Jake Ryan

Ojai, CA

Shelf Road is an ideal hiking trail for a quick visit to the Ojai Valley. It's an out and back trail and you can start from either end. Although there's no huge inclines, there are switchbacks built into the mountain sides along the trail, so you can take a detour and gain some elevation. When you do this, you get amazing views of the valley. The trail goes along the valley with views of the surrounding mountains, orange groves, and farms down below. The trail is wide and dogs are welcome. I'd definitely recommend checking out this trail the next time you're here.

Here's your #1 hike to do in Ojai Valley...

On a recent weekend trip to Ojai, I was lucky enough to stop at the Love Social Cafe for a quick breakfast before hiking. This place is a total locals spot. You can tell because the vibe is chill and calm, and everyone looks like they come here every weekend. They have a full breakfast menu along with normal coffees and teas. I had the breakfast tacos, and although they were pretty average, they still hit the spot. They have a large outdoor patio area with views of the mountains, and lovely quotes on the walls about mindfulness, joy, and connection. They really take their name to heart!

If you're looking for love, you've found it at the Love Cafe!

One of the most special dining experiences I've had was at The Ranch House in Ojai, just an hour from LA. This upscale Californian restaurant is so unique. It's in a garden setting, with half the restaurant looking out at a rose garden and winding walking paths, while the other is amongst a bamboo forest with small rivers of water flowing through, and terraced tables into the hillside covered in trees. The food is delicious, and is usually a pre-fixed menu. It's pricey, but worth it for a special occasion. I had the ahi and loved it. Their dirty martinis were also superb.

If you're looking for an upscale and unique outdoor dining experience... look no further.

Los Angeles, CA

Stories is a staple in Echo Park. It's right on Sunset in the middle of all the action. It's a bookstore selling both used and new books, and also has a full cafe inside. The cafe is great and sells an assortment of your average coffee, and also a food menu. The magic happens in the back though, where their patio is. If you want a peak at hipster culture, just take a look at this patio. People come here mainly to work on laptops, have a chat with a friend, or read peacefully. Be aware though that the patio fills up fast - every time I've been here the seats are always taken!

Stories Bookstore and Cafe is a hipsters dream come true

I've been spending more time on the east side of LA recently, and didn't know that Echo Park had a lake! Just south of Sunset where all the cool bars and restaurants are in Echo Park, is Echo Park Lake. It's really beautiful and seems to have been recently renovated. There used to be an issue with unhoused individuals taking over the space, but they've done something to avoid that from happening anymore. It makes for a peaceful and beautiful experience. You can rent boats and take them around the lake, and even take out some fun swan pedal boats. There are beautiful lily pads throughout, and you can walk around the lake on a footpath trail. Many people were having picnics and enjoying the view.

Who knew that Echo Park actually had a lake? I didn't!

Full Moon Izakaya in Ojai is a must for your next weekend trip out of LA. Their fish is really fresh and not too badly priced either, considering how good it is. They have great appetizers including fried corn fritters. The salmon carpaccio was delicious and was really interesting because it was sashimi with olive oil, so it was a fusion of cuisines. My favorite was the salmon handroll and the assortment of fresh sashimi. Their soy sauce was also extremely good but not too salty.

This was some of the best Japanese food I've had!

Ojai is one of my favorite weekend getaways from LA, because it's so close and feels so different. It's only an hour drive north, and is a small little town tucked away in a valley. There's great hiking, nice resorts to check out and play golf at, great dining, and fun vibes. Topa Topa Brew Co is in the middle of the downtown area, and felt like a staple for the town and a great place to hang out and watch the sun set on the mountains around you. I got a flight of beer, and had some food from the pop-up restaurant serving out of the brewery. The nachos were fantastic, and I really enjoyed the beer too. I had to go back a couple times on my trip because it was such a fun place to hang!

Topa Topa Brewing Co was such a great place to hang in Ojai

Santa Monica, CA

Living on the West side of LA, sometimes I feel like there aren't a ton of nearby restaurants that have big outdoor seating patios. The Cloverfield is a great go-to option for outdoor dining and is a short drive from the North-West side of the city. They have a really good menu and great service. It's right by the Santa Monica airport on Airport Ave, so it's surrounded by other restaurants or shops which makes it feel private and quiet. It's also right across the street from a recreation center which makes for some good entertainment.

One of my favorite nearby restaurants is The Cloverfield in Santa Monica

DIESEL, A Bookstore, is a great bookstore located in Brentwood in the Country Mart shopping village. It has a huge selection of fiction and nonfiction, and a great section for kids books. I have a bunch of nieces and nephews who love to read, so I will come back here for their birthdays! I like that they had books for younger children too. Before COVID, they used to host events and have people into their store in the evenings. They do have online events happening currently though, and are usually interviews or panels with authors of books that they are promoting. Fun fact - they have a sister location in San Diego!

I discovered my new favorite bookstore!

I've lived on the West side of LA for a while now, but never knew the Brentwood Country Mart existed. I always thought the Country Mart was what you could see from the street from San Vicente and 26th St., but apparently there's a whole little village inside the shops! There are twists and turns and small little alleys connecting so many stores, it's like a high-end maze! There are high-end clothing stores, jewelry shops, book stores, grocery stores and dessert shops, and a very cool food court in the center with 3-4 different restaurants. They have an order at the counter style, and a bunch of tables in the center. It felt very convivial and friendly and seemed like people were having a fun time. There's also free valet if you're going to a shop in the Mart. Keep your eyes peeled for celebrity sightings!

I just discovered the Brentwood Country Mart and know where I'll be hanging this weekend!

Westwood, CA

Now that COVID-19 has subsided a bit in LA, I started looking into joining a gym once again. I toured a few places and was hopeful about the LA Fitness location in Westwood because it's close to where I live and was looking for somewhere I could zip over too quickly. However, I won't be joining as a new member. They gave me a tour which was nice and the sales associate was informed and friendly, but the space itself seemed pretty bland and basic. Although the bottom floor did have a pretty large weight room, I just didn't feel excited about working out there. There wasn't a fun or high-energy vibe throughout the gym, and it felt sort of depressing. I joined F45 instead!

I was less than impressed with the LA Fitness gym in Westwood

Louisiana State

You wouldn't know it by looking at it, but this event space and music venue, The Shed, is owned by a law firm, Miller Law Associates. They had such a huge space in their lot that they decided to convert this large shed into a venue, and it's super cool! The space feels like an industrial barn, and it was a great site for this concert that I went to put on by Sofar Sounds LA. The location is right in the middle of the Arts District in downtown LA, so it's a great spot to catch or show or attend a party because you can grab a drink before or after at a bunch of nearby places.

The Shed is a surprisingly cool venue in downtown LA

Most people in North San Diego know about Pannikin Coffee. It's a pretty iconic spot and it's easy to see why when you go. The building is bright yellow and looks like a house, but is actually a converted railroad station from the 1880s. There's a bunch of outdoor seating in the front, and they have some lounge chairs on the corner under some trees. Indoors they have an area that looks like an old pharmacy, but is now being used to sell coffee and other kitchen and home goods. There's also an indoor seating area with a cool loft space, perfect for reading or studying.

Pannikin Coffee is a cool historic coffee house in Encinitas

I really liked Pali Wine Co in downtown LA. They had a great tasting room and a really extensive list of wines by the glass, bottle, or flight. They built out a parklet on the street too which was a nice was to enjoy the scene and people watching in the area. The Arts District has a bunch of fun restaurants and bars so this would be a good place to stop before dinner. I had a glass of Pinot Noir which wasn't terribly expensive and was delicious. They also serve some food items to nibble which you're drinking. Next time I go I want to sit inside because the bar was so cool!

Pali Wine Co is my new favorite wine bar

Orange County, CA

I'm a big fan of all the Zinque Cafe locations across LA and Orange County, but had never been to the one in the Arts District in downtown LA. This one had a huge indoor space, and a really expansive outdoor patio too. I was there during the day on a Friday and it was surprisingly full, probably with many people working nearby on their lunch breaks. They have a happy hour in the afternoon that I took advantage of with a snack of potato taquitos and a fun sparkling soda. The outdoor patio was really pretty and had a lot of plants all around, and had a fountain in the middle of the space.

I've been to a lot of Zinque Cafe locations, but this was my first time at this one!

In the Arts District in downtown LA, I stumbled upon the USC Roski Art Exhibit. This is the site of the USC Gayle Garner Roski School of Art and Design, which houses their MFA Design program and the MFA Art and MA Curatorial Practices and the Public Sphere graduate programs. The space is modern and hip, and they had a free gallery open to the public. It was really fun to see the students' creations. There was just one security guard there letting people in and ensuring they were wearing a mask. You had to check in online to make sure you weren't experiencing any COVID symptoms, but besides that one step it was easy to view the gallery.

I lucked out and got to see the USC Roski Graduate Building Art Exhibit 

This Verve Coffee Roasters location is in the Arts District in downtown LA. It's in a really cool area, right next door to one of the most famous and fancy restaurants in LA, Bavel. The indoor space is beautiful and really large and expansive. I liked that the area was really fresh and crisp and it felt clean inside. People were sitting indoors without masks on but it felt safe. They had a great menu of lunch options like avocado toast along with delicious-looking pastries and sweets. I liked that they also had an outdoor patio where people were chatting and working. I'll definitely come back here the next time I'm in the area.

Verve Coffee Roasters in downtown LA is a great place to get some work done

I went to a concert through a company called Sofar Sounds at the Linden Lofts Apartments in downtown Long Beach. The artists and the music was great, but I wasn't too into the location. The building was kind of old and run down, and the courtyard where the concert was held wasn't very new or modern. There was a game room that we had to go through to get to the courtyard, and that was kind of cool, but it looked like it hadn't been updated in years. The area around the building looked nice enough, but definitely thought the location could have been nicer.

I went to a concert at the Linden Lofts Apartments in Long Beach

Long Beach, CA

I had a great time at Ballast Point Brewery in Long Beach over the weekend. The location is amazing - it's at the very end of a marina and is surrounded by water on the patio. Unfortunately I couldn't get a table outside because the wait was too long, but the indoor space was just as cool. They had floor to ceiling windows where you can watch boats go by in the harbor, and a really large indoor space for dining and drinking. I sat at the bar and had a flight of beers, which were all really good.

Ballast Point Brewery in Long Beach is a really cool place

I needed to return an iPhone case to the Apple store in the Century City mall and was really pleased by their customer service. Usually you can't go into the store unless you have an appointment, but they let me in even though they were really busy. The service counter at the end of the store handled by return easily, even though I was past the two weeks since I bought the product. They didn't even bring it up and handled the transaction really quickly and kindly. Their whole operation was really buttoned up.

The Apple store in the Century City mall has really great customer service

Wahoo's has a bunch of locations in Orange County. The location in San Clemente is great - good service, they get the food out quickly, and it's really close to the ocean which makes it perfect picnic food. I got a healthy burrito bowl and tried their new cauliflower rice which was actually really delicious. I liked their cilantro dressing too.

Wahoo's Fish Taco is my favorite casual taqueria for fish tacos

Pines Park is in the middle of a charming neighborhood in between Dana Point and San Clemente, in Southern Orange County. The park is long and extends along the ocean, so the whole park has ocean views. There's a children's playground on one end, and benches along the coast to the other end. Lots of people come here with their kids or just to sit and take in the view. There's parking along the streets in the neighborhood, and it's really accessible.

Pines Park in Dana Point is the perfect place for a picnic with a view

The Truckee River Regional Park is a nice place to explore when you're visiting the Tahoe area. There's a farmers market hosted there every Tuesday from 8am to 1pm, they have basketball courts, a baseball field, some picnic tables, and some nice walking trails along the river. When you walk down the hill to the river and turn right, you'll find yourself on a beautiful trail that's great for biking. It takes you down all the way along the river, which is a great opportunity to check out some nice homes and cabins along the river. The park also has a playground for the kiddos, and a disc-golf course.

Be sure to check out the Truckee River Regional Park next time you're in Tahoe!

Tahoe City, CA

Moe's BBQ is a must next time you're in Tahoe. It's located right on the lake, on the Northwest side of the lake. They built an outside patio so you can sit outside, or they still have their large indoor dining. They have live music often, which really adds to the ambiance. Their menu has plenty of options, including delicious sides like mac n cheese, beans, and corn bread. They do Alabama style BBQ, and smoke their meats in-house. I had the chicken and some really good potato salad. They also have a great beer selection.

Moe's BBQ in Tahoe City is some of the best BBQ I've ever had

Coffeebar Truckee is behind the main drag in Truckee and they have the best breakfast. They're a local coffee chain with another location, and they serve a bunch of different kinds of drinks. They always have seasonal lattes and interesting drinks with lavender or chai or cinnamon. They sell their coffee beans there and also sell some goods like coffee mugs, coffee accessories, and branded merchandise.

Coffeebar Truckee is my favorite breakfast spot in Tahoe

Off Route 28, in between Tahoe City and Truckee, is Squaw Valley. There was once an Olympics hosted there, and it's a great little village with lots of shops and also trails. In the summer it's a great place for hiking. The Shirley Canyon Trail starts right behind the village, and you can hike all the way up to the top of the mountain and take the tram down. Or, you can go as far as you want and turn around.

The Shirley Canyon Trail in Squaw Valley is such a beautiful hike!

Truckee is a small town just 20 minutes from Tahoe City in Lake Tahoe. There are only a couple bars in the tiny town, and The Tourist Club is one of the main ones. It's a dive bar with a long bar, and a pool table in the back. It was very crowded and there was no social distancing happening, so if you're comfortable with that, try it out. They have a casual outdoor space out back to get some air, but it's all very casual. The drinks were good and affordable, and there was a mix of locals and Bay Area tourists.

The Tourist Club bar in Truckee is fun but a glimpse into a pre-COVID world

In Tahoe City, right on the edge of Lake Tahoe, the Truckee River goes all the way to Truckee and out into Nevada. You can float along the river, or take a path like the Bike Trail for a casual stroll, jog, or bike. Lots of people head out to enjoy the scenery and get some exercise. You can park in Tahoe City and the trail starts right next to the two Rafting companies along the river. It's a narrow trail, so watch out for bikers coming from behind you.

The Truckee River Bike Trail is a perfect place to walk or jog along the Truckee River

La Colombe is a coffee shop chain in six different states. The location on Sunset Ave has a cool little stoop out front where you can sit and hang, but they're not doing indoor seating right now. They do have a grab and go fridge where you can purchase food and cold drinks, which I like.

La Colombe on Sunset is one of my go-to spots for breakfast

Intelligentsia is a high-end coffee bar, their Silver Lake location is very industrial-chic and they have a lot of outdoor seating. Right now their indoors is closed but you can get to-go or sit outside.

I love the Intelligentsia on Sunset Ave

La Pharmacie du Vin in Silver Lake is a very cool spot. It's a wine bar selling a lot of unique and natural wines, but they also serve wine by the glass or bottle. They don't have a menu, but just open a bottle of white, red, rose, sparkling, and skin-contact wine each evening, and sell them by the glass or bottle.

La Pharmacie du Vin is such a unique and special wine shop and bar

Gilly Flowers is in the heart of Silver Lake, right next to Cafe Stella. They have a great storefront and do custom bouquets or arrangements. They also do weddings and events. It's also fun to pop in and just look around.

This florist helped me out with a beautiful bouquet of floweres

The Venice Canals in Venice Beach are very quaint and cool to walk around. The canals are man-made and there are sidewalks along each of the canals. There are also bridges to cross over. It's cool to see the homes and the boats some tenants keep in the canals.

The Venice Canals are a great place for a leisurely stroll

Malibu, CA

Saddlerock Ranch in Malibu is a really special place. They have tons of horses there and also do wine safaris and wine hikes, where you taste wine while you explore the grounds and see other animals. They also host outdoor yoga classes and sound healing here.

Saw horses and did an outdoor yoga class at this Malibu Ranch

In the hills of North Brentwood this tiny park is a secret spot for reading with a view. It's on your way up to Tigertail Trail in Brentwood, and kind of sneaks up on you. There are only two benches and it gives you views all the way to the ocean.

This secret little park is a great reading and sunset watching spot

Culver City, CA

Stanley's Wet Goods in Culver City is a really great wine and beer shop. They have some outdoor seating too, and a cool bar indoors too. I got some bottles of natural wine to bring home and got really great customer service in helping me choose what wines to get.

I got this awesome lineup of natural wines from Stanleys

I needed to upgrade my iPhone so paid a visit to AT&T while shopping at Westfield Century City. There was barely anyone there besides the employees, so they were able to help me right away. The woman there didn't know about the promotion I was talking about, but she was nice and did they best she could to help me out.

I got good customer service at the AT&T at Westfield Century City

The Westfield Mall in Century City is so nice, I was shocked! The whole mall is outside and is just pristine. The design is really modern and chic, and there's really nice lounge areas all throughout with couches and swinging benches. They had a great selection of stores too.

The Westfield Mall in Century City is the nicest mall I've ever been to!

San Juan Capistrano, CA

Saw a great movie at this Regency theater in San Juan Capistrano. This was my first time back in a movie theater since before COVID, and I thought the theater did a good job. People wore masks and they asked people to sit distanced in the theater. I'd go back here!

I saw A Quiet Place 2 at the Regency

Bueno Bueno is fantastic. It's right around all the other fun restaurants in San Juan Cap, and they have a big outdoor patio. I recommend their Capistrano Bowl and the elote - love some good corn.