After receiving a $500 airline voucher, I decided to fly to the West Coast and explore Los Angeles, California for the first time. My mom met me out there and we spent 7 days trying to fit in as many touristy things in a week as possible. LA has so much to see and do that you could live there for years, and still not have done it all. I bought the 5-day Go Los Angeles city card pass that gave me admission to 35+ Los Angeles attractions and experiences. The pass is also available in 1,2, 3, and 7 days, although Universal Studios is only included in the 3+ day options. The pass comes with an easy-to-use app with a guide of the city. This helped me plan out our days. I used the pass for 5 days on days 2 through 6 of my trip. I also made an itinerary on Sygic Travel that you can view. Day 1 Miracle Mile After traveling for 24 hours, I was exhausted so the first day of the trip was a day to relax. We stayed at the Renaissance Hotel close to the airport on the first night before transferring to our AirBnB the following day. After getting settled in, I walked to the La Brea Tar Pits, which are a group of tar pits around Hancock Park. Natural asphalt has seeped up from the ground in this area for tens of thousands of years. Over many centuries, the tar preserved the bones of trapped animals. You can walk around and see the tar pits without paying for the museum. The George C. Page Museum is dedicated to researching the tar pits and displaying specimens from the animals that died there, including several animals from the Ice Age. The price to enter the museum is $12 or can be used with the Go Los Angeles card. However, I did not start my 5-day pass until the following day. Directly beside the Tar Pits, is the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. This art museum is located on Wilshire Boulevard in the Miracle Mile vicinity. It is the largest art museum in the western United States and holds more than 150,000 works spanning the history of art from ancient times to the present. In addition to art exhibits, the museum features film and concert series. The admission price is $25. Here, you can also find “Urban Light“. Let there be light – is definitely the thing that will come to your mind when you see the 202 street lamps arranged into one sculpture by Chris Burden. Even though the lamps are of the same color, they differ in heights and types so it is not a totally uniform sculpture. Right down the road from these two attractions is the Peterson Automotive Museum. Tickets cost $25. I did not go in, but it is something to consider if you are in the area. The night I arrived, I went out to two bars in Venice. One was The Lincoln and the other was Roosterfish. Day 2 Santa Monica, Malibu, and Venice Beach Today was the first day that I used my Go Los Angeles pass. I started off by catching an Uber to the Santa Monica Pier. On this popular pier, you will find many attractions like an amusement park, aquarium, arcade, shops, an iconic carousel, and many places to get food. I arrived right at 9AM and went straight to the Starline office to ask if there was room on the 9:30AM celebrity homes tour. I was in luck! This is free with the Go Card on a standby basis so as long as they still have room on the bus, then you can go. There were only about 9 people on the tour and the bus could fit roughly 20. On the tour, I enjoyed the bus ride from Santa Monica to Malibu along the pacific Coast Highway, where I admired elite beachfront communities. Homes I saw on the tour included: Leonardo DiCaprio, Bruce Willis, Cher, Adam Chandler, Jennifer Anniston, Courtney Cox, Matthew Perry, Ellen, David Beckham, Paris Hilton, Jim Carrey, and more. These are there summer/vacation homes, so don’t be expecting anything overly extravagant. My favorite homes were actually the ones on the hills, like Cher, Ellen, and David Beckhams, versus the beachfront homes. The tour lasted about 2 hours and ended back at the Santa Monica Pier. Our tour guide, Leo, recommended a few places to eat at for lunch. I ended up eating at an authentic Italian restaurant called Bruno’s. It was very good. After lunch, I headed back onto the Santa Monica Pier. I took photos with the Route 66 sign. This was cool seeing because I just taught my students about it when learning about the Westward Expansion. U.S. Route 66, also known as the Will Rogers Highway, the Main Street of America, or the Mother Road, was one of the original highways in the U.S. Highway System. US 66 was established on November 11, 1926. The highway, which became one of the most famous roads in the United States, originally ran from Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica, covering a total of 2,448 miles. US 66 served as a primary route for those who migrated west, especially during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. I next used my Los Angeles Go Card to redeem my unlimited ride wristband at Pacific Park. This normally costs $35. This park looks directly out on the Pacific Ocean, in the direction of Catalina Island. It is the only amusement park on the West Coast of the United States located on a pier and LA’s only admission-free park. There are a total of twelve rides in Pacific Park, including the world’s first and only solar powered Ferris wheel that provides a view of the Pacific Ocean and a roller coaster that circles the majority of the park. It has appeared in over 500 movies and television shows, so was definitely
I have been to London several times and each time I go, I discover something new. London has so much to offer and is a great place to go for any length of time. When I plan what I am going to do in London, I first decide what tourist attractions I would like to see and do, and then I route my trip based around the tube map. The London Underground is divided into nine zones: central London is covered by zone 1. There are 11 Tube lines. The Tube fare depends on how far you travel, time of day, and how you pay. Oyster or contactless payments are the cheapest ways to pay for single fares. Tube services usually run from 5AM until midnight, with Night Tube services on some lines on Friday and Saturday evenings. After I have decided what I would like to see and do, I look up the nearest underground station of each place on LondonTown.com. Below is a list of major tourist attractions categorized by their closest underground station. Tower Hill Tower of London – This is London’s version of a castle. It is a fortress, royal palace, and infamous prison all in one. Buying your tickets online is the cheapest and most convenient way to visit the Tower. The cost is 22.50GPB. It is open from 9AM to 4:30PM Tuesday-Saturday and 10AM to 16:30 on Sundays and Mondays. Check out the official website for more information. Tower Bridge – This is one of London’s famous bridges and one of many must-see landmarks in London. You can discover the stories behind the engineering, the people, the architecture, and the city that build Tower Bridge. From the high-level walkways, you can take in stunning panoramic views and experience the thrill of seeing London life through the Glass Floor. In the Victorian Engine Rooms, you will learn about how the bridge was engineered and how it functions. The bridge is open daily from 9:30AM to 5PM. You can receive discounted tickets by booking online. The price is 8.70GBP. You can find out more information on the website. Coppa Club Igloo Restaurant – The terrace of this restaurant has been transformed into the copies set up the Thames has to offer. With fluffy blankets and sheepskin rugs, sparkly night’s sky and unrivaled views of London’s Thameside skyline, it’s the dreamiest spot ideal for hiding away from the cold and the city outside. There are a limited amount of spaces so you have to book well in advance. There is no booking fee and the prices are very cheap considering. You can check out the menu here. London Bridge Shard – Formerly known as London Bridge Tower, this 95-story skyscraper is the tallest building in the European Union. The building has a viewing gallery and open-air observation deck on the 72nd floor, at a height of 244 meters (801 feet). It offers visitors a 360-degree view for up to 40 miles. The ticket is quite expensive at 32GBP. You can book it in advance or when you arrive. There are also several restaurants and bars, all of which boast floor to ceiling windows and an excellent view of the city. You can learn more about each and make reservations here. Clink Prison Museum – This museum is built upon the original site of the Clink prison which dates back to 1144, making it probably the oldest prison in England. Visit the website for more information. Westminster Big Ben – Elizabeth Tower’s Great Bell of the clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster has been nicknamed Big Ben. When construction completed in 1859, the clock was the largest and most accurate four-faced striking and chiming clock in the world. The tower stands 315 feet (96 meters) tall, and the climb from ground level to the belfry is 334 steps. In August 2017, a four-year schedule of renovation work began on the tower. With a few exceptions, such as New Year’s Eve and Remembrance Sunday, the bells are to be silent until the work is completed in the 2020s. House of Parliament – The palace of Westminster, commonly known as the House of Parliament, is the meeting place of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the two houses of Parliament of the United Kingdom. The UK Parliament is open to visitors year round, Monday to Saturday, to attend debates and committee hearings or to take a tour of the building. Visit the website for more information. Westminster Abbey – This cathedral is across from the Palace of Westminster. It is one of the United Kingdom’s most notable religious buildings and the traditional place of coronation and burial site British monarchs. There have been 16 royal weddings at the abbey since 1100, including Prince William and Catherine. You can attend church services, free of charge or book tickets for visiting at another time. London Eye – This is a cantilevered observation wheel on the South Bank of the River Thames. It is Europe’s tallest cantilevered observation wheel and is the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom with over 3.75 million visitors annually. The structure is 135 meters (443 feet) tall. If you book online, you will save 10% on tickets and guarantee a time slot. The London Dungeon – This is a tourist attraction along London’s South Bank which recreates various gory historical events in a humorous style. It uses a mixture of live actors, special effects, and rides. There are 19 live shows and 2 thrilling rides. Book online for the best price, guarantee entry, and choose your arrival time. You can also combine your ticket with another London Attraction for 40GBP. For opening times and more information visit the website. Sea Life Aquarium – Here you will find Europe’s largest collections of global marine life. The Rainforest Adventure allows you to immerse yourself in a world of creepy crawlies, charming crocs, and curious critters. The Ocean Invaders welcomes you
