A Big Bear Getaway

Editor’s note: another lovely trip recap from TRT’s newest writer, Jackie, to a place I haven’t been since I was a little kid. For more of her travels, click here to visit her index page. Living in the Los Angeles area, we thought that a few days near Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino…

Los Angeles’ Hsi Lai Buddhist Temple

From inside the complex, it’s hard to remember that I’m less than a half hour from downtown Los Angeles. The Ming Dynasty style pagodas and shrines of the Hsi Lai Temple gleam in the sun. The gardens, ornate and calming, stand in contrast to the literally dozens of statues lining almost every passageway. Brown clothed…

Los Angeles History in Highland Park

There is never a bad day to visit an outdoor architectural history museum. Even on a slightly cool and overcast June day in Los Angeles, the buildings of Heritage Square Museum shine. The exteriors are beautifully restored and/or preserved, and while the interiors vary from fully furnished and restored to states of semi-ruin, the history…

Los Angeles’ Boyle Heights

While Los Angeles certainly has its frustrations, it is a place that is unlike many others, and has so much that I love. Walkable neighborhoods, quirky vibes that change every mile or two, cultural diversity matched by few cities on the planet, and great food - these are some of the hallmarks of my hometown.…

The Santa Monica Pier

This place is nostalgic, and for a couple reasons. First, it reminds me of my childhood; although I didn’t come often, I was filled with awe when I did. Second, it harkens back to an earlier time, one before large theme parks, the days of soda fountains and Ferris wheels. So while it is overly…

The Griffith Observatory

In 1955, James Dean made this place famous, as one of the most iconic scenes of Rebel Without a Cause was filmed right here at the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles’ Griffith Park. Since then, it has become a symbol of Los Angeles, being used to represent the city in dozens of films and nearly…