travel

Historical Hollywood Walk of Fame

 in Travel  tagged city guide / family / los angeles / outfits / travel / travel style / travel tips by

One of the most touristy things to do in Los Angeles is to visit the Historical Hollywood Walk of Fame; but everyone needs to go at least once in their lifetime. Sometimes it is fun to be a tourist!

I know this post is a bit delayed, I am not sure how posting about the Historical Hollywood Walk of Fame slipped my mind! We went down to Los Angeles during New Year’s to attend the Rose Bowl game. My husband’s Alma Mater is Penn State, and they made it to the Rose Bowl! They didn’t just make it, they won! Yay!

It was really fun attending a large-scale college football game. My college did not have a football team, so I had never been to a huge college football game before. I have attended smaller schools’ football games, but nothing like this. It was amazing. The Penn State band was incredible, and the fans were highly spirited, fun, and friendly. I had so much fun! Too bad my school didn’t have football! I am now a little bit jealous. . .but I digress. . .

We have been to Los Angeles plenty of times with the kids, but somehow, we never made it to the Historical Hollywood Walk of Fame. So, this time, we took them! I had not been since I was a little kid, so it was fun to see it all again as an adult.

This is a huge tourist attraction, so when you go, I recommend going in the morning before the crowds arrive, and also try to go in the off-season. The summer and weekends are crazy busy; try to go during the week before tourist season. The winter break was a good time, I also recommend going in the fall after school is in session, or the first part of the spring semester. Ski week is a good time too if you plan to take the kids since it is in February before the colleges start their spring break season.

You will want to allow plenty of time for walking and looking down. I recommend going to the Chinese Theater first, before it gets too crowded. Once the tour busses arrive, it’s game over. If you go early, and by early, I mean try to get there by 9am, you will have time to search for all your favorite Hollywood stars. I found Shirley Temple! Love! In case you are wondering what the Chinese Theater is, it is where all the Hollywood stars have their handprints, footprints, and they have signed their names in the concrete. This is a small, select group of celebrities which are mostly iconic stars from early Hollywood, with a few modern stars.

In addition to the Chinese Theater, there are several blocks of stars to sort through in order to find your favorite celebrities. You will want to walk the Hollywood Walk of Fame after visiting the Chinese Theater. Take your time, and walk carefully, since you will be looking down instead of straight ahead! haha

Stay safe out there! This is a walking activity, and it can also get very crowded, so I recommend dressing appropriately. Make sure you have comfortable walking shoes, and keep your wallet, phone etc. in front of you. You want to be aware of possible pickpockets. They love crowded tourist areas! A cross body bag in front of you is ideal. Try not wear a backpack which can easily be entered and stolen from without your knowledge. If you have a backpack, wear it in front of you while you are walking around. I recommend wearing understated jewelry, nothing too flashy, and keep it casual.

What I wore to the Historical Hollywood Walk of Fame:

This is a half day activity. I recommend planning to attend in the morning, and then eating lunch at one of the restaurants along Hollywood Boulevard or heading out to your next adventure and enjoying a meal there. We ate there, at California Pizza Kitchen.

Enjoy your trip to LA! Thanks for stopping by,

XOXO

Cathy

What to pack in a carry on bag

 in General Fashion / Travel  tagged travel / travel style / travel tips by
what to pack in carry-on bag travel essentials

Travel essentials from top left: scarf (this doubles as blanket on a plane) / compact travel iron / sturdy backpack (stays on when running to connecting flights!) / suitcase lock (keep your stuff safe!) / neck pillow (must have for sleeping on the plane) / water bottle (fill up after you go through TSA) / suitcase set (great price!) / luggage tags (bright tags are easy to see in baggage claim)

Wondering what to pack in your carry-on bag for an upcoming flight? If you are like me, you will want to bring a backpack to store under the seat in front of you, and a small, TSA approved suitcase for the overhead bin. In the suitcase, you are likely to have your handbags, anything expensive or of value, and TSA approved sized toiletries.

When it comes to the bag you stow underneath the seat in front of you, chances are, you will want items which make your flight more comfortable; especially if it is a long flight or a red eye! I have found, I only need a few items to make my flight comfortable, especially since I tend to take red eye flights when I go back east.

I like to attempt sleep when I fly, therefore, a scarf which doubles as a blanket, and a neck pillow, are must-haves. I have tried several neck pillows, and most of them slip off or don’t provide any comfort for my neck. The one pictured above, actually does! It has Velcro to secure the ends together and it can spin around on your neck so you are able to find the ideal thickness for your nap. It also folds into a little bag which can hang from the zipper on your backpack; just in case your backpack is stuffed to capacity.

When it comes to packing, sometimes I like to stuff as much as I can into my carry-on suitcase, this little travel iron saves the day from the inevitable wrinkles which occur from an overstuffed suitcase. It fits nicely into a carry-on bag. I don’t trust hotel irons, so this one is a life-saver. Love it!

A lot of travelers seem to like large tote bags to stuff under the seat in front of them, if you feel secure and comfortable with a tote, you do you, that being said, I find backpacks more comfortable and practical. A sturdy backpack will keep your items secure, and if you have a tight layover, a backpack is easy to put on and not worry about while running to a connecting flight. I will not fly with a tote, only a backpack. It is a must-have for me. The backpack I use isn’t made anymore, but the one pictured above is the same as my daughters and it is fabulous. She uses it to carry a heavy laptop at school and for flying. She loves it, so I highly recommend it!

Shop carry-on travel essentials online:

In addition to what is pictured above, I always have a TSA approved hand cream in my backpack because my hands always get dry on the plane; plus the soap in airport bathrooms is always drying.

What are your carry-on travel essentials?

Happy travels!

XOXO
Cathy

Disneyland summer packing list

 in General Fashion / Travel  tagged disneyland / packing / summer 2021 / travel / travel style / travel tips / vacation outfits by

What to pack for Disneyland in the summer

Disneyland summer packing list what to pack for Disneyland in the summer when it is hot

Disneyland summer packing list from top left: shorts / sunglasses / beaded bracelets (local designer, $25 each) / white drop earrings / black eyelet sleeve tee / Gucci sneakers / black eyelet skirt / stripe puff sleeve top / summer jeans / cross-body bag (hot IT bag under $300) / coral ruched sleeve tee / silver ears (sold out, also love this pair) / linen joggers /

Disneyland is open! We are so excited to take a trip to Disneyland and enjoy ourselves! This is a fun road trip we are familiar with, and the whole family can enjoy. I mean, who doesn’t love getting lost in the fun at Disneyland? I know I do!

We normally head to Disneyland during the cooler months. Hot summer days at Disneyland are foreign to me, so I had to be strategic in how I packed for the trip because Anaheim can get really hot in the summer. So if you are like me, and you are wondering what to pack for Disneyland in the summer when it is hot outside, then read on!

In order to combat the heat, I knew I needed to pack cool clothing that also protected me on rides. I like to wear pants on the rides because it feels cleaner, and it is more comfortable. In the cooler months, I usually wear jeans; they’re just easy. Of course when it hits 90 degrees outside, jeans are not exactly what one would call comfortable. Despite this, I did pack one pair of jeans just in case the weather ended up cooler than expected. Otherwise, this pair of linen pants will be my Disneyland go-to pants when the weather is really hot. They are cool pants and just as comfortable as shorts on a hot day. Plus, since they are pants, my legs feel protected on the rides. Love that!

Tee-shirts are a must when it is hot outside. Of course, we don’t always want to wear a basic tee. These tee’s with ruched and puffy sleeves are right on trend, and are more elevated than a basic tee. The fun part is that these tee’s don’t look like basic tee’s, yet they offer the same comfort as one. Plus, the fabric is so soft, love!

The shorts and the skirt are for when we are back at the hotel and I want to change for dinner, or another activity. Stay tuned for my Anaheim trip coverage to see what else we did besides Disneyland!

A small, cross-body bag is a must. This one has two straps, so I can wear it cross body at Disneyland, then switch the strap for other activities. It’s two bags in one, which is great for travel. Love that!

Shop my Disneyland summer packing list online:

Now you know what to pack for Disneyland in the summer when it is hot outside! What is your favorite time of year to visit Disneyland?

Thanks for stopping by, and stay tuned for my trip coverage!

XOXO
Cathy