United States: Downtown Los Angeles and Hollywood

As the clock inevitably ticks minute by minute,  signifying my last remaining hours looming closer almost coming to an end, I knew I just had to make the most out of what is left of the remaining hours of my trip. (Did it sound like I was almost dying?) What better way to explore the city by taking a tour downtown, exploring awesome spots and experiencing the richness of the culture all by foot (and public transit)!  My friend Abbie, my very good friend from college took on this very noble duty as she sponsored our whole walking city tour! And oh wow, Los Angeles is indeed beautiful!

My good friend Abbie and I

I experienced the train ride going to downtown LA, my very first (and also my last) subway ride throughout my entire stay in the United States. Downtown Los Angeles is the central business district in the central area of LA. No wonder I got myself super excited and ecstatic upon alighting from the subway towards the city as my eyes feasted on the various sights around me. The towering skyscrapers were complemented by the beautiful landscaping of greens, thus making a visually appealing city. I would call it beautiful, Los Angeles’ very own “concrete jungle”.

Here’s what greeted me straight from the subway!

United States: Universal Studios Hollywood

Because my siblings and I are naturally children-at-heart, it’s just a natural thing for us to come to love theme parks, hence we just knew it was mandatory for us to visit  another theme park even if we already came from Disneyland California the previous day. Because my aunt’s house was just near Hollywood, we knew we just had to see Universal Studios Hollywood for ourselves!

United States: Disneyland California and California Adventure

“Here you leave today, and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy”. For anyone who allows themselves to go back to being a child, to think like a child, to see the world like a child, and simple be a child, Disneyland will always be the best bet for a day full of fun and magic! This “magic” that Disneyland pertains to is not of the sorcery kind, but it’s the personal experience each one has to revel upon while inside the park.

United States: Pier 39 at the Fisherman’s Wharf San Francisco

We took a leisurely stroll around San Francisco and explored Pier 39 at the Fisherman’s Wharf. Pier 39 is a popular tourist destination with lots of specialty shops hauled at the dock of the Pier. First time tourists in the beautiful city of San Francisco should definitely take a visit to Pier 39 and the Fisherman’s Wharf. It’s just a single destination that just cooks up so many wonderful experiences! I think tourists and SF residents have varying opinions about the place, but I speak as a tourist, and as a tourist, I had fun visiting the pier!

The location is a natural beauty! Pier 39 is nestled between the hills of NorthEastern San Francisco with covered hills rising above the shoreline and water crashing over Alcatraz Island.

United States: Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

Renowned for its cool summers, chilly fog, steep rolling hills, cable cars they locally call bart, and of course, it’s world famous Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco has become a coveted tourist destination! And yes, there was truly more to San Francisco than what guide books normally tell us. It just has this homey, comforting and welcoming feeling that attracts and smites all visiting tourists! I can tell because it happened to me! As the cliche goes, “I left my heart in San Francisco”

ooh-lala! perfect cloudless and fogless view of the Golden Gate Bridge!

What a sunset in Golden Gate!

United States: Ghirardelli Square, San Francisco

Ghirardelli would be embedded  in a special place in any chocolate lover’s heart! And just like the millions of chocolate lovers across the world, we just could not let the moments like this just pass by.

United States: Solvang, California

Solvang, California was  indeed a very refreshing sight to see. It was like stepping into another dimension infused with an immensely different culture, while you are still pretty sure that you are still in Continental America. Yes, it was Danish in all aspects and forms, but I loved the fresh feeling it delivered!

United States: La Jolla Cove, San Diego

La Jolla Cove would be perhaps one of the best places I’ve visited during my US trip. Being the animal and nature lover that I am, I just loved how animals perfectly fit as if they were in their natural habitat, in their very own special place in nature, where they could coincide harmoniously.

United States: Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego

San Diego will always be a perfect place for tourists. I reiterated that to myself upon realizing that I was having the same ecstatic emotions when we visited Coronado, San Diego earlier in the day. I knew I was bound for another great night of strolling and entertainment in Gaslamp Quarter!

United States: Coronado, San Diego

San Diego took my breath away! Known for its small-town feel and pristine beaches, Coronado proves that it is definitely a must-visit destination for all tourists! Coronado was developed in 1888 as an affluent beach resort town and boasts of its beautiful beaches basking in warm and endless sunshine all year long. The feeling of setting foot in Coronado was so surreal; like being able to travel back in 1888 with its beautiful man-made structures, houses, and dainty architecture. No wonder, Coronado has been dubbed as “The Crown City” (Coronado is Spanish for “the crowned one”) which makes it an ideal place for many tourists.