Every since my travels to Paris, I have made it a point to try to experience life more like a local. That first sip of coffee at a local coffee shop, hearing neighbors chatting on a park bench…that moment a stranger turns into an instant friend over discussing each other’s fur babies (aka puppies). I love the feeling of belonging anywhere! That’s why my husband and I use Airbnb quite often while traveling. It’s also why we decided to host as well. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good hotel experience! However, I find it easier to get a real sense of the place I’m traveling to by ‘living’ like locals; in the very neighborhoods they call home.

Silver Lake

Once my husband and I found out we were attending the Airbnb Open (a hosting event), we quickly searched where we wanted to live for the week. We both decided on Silver Lake because it was a little outside of downtown and would force us to explore more of the area. It is also only a quick eight minute Uber ride to be smack dab in the middle of all downtown has to offer, depending on traffic, of course! (For those of you that have been to LA, you know TRAFFIC is a whole other blogpost in itself, am I right?!) Silver Lake was actually the perfect place for us to get a sense of local LA life. We had the best time exploring the neighborhood, eating at all the nearby yummy restaurants, and chatting with the neighbors about which art museums we should make a priority to explore.

Travel Tip: Besides doing online research, if you really want to find out the best restaurants, places off the beaten path, or even the ‘touristy’ places that are actually worthwhile seeing, just ask the locals and compare notes! 

Even though our weekend was crammed packed with Airbnb hosting workshops, meet-ups, dinner engagements, other neighborhood excursions, and even a red carpet event/concert (Maroon 5 is amazing live btw!), we made it a priority to book a day before and after the event to take advantage of exploring more of what LA has to offer. One morning we got up really early and found secret staircases that I had read about online. We taste tested two local coffee shops, and even shopped the local farmers market. Funny how happy my husband and I are to get up early to explore somewhere new; I would even say excited! Otherwise, we prefer the evenings, like most. Travel excites one to try new things, to live new experiences! Why not go a bit deeper and experience life more like a local?! I can’t wait to ‘live’ in a new neighborhood next time I’m in LA, Venice Beach maybe? I loved exploring down the Venice Canal Historic District, taking my time looking at all the unique homes… daydreaming what it would be like to live there myself.

Fun Fact: Did you know that the Venice Canal Historic District was originally a lot bigger? The man-made canals were built by Abbot Kinney in 1905. Later, some of the canals were filled back in to create roads in 1929. Then after many years of being in poor condition, the few remaining were renovated in 1992.
What about you? What neighborhood would you want to experience living in like an LA local?

Where we stayed lived: Silver Lake Cottage in Sunset Junction

(Here’s a link that will give both of us a $35 credit, if you’re new to using Airbnb, thank you and you’re welcome. click here )

Where we caffeinated: Alfred Coffee (Silver Lake) and Intelligentsia Coffee and I did a little barista-ing in our place, coffee courtesy of our lovely host, Jessie.

Where we ate: ‘My LA Foodie Favorites’

Where we explored: ‘LA for Free’, ‘LA, Off the Beaten Path’, coming soon to the blog too!