Article written by: Cindy Bokma
Last September when my book The Blondes of Bel Air came out, I had a plan to incorporate photos of Southern California with the novel. I envisioned beautiful photos from luxurious surroundings and I’d tie it in with the launch of my book.
The idea was to drive around Bel Air, snap photos of mansions and plants, walk around the Hotel Bel Air and take photos for Instagram. There were two other places I wanted to visit, The Greystone Mansion and the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel. I felt these places would capture the spirit of my book.
I plotted out our stops in a logical manner using Route Planner; I didn’t want to be driving back and forth all day especially given that Los Angeles traffic is legendary. It’s not an exaggeration that it can take three hours to get from Downtown LA to Santa Monica, a distance of maybe twenty miles. The area isn’t all that huge but the traffic will draw out your commute and it’s unbearable! Those photos you’ve seen of cars sitting bumper to bumper extending for miles? It’s true. That is exactly what its like and I try to avoid getting stuck there by doing day trips on weekends.
The Beverly Hills Hotel is a fantastic place to roam around. There is a rich, glamorous history to the hotel. I never went inside before but on this visit, I wanted to see everything. Its library is quiet inside and the air is frosty cool, it smells like fresh flowers, every detail is clean and perfect. It’s as beautiful as I anticipated.
I wasn’t able to get close to the pool area (guests only) but I tiptoed around the grounds and snapped some photos. I’m sure an overnight stay in one of the bungalows is pure luxury!
From the hotel, I drove over to Bel Air, the setting for my novel. Until recently I had never explored the area in person, only online, but my heart sank when I saw the hotel is contained by a large wall and you cannot see anything from the street. Only guests of the hotel are permitted in and out, sadly no photos of the spot for me. Same with the houses; walls and gates prevent anyone (like me) from driving around and gawking.
From what I did see, Bel Air is as beautiful as the pictures I saw online, lots of palms and trees and shrubs, perfectly manicured lawns with velvety grass.
Greystone Mansion was the next stop; I was curious about this place since I’ve been to Los Angeles countless times and never visited.
A huge parking lot greets you as you get close to the venue. It’s in the middle of Beverly Hills and is dedicated as a public park by the City of Beverly Hills. Greystone Mansion is exactly that, an enormous grey stone mansion. It’s a beautiful place on several acres that was built back in 1927.
On the day of my visit, a wedding was taking place so the prep work was going on and people were buzzing around setting up. There were lots of photos being taken of the bride on one side of the estate, and the groom on the other. It was fun to see them posing though the event meant much of the area was off limits. I spent as much time as I could there, the view of Los Angeles from where the manor sits is jaw-dropping. There are trees, plants, places to take photos and absorb the beauty. This is a must- see place in Beverly Hills.
Next stop, lunch! My best travel tip is to find a Whole Foods Market if you don’t know where you want to eat. I can find all of my gluten-free ingredients with no problem and get a coffee and some water too. If you are gluten-free like I am, the Find Me Gluten Free app on your phone is a lifesaver. This highlights the best options for gluten-free eating no matter where you are.
I’ve been a Marilyn Monroe fan forever and couldn’t believe I had never driven by her famous home in Brentwood. Checking my map, I saw I was only minutes away from her former home so I drove over to check it out. Sadly there was a wall around the house and I was not able to see it. But for me, driving down the tiny narrow road and knowing she once lived there was exciting. There is so much history in Beverly Hills and Hollywood!
Santa Monica was the next place to see and every time I’m there, I look forward to a return visit. There’s the beach, the famous pier, a park area, plus streets full of fun shops. I was more interested in the side streets, kind of off the beaten path, where I could see different houses and landscapes. One of my favorite things to do is roam around and take notice of the details other people might miss. The way a lantern is hanging in a tree or how the sunshine illuminates the veins of a leaf, a closed bud about to blossom, the unusual way a plant grows, these are things I look for when taking photos. I look up and down and sideways trying to find a new way to view a place.
If you want to continue exploring, I recommend heading to the Venice Canals. From the Santa Monica Pier to the Venice Canals, it’s a little over two miles or thirty minutes in heavy traffic or fifteen to twenty minutes in normal traffic, so plan accordingly. You can try to find parking on a side street which is incredibly limited or pay twenty dollars to park in the public lot.
The canals back up to private properties and many people own boats and canoes which you will see dotting the water. Its a pleasant, easy stroll through the area and there are gorgeous homes and gardens along the way. The canals cover about two miles and it will take less than an hour to walk.
This itinerary will take you all day. You can finish up with dinner near the Venice Canals, there are lots of places to eat that are on the water.
5StarTips🌟:
🌟 Plan out your route ahead of time, especially if you have multiple stops. Consider the traffic and plan for extra time in your itinerary.
🌟 The Beverly Hills Hotel has a few restaurants, try to eat lunch there if you can. The setting is very pretty and you might spot some famous faces. Last time I ate there, I saw Zac Efron and Samuel L. Jackson. Why not stop in one of these restaurants and just order a glass of wine or champagne? A luxury break and a special treat for yourself!
🌟 Greystone Mansion opens at 10 a.m. and closes at 5/6 depending on daylight savings
🌟 The Santa Monica Pier is a fun but busy spot. Get there early in the day if you plan to spend a long time at the pier. There are several parking lots, your best bet is to pay and park for a few hours.
Final Thoughts:
Los Angeles, California offers so much to do. Either for residents or people who are traveling there. All the places that I described above I accomplished in a day trip. It was a special, leisurely, luxurious day even though it was budget friendly. Costs to consider are parking, gas, and your meals. I hope you have found these tips helpful. Cheers to a day in LA!
Other Always5Star articles by Cindy Bokma:
Always5Star Guide To Planning Day Excursions On A New England Cruise
Always5Star Guide To The Los Angeles Arboretum
A Peaceful Escape When Visiting Los Angeles – The Peace Awareness Labyrinth & Gardens
Always5Star Guide to a Day In Anza-Borrego, California
5StarTip🌟: A Secret Garden in Southern California – Myrtle Creek Nursery in Fallbrook, California
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A bit about the author: Cindy Bokma
Cindy Bokma grew up in New Jersey but now lives in California. Cindy is the author of
The Blondes of Bel Air, A Thousand Dollars for a Kiss and Here If You Need Me. She has also written a children’s book, Victorious Girls and has pitched television shows to networks such as Disney and Nickelodeon. She is an accomplished screenplay analyst, having worked for a popular Hollywood production company.
Order her book: Low Oxalate Cookbook – The Low-Oxalate Anti-Inflammatory Cookbook: 75 Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, Soy-Free, Yeast-Free, Low-Sugar Recipes to Help You Stress Less and Feel Better on Amazon.
Visit her also at Wild Flower and Woods And Visit her also at Cindy Bokma Books
About Pamela Rossi
I am passionate about travel and taking each moment and making it a five star experience. My goal is to create those experiences for YOU!
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