California

A few years ago, Anna and I began discussing the idea of a girls’ trip after she graduated from high school. Over the last two years, those conversations turned into action, especially since her request to vacation alone with me felt significant. Plus, we had free airfare thanks to my husband’s airline miles, making the decision even easier.

We chose California for its beautiful weather, exciting activities, and our shared love of television and film. While Anna had visited California with her father at 12, they hadn’t experienced the touristy Hollywood scene. Although I wouldn’t choose to do that again, I believe everyone should experience it at least once if it interests them. With a tight budget and just four days to explore, we packed as much fun as possible into our trip. California can be pricey, especially for the typical tourist attractions, but we’ve learned how to enjoy everything without breaking the bank.

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Getting there

If you’re afraid of flying, driving is your only alternative, which may even be cheaper. However, driving from the Chicago area wasn’t an option for us due to our limited travel time. Personally, I’d love to travel Route 66 from Chicago to Los Angeles, but that wasn’t feasible for this trip.

As a side note, we had a flight attendant on both legs of our journey who resembled Matthew Broderick (a.k.a. Ferris Bueller) so much that I couldn’t focus on anything else during either flight. I felt compelled to share his likeness with all of you by attempting to take a photo. However, snapping a picture of your flight attendant without making it obvious is trickier than it seems!

I managed to talk to him briefly and told him how much he looked like Ferris Bueller—he laughed and said he hears that all the time.

We tried to capture a photo of him, but instead ended up with this one:

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YES, WE DO KNOW HOW TO USE A CAMERA PHONE.

Upon arriving at LAX, we stopped at baggage claim to pick up our free checked bag. Typically, we prefer to pack a carry-on since it’s much cheaper than checking a bag, and I worry about losing it, especially when it comes to essentials like underwear and toothpaste.

However, every so often, a gate attendant will offer to check your bag for free, and in those moments, I prioritize the deal over my anxiety about losing my luggage. After collecting our complimentary checked bag, we made our way to the Uber/Lyft pickup location at LAX to hail a ride.

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Getting around 

I don’t mean to be bossy, but for the love of God, don’t rent a car in California if you’re just planning to see Hollywood. The cost in gasoline and sanity alone makes it far more appealing to relax in the back of a stranger’s car. Trust me, you don’t want to drive in Los Angeles traffic. I’d heard it was bad, but nothing prepared me for the reality. When I returned home, I wanted to French kiss the drivers in Chicago!

So, Uber or Lyft it is—your choice, as they’re essentially the same. We had the nicest drivers during our trip. I love talking to people, but even if you don’t, think of it as a chance to learn about the area. I picked our drivers’ brains about where to eat, what to do, and even how they can afford to live there. Some of the most memorable moments occurred during these rides.

Our first driver, for instance, was friends with an actor from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. If I had stayed silent, I would have missed that gem! Here are some fun insights I gathered from our 15 drivers over four days:

• Montreal is stunning this time of year.
• El Pollo Loco has fantastic deals and delicious chicken.
• “June Gloom” means it’s cloudy every morning in June, but the sun comes out by 10 a.m.
• When it’s 60 degrees in February, they think that’s cold.
• Most celebrities are shorter than you think.
• In Los Angeles, cops use their sirens just to cut through traffic.
• The best doughnuts can be found at Randy’s near the airport.

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We’re Here! 

My first impressions of Los Angeles? It’s a bit dirtier than I expected. With all the fresh air and sunshine, I never anticipated it would look this way. Some areas are absolutely gorgeous, while others leave much to be desired. However, the weather more than makes up for it—there’s no humidity, the sunshine is the brightest I’ve ever experienced, and the scenery is stunning. I’m captivated by the purple flowering trees, vibrant pink blossoms on shrubs, and lush greenery everywhere. It’s amazing how all this beauty thrives despite the lack of rain. I can see why so many people enjoy living here.

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What I refer to as my “panic attack lunch” happened right after we arrived at our hotel in Hollywood. After checking in, we decided to take an Uber to The Grove, an outdoor mall filled with a variety of restaurants and shops, adjacent to the Original Farmers Market.

Upon arriving at The Grove just after lunchtime, we realized we hadn’t eaten yet. We settled on the first inviting restaurant we saw: Marmalade Cafe.

Now, back to the “panic attack lunch.” I had no control over when it struck, but it was triggered by the realization that I had just flown cross-country and was far from Mike and Ella. As I tried to calm myself while sharing a very expensive, rubbery calamari/artichoke dip/quesadilla appetizer platter with Anna, I felt overwhelmed. The meal was disappointing, I was developing a travel headache, the restroom was in disarray, and my phone battery was rapidly draining at 30%. I was desperate for some solace, which certainly wasn’t found in our mediocre appetizer—who serves calamari without marinara sauce?

Breathe.

I collected myself with a Starbucks coffee to help with the headache and soaked in the California sunshine to lift my spirits. As I started to calm down, I looked around and saw this:

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The Writers Guild of America is where I registered my screenplay. It’s a reassuring reminder that everything will be alright. Plus, I’ve got my girl with me. We’re in California, healthy, together, and fully immersed in this experience.

Speaking of saving money, one of our best tips is to share meals. Anna and I split almost every meal we had in California, except for our last night. This not only saved us a lot of money, but we also found we rarely finished our plates. With all the walking, fresh air, and excitement of being in LA, we simply weren’t that hungry.

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However, we did not share this meal:

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We ended up at In-N-Out Burger on Sunset Boulevard, right across from Hollywood High School, which was pretty cool. Unfortunately, there was no seating available, as it seemed everyone else in Hollywood had the same craving. So, we grabbed an Uber back to the hotel with our bags of burgers and fries and enjoyed our meal in our room. They were a bit cold by the time we got there, but they were still delicious.

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There were signs everywhere.

Our flight attendant, the Writers Guild building just popping up, stars on the walk of fame…

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Hollywood Walk of Fame 

The Walk of Fame is smelly, dirty, and gritty—I even posted that exact review on TripAdvisor. But here’s the thing: it’s the Hollywood Walk of Fame! Embrace the whole tourist experience, soak it in, ignore the scammers dressed as Superman, and don’t accept CDs from the “performers.” Stay safe, but have fun walking in the footsteps of your favorite celebrities. Will we do it again? Probably not. Am I glad we did it? Absolutely.

You also don’t need to take a tour to experience the Walk of Fame. It’s relatively straightforward to navigate, but be mindful that it winds through several blocks. In some areas, the sidewalk can be difficult to spot, especially on side streets, so keep your surroundings in check. Nothing screams “tourist” quite like wandering around, fixated on the ground while snapping photos.

*That said, it’s perfectly fine to embrace your inner tourist—I’m only coming from a place of safety.

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From top to bottom, left to right: Hollywood Walk of Fame; Scientology Building; Grauman’s Chinese Theater; my “star”; scamming superheroes on Hollywood Blvd.; and, of course, plenty of tourists.

Anna and I could easily walk to the Walk of Fame from our hotel on our first morning, but it was essentially the only nearby destination. While we were also down the street from the Hollywood Bowl, there isn’t much to see from street level. The neighborhood had its gritty moments, and overall, it wasn’t very walkable. If you plan to visit the Walk of Fame, I recommend going early in the morning to beat the crowds.

For a more walkable experience, consider staying on Sunset Boulevard, often referred to as the Strip. Keep in mind that downtown Los Angeles is far from the major tourist attractions, so if you’re considering it as a base for sightseeing, be prepared for an unlimited Lyft or Uber budget.

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Starline Tours

The biggest investment in our trip, aside from the hotel, was a celebrity homes tour. Yes, it’s kitschy, a tourist trap, and an invasion of privacy, but if you’re in Hollywood, I recommend giving it a try. It’s fun, offers more than just a look at celebrity homes, and feels like a rite of passage—like popping your Hollywood cherry.

Be sure to book your tour before you arrive in Hollywood. I secured ours just three days before leaving Illinois, saving $50 in the process. It’s easy to overspend once you slip into vacation mode.

I chose Starline Tours because they’ve been around for a long time. Initially, I wanted to take the TMZ Tour since I referenced them in my screenplay, but it was significantly pricier. Both tours visit similar destinations (celebrity homes, movie sites, etc.), but I specifically wanted one that included Beverly Hills and the Hollywood Sign.

However, there were a few disappointments. We only caught a glimpse of the Hollywood Sign, which left me hoping for a closer view.

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As you can see from the clarity, that picture was zoomed in. We stopped on the side of Mulholland Drive to take this photo, which gives you an idea of how far we were from the actual sign.

We were in a small tour bus navigating a very curvy mountainside road, and I’m sure this was the closest we could get without being billionaires or mountain goats. Still, it felt a bit underwhelming and made me wonder how all those kids from Beverly Hills, 90210 managed to get up there after graduation.

I KID.

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But we did get to see Drew Carey’s trash cans!

Our tour guide genuinely loved his job, which made him an excellent guide. He filled the gaps at stoplights with fascinating anecdotes, shared his appreciation for old Hollywood glam (me too!), and provided backstories on the various neighborhoods we passed through.

It was when he didn’t consult his binder of required information that the tour truly transformed into something special, going beyond the typical celebrity homes experience.

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Here’s my takeaway from this leg of the tour- celebrities and music artists are paid way too much money.

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I had no regrets about spending money on this tour, but I would spend more time researching options next time to see if there are tours that offer a broader range of sights. In the future, I’d look for a tour that focuses on movie and television filming locations rather than just celebrity homes. Honestly, I don’t care where Justin Bieber lives; I just want to see where they filmed Chico and the Man.

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Santa Monica Pier

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: don’t let others discourage you from visiting places on vacation. A few years ago, when we first visited Salt Lake City, someone advised us against going to the Great Salt Lake. However, I ignored that advice. I had read about the Great Salt Lake since I was a child, and both of my girls learned about it in school. It’s a national treasure—so why wouldn’t I stop there?

Not everything resonates with everyone. That’s why, when people ask me what to avoid in certain areas, I refrain from giving specific recommendations. What I might love, you might dislike, and vice versa.

Case in point- Santa Monica Pier.

A friend of ours mentioned that Santa Monica Pier was dirty, touristy, and not worth our time. But how could they possibly know how we value our time?

I almost let that opinion sway me and considered skipping it. After a 45-minute Uber ride through traffic, we finally arrived at the pier. When we saw the iconic sign, both of us felt an overwhelming rush of giddiness.

As we strolled along the pier, it was indeed dirty and touristy—but we loved every minute of it.

IT’S SANTA FRICKING MONICA PIER, PEOPLE!

My Three’s Company-loving self was in heaven.

Sigh.

Of course, Anna had no clue about Three’s Company, but she fell in love with the dirty, touristy pier all the same.

Having never seen the Pacific Ocean before, I honestly didn’t think I would ever make it here. This part of the trip felt incredibly emotional for me. I found myself photographing the pier and the ocean, completely engrossed in the moment.

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I began crying.

Anna gave me a look and wrapped her arms around me. I told her I was crying because I couldn’t believe I was here, and I was crying for all the people in my life who would never have the chance to come.

As we strolled along the pier, arm in arm, taking in the sights, searching for souvenirs, and inhaling the salty sea air, I wiped my tears.

This was one of my favorite moments of the trip, and it wouldn’t have happened if I had followed the advice of others.

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Livin’ It Up in The City 

On our last night, we planned to dine at Pump, a trendy restaurant owned by one of our favorite Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Lisa Vanderpump.

We dressed up, and Anna did my makeup, making me look the best I ever had (see photo above).

I wish she could make me look like this every day, but then no one would recognize me, so…

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We had an amazing dinner, choosing the most budget-friendly options on the menu—grilled chicken Caesar salads for both of us. We enjoyed a pumptini (or three) that I happily shared a few sips of with Anna (don’t judge), while sitting in the open-air restaurant, immersed in conversation and holding hands.

It was the perfect way to wrap up an unforgettable girls’ trip.

The energy of the neighborhood surrounding the restaurant was infectious; we didn’t want to leave and ended up staying for nearly two hours, savoring every moment without feeling rushed.

At 10 p.m. on a Thursday night (Friday eve in our neck of the woods), we spilled out of the restaurant and into the vibrant streets of Santa Monica Boulevard, ready to celebrate a little longer on our last night in Los Angeles.

Boys Town is a vibrant LGBTQ neighborhood, radiating love and acceptance—so much love. We spent a wonderful evening at a gay bar, dancing with a group of men who wholeheartedly embraced our presence. I even connected with three amazing guys who are now friends of mine on Instagram. We parted ways with warm hugs, as if we had known each other forever.

As I strolled down the street, two different men called out to me, “GORGEOUS HONEY,” and it truly felt like the best compliment I’ve ever received. Despite the bags under my eyes, the cellulite on my thighs, and the anxiety I carried, I left LA feeling uplifted and more confident in myself.

Bar hopping in Boys Town with my 18-year-old daughter was an experience filled with joy and laughter. I have no regrets—this truly was my favorite trip I’ve ever taken.

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I would travel to the ends of the earth—or at least to the opposite side of the United States—for my girls.

The entire trip was nothing short of magical. Even on the plane, when Anna would simply lay her head on my shoulder, or at Santa Monica Pier, where instead of feeling embarrassed by my perimenopausal breakdown, she comforted me by wrapping her arm around me. Sitting at Pump, holding hands and sharing stories about our unforgettable experiences, I felt a bond that deepened with every moment.

Sure, we could have created memories doing similar things in Illinois, but there’s something uniquely special about embarking on an adventure with your child. Exploring new places and trying things we’d never done before elevated our connection to a whole new level.

I hope that when Anna is older, she will remember our trip fondly. Perhaps she’ll share stories with her children about the time their grandmother ran down Santa Monica Boulevard with their mother—barefoot, laughing, hugging strangers, and truly living in the moment.

I hope she carries this memory with her always.

I know I will.