Off the Beaten Path (in or into an isolated place. unusual.)
So, pretty much places that are not always known by many and are different or unique. These kinds of places are usually known more by locals or frequent travelers to the area. Seems like these places are turning more into just ‘unique’ rather than ‘unique and isolated’ because of blogposts like these that tell fellow wanderlusters like you more and more where places like these are. Even if these types of places become crowded and popular, I don’t mind. Why? Well, because places like these feed the imagination, they excite and inspire!
Imagination is the only weapon in the war against reality.
Mosaic Tile House in Los Angeles
While we were in Los Angeles for the Airbnb Open event, Airbnb had their hosts pick a neighborhood experience (something new they are offering to guests). We picked the Mosaic Tile House in Venice, a fun quirky house covered completely in mosaic tiles! This house is a twenty plus year old work of art that is carefully designed by artists Cheri Pann and Gonzalo Duran. What I found even more interesting than wandering around this tile wonderland is that the artist couple actually live here! We had the pleasure of being escorted around this mosaic masterpiece by Gonzalo himself. He gave us the back history and explained a little bit about each area and room inside the home. It was very personal and they only book small groups. Gonzalo is as colorful and full of life as the art he and his lovely partner create! I felt a bit like Alice, and I was invited to the Mad Hatter’s house for a tea party…so much fun, so much whimsy! You guys should go here while it’s still on the down low. Our Uber driver and many other locals are still unaware this place even exists.
More LA Off the Beaten Path…
Discover hidden stairways and get epic city views and exercise all at the same time!
My favorite was the Micheltorena staircase named after the elementary school that is at the end of its path. Also, right across this particular staircase is Alfred Coffee! This, my beautiful friends, is an Instagrammer’s dream! Amazing coffee in the most Instagrammable coffee shop right across from rainbow stairs complete with hearts, SCORE! #alfredcoffee #micheltorenastairs
This next place was a little underwhelming, but after I got back to our airbnb and looked at how good the photos turned out, I was so glad I went! It’s basically an abandoned motel painted in all white, even the palm trees. The day we went the sky was bright blue and not a cloud to be found, so the contrast of color was pretty epic!
My beautiful friends, I hope you find some of your future wanderings in places that are all things interesting, lovely, whimsical, and a bit unusual! So, where in LA would you recommend going off the beaten path? Or anyplace, really! I would love to know about them!!
Read more about my trip to LA here…
You found so many fun things! I can’t believe I didn’t know about the tile house!! If you don’t mind, I’d like to mention it in my next LA blog post and link to you.
Lena, I would be honored! Thank you:-)
Wow, you got some amazing finds. The stairs are my favourite for sure. Wish we had something similar back in Mumbai
Thanks, Deepika! I love your posts featuring Mumbai; hope to visit India one day:-)