Los Angeles: What We Did, Ate & Loved

We spent a few days in Los Angeles, over Spring Break, and it ended up being one of our favorite trips yet. It was a mix of iconic spots, really good food, and those little in-between moments that make everything feel memorable. Nothing overly structured, nothing rushed. Just a really good few days.

The Vibe

LA has this way of feeling both laid-back and iconic at the same time. One minute you’re grabbing a smoothie, the next you’re walking Rodeo Drive, and then somehow ending the day watching the sun dip down by the ocean. It’s easy, a little chaotic, and somehow still relaxing.

Getting Around

One of the most unexpected highlights? Driving a self-driving Tesla. It made getting around feel so much easier and fun. LA is known for traffic, but this took a lot of the stress out of it and gave us more time to just enjoy everything around us.

Where We Ate

Food is always a big part of our trips, and LA absolutely delivered.

Ronan
Cozy lighting, a relaxed patio feel, and a menu that makes you want to order a little bit of everything. The pizza was amazing, but somehow the Caesar with anchovies was my favorite—simple, a little unexpected, and so good.

Erewhon
We had to try the smoothies, and yes, they live up to the hype. Fun, different, and one of those “you just have to try it” things.

The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills
This ended up being one of my favorite stops—fresh focaccia, incredible cheese, and French butter that I’m still thinking about.

Wake & Late
Breakfast burritos that fully lived up to the hype.

Din Tai Fung
The soup dumplings were so good, and the space itself is such a vibe. Even the booths are designed to feel like bamboo steamers, which made it feel a little extra special.

Pink’s Hot Dogs
A classic LA stop. It’s one of those places you go for the experience just as much as the food.

Park’s BBQ
Such a fun experience. Korean BBQ where everything feels interactive and elevated at the same time.

Randy’s Donuts
You can’t miss the giant donut. Simple, iconic, and worth the stop.

What We Did

We kept things pretty simple and just focused on a few highlights.

Rodeo Drive
Fun to walk, people watch, and take in the whole scene.

Lakers Game
A full bucket list moment for our family. The energy, the atmosphere—everything about it felt special and we got super lucky and got to watch an incredible game!

Santa Monica Pier + Beach Walk
Such a classic LA moment. We walked along the ocean, took it slow, and just soaked it all in.

PCH Drive to Malibu
The views alone make this worth it. One of those drives where you don’t really need a plan—just go.

Hollywood + Griffith Observatory
We spent some time exploring downtown Hollywood and walked along the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which just feels like one of those iconic things you have to see at least once. We also happened to catch a glimpse of some behind-the-scenes setup for the Oscars, which was such a fun, unexpected moment.
We also make a quick stop at Griffith Observatory, and the views were incredible—you can see the city stretch out below you and get a perfect view of the Hollywood sign. Such a good way to take it all in.

Disneyland Day

We did a Park Hopper day at Disneyland, and it ended up being such a fun change of pace from the rest of the trip.

We spent the first part of the day at Disneyland Park, then hopped over to California Adventure later on, which felt like the perfect way to experience both without overcomplicating it. It’s definitely a full day, but in the best way.

The Rides We Loved

We didn’t try to do everything, just focused on the ones we were most excited about—and it made the day feel way more enjoyable. A few favorites:

• Radiator Springs Racers (easily my favorite)
• Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
• Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Toy Story Midway Mania!
• Incredicoaster (the boys loved this one)

It’s busy, it’s a lot of walking, and it can definitely feel chaotic—but it’s just so fun and nostalgic that it totally feels worth it.

We didn’t try to over-plan it, which I think made a huge difference. Just picked a few priorities, went with the flow, and enjoyed the experience as it came.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour

This also deserves its own section because it was such a cool experience.

Seeing the iconic Friends couch, walking through sets, and getting little behind-the-scenes details made it feel so different from just watching everything on screen.

A few favorites:

• the iconic Friends fountain
• Harry Potter’s cupboard under the stairs
• little details from actual filming days

It was definitely an experience that ended up being way more interesting than I expect, and it was a highlight for everyone. 10/10 would recommend.

Where We Stayed

We stayed at Mondrian Los Angeles and it ended up being such a great fit for our trip. Clean, comfortable, and just overall easy, which is exactly what we wanted. I’d definitely recommend it if you’re planning a similar trip.

The location made it really easy to get around, and it felt like such a nice place to come back to at the end of the day. One of our favorite parts was that it’s right across the street from The Comedy Store, so my husband and I were able to sneak away for a date night and catch a show, which ended up being such a fun highlight.

LA is one of those places where you could go back again and again and have a completely different experience each time. But this version, this mix of food, a few iconic stops, and just letting the days unfold, felt pretty perfect!