Touring L.A. - Vintage Photo Friday

We're closing in on the end of official summer vacation time.  You don't have to drive or fly far away to experience fun in the summertime.  Los Angeles is the perfect vacation destination, especially for locals!

We're lucky to live in a town that has so many entertainment and recreation opportunities.  Stay close to home and visit some of Los Angeles' grand places!  You might see us.  I love to sight-see in my home town!

We live just a few blocks from the L.A. County Museum of Art (LACMA).  There are always Friday night jazz concerts in the patio and a range of movies to see.  Most of the exhibits are worth visiting again too.

Original LACMA Buildings, Wilshire Boulevard

The Hollywood Heritage Museum near the Hollywood Bowl is a fun place to visit.  The Musuem is housed in the original Lasky-DeMille Barn (1895), where the movies began in Hollywood!  This Museum is kind of off the radar, chock full of interesting artifacts  and has easy parking!  

If you want to take a tour of some beautiful mid-20th century modern architecture, hop in the car and cruise up to Trousdale Estates in Beverly Hills.  Another smaller area, across town, to see some wonderful modern homes is the Gregory Ain Tract in Mar Vista.  One more cluster of modern homes is in Ladera Heights.  An added plus, Ladera Heights in the home of Pann's Coffee Shop, an award-winning restaurant in the Googie-style of architecture, built in 1958.  The food is terrific!

Want to spend the last days of summer near the beach?  Head over to the Annenberg Community Beach House in Santa Monica.  This was the former site of actress, Marion Davies' mansion, built by her paramour, William Randolph Hearst.  The architect for Davies' beach house and guest house was Julia Morgan, who also designed Hearst's Castle at San Simeon.  The original Davies guest house is still standing.  The beach house has been replaced by a beautiful collection of buildings, open to the public.  The original swimming pool is available for use, along with lovely patios overlooking the sand and ocean.

Marion Davies' Original Beach House

Annenberg Beach House and Grounds today

The Santa Monica Pier is close-by, but the Pier is usually too crowded for me.  If I really want to get up-close and personal with the ocean, I drive south to Playa del Rey. 

Playa del Rey, 1920. Herald Examiner Photo Collection

Playa del Rey is still a relatively sleepy beach town without too much development.  Park at the end of Culver Boulevard and just walk around the little town, sit on the beach and enjoy the view!

There are many other sites to see and places to visit in and around Los Angeles. I haven't even started listing the wonderful places near downtown L.A., Little Tokyo, Chinatown, the Historic Core and more!  If you visit someplace unique, let me know!  Have a great summer weekend!