Vanessa & James
Things To Do
El Matador Beach
Where the proposal almost happened! It's usually less busy than the bigger beaches in LA, but be warned, it gets busy around sunset. We personally love going at night to see the stars from the cliffs overlooking the ocean.
Downtown Santa Monica
This is iconic LA. Downtown Santa Monica boasts lots of little shops and restaurants for several streets leading right up to the pier. We like to have lunch in downtown and walk to the ferris wheel on the pier and just enjoy the beach air.
The Getty
The Getty Center is one of the places we would frequent as friends to appreciate art. We also recommend The Getty Villa, but note that this is a completely different museum. The Getty center has a larger collection of art while the Villa boasts more lovely scenery and great spots for picnics. Tickets to both the Getty and Villa are free, but must be booked in advance.
The Huntington
The most beautiful gardens in LA, along with a great collection of artwork, and cute cafés. It's a great place to visit, and we cannot recommend it enough! Be sure to book your tickets in advance!
Griffith Observatory
A local favorite, and known tourist trap. The iconic observatory boasts a great view of the Hollywood sign, as well as a lovely park and (obviously) observatory. We personally love watching the presentations in the planetarium that are available daily.
Disneyland
There's nothing like the original! Though it's a bit of a drive, if you've got a few days in town, we highly recommend visiting Disneyland where Walt Disney actually lived and worked and made his dream come to life. You'll want to book your tickets in advance, so plan ahead!
Los Robles Greens
Our Venue is also a gorgeous golf course! Bring your clubs, grab a drink at the bar, and swing away.
Eaton Canyon Falls Trail
A 3 mile hike roundtrip with a cute waterfall at the end. Fairly easy hike, so please take it easy and enjoy the time in nature!
Sherman Oaks Castle Park
If you're not super into golf, but could be into mini golf, batting cages, or an arcade, this is a great choice! We highly recommend this park for those of you looking to entertain the whole family.
Paradise Cove Beach Café
If you want to enjoy the beach with a piña colada in hand, this is one of the few places you can do just that! This little cove is a private beach and restaurant, where you can even rent out little cabanas and beds! It is very popular, so we recommend making reservations.
Granville
Another favorite of ours! Great drinks and great food with a relaxed ambiance. Never ordered anything we didn't enjoy!
Catcher In The Rye
This is one of our favorite bars to unwind with a drink and game! This place is also special to us as this is where it dawned on us that we wanted to spend our lives together.
Tiki No
Such a fun little bar for intimate gatherings! We absolutely love the retro music, ambiance, friendly atmosphere, and, of course, the drinks!
Risky Business
If you're looking for a dark dive-bar vibe and pool tables, then this is for you! We used to visit this place when it was called "the other door", and it's still one of our favorites for something a little different.