If you're anything like me, you'll agree that one of the best parts of travelling is the hundreds of opportunities you'll come across for capturing Instagram worthy travel photos. You'll come home with a camera roll full of digital memories frozen in time and too many typical touristy shots that'll have your friends and family ridden with travel envy. This was the case with my recent trip to Los Angeles, California, the home of the Insta bloggers and aesthetic photo ops down every street.
If your'e planning a trip to LA LA land, here are some of the most photogenic spots around the city, and some of my favourite things to do that I suggest adding to your itinerary:
☆ MELROSE AVE - for some serious shopping, cute cafes and famous photo walls
THE pink wall at Paul Smith Ltd. Melrose Ave
Alfred's Tea Room Melrose Ave
Collette Miller angel wings project Melrose Ave
Sorella Boutique Melrose Ave
☆ LACMA URBAN LIGHTS - outside of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art you'll find dozens of people and cameras capturing Instagram shots among the lamp post art installation.
☆ HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME - be warned, it's not all as glamorous as television makes it out to look, definitely not somewhere you'd imagine the Oscars to be held. But it's still a LA must see and an opportunity for a touristy photo pic with your favourite celebrity stars.
☆ RODEO DRIVE - even if you can't afford any of the shopping the street is renown for, it's still fun to window shop and imagine your future wardrobe.
☆ GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY - In the hills looking down over the whole of LA, you'll find the best views of the city at the observatory. Go before sunset to watch the glistening city lights below, and make sure to explore the planetarium and telescopes. My afternoon spent at the observatory was my favourite memory from my time in LA.
☆ SANTA MONICA PIER - go for a stroll down the iconic pier and buy a double scoop of your favourite ice cream flavour. Nothing beats watching the sun go down on Santa Monica beach.
☆ BEVERLY HILLS - throughout the glamorous 90210 you'll find street after street of beautiful palm trees towering the skyline, and a number of other photo opportunities at the Beverly Hills sign, aesthetic cafes and the Beverly Hills Hotel.
☆ HOLLYWOOD SIGN & RUNYON CANYON HIKE - pack your walking shoes and set out for a hike behind the Hollywood sign for another breathtaking view of the city, you might even run into a celebrity enjoying a hike. The best view of the sign can be accessed from 3000 Canyon Lake Drive.
☆ THE GROVE - The prettiest shopping mall in LA to empty your bank account at, and make sure to dine at The Cheesecake Factory!
☆ VENICE BEACH - hire a bike or some roller-skates and spend the day exploring the Venice boardwalk, muscle beach and skate park, full of colourful characters, quirky markets and beautiful blue skies.
☆ IN & OUT BURGER - While you're visiting the West Coast, In & Out Burger is a MUST. Order off the secret menu and enjoy the best damn burger in Hollywood.
☆ DISNEYLAND - feel like a little kid again at the happiest place on earth. Most people buy 2-3 day passes to experience everything Disney has to offer, but 1 full day was plenty of time to experience most of the rides and explore the park.
☆ UNIVERSAL STUDIOS - If you're visiting LA for a few days, take the time out to visit Universal Studios and do the studio tour through Hollywood movie sets. I'm so sad the Harry Potter Wizarding World wasn't open last time I visited!
☆ NBA GAME AT STAPLES CENTER - Going to the Clippers vs Jazz game was one of my favourite highlights from LA, even with the cheapest tickets up the back of the stadium my boyfriend and I had the best time and the energy of the crowd was unreal.
LA is one of my favourite cities, with its energetic and colourful vibe that never fails to excite me. Add it to the bucket list of places to tick off, and you're guaranteed to come away with an Instagram feed full of memories to cherish. I'll be Californian dreaming until next time.
xxx