ITINERARY

Day 1 & 2: Venice Beach

After flying from Seattle to LA, we arrived at 11 am and took a quick 20-minute LYFT ride to our hotel in Venice Beach. This was my second visit to LA and Dave’s third, but it was Kevin’s first time. We chose Su Casa at Venice Beach, a cozy boutique beachfront hotel with a clean room and a kitchen. However, the WiFi was spotty, so my husband had to work in the lobby.

On the first day, since our room wasn’t ready, we had brunch at The Sidewalk Cafe on the boardwalk. The food was delicious and the portions were perfect. We spent the afternoon exploring the vibrant Venice Boardwalk and the picturesque Venice Canal, which I remembered from my previous visit. The boardwalk was bustling with street vendors selling art, food, and even offering chess challenges. I purchased an art piece and watched the surfers while enjoying the beach.

 

After checking into our hotel at 3 pm, we had a delightful happy hour at FIGs Tree restaurant, enjoying oyster specials and spicy jalapeño margaritas. We continued exploring the boardwalk, people-watching, and ended the day at Hotel Erwin’s rooftop bar, savoring the sunset views while sipping on old fashioneds. It was the perfect end to a wonderful day.

 

On the second day, while Dave had to work, Kevin and I went for a bike ride from Venice to Santa Monica. We enjoyed the ride, the refreshing ocean breeze, and the delicious street food from various vendors. It was a lovely mother-son date, and I cherished the sweet moments we shared. 

 

 

In the afternoon, we picked up our rental car from Enterprise in Marina del Rey to head to Burbank, where we would be staying near Universal Studios. The drive took about an hour with minimal traffic.

Our hotel, Safari Inn, was chosen for its proximity to Universal Studios and the convenience of the free shuttle service. We were impressed with the clean room and enjoyed spending the evening in their pool, where Kevin even made a new friend.

For dinner, we went to a Mexican restaurant in Burbank with Kevin’s new friend and his family. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a great experience as the waiter messed up most of our order. Feeling disappointed, we decided to head back to our room and prepare for the next day’s adventure.

Day 2: Universal Studios & Westminster, CA

Despite some miscommunications with the shuttle service, the hotel staff made sure everything was resolved for us. We arrived at Universal Studios around 9:30 am and found the park to be quite crowded. The lines, including those for food, were long, making the whole experience exhausting. I highly recommend downloading the Universal Studios App for convenience. Here’s a summary of the rides, attractions, and food we experienced at the park:

The Rides:

Minion Ride: The wait was short, about 20 minutes, but keep in mind this was still early in the day. The ride is cute and features simulated coaster-like action in a non-realistic, cartoony way.

Simpsons Ride: As a big Simpsons fan, visiting Springfield was a must for me. We waited for about 90 minutes, but the ride was worth it. It’s a projection and motion-based simulator dark ride. The whole setup of Springfield was really cute and enjoyable.

Nintendo Land: Originally thinking we needed tickets to access this area, we were pleasantly surprised to learn from a family we met that no ticket was required. We quickly changed our plans and headed to Nintendo World. We purchased the Power band, which allows you to collect digital stamps and coins, complete Key Challenges, track your score on the Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge ride, and more throughout SUPER NINTENDO WORLD. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to ride the popular Mario Kart due to technical issues, but we were still thrilled to explore Nintendo World.

Universal Tour: This is probably the best attraction of all and definitely a must-visit. With only a 60-minute wait and a 60-minute tour, you get to see behind the scenes of famous shows and movies and truly experience the action. From King Kong to Jaws, and my personal favorite, The Fast and the Furious, it’s a must-see if you’re at Universal Studios.

Food:

Unfortunately, the food options at the park left much to be desired, with long lines and underwhelming quality. We waited for 30 minutes at Krusty Burger but got impatient, so Dave opted for pizza, which took 15 minutes and was nothing special. I tried the chicken banh mi at the deli, but it was also disappointing, with dry chicken. Knowing this, I would recommend packing your own lunch and snacks for the park.

Overall:

With tickets priced at $109 each, the overall experience was not as great as we expected. We arrived at 9:30 am and were ready to leave by 5:30 pm, having only experienced two rides and the tour. Most of our time was spent waiting in line. Perhaps the crowded conditions were due to it being Spring Break, but I was surprised by how packed it was on a Thursday.

If I were to visit again, I would avoid holidays and weekends and consider spending two days at the park instead of just one. I would also try visiting in the evening, starting at 6 pm when the park is less crowded, and then spend the full day there the next day, starting early. The park tends to get crowded between 12 noon and 3 pm.

 

Evening time in Little Saigon:

After driving from Burbank to Westminster, which took about an hour, we checked into a cute Airbnb run by a Vietnamese older couple. Our next stop was dinner at the famous Oc & Lau 2 Restaurant. After a day of adventure at Universal Studios and disappointing food at the park, it was time to feast on our favorite Vietnamese dishes. We ordered steamed escargot in lemongrass sauce, steamed clams in hot and sweet sour sauce, razor clams in butter garlic, crispy calamari, beef egg mushroom (Bo ne), and crispy rice with garlicky ground beef. I also tried the salted lemon tequila (chanh muối) which is very refreshing.

 

 

Day 4: Phuoc Loc Tho and Huntington Beach

Morning:
We set out to explore the Garden Grove Mall, also known as Phuoc Loc Tho. Stepping into the mall felt like being transported to Vietnam, with its numerous vendors offering a variety of foods reminiscent of the night markets in Saigon.

For breakfast, we indulged in the famous Canh Bun at Quan Bun, a delicious noodle soup dish made with crabs, blood cube, water spinach, and tomatoes. We took our time wandering around the mall, purchasing souvenirs to bring home. For lunch, we tried some steamed escargots in ginger and balut in tamarind sauce from one of the stalls in the mall.

 

Afternoon & Evening:
The rest of the day was spent enjoying the beautiful sunny weather in Huntingdon Beach. We strolled along the boardwalk, observing the surfers and taking in the lively atmosphere. We also visited The Arts & Crafts Fair at Marina Shipyard, where we purchased a few handmade arts to bring back as mementos.

Later, we decided to unwind at BJ’s Brewhouse for happy hour. Sitting outside, we savored the craft beer and indulged in delicious flatbread pizza. While the avocado eggrolls were not to our taste, Kevin thoroughly enjoyed his strawberry fizzy drink. With the day coming to a close, we headed back home and called it an early night, as we were all exhausted.

 

Day 5: Enjoying Manhattan Beach

Morning: We checked out of our Airbnb and started our day with a hearty bowl of pho at Phoholic. The portion was incredibly generous, accompanied by a side of broth meat. It was the largest bowl of pho I had ever seen, filled with ample amounts of meat and flavorful broth. I could only manage to finish half of it. At $15 per bowl, it was definitely a steal. 

Afternoon & Evening:

We then drove to Manhattan Beach, which took us approximately 45 minutes. I returned the car at Marina del Rey since we wouldn’t need it for the remainder of our trip, as this area was easily navigable on foot. Our hotel, Sea View Inn at the Beach, was perfectly located in a vibrant part of Manhattan Beach, right on the main boulevard and overlooking the beach. We were thrilled with the amenities provided by the hotel, including beach toys, gears, and even a bicycle. The heated pool was also a welcome bonus.

 

We continued our exploration of Manhattan Beach by visiting the Roundhouse Aquarium, which offers free admission. Located on the pier, it provided us with a stunning view of the surrounding area. Despite its small size, the aquarium proved to be a delightful experience for our 7-year-old, as we spent around 30 minutes admiring the captivating sea creatures on display. Following our aquarium visit, we took a leisurely walk around town, appreciating the well-organized sections designed for bikers, walkers, and runners.

As hunger struck, we decided to satisfy our cravings for burgers and wings at Hennesey’s Tavern. The atmosphere at the pub was fantastic, and we thoroughly enjoyed our meal of sliders, wings, and fries. With satisfied appetites and full stomachs, we made our way back to the hotel for a restful night.

 

 

Day 6: More of Manhattan Beach

Morning:

While the boys enjoyed the pool, I spent the morning riding a bike from Manhattan Beach to Hermosa, relishing the fresh air and soaking in the ocean views. It was a lovely experience. I stopped by a beachside café and treated myself to a delicious bacon and eggs breakfast, savoring some “me time” along with the scenic beauty of the ocean.

 

Afternoon & Evening:

We took a leisurely stroll along the beach, basking in the beautiful sunny weather. The modern houses lining the waterfront and the charming succulent plants along the beach amazed us. Kevin even spotted a cute pet rabbit in town. For lunch, we decided to try the mouthwatering pizzas at “Pitfire Artisan Pizza,” which were delightfully crispy.

Later, we returned to the hotel and enjoyed more time in the pool with the floaties provided by the hotel. For dinner, we headed to “OB’s Pub & Grill,” a nearby Irish pub located just two minutes away from our hotel. They had an amazing dinner deal, and I opted for the NY strip steak dinner special, while Dave chose the rib dinner, and Kevin enjoyed some crispy wings.

 

Day 7: Relaxation at the Hilton Los Angeles Airport

Since our flight was scheduled for 6:30 am the next day, we decided to stay at the Hilton Los Angeles Airport, a hotel conveniently located near the airport, offering a pool, hot tub, and most importantly, a 24-hour Airport Shuttle Transfer service.

We spent most of our time relaxing by the pool and hot tub, taking it easy as we had an early flight. For lunch, we walked to the nearby Denny’s, which was only a five-minute walk from the hotel. As for dinner, we opted for Carl’s Jr. There weren’t many dining options in the vicinity apart from chain restaurants and fast food, but it suited us fine for a quick and convenient meal.

For the remainder of the day, we simply enjoyed each other’s company in the hotel room, taking in the view of airplanes landing at the airport.

 

Conclusion

Our time on the West Coast was filled with fun and adventure, and Kevin finally got to experience the wonders of Los Angeles. We hope you enjoyed reading about our 7-day itinerary and were inspired for your own future travels.

Booking Links:

Su Casa at Venice Beach 

Safari Inn (Burbank, CA)

Sea View Inn at the Beach (Manhattan Beach)

Hilton Los Angeles Airport

Airbnb – Green Studio in the heart of Little Saigon

 

 

Instagram REEL

Check out our 7 days in Los Angeles in 90 seconds.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Annie Anh Wetzel (@annieishhere)