Memorial Day in LA :)

We spent Memorial Day Weekend in LA, and we loved it so much we decided to move there! J/K. We are moving to LA, but this decision was made a few months ago. As some of you know, Matt accepted a new job in LA in April, and he has been doing two weeks here, two weeks in LA since then. He was spending two weeks in LA over Memorial Day weekend, and I went to visit him and check out our new city.

On Friday night, we explored Marina del Rey, which will be our new home in LA (at least for the first year) as we have an apartment held for us in The Villas apartment complex right on the water of the marina. We visited the apartment complex and toured a model of our apartment layout. I am very excited about this place! It has great amenities, the apartments are well appointed, and it is in walking distance to the beach - YAY :)

After viewing the apartment, we visited what could become our favorite watering-hole - Tony P's - which was situated on the water and boasted a very nice selection of domestic, imported and craft-brewed beers.

Saturday we visited Santa Monica. We looked a at a few apartments here as well, but assumed they would be priced out of our budget, and we were correct. Santa Monica is the trendy place to be in the LA area, and the prices definitely support that. We really did enjoy Santa Monica, though. It is a very vibrant town with lots of outdoor activities, people and families walking the streets, a busy promenade down the middle of town - just a cute and cozy kind of place. Luckily, one of the amenities our new apartment offers is a weekend shuttle to Santa Monica. So, we can enjoy the lifestyle of Santa Monica but not have to pay the higher apartment prices :)

After Santa Monica, we drove around some of the other well-known neighborhoods in the LA area. We visited Beverly Hills (after learning - a bit disappointingly - that we wouldn't be seeing Brandon and Brenda's house as it is actually located in Pasadena - drats!). And, of course we strolled down Rodeo Drive. Too bad we can't afford to live in the Beverly Hills neighborhood ;)

Sunday, we hit the beach! Our first day on a beautiful, warm west coast beach. I cant' wait to live within walking distance of this cheap, relaxing getaway :)

I apologize for the blinding whiteness ;)

After the beach, we hit downtown El Segundo and visited another place that has the possibility of becoming our favorite watering-hole - Rock & Brews. This place was lots of fun - great atmosphere, family friendly and yet a large, well-varied beer list :)

Monday morning I had to come back to NYC, but we had time to get breakfast at another great spot in downtown El Segundo, Good Stuff. This restaurant, plus many places we ate at/shopped at, had low-cal options, gluten-free options, etc. This 'health-conscious' lifestyle is just one of the many reasons I think we will love LA :)