HOW TO VISIT LA – VIRTUALLY

HOW TO VISIT LA – VIRTUALLY

Whether you live here in the city or far far away in another land, we ALL have the fortunate ability to experience the city’s most redeeming qualities and best assets from the comforts of our couches. “But how?!”, you say. Well, 2020 might be a real shit year so far, but technology never ceases to impress me, nor do people’s imaginations and determination to entertain and be entertained.

 

Even though we can’t physically experience our favorite things about LA, we can experience them mentally, visually, and even tangibly. AND SO. WE. SHALL! Join me on this journey to discovering LA in a whole new way – virtually.

 

 

HOW TO VISIT LA VIRTUALLY

 

 

 

1 | VISIT OUR MUSEUMS

 

LA’s most beloved museums such as The Autry, The Huntington Library & Gardens, Hollyhock House, ICA LA, Hammer Museum, The Petersen Automotive Museum, The Grammy Museum, and MOCA are all offering virtual online tours. That is a LOT of art and culture, sans a lot of walking and people watching. Sounds kind of tempting – oh and access is free.

 

 

 

2 | VISIT OUR OUR ZOOS & AQARIUMS

 

Things are getting wild! (sorry not sorry) The Aquarium of the Pacific is offering a variety of live and on-demand programming including the Aquarium Online Academy (for the kiddos, or not?), live streaming sessions, live webcams, virtual tours, and seriously so much more. Penguins playing, yes please?

 

The LA Zoo is home to some of the city’s most unique and beautiful creatures, and though we can’t visit them IRL, the zoo has made sure we can at least check in and see what they’re all up to via countless videos. On top of that, the LA Zoo’s annual “Beastly Ball” will STILL be happening this year – virtually! Join them on May 15th for their most fun and important fundraiser of the year.

 

 

 

3 | WATCH OUR LIVE SUNSET EVERY NIGHT

 

Join Discover LA every single evening for “Magic Hour” which features Instagram LIVE sunsets, Google Earth film location tours, magic lessons, digital puzzles, virtual backgrounds, and much more. Can’t beat a beautiful sunset in LA, that’s for damn sure.

 

 

 

4 | COOK DISHES FROM SOME OF OUR MOST BELOVED RESTAURANTS

 

There’s a lot of cooking going down right now, and what better way to experience LA than to taste it? Several of the city’s most beloved restaurants and chefs have cookbooks to dive into, like Guerrilla Tacos, Gjelina, Roy Choi’s book, Republique, Sqirl, Bestia, Mozza, and so many more. I found this LAist article to be a great guide to some of the best LA made cookbooks, now get to cookin’ – and bakin’!

 

 

 

5 | EXPLORE LA THROUGH FILM & TV

 

Some of the best movies and tv shows made have been based in LA – how weird is that, right? If you could use a dose of nostalgia and televised entertainment, check out my most recent “Streaming Guide For Angelenos” for a list of the best LA classic films, TV shows to dive into, and more.

 

 

 

6 | LISTEN TO SOME OF THE BEST LA BASED PODCASTS

 

The car was always my favorite place to listen to podcasts – still is – and as it turns out, you don’t have to be driving to still enjoy them. Also, as it turns out, I’m not the only person who sometimes just sits in their car outside of their house. So if you’re looking for something to listen to while you enjoy that moment of peace, might I suggest To Live & Die In LA (one of my favorites, a true-crime story of a young hopeful actress who disappears), Who? Weekly (bi-weekly gos(sip) based around “everything you need to know about the celebrities you don’t”), You Must Remember This (about the secret and/or forgotten history of Hollywood’s first century), and The Hidden History of Los Angeles (explores the lesser-known aspects of L.A. history).

 

 

 

7 | BUY SOME LA MADE GOODS & MERCH

 

Buy yourself something pretty (or comfy) from some of LA’s most beloved brands such as Reformation, Misa Los Angeles, Whimsy & Row, Dolan, Stillwater, VIVIANCHAN, Resa, Belen, just to name a few. Not to mention – most, if not all, of these brands are making masks right now in addition to offering some type of charity aspect along with them. Shop and support – win-win.

 

Restaurant merch is also something to consider as many of the funds go directly to supporting their staff! Eater LA put out an awesome rundown on LA restaurant merch to peruse, and there is some seriously cool shit out there to wear. Rep that restaurant with pride, GF.

 

 

 

8 | WORKOUT WITH SOME LOCAL FAVES

 

CorePower Yoga, Barry’s Bootcamp, Pure Barre, Lekfit, The Class by Taryn Toomey, Tracy Anderson Method, Studio B, MDR are all offering online or IG Live classes to join in on! Some are free, some require a small fee, but all of these LA-based studios are ready to put you to WERK! (DOLA just came out with a pretty comprehensive list as well: LA Gyms & Studios Livestreaming Classes)

 

 

 

9 | TAKE A BREAK EACH DAY & DO SOMETHING NEW WITH ROW DTLA

 

ROW DTLA, one of LA’s most unique and beloved dining/shopping destinations, launched a “Take A Break Virtual Series” where they host “a variety of events for you to craft, workout, learn, get inspired, and day drink throughout the week led by entrepreneurs from their Collective & Row Fam”. You can check out their schedule of events HERE, and join them every day on Instagram for some quality entertainment and connection – free of charge.

 

 

 

10 | MAKE AN LA MADE CARE PACKAGE FOR A FAMILY MEMBER OR FRIEND

 

You can buy LA made goods from your local favorite spots via pickup, but several local businesses are willing to ship and deliver items as well. So what better way to cheer someone up or let them know you’re thinking of them, than by sending them a special care package with some special “LA” goodies. I wrote a whole post on some fun care package ideas, “How To Make the Best ‘LA Care Packages’ – and Support Local Businesses Doing It“, so give it a read and get to crafting one of your own!

 

 

HOW TO VISIT LA VIRTUALLY

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