travel

Long Beach trip recap

 in Travel  tagged art / beach / long beach / travel by

Things to do in Long Beach California

pictured: Alamitos Beach in Long Beach, California

We took a really quick road trip down to Long Beach, California over the 4th of July week. It has been difficult to plan a big vacation because my daughter is taking a summer school class and my other two kids have sports commitments throughout the summer. So, we took an opportunity to take a quick road trip when we saw there was a break in the schedule.

My middle child is looking at colleges to apply to, and Long Beach State University has a program she is interested in, so we decided to take a quick road trip to Long Beach. We spent a full day at the University touring around and eating on campus. It looks like a nice school to put on her list! Of course, in addition to checking out schools, we found a few fun things to do in Long Beach, California while staying in town.

Long Beach is home to a pier which offers delicious restaurants, candy shops, and fun little shops. We enjoyed spending some time there and getting candy apples. Stay tuned for my restaurant recap which will post tomorrow! We also went to a couple of museums and the beach. Here are a few fabulous things to do in Long Beach, California if you are ever in this part of Los Angeles.

Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum

The Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum is a small celebration of artwork and culture from the islands in the Pacific, and Oceana in general. We enjoyed seeing and learning about a few traditions from the islands, such as the personalized love sticks young men would stick into the home of a young lady they were courting as a proposal of marriage.

This museum is a must-see when you are in the Long Beach area! You can learn more at their website at pieam.org.

Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA)

pictured: work by Fernando Botero and an outdoor sculpture from the events garden

The Museum of Latin American Art is across the street from the Pacific Islands Ethnic Art Museum, so you can visit both museums in the same day! Love that!

This museum showcases a few collections from Latin American Artists. We enjoyed seeing collections from Yolanda Gonzalez and Fernando Botero. Botero was my favorite. The MOLAA also has special events, and the exhibitions rotate. You can learn more about the MOLAA at MOLAA.org.

Alamitos Beach

Of course, how can you visit Long Beach without going to the beach?! The word “beach” is literally in the name! haha

Near the pier you will find a beautiful beach, which isn’t too crowded, named Alamitos Beach. It is a nice escape from the city, which still has a city view on the backside.

You know I will always plug a great handbag! This tote bag turned out to be perfect for a road trip! It is really comfortable to wear while stuffed with random items, and it can double as a great beach bag. The seams must be pretty tight because I didn’t get one grain of sand inside. Love that!

What was packed in my Long Beach suitcase:

It was a quick trip for only two days, but we enjoyed the attractions we were able to see while visiting Long Beach. Stay tuned for my restaurant recap, which will post on the blog tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy

pictured below: work by Yolanda Gonzalez from the MOLAA

Historical Hollywood Walk of Fame

 in Travel  tagged city guide / family / los angeles / outfits / travel / travel style / travel tips by

One of the most touristy things to do in Los Angeles is to visit the Historical Hollywood Walk of Fame; but everyone needs to go at least once in their lifetime. Sometimes it is fun to be a tourist!

I know this post is a bit delayed, I am not sure how posting about the Historical Hollywood Walk of Fame slipped my mind! We went down to Los Angeles during New Year’s to attend the Rose Bowl game. My husband’s Alma Mater is Penn State, and they made it to the Rose Bowl! They didn’t just make it, they won! Yay!

It was really fun attending a large-scale college football game. My college did not have a football team, so I had never been to a huge college football game before. I have attended smaller schools’ football games, but nothing like this. It was amazing. The Penn State band was incredible, and the fans were highly spirited, fun, and friendly. I had so much fun! Too bad my school didn’t have football! I am now a little bit jealous. . .but I digress. . .

We have been to Los Angeles plenty of times with the kids, but somehow, we never made it to the Historical Hollywood Walk of Fame. So, this time, we took them! I had not been since I was a little kid, so it was fun to see it all again as an adult.

This is a huge tourist attraction, so when you go, I recommend going in the morning before the crowds arrive, and also try to go in the off-season. The summer and weekends are crazy busy; try to go during the week before tourist season. The winter break was a good time, I also recommend going in the fall after school is in session, or the first part of the spring semester. Ski week is a good time too if you plan to take the kids since it is in February before the colleges start their spring break season.

You will want to allow plenty of time for walking and looking down. I recommend going to the Chinese Theater first, before it gets too crowded. Once the tour busses arrive, it’s game over. If you go early, and by early, I mean try to get there by 9am, you will have time to search for all your favorite Hollywood stars. I found Shirley Temple! Love! In case you are wondering what the Chinese Theater is, it is where all the Hollywood stars have their handprints, footprints, and they have signed their names in the concrete. This is a small, select group of celebrities which are mostly iconic stars from early Hollywood, with a few modern stars.

In addition to the Chinese Theater, there are several blocks of stars to sort through in order to find your favorite celebrities. You will want to walk the Hollywood Walk of Fame after visiting the Chinese Theater. Take your time, and walk carefully, since you will be looking down instead of straight ahead! haha

Stay safe out there! This is a walking activity, and it can also get very crowded, so I recommend dressing appropriately. Make sure you have comfortable walking shoes, and keep your wallet, phone etc. in front of you. You want to be aware of possible pickpockets. They love crowded tourist areas! A cross body bag in front of you is ideal. Try not wear a backpack which can easily be entered and stolen from without your knowledge. If you have a backpack, wear it in front of you while you are walking around. I recommend wearing understated jewelry, nothing too flashy, and keep it casual.

What I wore to the Historical Hollywood Walk of Fame:

This is a half day activity. I recommend planning to attend in the morning, and then eating lunch at one of the restaurants along Hollywood Boulevard or heading out to your next adventure and enjoying a meal there. We ate there, at California Pizza Kitchen.

Enjoy your trip to LA! Thanks for stopping by,

XOXO

Cathy

What to pack in a carry on bag

 in General Fashion / Travel  tagged travel / travel style / travel tips by
what to pack in carry-on bag travel essentials

Travel essentials from top left: scarf (this doubles as blanket on a plane) / compact travel iron / sturdy backpack (stays on when running to connecting flights!) / suitcase lock (keep your stuff safe!) / neck pillow (must have for sleeping on the plane) / water bottle (fill up after you go through TSA) / suitcase set (great price!) / luggage tags (bright tags are easy to see in baggage claim)

Wondering what to pack in your carry-on bag for an upcoming flight? If you are like me, you will want to bring a backpack to store under the seat in front of you, and a small, TSA approved suitcase for the overhead bin. In the suitcase, you are likely to have your handbags, anything expensive or of value, and TSA approved sized toiletries.

When it comes to the bag you stow underneath the seat in front of you, chances are, you will want items which make your flight more comfortable; especially if it is a long flight or a red eye! I have found, I only need a few items to make my flight comfortable, especially since I tend to take red eye flights when I go back east.

I like to attempt sleep when I fly, therefore, a scarf which doubles as a blanket, and a neck pillow, are must-haves. I have tried several neck pillows, and most of them slip off or don’t provide any comfort for my neck. The one pictured above, actually does! It has Velcro to secure the ends together and it can spin around on your neck so you are able to find the ideal thickness for your nap. It also folds into a little bag which can hang from the zipper on your backpack; just in case your backpack is stuffed to capacity.

When it comes to packing, sometimes I like to stuff as much as I can into my carry-on suitcase, this little travel iron saves the day from the inevitable wrinkles which occur from an overstuffed suitcase. It fits nicely into a carry-on bag. I don’t trust hotel irons, so this one is a life-saver. Love it!

A lot of travelers seem to like large tote bags to stuff under the seat in front of them, if you feel secure and comfortable with a tote, you do you, that being said, I find backpacks more comfortable and practical. A sturdy backpack will keep your items secure, and if you have a tight layover, a backpack is easy to put on and not worry about while running to a connecting flight. I will not fly with a tote, only a backpack. It is a must-have for me. The backpack I use isn’t made anymore, but the one pictured above is the same as my daughters and it is fabulous. She uses it to carry a heavy laptop at school and for flying. She loves it, so I highly recommend it!

Shop carry-on travel essentials online:

In addition to what is pictured above, I always have a TSA approved hand cream in my backpack because my hands always get dry on the plane; plus the soap in airport bathrooms is always drying.

What are your carry-on travel essentials?

Happy travels!

XOXO
Cathy