My first trip to LA was amazing. I was just beginning my working years and had dreamed about visiting the West Coast since I was in high school. Because I live on the East Coast, flying to California was (and still is) an all-day proposition. Connecting in either Toronto, Boston or one of the New York City airports is required. (Side note, after trying all three several times, Logan Airport in Boston and JFK in New York seem to offer the easiest connecting experience). Anyhow, I spent a week in LA doing a lot of things I had always wanted to do. Knott’s Berry Farm, Disneyland and Universal Studios were all amazing (and remain so today). I was sorry I did not get to a Dodger game (many years later, I still haven’t made it!).
Photo by Henning Witzel on Unsplash
I rented a Ford Mustang from either Hertz or Avis and remember it being a real piece of junk. The driver’s seat back was broken and the engine was almost completely empty of oil. But the drive up the Pacific Coast highway to Malibu was still epic! I remember thinking that the oceanfront homes in Malibu seemed to be on very small lots. Later I learned that land cost per square foot in Malibu was incredibly high, which explained the small lot sizes.
I also vividly recall walking up Hollywood Boulevard with my mouth open, amazed at the stars on the sidewalk. I stayed in a hotel nearby and could look out my window and see the Hollywood sign. I was so naive back then that I didn’t notice the industrial strength protection on every storefront and the razor wire around the hotel parking lot. TIP: if your hotel has razor wire in the parking lot, you are in a very dangerous area.
California (sorry to say) falls in the “Glad I got to visit, but I am even gladder I don’t live there” category. Even way back in the 90’s the traffic was beyond awful. The scenery is gorgeous, and so are the sunsets (until you realize that air pollution causes the colors in the sunset). I have made many return visits to California over the years (San Francisco and San Diego are my favorite cities, and the Redwood trees are spectacular), but I always am happy to return to my boring quiet and safe little town.
Los Angeles is amazing, I would go back tomorrow. But I would be just a little more careful than I was back in the day!