It’s no surprise I fell in love with Los Angeles, it’s easy on the eyes.

I had just always assumed my affections would stem from a superficial place; a self-fulfilling DailyMail prophecy of sorts.

As if each morning on my way to grab coffee, like a scene from Westworld, I was sure to pass Kylie Jenner, head-to-toe in #spons merchandise fleeing a sea of feral paparazzi..and not long after, Hugh Jackman would turn a corner and tell me it’s OK to pet his french bulldog, Dali.

And I would squint my eyes at everyone I met, trying to reconcile their face with some minor role they had in a CW show from my youth.

Is that?.. -snaps fingers- ahh, yes “Waiter #7” from Season 3, Episode 10 of the O.C.

But as soon as I touched down in Los Angeles, my tween fever dreams and predated snark began to dissipate: the people were warm and friendly, the food was amazing, the cloudless skies made the world look more vibrant, and you could walk far more than I had been told.

The unofficial LA A.D. tagline of the trip became “everyone is just having a great time”, and I wanted to share some of the places I personally found exciting with you dear reader, should you want to make a week/month/year out of a future trip out west.

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