A Rainy Day In Hollywood & Hermosa Beach
Hi friends! I hope you are having a great start to the week so far.
I’m not going to lie… I’ve got a front row seat on the struggle bus over here. I thought I was doing great and felt considerably energized to take on Monday after flying in on the red eye Sunday night, but I hit a wall. I blame my middle seat on the plane (aren’t those the worst on long flights?) and three hour time change. I took a nap as soon as I walked in the door yesterday, but I barely got up and alert enough to work a shift at the gym in the late afternoon!
I was supposed to join my weekly bible study last night, so I took a quick “cat nap” the hour before. Ha! That nap turned into a three and a half hour sleep, followed by a quick trip to the grocery store, then back home to sleep for the night. Needless to say, my sleep cycle is all over the place. After ignoring my alarm(s) this morning, I took a cue from my body to sleep in and catch up on whatever it was looking for. Here’s hoping we’re back on track!
So, that’s my story. I promise to get back to more of a normal posting schedule one of these days. Summer travels, visitors, and adventures always make it extra challenging!
Anyways, I wanted to pop in and share my last day in the Los Angeles area with you.
Because… sunset pictures.
(Take me back!)
Stout Burgers and Beers
If you’ve been checking the blog over the last week or so, then you already know I traveled to Los Angeles, California to attend the 2015 IDEA World Fitness Convention and BlogFest. (<- Day One recap!)
My last two sessions took me all the way through Sunday morning, and I spent my next couple of hours packing up, showering (I can’t tell you how great a long shower and washing my hair after the week of rinsing off in between sweat sessions felt!), and working in the hotel lobby until my friend Kylee arrived to show me around the area.
I met Kylee while dancing for the Detroit Pistons, and she just moved to San Diego three weeks ago! I thought it was so sweet of her to fight the traffic and drive up to Los Angeles to see me. My flight wasn’t until 11 p.m., so we had an entire afternoon planned, starting with lunch in Hollywood.
Stout Burgers and Beers is a funky, casual spot for lunch or late night dining on Cahuenga Blvd.
I wasn’t able to snap a great photo of it, but the environment was very rustic and chill. They are known for their gourmet burgers, often enjoyed at a happy hour (half off) price.
We ordered ciders to start and shared two burgers along with a side of sweet potato fries.
Per our server’s suggestion, we ordered the Truffle Shuffle burger (sautéed mushrooms, brie, truffle aioli) and Bollywood veggie burger (chutney mayonnaise, sharp cheddar, arugula, roasted tomato).
I’m not a huge red meat fan… but gosh, was that burger good. The veggie was great as well (and had a surprising spicy kick!), but looking back, we wished we would have ordered another specialty burger instead.
We took our time and enjoyed the laid back vibe of the restaurant. Kylee had been here before, so she insisted we split the made to order banana pudding for dessert! Who was I to argue?
Holy moly. That meal (and warm and gooey banana pudding) was honestly a huge highlight of my entire trip! If you are ever traveling through the Hollywood area, do yourself a favor and order a beef burger from Stout, a side of sweet potato fries, and share the banana pudding with a friend for dessert. You won’t be disappointed!
Like clock work, it started raining as soon as we paid or bills and were ready to walk around the area. We started by strolling the stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and took cover in and out of restaurants and shops along the way when it really started coming down.
I had only visited Los Angeles once before, so it was neat for me to see the stars lining the streets of the city. We talked about driving and hiking over to the Hollywood sign, but again, it was raining. Talk about bad timing!
Instead, we turned around at the Pantages Theatre and decided to head towards the airport.
As much as I love California, I have to note that Hollywood isn’t as glamorous as expected it to be. Of course, we didn’t check out Rodeo Drive (Beverly Hills) or Sunset Blvd., but Hollywood wasn’t crazy exciting, and didn’t feel one hundred percent safe. I can only hope that next time we are able to do more to give it a fair chance without the rain!
Hermosa Beach Pier
Afraid of hitting traffic on the way to the airport, we made our way closer to the area by driving over to Hermosa Beach. We parked by the pier, and I just adored the little beach city!
Had the weather been on our side, we talked about renting bikes to cruise down the beach. Biking near the beach is one of my very favorite things to do!
I was pretty bummed to realize that my only free day in California would be spent dodging the rain, but we rolled with it. We took our time walking down to the pier and caught the beginning of what turned into a beautiful sunset.
I truly believe I was made to be near the water. Not necessarily in it, just within viewing distance. I just feel so calm. Sitting by the beach or lake is without a doubt my happy place. <3
The drizzles eventually let up, so we walked all the way to the end. Talk about stunning views!
I could’t help but to take a collection of photos and send them over to Scott. He told me to start looking for real estate, and I was already ready to take down agency numbers. Not like we could afford anything… but, you know, just in case.
After a busy week and jam-packed five days in Los Angeles, this was the perfect way to say goodbye to California.
Thanks so much for visiting me, Kylee! I’m so glad we were able to catch up and spend the day together, despite the weather. I’d love to return to Hermosa Beach, and also take the time to visit more of California down the road!
***
Well, I’m off to an important meeting this afternoon, then leave directly for work at the gym for the remainder of the night. I was hoping to check back in with a Day Two recap of IDEA BlogFest, but that might have to wait until tomorrow.
Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you all have a great Tuesday.
Questions of the Day
• What is your favorite beach to visit in California?
• What was on the best burger you’ve ever had? (I’m getting a craving to go for another one!)
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