TRAVEL BY NIC…….The Perpetual Tourist!

Bonham & Butterfield Auction House, 7601 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

So this was an interesting find for us!  I’m not sure how I found out us normal, non million dollar type people could visit Bonhams’s Auction house but I did!  Can you believe we have been there twice now!  First time was all about my Hollywood infatuation the 2^nd time was for our own personal interest.

So get this, parking was free and the Hollywood Auction that we went to view was free!  My favorite number!  Lauren Becall had a private display in the main building.  Like the woman, everything of hers that they were auctioning, was set up in a very classy tasteful way.  After perusing through her personal items we  strolled across the street to another Bonham display  where we found more Hollywood treasures up for auction.

 

This display was more eclectic.  We walked in the door to find a wall of colorful, retro movie posters and classic costumes.  I was thrilled to see some items from some of my favorite movies:  Richard Gere’s motorcycle from “Officer and a Gentleman”, Meg Ryan’s hat from “When Harry Met Sally”, and much much more!

Bonham’s auction displays will vary, so you will need to check their website to see when and what they are displaying.

So how did we utilize Bonham’s Auction House for our own purposes?  Please check their website for dates and times but currently they will give you an estimate on your treasures!  Yep!  Just like Road Show!  When you get there with your item, they’ll give you a ticket that will send you to the right table to get your quote.  They had paintings, documents, autographs, misc and the list goes on and on.  I wish we could say that we walked away finding out that our items were worth billions……but no.  We still had fun though!

 

 

 

Hollywood Costume Museum

Sorry no address for this one.  This display was only here for a short time but it thrilled me!  They had over 200 costumes from classic movies through the years.  I was in heaven!  For some reason I felt like I was right there with Jack & Rose on the Titanic!  I appreciated the little Tramps costume that Charlie Chaplin wore.  I was in awe of some of the royal period costumes from Elizabeth and other monarchy movies.

Everything was displayed so well.  Nicole Kidman’s Moulin Rogue costume hung on a swing above my head.  Meryl Streep had a whole section of costumes featuring many of her films.  I loved seeing a costume from Barbara Streisand Funny Girl.

Can you tell I was in heaven!  This did cost $20 but if you have an appreciation of great movies or great clothes, you’ve got to see this!

Beachwood Café, 2695 N Beachwood Dr, Hollywood, CA

This place has been on my radar for quite awhile!  Every time we would head up Beachwood to explore Hollywood Hills, and get the BEST photo’s of the Hollywood sign.  I knew I wanted to try this cute café.  Beachwood Café did not disappoint!

Once you pass the stone posts that were meant to be a gate entering Hollywood Hills, you’ll see the café immediately to your left.  There is free parking in the back…..yea!  (Trust me, it’s hard to get free parking in LA).  Once you enter the blue doors your surrounded by the cheerful royal blue an bright yellow colors.  You know you’ve discovered a “find”!

We had breakfast there and it was delish and reasonable.  They also sell some walk up bakery items.  In conclusion, I say experience this hidden treasure!

TRAVEL BY NIC…….The Perpetual Tourist!

Paramount Studio Tours, 5555 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA

Does my husband know me or what?!  For Valentine’s Day we toured Paramount Studios.  It was a very informative, intimate 2 hour studio tour.  I love being a able to check this studio off of my list of places to see.  So far I’ve toured Universal, MGM, Disney and Paramount Studios.  Each one has a very unique feel to it.

Universal is part of a theme park and so you experience a lot o studio history with a lot of theme park elements.  You will ride in large trams that offer videos as your riding through the tour.  MGM is one of my favorites!  You are on a small tram that includes video but what I LOVED about this tour……they let you off of the tram!  You get to walk onto some of the sets!  They let you walk through their awesome prop house and one of their biggest features….you get to experience the Friends set and take pictures.  Very fun..  Disney is Disney, what more could I say?!  This is a great walking tour that takes you into historic buildings where the magic was made.  They have an awesome archive area and a beautiful park area with autographs in cement of several of  famous Disney’s actors and cast members/

Paramount is very historical.  When you walk through those beautiful gates you can feel the history.  You meet your guide at the gift store and I do love that you tootle around in a small golf cart that fits 6 people.

We got to experience the legendary Bronson Gates and we learned that the fountain in front of the gates is supposed to replicate the Mountain that is Paramounts trademark logo. We also got to walk around several of the sets where they explain the magic of Hollywood.  We end the tour in their prop room but to be honest, it’s more of a display rather than an actual prop house.

I loved hearing about DesiLou productions, Sitting on Forest Gump’s park bench, and hearing about Glee filming areas.  I found it interesting how they are able to fill one of their parking lots full of water and using a green screen on one of the buildings they are able to film awesome ocean illusions.

This tours is $53 per person but I preferred this experience over an expansive Valentines dinner!  Thank you John!!!

Pinks, 709 N La Brea, Los Angeles,

I had to eat at this iconic LA place!  Pinks has been in the same location for over 75 years and has been in several movies and TV shows.  Because of it’s fame, expect to wait over an hour to be served.  While waiting in line, do not be surprised to see celebrities, politicians or sports heros either in line with you or rolling up in their fancy cars to cut in line!

Where else can you eat hot dog or polish sausages creations with names like: “Hollywood Walk of Fame Dog”, “The Brando Dog”, “Three Dog Night”?  I tried the Polish Pastrami Dog that popped when I bit into it. (Delish!)   The dogs range in price, your basic chili dog is $4.20, but some of the specialty dogs can run up to $9.

You gotta experience Pinks, but make sure you’ve cut out the time to wait in line!

TRAVEL BY NIC…….The Perpetual Tourist!

Whale Watching / Davey’s Locker, 400 Main St., Newport Beach, CA

This is the 2^nd time we’ve gone whale watching.  One time in November and one time in February.  I have enjoyed the peaceful ride out to the ocean.  The cruise is for 2 hours and you leave full of anticipation.'=

 

Both times we’ve been able to see at least one whale, dolphins and wild seals.  What I’ve learned on both of these trips…..it’s extremely hard to capture the whale in photos!  They pop up and then you are just never sure where they will breech next.  Luckily I had my friend/photographer with us that was able to capture some great photos.

 

The 1^st time we went out to whale watch we left from Long Beach; I totally enjoy leaving from Newport Beach, since that is way closer for us.  I’ve cruised with Davey’s Locker before and they are great company.  Lots of times you can find their coupons on Groupon.  If you cruise on the weekend it costs $36 during the week $32 per person.  Their boats have a concession on board so there is plenty of coffee to keep you warm and treats to munch on.

My favorite place to eat lunch is the Harbor House which is the center piece of the Newport Fun Zone.  If you go to the bar side you can get the BEST appetizers for only $4!  In the evening hours $6……People!  Good bites for less than McDonalds!  Plus you’re sitting right near Davey’s Locker’s docks.

This is an enjoyable way to spend a morning or afternoon; however it’s a gamble on what you will see!  I would have loved to have seen more than one whale, but that was the luck of the draw!  Or should I say the Sea?!

TRAVEL BY NIC…….The Perpetual Tourist!

IlluminOcean / Dana Point Harbor, California

 

So sorry I didn’t get this posted the end of 2014!  Save this little secret as next year’s Christmas must.

The Christmas lights are all Ocean themed.  As you stroll along you’ll find non-stop lights and displays.  I enjoyed the Christmas music and special affects that some of the props offered.  From a Christmas Crab, to a huge lighted whale & pirate ship you could walk through!  On the South end of the walk I was awed by the Christmas tunnel light show.

Want to hear about an extra Christmas light bonus?!  If you visit on the December weekends you will also get to see, “FantaSea Holiday”.  A Christmas boat parade!  What a treat!

 

IluminOcean  was from Nov 26, 2014-Jan 4, 2015.  The lights start at 5pm -10pm (11pm on Fri & Sat).  Three hour free parking is available, but as you can imagine hard finding.  It’s great because the Harbor has great restaurants and shops that you’ve got to visit.  Many people were picking up coffee and hot chocolate to sip as they strolled the lights.

Here’s the best part……all of these Christmas displays are FREE!!!  So mark your calendars and enjoy this very California Christmas display!

TRAVEL BY NIC…….The Perpetual Tourist!

Temecula, California

I totally loved my Temecula activities, even though they were not what Temecula is commonly known for!  Temecula is known for its winery’s!  But so sorry…..no reviews on those!  I’d also like to take a hot air balloon from Temecula, maybe another day!  Since I didn’t visit the wineries let me tell you what we did do!

We visited charming Old Town Temecula!  I’d say that there were about 5 blocks of quaint shops.  I enjoyed walking the wooden sidewalks visiting a mixture of stores.  Everything from antique stores to specialty stores and cute clothing stores.  While shopping they had Western re-enactments out in a lot amongst the stores.  My favorite stops were the specialty stores;  a lavender store, hot sauce store and a store that we enjoyed tasting different flavored cooking oils.

I enjoyed our curvy canyon ride to Temecula, however once we arrived (in June), it is kinda of hot because you are inland.  Sooooo, make sure to dress comfortable.

 

Temecula Berry Co, 39700 Cantrell Rd, Temecula, CA

Our activities were just as fun as winery’s to me!  We visited The Temecula Berry Company’s blueberry fields!  I had never picked blueberries and it was fun!  U-Pick blueberries while in season from 8am to 6pm / 7 days a week!  They have different size buckets.  We went with 2 pints that = $10.  (No entry fee just the price of blueberry's that you picked).  They have a little area where they sell delicious blueberry jelly and blueberry coffee cake….both are delish!  As your finding your way to The Temecula Berry Company, heads up on the steep hill that drops you down on the field!  I felt like I was on the streets of San Francisco!

 

Temecula Lavender Co, 28561 Front St., Temecula, CA

Our next stop was a lavender field.  If you are expecting rows and rows of lavender fields you will not see that.  This field is family owned and easily walk able.  The family does the tour and they are very informative.  They will take you around their field, and also give you a lesson on how to shuck and distill the lavender into a liquid.  They have a little shop on site and they also own the lavender shop in Old Town Temecula.

 

Each of our activities was free!  Walking Old Town, picking blueberries, and walking the quaint lavender field.  So I say thumbs up on spending a day in Temecula!

Antique Stores of Orange, CA

TRAVEL BY NIC…….The Perpetual Tourist!

Orange, California

Wanna step back in time?  Visit the sweet town of Orange, California.  This is a charming little town that is loaded with stylish antique stores and trendy restaurants.  The downtown actually has a roundabout right in the middle of town that sports a fountain with a small shady park area.  The streets of Orange are spokes that go out from this roundabout.

This is town has been used in several movie’s and TV shows.  You will recognize store fronts in Tom Hanks movie “That Thing You Do”.  “Big Mama’s House”, “Accepted”, and “Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle" are some other movies that have used this quaint little town.

With this town, I believe a picture can say more than words so please enjoy!

Museum of Tolerance - Los Angeles

TRAVEL BY NIC…….The Perpetual Tourist!

Museum of Tolerance – 9786 W Pico Blvd

Since my daughter was starting to learn about WWI and the Nazi’s, I had heard that this would be a great museum to take her to.  Admission was $15.50 per adult & $11.50 per student with free parking available under the Museum complex.

I had been to the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC  and I found the Museum of Tolerance different from what I was expecting.  As you enter the museum you learn about the intolerance that is still happening today and intolerance that has happened throughout time in all area’s of the world.  The portion of the tour that is about the Nazi’s is very well done.  It’s a timed walking tour.  They let a few people in at a time where you go from station to station learning about the rise of Hitler until you end a room that resembles a gas chamber.  Each stations has historic video of the Nazi movement. 

There were not as many actual items from Holocaust survivors as compared to the Holocaust Museum. (Rooms of shoes, hair, etc were VERY moving to me).  We were not disappointed because The Museum of Tolerance was VERY informative.  Your heart breaks when you reach the end and hear the horror stories spoken in narrative from Jewish survivors.

We were not allowed to take photos in the museum.  Even though this was a tour that weighs heavy on your heart, I did have a great time spending the day with my daughter.

The Original Marty’s, Home of the Combo- 10558 W Pico, Los Angeles, CA

So I asked one of the guides at the Museum of Tolerance where to eat and he suggested Marty’s!  Just a small hamburger stand with some tables set up outside.  It was a GREAT burger!  There wasn’t that much going on around the place and yet I was surprised how many folks came walking up at 3pm to pick up their combo!  So if you find yourself on Pico and want a tasty burger made right in front of you…..I suggest Marty's!