’s amusement park, or just get in some people watching.

The Big Blue Bus will get you to Bergamot Station where art lovers can check out an array of galleries.

Venice is another place for outdoor fun, relaxing on the beach and people watching. Jim Morrison once called this his home, and for good reason. There is plenty to see and do, and you can get here easily from Santa Monica by taking the Metro bus 733 down Ocean Ave and Main Street, or you can take a relaxing and energizing walk on the beach for about a half-hour and you will be there.

Within a few years, the Expo Line will be fully completed and travelers can go from Downtown LA to Santa Monica station in about 45 minutes.

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If your next business adventure takes you to Hong Kong, here are some local dishes you may want to check out.

Hong Kong is well known for its variety of mouth-watering dishes. You can find foods from around the world here, but mostly Chinese and Cantonese dishes. Much of the food has been influenced by the Western fare, such as bread, beef, pork steak and potatoes. But the true flavor of the city is Chinese. Listed are a few of the dishes you will definitely want to try when visiting Hong Kong.

Dim Sum:

Dim Sum means “point of the heart”. This comes from the tradition of sharing this dish with others. Dim Sum is actually small bite-sized portions of food that is placed in baskets or small dishes for everyone to share. This is an important ceremony that is held at the table, and is almost always accompanied by Yum Cha, which means to “drink tea”. Some families start this meal as early as five in the morning. It is a morning dish, and is not served after 3:00 in the afternoon. Dim sum can be pot stickers, shrimp dumplings, BBQ pork buns, veggie dumplings, and many other varieties.

Wife Cake:

Also called a sweetheart cake, this Chinese pastry has many legends about where it came from. The flaky crust of this cake is made of winter melon, almond paste and sesame and is flavored with Chinese spices. The filling is basically made of sugar and flour. You can find wife cakes at basically any regular food eatery.

Seafood:

The seafood in Hong Kong is possibly the best you’ve ever had. You know they are fresh since there are tanks of live fish everywhere. Not to mention live scallops, crabs, oysters and clams. You can choose your dish and get it cooked to perfection. Cantonese chefs are masters at preparing fresh, live seafood. The waterfront dining eateries are abundant, so you can choose the location that suits you for your fabulous seafood meal.

Char Siu:

Also known as a crispy fried meat, or barbecued pork, this is a very popular item in Hong Kong. The meat is usually pork belly, pork loin or pork butt. Other meats can be used, but pork is the normal. Char Siu literally means “fork burn/roast”. This is what is done with the meat after it is placed on skewers. The meat is seasoned with many different flavors, and cooked in an oven or over a fire to bring out the taste. If you visit Hong Kong you will see these meats usually hanging in the windows of the restaurants and shops to entice you to purchase them to take home and cook yourself.

French Toast:

If you love breakfast, and you love French toast, you have got to try Hong Kong’s version. This is French toast like you’ve never tasted before. First the bread is spread with peanut butter. Then the slices are soaked in the egg batter and fried in butter. So maybe it isn’t the healthiest thing you will eat, but it will definitely be the most delicious.

Filed under: Traveling by Michelle Gushard
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