Los Angeles and San Francisco 2017

The fashion school at my university organise yearly trips for the students to go to fashion capitals around the world. This year's trip was to LA which I was lucky enough to secure a spot on! Having just landed back on British soil four days ago (and still adjusting to the change in time difference), I thought I'd write a trip report post on my time in the US of A.

We stayed in Santa Monica for six nights, Salinas for one night, and San Francisco for two nights. During our time in the States we had free rein of how we wanted to spend our days which was really exciting being able to explore such an iconic city totally independently! We also ate out A LOT (I'll write a separate post on my American food ventures).

It was such an amazing week and we got to see and do so many different things in both Los Angeles and San Francisco, including: Melrose Avenue, Kat Von D's High Voltage Tattoo shop, UCLA campus, Griffith Observatory, Hollywood sign, Hollywood Boulevard and Walk of Fame, Hollywood and Highland, Disneyland Resort, Google Head Office, Golds Gym, Venice and Muscle Beach, Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, Universal Studios, Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown, Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 39, Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, and Haight and Ashbury.

 

Santa Monica and 3rd St Promenade

UCLA

Hollywood sign

Griffith Observatory

At Griffith Observatory, overlooking the LA skyline and the Hollywood sign

Hollywood and Highland Mall

Beverly Hills

Main Street, Disneyland Park

Disneyland Park

It's A Small World, Disneyland Park

Mickey's Toontown, Disneyland Park

Google Head Office in Venice

Venice Beach

Vivienne Westwood Flagship Store on Melrose Avenue

Rodeo Drive

Universal Studios

Hogwarts Express, Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Hogsmeade Village, Wizarding World of Harry Potter

 

Hogwarts, Wizarding World of Harry Potter

San Francisco

 

Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary

Bubba Gump, Pier 39

Throwback to Disneyland '16

In August I went to Disneyland Paris with my mum and sisters and it was genuinely one of the best experiences of my life and I'd like to share some of my photos and a few tips and advice of where to eat etc! I'd been to Disneyland before in 2006 when I was ten years old so I was definitely in need of a revisit...

Just how pretty is the Disneyland Hotel and entrance to the Disneyland Park in summer time?!

Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse statue in the Walt Disney Studios Park. Definitely allow a day to a day and half to visit the Studios! Mickey and the Magician is a must-see stage show (I cried) and the Hollywood Tower Hotel ride!

The Toy Story Playland is located in the Studios Park. Definitely go on the RC Racers ride - its basically your classic pirate ship ride but better - and the Toy Soldier Parachute Drop ride (you can see it in the photo above).

The new Ratatouille area is so cute! The ride is really good, its 3D and you might get a bit of motion sickness from all the spinning around inside. Also its probably worth getting Fast Track tickets (located opposite the ride) in advance because when I went it closed early some days as it had sold out, or be prepared to be queuing for a loooong time. 10/10 food and service at the Bistrot Chez Remy restaurant. Some of the tables are made out of giant plate racks and others made out of jam jar lids with bottle tops and corkscrews for chairs, as if you're mouse-sized. This is also located in the Walt Disney Studios Park.

Inside of the Hollywood Tower Hotel while I was queuing.

Alice in Wonderland Curious Labyrinth maze in Fantasyland!

View from the top of the castle in the middle of the Curious Labyrinth. You can see Fantasyland in the foreground and Frontierland off to the right on the horizon.

Geppetto's shop in Fantasyland. All of the rides in Fantasyland are really nice, Peter Pan, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Dumbo, Its a Small World (however the song will stick in your head for the rest of your holiday). 

Les Voyages de Pinocchio (or Pinocchio's Voyages/Travels for the non-French speaking) is really cute. Monstro is as scary as in the film though. Fantasyland, again.

Inside of Sleeping Beauty's castle!! Cute stained glass windows with scenes from the Sleeping Beauty film. Tip: As you walk into the Disney park off of Main Street walk round the castle to the left hand side and there's a hidden cave where a dragon is sleeping under the castle!

Every night when the park closes (depending on time of year; 11pm in summer 5/7pm in winter) there is a lightshow display projected onto Sleeping Beauty's castle which is absolutely amazing and definitely worth staying up for at least once during your stay. I filmed the whole show which you can see on my Youtube account >here<. Also the parades through Main Street every day at 5pm are really nice to watch. Queue early (from 4-4:30ish) to secure a good spot, though!