Thanks to Chevrolet for hosting our L.A. County Road Trip
County fairs are an American tradition, and Los Angeles County is no different. Each year, my family makes our way to the LA County Fairgrounds to hit the rides, indulge in crazy, deep-fried treats and explore the exhibits. This year, the theme is “Fair Goes Pop!” Tons of awesome music, flavors and designs celebrating how pop culture unites us all! This year, we rode to the Fair in style in a new Chevy offering. Road trips and county fair fun – doubling up on our American summer nostalgia!
Even though I live in LA year round, I love experiencing the tourist sites of my town. The list of famous landmarks is long, and so popular that people travel around the world to visit. My friend, a native New Yorker, told me he has never visited the Statue of Liberty and it blew my mind. Maybe locals just take their own neighborhoods for granted. As a Boston transplant, I’ve always made sure to get to know LA from all perspectives. I don’t want to miss a thing!
Sometimes the fun part of an adventure is getting there. We drove a “red hot”, all-wheel drive Chevy Blazer from Hollywood to Pomona. We were the envy of the road in this sporty SUV. The vehicle is designed to carry 5 people, and was a comfortable fit for my family of three. Equipped with a ton of extra safety features, I learned about the newest in air bag offering – knee bags! Technology is amazingly cool, especially when I keeps my loved ones safe. For LA parking lots, the anti-lock brakes, lane assist and rear cross traffic alert features are truly a blessing. I’m a huge fan of the wireless charging feature for all my gadgets. We rolled back the panoramic sunroof, and embraced the beautiful ride up the Fair grounds. Chevrolet is present at the Fair with an entire fleet of cars to view right next to the Clock Tower Plaza. This is where we began our Fair visit, and dreamed of our next road trip behind the wheel of a new Chevy Traverse or Corvette Coupe!
A must see recommendation to my friends and family is the LA Pop Architecture exhibit on The Hill. They have created amazing larger than life replicas of iconic LA landmarks. Prepare for a selfie storm – we had a blast creating crazy poses for our tour of the city! Don’t miss out on the fun, and be sure to use the exhibit to plan your next LA visit with friends from out of town. Here is a list of my favorites!
Grand Central Market – Located in Downtown L.A. this is a slice of foodie heaven. Vendors featuring a variety of foods, drinks, and fresh, local produce will satisfy your taste buds. The Market has been around since 1917, and is an overwhelming hall of cuisine. You might recognize this landmark from the popular 2016 film La La Land with Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone.
LA Brea Tar Pits – These natural tar pits give you an opportunity to travel back to the Ice Age right in the center of Los Angeles. Tar has been seeping up from the surface for tens of thousands of years, and over the centuries the tar has preserved the bones of trapped animals. So very cool to view the fossils, and check out an active excavation site. Next door is LACMA, their Urban Lights exhibit is a top Instagram destination.
Randy’s Donuts – From dinosaurs to donuts, only in LA baby! This iconic Donut shop was founded in 1953, and it’s by far, my favorite Donut Shop in Los Angeles. The prices are a steal. The menu options are delectable. And the lines are long. You might have seen the iconic larger than life donut sign in movies like Iron Man 2. It was even drawn into the animated flick, Zootopia. Randy’s has opened up in a couple of other areas including Hollywood Blvd, but I suggest visiting the original location. Need a donut? Don’t fret, you can get a Randy’s donut under the donut structure right at the Fairgrounds for a limited time.
Los Angeles City Hall – At one point in history, the Hall was one of the tallest buildings in the country! While they can’t claim it’s height is breaking records any longer, I think its definitely one of the prettiest views of LA. Take a free trip up to the observation deck of viewing area for postcard-worth, 360 degree views of the Downtown Area.
Route 66 ends at Santa Monica Pier! This is a must-see for out of towners. We still make it a point to spend time here, but the iconic, wooden boardwalk can be extremely crowded. Ride the Ferris Wheel for fabulous views, or visit the small aquarium below the boardwalk.
The first landmark we sought out was the Hollywood Sign. One of the most recognizable California pop culture icons can been viewed perched high above Hollywood. Take a hike to the base of the sign, or pull over on Bronson to take a photo with the sign behind you. Another good spot to view the sign from a distance is at Hollywood and Highland.
The Queen Mary- Retired in 1967, this formerly British Ocean Liner is docked in Long Beach and is now home to an iconic hotel and event space.
Griffith Park Observatory – the largest municipal, public garden in the country is packed with trails and is home to the iconic Griffith Observatory.
