Venice

Venice is a famous tourist destination and local hot-spot. Surf and sand, food and fun – you can find it all here. Check out my go-to, must-see spots in Venice.

Venice Canals The Venice Canal Historic District was built in 1905 by developer Abbot Kinney, with a vision to bring the canals of Venice, Italy to Venice, California. Twelve acres of man-made canals are now surrounded by beautiful homes and residences. Early morning and late evening strolls along the road next to the canals provide beautiful views of the sun rising and setting over the water. It’s my favorite, not-so-hidden gem in Los Angeles. Mere minutes from the crowds of Venice Beach and hustle of downtown Venice, the Canals offer a peaceful respite. 

Venice Beach One of the most well-known beaches in the world! Swim, surf, run on the beach, rent a bike or roller blades, take the trail to nearby beaches, play volleyball, get a tan, or just people-watch. There is no shortage of beach-side entertainment, including street performers, painters, musicians, singers, fortune tellers, tattoo and henna artists and so much more. Boutiques are stocked with beach friendly attire, souvenirs and gifts. Cafes are aplenty with food and people. You can spend an entire day here and still not experience everything Venice Beach has to offer.

Abbot Kinney Boulevard Often referred to as “the coolest block in America,” eat, shop, drink and explore all within a few short blocks. New food trucks, hip bars and restaurants, eclectic boutiques, cool cafes and coffeehouses, galleries, festivals and street events all call Abbot Kinney home. Foodies and shopaholics, artists and art lovers all flock to these few city blocks to enjoy the best of Venice. Try the pizza at Gjelina, and the gourmet donuts at Blue Star. Get in some shopping and sightseeing, and you’ve made for a great day spent in Venice.  

What’s your favorite place to visit in Venice?

Summertime Fun

Summer days last long after summer is officially over in LA. If you’re looking for something fun to do, look no further. I’ve rounded up three different ways to enjoy the rest of these warm months.

County Fair Southern California hosts several dozen fairs in the summer months, but the three bigger ones are Ventura, OC and LA. The OC and Ventura Fairs were held in early August but there is still time to enjoy the LA County Fair, held in Pomona August 31 – September 23. There are also plenty of other local fairs to visit through September. Eat fried treats, ride the Ferris wheel, play games, win prizes, catch a concert, browse art and other exhibits, buy some souvenirs, get your fortune told, sip a cold beer, or walk the grounds and people watch. Whatever you enjoy, the Fair is always fun and is a summertime staple.

Beach No shortage of surf and sand in Southern California. There are dozens of beaches to visit up and down the coast, from Santa Barbara to San Diego. Each beach provides unique entertainment and activities. Malibu is known for its pristine beaches, Santa Monica has a fun Pier and boardwalk, Laguna and Newport have stunning views, Venice is full of people to see and things to do, Manhattan and Hermosa are community and family friendly, and on and on. If you prefer to lay out, surf, ride a bike, bring your dog, eat and drink, take pictures, enjoy views, … you get the point, you’ll find a beach to suit your needs.  

Outdoor Event In the summer months, events tend to move outdoors to take advantage of the cool nights. California summer concerts, outdoor movie nights, car shows, and other art exhibits are held in local parks and city blocks in dozens of cities. Usually they are free to attend and open to the public. Check with your nearby park or outdoor mall to see what events are being held. It’s definitely a fun way to spend time with family and friends, enjoying some entertainment while being outside. Don’t forget to also visit a farmer’s market and treat yourself to fresh and in-season summer produce.

Take advantage of longer days and warm weather and take the fun outdoors. What’s your favorite thing to do in the summer?

3 Ways to Explore Griffith Park Observatory

One of my favorite places in LA is the Griffith Park Observatory. Whether you enjoy a good hike, relaxing picnic, or quick lesson in astronomy, keep reading for ways to explore the grounds.

Tour Exhibits at the observatory are free to the public and open every day. A pendulum in the Rotunda, scales that display what you’ll weigh on each planet, indoor/outdoor telescopes, displays and videos about the sun, moon, stars, and everything in between – these are just a few of the educational and entertaining exhibits you will find at the observatory. A planetarium offers live shows daily, and a theater offers short films hourly. Venture outside and you’ll find telescopes for star gazing. Or, soak in more local views with the Los Angeles skyline. Add in a café (try the nachos) and a souvenir shop and you’ve got everything you could need for a fun day spent at the Observatory. 

Hike If outdoor exploration is more your speed, you’ll find some beautiful hiking trails alongside the Observatory. With a 53 mile network of trails and paths for hikers to enjoy, one can spend an entire afternoon in nature, enjoying the rugged terrain and spotting some animal friends along the way. The Observatory is not the only way to get spectacular views. A trail from the Observatory parking lot leads to the summit of Mount Hollywood. It’s the highest point in Griffith Park with views of Los Angeles. After you’ve enjoyed the exhibits inside the Observatory, you could hike this trail and treat yourself to some natural exhibits. Grab your water and sunscreen and have fun!

Picnic All of this education and exercise is bound to make you a little hungry (and tired). What better way to spend the day than with a relaxing picnic in the park? Griffith Park is the largest park in the US, with over 4,000 acres of park and picnic land. Designated areas with soft grass, tall trees, benches, tables, and public barbeque grills provide for the ultimate picnic-in-the-park experience. Additionally, you will find fun activities for the whole family with pony and train rides, a merry-go-round, horseback riding trails and tennis courts. During the holidays, enjoy the LA Zoo lights, holiday train rides, and haunted hay rides. Since the LA Zoo is located near the park, the fun doesn’t have to end when the sandwiches do. 

What’s your favorite thing to do and see at the Griffith Park Observatory?  

3 Tips for sellers

Are you thinking of selling your home? Is it already on the market? Here are three tips on how to get your home ready to sell.

De-clutter A quick and easy way to get your home ready for showings and open houses is to de-clutter and de-personalize it. This may seem like an unnecessary step, but it’s not. It’s important for potential buyers to enter your home and imagine themselves and their belongings in that space. Some ways you can do this include – taking down photos and personal items; removing decorative pillows and throw blankets from beds and sofas; tidying up coffee tables and kitchen counters; keeping a small percentage of your clothes in closets; etc. In other words, anything that makes the space your own should go so that the it feels more like a blank canvas and less cluttered. The home should feel airy, neutral, clean and inviting.

Minor Fixes Sometimes, a small fix can have a big impact. While you can remodel parts of your home prior to selling, it’s definitely not necessary. Here’s why. When you remodel, you do so to your tastes, and not every potential buyer will like or want to pay for specific upgrades. Second, remodeling is expensive, and costs incurred may not be recouped upon sale. A fresh coat of paint in a neutral color to brighten up a space, patching up holes in walls, washing the deck or driveway, de-cluttering your kitchen, bathroom or garage, removing small furniture pieces or rearranging them to make the space appear larger, and adding lighting to make sure rooms don’t appear dark or small are all examples of quick fixes. This will go a long way in making your home look well put together and ready to sell.    

Staging If you’ve already moved out and the home is completely empty, you might want to consider staging. Professional staging companies will furnish and decorate a home for the purposes of showings, open houses, and photography for marketing. For some potential buyers, it may be difficult to imagine how their furniture will fit into a space, or how they would decorate certain rooms. Staging helps them picture themselves living there and gives them a sense of how large the space actually is, since empty rooms can appear small. Proper staging can also increase the perceived value of a home and may help bring in more offers in a shorter period of time than an empty home. The cost of staging will depend on the size and location of a home, but will be worth it when your house sells quicker and hopefully for more than you asked for.

Have you tried any of these tips? Let me know in the comments.