United States Destinations

California – a trip to the Golden State

By Nicholas Spillios

Is it possible for seniors who wish to limit costs to still enjoy the extensive offerings of Southern California? Indeed it is, as we found during a recent visit.

What is a good time of year to travel to California? The seasons have their pluses and minuses. During the summer, one encounters spectacular weather but also hordes of other visitors. In the winter, the weather is not as superb but there isn’t the same tourist stampede.

My wife Charlotte and I opted for the winter. The weather was distinctly comfortable, with temperatures in the 60 degree Fahrenheit range.

Our aim was to wind our way up from San Diego to Los Angeles. In San Diego we booked into the Quality Inn Downtown for under $100 U.S.

We found ourselves within walking distance of the downtown area known as the Gas Lamp Quarter which comes vibrantly to life in the evening. Adjacent to this area was Horton Plaza, a narrow art deco building with a variety of levels and shops, an ice rink that operates year round and the Visitors Convention Centre.

If harbours appeal to you, you will probably want to spend some time at Seaport Village, site of a myriad of shops, restaurants and exclusive hotels. Our favourite stop was The Fish Market, which offered reasonably priced entrees, including the Lighteater’s Plate (fresh red snapper) at $9.45 and a cup of clam chowder for $3.95. Anthony’s, a few steps away, was also a reasonably priced spot.

After taking the metro to the Old Town, we embarked on a walking tour of area buildings that hark back to a time when the area was part of Mexico. We ate at the Old Town Mexican Café, at the far end of the main street, where a combination plate of enchilada and chiles rellenos is priced under $10.

Driving up to Los Angeles, we stopped for lunch at Parkers’ Light House in Long Beach. We also enjoyed a leisurely walk around the harbour complex of shops, taking in the view of the docked sailboats.

In L.A. we booked into the Best Western Westwood for $79, including breakfast. The hotel was conveniently located on Santa Monica Boulevard at the centre point between Santa Monica and Los Angeles. Our choice was determined by our plan to visit the John Paul Getty Museum, not far from the hotel.

You may prefer the out-of-doors to museums, but the Getty has both. Its grounds, designed to appeal to the five senses, are set on several levels around a natural canyon. You have your choice of an architecture or a garden tour. Best of all, there is no charge, except for the $5 cost of parking in the underground garage, from which you board the tram to the main level.

As seniors, we try to avoid straying too far from our hotel at night. However, on our first evening, finding the area safe, we walked about two miles to Westwood Village, a neighbourhood of shops and restaurants adjacent to the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) campus. A walk around the campus is recommended.

Touring the sprawling urban center that is Los Angeles demands some co-ordinated effort and planning. Plan, plan, plan. We opted for safety, minimum frustration and a leisurely approach. Yes, the freeways offer fast access to attractions, but we chose the regular streets rather than these high-speed, highstress routes.

There is much to see and do in L.A. Don’t expect to cover everything in the course of one short trip. We did not go to Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm or the Hollywood Wax Museum, leaving those attractions for another trip when we accompany our grandchildren.

We took a restful drive into Santa Monica for an awe-inspiring look at the Pacific Ocean from Santa Monica Pier. At that time, we also were also in the area of the Third Street Promenade, with its conglomeration of shops and restaurants, but we left it for an evening excursion.

About a block from our hotel on Santa Monica Boulevard we discovered a delightful Persian restaurant called the Javan, where we ordered a generous portion of whitefish kabob with salad for $12.95.

Our location also gave us quick access into Hollywood, which has received a much needed face-lift since our last visit. On Hollywood Boulevard, check out the Kodak Theatre, site of the Oscar ceremonies and Mann’s Chinese Theatre, where tourists like to match their feet and hands against those of the impressions the stars have made in the cement. The concentration of memorabilia shops and film bookstores along this street make it a must for movie buffs.

The Farmers’ Market, at the corner of Third Fairfax, is really an outdoor foot outlet consisting of restaurants and shops. You can pick up a reasonably priced meal here by moving from one outlet to another. Our favourite stop was Du-Par’s for pies (there is nothing like savouring California boysenberry pie).

Next door to the market is The Grove. With its shops, fountains and electric streetcar to take you around the grounds, it rivals the luxury hotels of Las Vegas.

Driving down Wilshire Boulevard, you will pass the Miracle Mile, Rodeo Drive (if you shop here, your pension is probably larger than mine) and finally wind up downtown, where there is little to occupy the attention except for the Disney Concert Hall and Olivera Street, a collection of Mexican tourist shops near Union Station.

We left L.A. content that we had covered everything we planned to, and headed home to the sub-zero temperatures of Edmonton. But we vowed to return.