1st trip to DL, 1st Anniversary, 1st time on the coast...COMPLETED!!

[KatGarcia]

I am wishing we did that tour.... so I am living vicariously through you...MORE!!!!

 

[DecemberBride]

We did that tour when we were out there for the Rose Bowl in January of 2003. Loved it!!!!! Great update and love all the pics!

 

[Disneygrl36]

Fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Our adventures by Disney trip starts in Hollywood. We will be staying at the Renaissance right next to the Hollywood & Highlands Center......so I loved seeing these pictures. Can't wait to find my favorite stars.

 

[stagemomx3]

The Soda Shop and Theater are awesome, sorry you didn't make it across the street. We saw the premier of Cars there and had so much fun.

 

[JaxJags08]

$3 for a picture with the donkey?! Seriously?! It wasn't even real!

That tree was beautiful. It doesn't look real because of all of the flowers and it's so bright!

I know what you mean about the gas prices! If I saw $3.89 now, I'd be rushing right over to that station!

BTW, your dress is super cute!

 

[jhch06]

What a fun day! I've been to L.A. but never been able to do much sightseeing while there. Looks like I might have to add that to the list of "to do's"...the very long list might I add! Great update and LOVE the pics as always!

 

[Sleepless Knight]

Great pics. I went to the Disney Soda Fountain for the first time this past visit and didn't have much time to look around, but I'll be heading down there to see Sleeping Beauty at the El Capitan, so I'll take some more time to find R2-D2 and C-3PO's footprints among others.

Where are Mickey and Donald's star at? Those I must see.

 

[PrincessAlways]

First of all....good luck with the house!! Your update was wonderful. What great pictures of Hollywood!! I love all that stuff! Judy Garland, Shirley Temple, Humphrey Bogart, etc...how great! Thanks for the sidetrip!!!

 

[MA pigletfan]

great L.A. update!!!!!
i am so looking forward to spending time there ...we have 4 days there with my good friend Corrie before we head off to the Land...I will be sure to check out all the "stars" fun fun fun!

 

[Spartangirl]

Great update, Karen. So fun! We did the Grand Tour of LA on our first trip there..........definitely tons of fun! I know what you mean about seeing the stars' fences/bushes, rather than their homes. We saw a few homes, but not too many.... However, we were able to catch quick glances of Sylvester Stallone and Demi Moore outside of their homes while we were there. Too bad I wasn't fast enough with the camera.... Anywho, can't wait for more on your trip! Your pictures are wonderful!

 

[jnjusoioa]

Awesome update as always Karen!!!! I love Hollywood and LA. I have gone out that way at least once a year if not twice for the last nine years, it is like home away from home for me, seeing your photos was just great. Your pictures are lovely. I can't wait to read and see more, I am enjoying your trip report so much.

 

[caffingdu]

........................CONT.......................

I was astounded by these gas prices....not so much now! .

lol. ya, I live near LA, and the prices are now at about $4.50 a gallon.

 

[MeLaNie9]

Great update Karen! I loved following along with your tour away from DL and am loving your report on the parks! Keep up the good work

 

[Disneygrl36]

Hey Karen hope all is well.
Anxiously waiting for more here

 

[olivejuice]

wow you inspired me to take more pics next time! looks like you had lots of fun. thanks for sharing.

 

[kmab00]

Awesome update Karen! I've always wanted to do the tourist thing in LA and see all the sites. This tour sounds like a great idea!

P.S your dress is so cute!

Thank you!! The tour was so much fun! I highly recommend it! I got the dress at Aeropostale about two weeks before we left.

I am wishing we did that tour.... so I am living vicariously through you...MORE!!!!

Aww well I'm glad you like the report of the tour! It was a lot of fun!! You'll have to keep it in mind for next time!

We did that tour when we were out there for the Rose Bowl in January of 2003. Loved it!!!!! Great update and love all the pics!

That's really neat!! Thank you so much!!

Fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Our adventures by Disney trip starts in Hollywood. We will be staying at the Renaissance right next to the Hollywood & Highlands Center......so I loved seeing these pictures. Can't wait to find my favorite stars.

Oooh Adventures by Disney...that sounds awesome!! I didn't realize that they have a trip on the West Coast! Where all do you get to go? Wow...you're staying at the Renaissance? That's neat!!! You're going to love Hollywood! It was a ton of fun! I might have to look into Adventures by Disney! I saw that they had a Philadelphia one but I never realized that they were in Hollywood too! Sounds like fun!!!

The Soda Shop and Theater are awesome, sorry you didn't make it across the street. We saw the premier of Cars there and had so much fun.

Aww yeah I know I wanted to cross the street but we didn't have time! That sounds like a lot of fun! Maybe next time!

$3 for a picture with the donkey?! Seriously?! It wasn't even real!

That tree was beautiful. It doesn't look real because of all of the flowers and it's so bright!

I know what you mean about the gas prices! If I saw $3.89 now, I'd be rushing right over to that station!

BTW, your dress is super cute!

No kidding....now you see why we RAN!? That was my exact thought when I saw the sign!! Our gas prices are right around that now. They were still in the 3.30's when we visited Cali!! Thank you!! I love that dress!!

 

[kmab00]

What a fun day! I've been to L.A. but never been able to do much sightseeing while there. Looks like I might have to add that to the list of "to do's"...the very long list might I add! Great update and LOVE the pics as always!

Definitely...it was so much fun!! We really enjoyed seeing the sights...kinda gave us a taste of what Hollywood/LA have to offer. Thank you so much!!

Great pics. I went to the Disney Soda Fountain for the first time this past visit and didn't have much time to look around, but I'll be heading down there to see Sleeping Beauty at the El Capitan, so I'll take some more time to find R2-D2 and C-3PO's footprints among others.

Where are Mickey and Donald's star at? Those I must see.

That's cool!! I would have loved to cross the street but we just didn't have enough time. I was bound and determined to find that darn Hollywood sign! lol! That sounds like a lot of fun...I must have missed those footprints! Jason would have liked to have seen those, too! Oh well!! I didn't see Donald's star and to be honest, I really can't remember where Mickey's star was, either. We did see Donald's footprints though and they were right at the place where the sidewalk meets the footprints in front of the Chinese Theatre. Good luck!!

First of all....good luck with the house!! Your update was wonderful. What great pictures of Hollywood!! I love all that stuff! Judy Garland, Shirley Temple, Humphrey Bogart, etc...how great! Thanks for the sidetrip!!!

Thank you! We move in next Friday!!! Seeing all of the handprints/footprints was my favorite part of the tour! Thanks again!!

great L.A. update!!!!!
i am so looking forward to spending time there ...we have 4 days there with my good friend Corrie before we head off to the Land...I will be sure to check out all the "stars" fun fun fun!

Thank you!! Oooh that will be so much fun!!! Four days..wow! You'll not only get to "see" everything but you'll get to spend time there, too!! That sounds wonderful! You better write a trip report!! lol!!

Great update, Karen. So fun! We did the Grand Tour of LA on our first trip there..........definitely tons of fun! I know what you mean about seeing the stars' fences/bushes, rather than their homes. We saw a few homes, but not too many.... However, we were able to catch quick glances of Sylvester Stallone and Demi Moore outside of their homes while we were there. Too bad I wasn't fast enough with the camera.... Anywho, can't wait for more on your trip! Your pictures are wonderful!

Thank you!! Oooh look at you guys getting to see Demi and Sylvester!! That's so much fun!! We definitely enjoyed the tour! It was great!! Thanks again!!

 

[kmab00]

Awesome update as always Karen!!!! I love Hollywood and LA. I have gone out that way at least once a year if not twice for the last nine years, it is like home away from home for me, seeing your photos was just great. Your pictures are lovely. I can't wait to read and see more, I am enjoying your trip report so much.

Thank you so much!!! That's awesome that you are able to visit Hollywood/LA like that!! I'm glad you liked the photos! Thanks again!

lol. ya, I live near LA, and the prices are now at about $4.50 a gallon.

Whoa baby are you serious? We're actually at 3.89 right now! 4.50?! Sheesh...is it ever going to STOP?? Sorry to hear that!!

Great update Karen! I loved following along with your tour away from DL and am loving your report on the parks! Keep up the good work

Thank you!! We enjoyed being away for a little while! It was neat getting to see "new" and different things!! I'm glad you are enjoying it!! Thanks again!

Hey Karen hope all is well.
Anxiously waiting for more here

Hey!! All is well! Just working on this house and packing up to move! We move next Friday!!! Thanks for asking!!

wow you inspired me to take more pics next time! looks like you had lots of fun. thanks for sharing.

Aww that's cool!! We did have a lot of fun! I'm glad you enjoyed the pictures!! Thank you!

 

[kmab00]

Wednesday, April 9, 2008 - LA Tour continued!

After viewing the Hollywood Walk of Fame for about 30 minutes, we all loaded back up in the Tour Bus and headed to Beverly Hills!

Just so I could say that I had been there!! lol!

The Laugh Factory

Sunset Strip

Here we are at Sunset Blvd!!

Whiskey a Go Go

Beverly Hills City Limits

Our tour guide told us a story about the signs that you see throughout the streets Beverly Hills that say, "No vehicle above ____ lbs allowed". He said that they purposely made those pound limits so that tour buses could no longer drive through the neighborhoods. Years ago, a tour bus was driving in front of Lucille Ball's house. It broke down and people were stuck on the bus for a while. It got to be quite hot so the bus driver let them out of the bus and they all RAIDED Lucille Ball's front yard! He said every flower, stone, decoration, blade of grass were GONE. She complained to the city (as I would have too) and that's when the law on tour buses began! Crazy stuff, huh? He also said that the "Stars Homes" tours are really not tours of stars homes....they are mostly tours of homes that famous stars used to live in! He said that very few stars live in Beverly Hills/Hollywood anymore because of the open access to the area. Most of them are in Malibu and other areas that aren't as easily accessible. Makes sense!

Moving on......

Louis Vuitton

Ro-deo Drive!

Tiffany and Co!!

Spago....owned by Wolfgang Puck! Our tour guide said that dinners there can even get up into the 4 digits!! Crazy stuff!

Porta Bella...I took a picture of it because it reminded me of a place that Lauren from the Hills would visit!!

We saw cars like this ALL over the place in Beverly Hills (of course!)

While we were on Rodeo Drive, our tour guide pointed to a Convertible Bentley that had a bald headed man driving and he was wearing a baseball hat. Of course I only got a glimpse of the back of his head but our bus driver said that it was Bruce Willis. Now if it was, I have no idea but the back of his head sure looked about right!! lol!

This made me laugh. Dumping here is not allowed for sure, but our ocean/lake/bay water is so dirty, you can't even see your feet in the shallow end!!

Beverly Hills Cops!

The Gibson Factory

Expensive car dealerships were all over the place, too!!

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[kmab00]

.............................CONT.............................

The HUGE CBS studio!

Finally our next stop, the Farmer's Market for lunch!

We walked around the shopping area first where we saw this:

And I just HAD to go in!! I've loved American Girl ever since I was a little girl!! I have always seen adds for this store but never been anywhere near one so I of course freaked when I saw it! lol! My excitement over American Girl isn't as it used to be, but I was still happy to see the place!

The scenery was gorgeous, too! It was SO bright outside!

I found a Coach store!! Silly picture I know but the only Coach purses I see around here are in Dillard's! Definitely no Coach store!!

We walked around for about 10 minutes then headed to the "food" area of the Farmer's Market. There was every type of food imaginable in there!! We decided on good ol pulled pork sandwiches, though!

Wasn't the best I ever had but still good!

This is what the food area looked like

This looked like a neat theatre!

On the bus, ready to go!

We bought Hollywood shirts in that food area which also had little shops set up. I bought a blingy one then saw later on that there was a cheaper t-shirt shop on the way out (where Jason got his shirt from). Oh well!

Alright, it was BRIGHT outside and I can't see anything without my glasses so this is the solution that I came up with! Jason was making fun of me!!

I see now why they call it "The Hills"!!

This struck me as funny because I drive I-10 on the way to work every day. I had no idea that it stretched all the way to California. I soon found out that it practically goes from coast to coast!! Pretty neat!

My first glimpse of the Ocean on the West coast!

We made it to Venice Beach and boy were there some interesting characters there!! We wanted to see the water so we stayed far away from those "characters"!!

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