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Disneyland With Toddlers: 10 Tips We Learned Visiting With Two Little Boys
Planning Disneyland with toddlers? Here are our favorite Disneyland tips, Rider Swap hacks, toddler rides, hotel recommendations, and California Adventure favorites from visiting with our two boys.
One of my favorite parts of Disneyland with toddlers isn’t even the rides — it’s watching them take it all in. ✨
Disneyland with toddlers is one of those trips that feels equally magical and slightly chaotic at the same time.
We’ve now visited Disneyland multiple times with our two boys and every trip we learn something new. We’ve learned where to start, which rides are actually worth it for little kids, when Rider Swap saves the day, and which waits are absolutely not worth it with toddlers. Don’t miss our Southern California ticket hack too!
If you’re heading to Disneyland with little ones, these are the tips that have worked best for our family.
Look closely - Mary Poppins and Bert are often found in Fantasyland!
1. Bring ALL the Snacks (and Don’t Feel Like You Have to Take the Tram)
My number one Disneyland tip for toddlers? Snacks. So many snacks. Don’t forget to bring some for you too.
We usually load up before heading into the parks because little kids seem to become hungry approximately every 17 minutes at Disneyland.
We always bring a stroller because it ends up carrying everything — snacks, water bottles, jackets, souvenirs, and occasionally tired children. Also, you might want to put an Airtag in the stroller in case you forget where it is!
One thing to know though: if you take the tram from the parking garage, you have to fold the stroller. Our stroller is a pain to fold so we usually skip the tram entirely and walk through Downtown Disney to the parks instead. It’s an easy walk and saves us the stroller fold-up process.
Sleeping Beauty's castle decorated for the 70th Anniversary celebration at Disneyland.
2. Get There Right When the Park Opens
If you only take one piece of advice from this post, let it be this:
Get there early!
The first few hours of the day are magic at Disneyland with toddlers.
Wait times are shorter, it’s cooler outside, kids still have energy, and you can knock out several rides before the crowds build.
Rope drop is absolutely worth it for families. Besides, aren’t you up at the crack of dawn anyway?!
3. Start in Toontown
If you have toddlers, Toontown is our favorite place to start.
Our boys love:
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
Gadget’s Go Coaster
Exploring Toontown
Meeting Mickey in his house
Meeting Mickey first thing in the morning has usually meant shorter waits for us too.
Toontown just feels made for little kids and is such a fun way to start the day.
There is a stationary Dumbo when you get off the ride so you can get that picture perfect shot!
4. Keep an Eye on Fantasyland Wait Times (or Head to Big Thunder!)
Fantasyland is obviously classic Disneyland toddler territory, but don’t forget to watch the wait times. Don’t wait more than 40 mins for anything. Dumbo is great but only when the line is 20 mins or less.
And if you happen to have a little thrill seeker…
Big Thunder Mountain might surprise you.
Our son LOVES Big Thunder.
A 20–30 minute wait for Big Thunder is pretty good in our book, and it has become one of his favorite rides. There is a 40 inches height requirement for this one! Check before you go!
We also LOVE Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters.
5. Learn Rider Swap — It Is the Parent Hack Nobody Told Us About
Rider Swap is one of the best things Disneyland offers for families with little kids.
Here’s how it works:
If one child is too small (or doesn’t want to ride), one parent rides first while the other waits with the younger child.
Then the second parent gets to ride without waiting in the full line again.
You just need to talk to the Cast Member at the ride entrance before anyone gets in line.
We’ve used Rider Swap on so many attractions and it makes a huge difference.
It’s especially helpful if you have one toddler who loves bigger rides and one who isn’t ready yet.
Galaxy’s Edge ended up being way more toddler-friendly than we expected. Meeting Chewbacca was a huge hit for our little Star Wars fan. ✨
6. Don’t Skip Galaxy’s Edge if Your Kids Love Star Wars
Our boys are huge Star Wars fans and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run was a massive hit.
Honestly, Galaxy’s Edge ended up being way more toddler-friendly than I expected.
Even walking around the land was fun for them. Give Chewbacca a high five and say hi to Han Solo!
If you have little Star Wars fans, definitely add this to your Disneyland day.
Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree is the best toddler ride and relatively short line!
7. California Adventure Has Some Great Toddler Rides Too
We love Disneyland, but California Adventure has become one of our boys’ favorites too.
Our must-do rides are:
WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure
Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree
The Little Mermaid
Mater is always a hit.
And The Little Mermaid is such a nice break when you need air conditioning and a slower ride.
Eat at Flo’s and catch Lightning McQueen an Mater roll by!
8. Don’t Wait in the Radiator Springs Racers Line
This may be my slightly controversial Disneyland opinion…
Don’t wait in the regular Radiator Springs Racers line.
We have almost never seen it under an hour and it breaks down fairly often.
If it fits your budget, this is the ride I would consider buying Lightning Lane for.
And if you can combine it with Rider Swap? Even better.
Pro Tip: Our favorite place to eat is Flo’s Cafe. If you sit in the back patio area, Lightning and Mater drive by! Chicken nuggets and fries for the kiddos is one of our favorite meals there.
Meeting Mater and Lighting McQueen was DEFINITELY a highlight for our little Cars fan!
9. Pixar Pier Is Great for Toy Story Fans
If your kids love Toy Story, don’t miss Pixar Pier.
Toy Story Midway Mania is one of our family favorites and is always a hit.
There’s just something about competing for points that keeps everyone happy — kids and adults included. I will beat Josh one day… I swear!
10. Don’t Miss the Spider-Man Show in California Adventure
One thing that surprised us was how much our boys loved the Spider-Man training show near the entrance of California Adventure.
The show runs pretty frequently (about every 50 minutes or so) and lasts around 10 minutes.
You don’t need a huge strategy here.
We usually just walk over when it’s about to start.
Bonus: you can often meet Spider-Man nearby too.
Buzz Lightyear greeting our toddler at the beginning of the ride.
What We Pack for Disneyland With Toddlers
A few things we always bring:
✔ Snacks (LOTS!)
✔ Refillable water bottles
✔ Stroller
✔ Portable charger
✔ Change of clothes
✔ Hats + sunscreen
✔ Small toys for line waiting (always Hot Wheels cars - we have them everywhere)
✔ Extra wipes (always)
For quieter moments back at the hotel, we also usually pack a few screen-free activities.
Lately our boys have loved bringing books from The Trucks That Saved series and truck activities for downtime between park days.
Disney days are amazing, but having a little quiet hotel reset time has helped us a lot.
More Disneyland Posts You Might Like
Planning a holiday Disney trip?
→ Read our Disneyland at Halloween guide or Disneyland at Christmas guide
Need a sweet break between rides?
→ Check out our favorite Disneyland desserts
Disney fan?
→ Check out Walt Disney’s Office
Southern California Parent Hack: Use the 3-Day Resident Ticket
If you live in Southern California, this is one of our favorite Disneyland hacks.
Disneyland often offers a Southern California resident 3-day ticket between January and mid-May, and one of the best parts is that the days typically do not have to be consecutive.
We love this because it makes Disneyland feel so much more manageable with toddlers.
Instead of trying to squeeze everything into one long weekend, we can spread visits out and move at toddler pace.
Just make sure to check Disneyland’s current offers because they change year to year. Costco also sometimes offers a 3-day pass!
Our Favorite Family Hotel Near Disneyland
We almost always stay at Hyatt House Anaheim Resort / Convention Center and honestly… I think it might actually feel closer to walk from there than the parking structure.
It has become one of our favorite family hotel stays because it checks so many boxes for traveling with kids.
What we love:
✔ Walking distance to Disneyland
✔ Large rooms for families
✔ Small kitchen area
✔ Sitting space to spread out
✔ Free breakfast
✔ Hyatt free night certificates or points can work here
The breakfast isn’t the most amazing hotel breakfast we’ve ever had, but not paying for one extra Disney meal is a win in my book.
I’m planning a full review because this has honestly become our go-to Disneyland hotel.
Hyatt House Anahiem Resort Convention Center
1800 S Harbor Blvd., Anaheim, CA 92802, United States of America
Final Thoughts: Disneyland With Toddlers Is So Worth It
Disneyland with toddlers definitely looks different than pre-kid Disney trips.
There are more snack breaks, slower mornings, stroller parking, and bathroom stops…
But there’s also seeing Mickey through their eyes for the first time, watching them light up on their favorite ride, and hearing them talk about the trip for weeks afterward. 🥹
And honestly? That magic is pretty hard to beat.
More Disneyland Posts:
The Ultimate Guide to Ice Cream Trucks and Catering in Los Angeles (2026 Menu & Tracker)
Exceptional artisan ice cream trucks found in Los Angeles! Soft serve, vegan options, and more can be found in our top 11! Ice cream trucks are fun for catering parties and corporate work functions, but also nice when they are near you so you don’t have to drive across LA to their shop.
Mister Softee is my favorite ice cream truck in Los Angeles
Best Ice Cream Trucks with menus you need to try in LA!
Updated: April 28, 2026 - Original Post: 2020
If you haven’t noticed by now, we love trucks and ice cream around here, and living in Los Angeles, there are a lot of ice cream truck and catering options. These aren’t your creepy vans that sell Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle pops, these are exceptional artisan ice cream trucks that Angelino’s seek out!
Ice cream trucks are fun for parties and work functions, but also nice to enjoy when they are in your area.
Sweet N Hollow Chimney Cake
Trucks for Kids!
If you’ve read the latest adventure in my children’s book series, The Trucks That Saved, you know that the ice cream truck is the ultimate hero that brings the whole park together!
Seeing these incredible trucks in Los Angeles reminds me so much of that spirit of community and joy.
Whether we're exploring the city for a travel guide or reading about our favorite truck friends, it’s all about those sweet moments.
The Top Ice Cream Trucks in Los Angeles Neighborhood (2026 Edition)
The classic pre-packaged bar model has evolved into a world of artisanal scoops and Instagram-ready treats. Here are the most popular trucks currently dominating the LA food scene:
1. The Aesthetic & Artisanal Ice Cream Truck Menu Leaders
Recess Ice Cream Truck sundae with chocolate sauce served at a work event
Creamy Boys Ice Cream Truck
Arguably the most "Instagrammable" truck in LA right now. They specialize in New Zealand-style Real Fruit Ice Cream, blending fresh fruit into a vanilla base on the spot.
Their custom-branded wraps make them a favorite for major brand activations and influencer events.
Recess Ice Cream Truck
Known for its "back-to-school" nostalgia, this truck focuses on ultra-premium, small-batch ice cream with high butterfat content. They are legendary for their "un-cone-ditional" hospitality and creative cookie sandwiches.
The Menu: Recess offers fun options like french toast sliders, frozen hot chocolate, ice cream sandwiches, sundaes, and more!
We ordered this truck a few times for work functions (located in Burbank) and the Recess Ice Cream Truck didn’t disappoint!
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream Truck
I often see the Van Leeuwen truck on Abbott Kinney on the Westside, but you can also rent for parties, weddings, baby showers, wedding showers, birthdays, and events!
The Menu: Their artisan ice cream flavors will please any audience and they offer gluten-free and vegan flavors!
McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams Truck in Los Angeles
McConnell’s Fine Ice Cream Truck
“Have ice cream, will travel” is this Santa Barbara-based company’s motto! LA locals are familiar with McConnell’s scoop shops around town and their ice cream truck can often be found at street fairs.
You can book them for parties, weddings, corporate events, and more!
The Menu: Delicious creamy scoops of ice cream flavors that are irresistible.
Oat-ly Ice Cream Truck in Los Angeles
Oat-ly Ice Cream Truck
The Menu: Oat-ly is an original oat milk company from Sweden that turns nutritious liquid oat milk into ice cream! It’s plant-based, vegan, and gluten-free!
Oat-ly also are earth-conscious, making their ice cream while reducing their carbon footprint as much as possible.
Download a free truck scavenger hunt for kids - screen-free activity for toddlers
🚒 Want to make your Ice Cream Truck hunt even more fun?
Download my Free Truck Hero Scavenger Hunt Printable! It’s the perfect way to keep the little ones engaged while you track down the best scoops in LA. See if you can spot all 17 truck heroes—including the ice cream truck!
2. The Niche & Unique Crowd-Pleasers
Blaque Parlor Ice Cream Truck
Famous for its striking organic black ice cream, this truck fits the "edgy" LA aesthetic perfectly. It is a top choice for luxury brand events and stylish weddings.
Ridges Churro Bar
This fan favorite serves Churro Sundaes—creamy soft serve topped with warm, artisanal churro loops. It consistently ranks as one of the most-liked dessert trucks on local food platforms.
Saffron & Rose Ice Cream Truck
Bringing their Westwood brick-and-mortar quality to the streets, their mobile truck serves Persian Ice Cream featuring flavors like rosewater, saffron, and pistachio.
SuperCool Creamery ice cream catering with a touch of magic
SuperCool Creamery Catering - Ice Cream and a Magic Show
Supercool combines ice cream and magic with a little liquid nitrogen! Fantastic flavors and a variety of toppings (including booze), they’ll add pizaazz to any party!
The Menu: Nitro-artisan ice cream, nitro-artisan frozen cocktails, and a fabulous toppings bar. Gotta try the Dragon’s Breath - patrons chew frozen corn puffs with mouths closed and breath smoke out of their nose!
Kosher and dairy free options are available, see the full menu here.
They used to have a shop in Silver Lake but are currently only offering their catering service.
🎩 See our full post: SuperCool Creamery Review
Great for corporate function, red carpet premieres, kids parties, and more!
Mister Softee Ice Cream Truck
3. The Cult Classics & Modernized Favorites
CVT Soft Serve Truck
CVT’s goal is to make the best soft serve around! Using local California dairy, they have perfected their soft serve and claim it is the best west of the Atlantic. As they say, “is it arrogant if it’s true?” Their comedic and transparent personality makes for a great follow on their Instagram! Whatever you do, don’t ask them for free things in exchange for social media posts, Influencers pay double! #welovemostofourcustomers
The Menu: Simple Soft Serve choices of chocolate, vanilla, or twist. Their East Coast-style soft serve and vintage truck are iconic in the city.
Mister Softee Southern CA
My personal favorite!!! This isn't your average neighborhood truck; it’s a high-end, polished fleet. They recently expanded with "Surfside Softee’s Bikes & Carts," perfect for smaller event spaces.
The classic Mister Softee ice cream truck menu has received a polished, high-end makeover for the Southern California scene.. From traditional dipped cones to the new "Surfside" specialties, it’s a menu built for modern LA adventures.
Goodies Truck
A clean, professional take on the traditional model, serving classic pre-packaged bars from a bright, trusted truck.
King Kone Ice Cream Truck
The Menu: If you’re looking for soft serve and sprinkles, this truck’s got you covered! Their menu doesn’t end there, try an ice cream sandwich, milkshake, or banana split!
No matter what, there is something for everyone!
Happy Ice Truck
You can spot this truck from miles away with the vibrant colors.
The Menu: Happy Ice, per their website, is an “ultra-premium Water Ice product, made from a secret recipe from Philadelphia with an artistic LA twist. It has the smooth, rich, creamy texture of ice cream and the light, fruity refreshment of a sorbet, without egg or dairy products of any kind.”
It is also black-owned business, show some support!
Kona Shaved Ice Truck
Have a luau or tropical island-themed party? Have some authentic shave Ice to go with your tiki decor!
The Menu: Shaved ice, fruit smoothies, Tops - sour powder, Kandy spoons
They even do fundraisers for functions like schools and sports teams!
My favorite detail, they offer color changing cups! Great truck for kids birthday parties - colorful truck, cute characters, endless flavor combinations.
King Kone Ice Cream Truck Soft Serve cone with sprinkles in Los Angeles
The Sound of Summer: Iconic Ice Cream Truck Music
Nothing signals the start of summer in LA quite like the distant, tinkling jingle of an ice cream truck. Whether it's the classic "Turkey in the Straw" or the unmistakable Mister Softee theme, that music is the universal "bat-signal" for a sweet escape.
In my children’s book, The Trucks That Saved, the jingle is more than just a song—it's the signal that the hero has arrived to save the day at the park!
Looking for more sweet inspiration? If these jingles have you feeling nostalgic, check out my ultimate list of Ice Cream Quotes & Songs to find the perfect caption for your next sundae selfie.
Finding the Best Ice Cream Truck Near You in Los Angeles
While these trendy trucks travel all over the city, finding an ice cream truck near you in a place as big as LA requires a little bit of "insider" knowledge. Most of the trucks on this list don't just wander neighborhoods; they park at specific "sweet spots" like First Fridays in Venice, Smorgasburg LA, Marina del Rey’s Beach Eats, or popular parks like Lake Balboa and Griffith Park.
Pro-Explorer Tip: The best way to track down a specific truck "near me" in real-time is to check their Instagram Stories. Most LA favorites, like Creamy Boys and Ridges Churro Bar, post their daily "GPS" locations every morning.
Just like in my book, The Trucks That Saved, the best part of finding a truck hero is the community that gathers around it! Whether you find them at a local park or a city festival, it’s all about those shared sweet moments.
RIP Ice Cream Trucks
A few ice cream trucks that were amazing but have ceased operation and are deeply missed:
Blast Ice Cream Truck
Sweet n Hollow Ice Cream Truck
Blast Ice Cream Truck - no longer in service
Love trucks as much as we do?
At The Sweetest Escapes, we believe every journey should be a little bit sweeter. If your little ones loved learning about these LA ice cream trucks, they’ll fall in love with the heroes in The Trucks That Saved book series.
📚🚚 Shop the Books & Travel Guides here: www.thesweetestescapes.com/trucks-that-saved
Please note this is not a sponsored post and based on my own personal experience, all thoughts are my own.
If you liked this post please share it on your favorite social media site using the Share button below because we’d love to get the word out! Feel free to pin this to your favorite Pinterest board:
Best Ice Cream Trucks in Los Angeles
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Where to (and where not to) watch Fireworks on the 4th of July in Marina del Rey, California
Get the best tips for watching 4th of July fireworks in Marina del Rey, CA! Discover ideal viewing spots, where to park, and how to navigate street closures. Avoid the crowds and find hidden gems for a spectacular Independence Day celebration. Your guide to a fun and stress-free Fourth in Marina del Rey!
Fireworks on the Fourth of July in Marina del Rey, CA
Crack the Code: Your Insider's Guide to Marina del Rey's 4th of July Fireworks!
Having spent over a decade living in Marina del Rey and celebrating every 4th of July there, I've got the inside scoop on how to make your Independence Day celebration a blast. From prime viewing spots to navigating the notorious traffic, here’s my best advice for a fun-filled Fourth in the Marina!
For more information, here is the city website http://marinadelrey.lacounty.gov
Keep in mind, they also shoot off fireworks on New Years Eve in the same spot. Typically a small show around 9p and the big show at midnight!
Ride a bike around the Marina!
Getting To and From Marina del Rey on the 4th
Be prepared for street closures! Typically, roads around Marina del Rey start shutting down to non-residents around noon. It's smart to check the Beaches and Harbors website beforehand for specific closure times and locations, depending on where you're headed.
Bring a bike or you can hop on a scooter (check out the apps Spin, Veo, or Wheels, to locate the closest scooter) or city bike to get from here to there!
See my Google Map for parking and viewing references.
Sunsets in Marina del Rey
Where to Park in Marina del Rey for Fireworks
Parking on the 4th of July in Marina del Rey is a competitive sport. If you don't snag a street spot by 10 AM, you're likely looking at paying for a lot, which usually runs $25-35 for the day. These paid lots also fill up quickly, often by noon. I've put together a Google Map with my best parking tips and viewing references to help you out.
Map of Marina Del Rey with Parking and Viewing Locations for the Fireworks on the 4th of July
Considering a shared ride? They're great, but hold off on ordering your Uber or Lyft until around 10:30 PM, once the post-fireworks traffic starts to die down. Otherwise, you could be waiting an hour or more. My pro tip: bring some cookies and a deck of cards (we love Monopoly Deal!) and enjoy a relaxed dessert while you wait.
Find your spot for the fourth of July befor the sunsets!
Where to Watch Marina del Rey Fireworks on the 4th of July
On 4th of July, Marina del Rey sets off quite a show! The 20 minute spectacular can be anywhere in Marina del Rey, Venice Pier, Playa Vista, and Dockweiler Beach.
The fireworks barge has moved in recent years from its former spot near Whiskey Red's to further down the jetty, closer to the ocean. If you have a chance earlier in the day to check out where it is, that’s your best bet to know where to watch the fireworks. This change significantly impacts visibility, making it challenging to see the show from the west side of the Marina. For the best views, you'll want to be on the east side, facing southwest.
Here are some top viewing spots:
Burton Chace Park (13650 Mindanao Way, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292): This is a fantastic spot on the east side of the Marina. Expect a vibrant atmosphere with a DJ playing music, food trucks, and a festive crowd. We've brought a blanket, a picnic, and deck of cards and simply found a cozy spot on the grass.
Charlie Beach: If you're looking for a beachside view, this is a great option, especially if you can get a spot along the jetty fence. It's perfect if you plan on spending the day partying on the beach and then just walking closer for the show.
Whiskey Red's (13813 Fiji Way, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292): This remains a perfect spot for viewing from the west side, thanks to its direct line of sight. Be sure to make reservations well in advance, as it gets incredibly crowded.
From a Boat: If you're lucky enough to have access to a boat, it's an awesome experience! Just be aware that the Marina gets packed with boats, which can be a bit stressful for the captain.
You can enjoy synchronized music to the fireworks from the following locations:
BURTON CHACE PARK - 13650 Mindanao Way
FISHERMAN'S VILLAGE - 13755 Fiji Way
Where NOT to Watch the Fireworks in Marina del Rey
Avoid the west side of the Marina facing east. Areas like Bora Bora Way, Tahiti Way, Marquesas Way, and Panay Way will have obstructed views, if any at all. You might catch a glimpse of a few flares, but you'll miss the main show.
Fireworks view at the end of Bora Bora Way
Fun Things to do in Marina del Rey
If you decide to arrive early to beat the traffic, there's plenty to keep you entertained throughout the day:
Hang out at the beach
Take the Water Bus around the Marina. A one way ticket is only $1 https://marinawaterbus.com
Book a tour on a yacht https://www.viator.com/tours/Santa-Monica/Marina-Del-Rey-Rentals/d32539-378698P6
Walk or bike to Santa Monica Pier
Bike the scenic paths around the Marina
Kayak or Paddleboard - rentals be found at Mother’s Beach
Enjoy the local restaurants. Our favorites include Uovo, Killer Shrimp, 26 Beach, and even The Cheesecake Factory (great views and drinks!).
Grab some ice cream! Try Capri Gelato and Coffee Bar or Ginger’s Divine Ice Cream
Spot some sea lions – they're always "lion" around (ha!).
Keep an eye out for all the fun characters dressed head-to-toe in red, white, and blue!
After the fireworks spectacular, all the boats in the Marina honk their horns for a few minutes in a noisy "round of applause." Surprisingly, our babies slept through it every year!
Related Article: Best Ice Cream in Los Angeles https://www.thesweetestescapes.com/blog/best-ice-cream-los-angeles-2020
If you're planning to enjoy the dazzling fireworks display over the Marina del Rey harbor and want to avoid the post-show traffic and crowds, consider extending your visit with a stay at one of the area's excellent hotels. You can find great rates and a variety of options on booking.com, including:
The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey
Marina del Rey Marriott
Marina del Rey Hotel
Jamaica Bay Inn
Hotel MdR Marina del Rey - a DoubleTree by Hilton
Hilton Garden Inn Los Angeles Marina Del Rey
Staying local means you can simply walk back to your room after the last rocket bursts, ensuring a relaxing end to your festive evening.
We ALWAYS find THE BEST rates through Booking.com. See deals of up to 50% off! You can save a bunch of money if you book a bundle flight+room+rental car! They even have apartments, lodges, and houses you can rent, just like AirBnB or VRBO! By booking through this link, I receive a commission at no additional cost to you! PLEASE support our blog and bookmark this link!
Do you have any favorite 4th of July traditions in Marina del Rey? Share them in the comments below!
Boat horns blasting after the fireworks on the Fourth of July in Marina del Rey.
Hope you have a happy and safe 4th!
More things to do in LA:
Ice Cream Review: The Dolly Llama - Los Angeles
Looking for a unique ice cream experience? Dolly Llama Ice Cream offers quirky flavors, Instagrammable llama decor, and a fun atmosphere. Discover why this is the perfect spot for a sweet treat and a mood boost. #icecream #llama #quirky #foodie
I'm holding a bubble waffle Dolly's Dream - cookie monster ice cream, chocolate sauce, brownie, strawberries, and whipped cream!
Alpaca Your Bags (and Your Spoon!): A Quirky Ode to Dolly Llama Ice Cream
ICE CREAM SPOT: DOLLY LLAMA
LOCATIONS: Across the US
Pricing: -⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ $10 for a fresh made waffle ice cream and toppings - its kinda like a meal
Taste: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 creamy soft-serve)
Dietary Restrictions: Vegan option always available
Take-out: Local delivery service available
Is your mouth watering yet? Mine was as I was handed the delicious Dolly Llama “cone” above!
Let's be honest, the ice cream scene is saturated. Every corner boasts artisanal swirls, gourmet toppings, and flavors that sound like they belong in a Michelin-star restaurant (lavender-infused goat cheese with black truffle dust, anyone?). But sometimes, you just want something… different. Something with a touch of whimsy, a sprinkle of fun, and maybe, just maybe, a hint of llama magic. Enter: Dolly Llama Ice Cream.
Now, I know what you're thinking: "Llamas and ice cream? Is this some kind of fever dream?" Fear not, dear reader, for Dolly Llama is not some hallucination brought on by excessive sugar consumption (though that is a distinct possibility after a visit). It's a real, tangible, and utterly delightful ice cream experience that I'm here to wholeheartedly endorse.
Let’s start with some fun facts of why we at the Sweetest Escapes and Dolly Llama get along… we both love travel and ice cream (but I mean, really, who doesn’t?):
Belgium OG Liege waffles served - I’ll explain more later…
Hong Kong-style crispy on the outside and soft on the inside Bubble Waffles
The Dolly Llama sent two employees and chefs to Belgium to learn how to craft the perfect OG Liege waffles
The name 'The Dolly Llama' comes from co-founder Samuel Baroux who was in the South of France and met a real-life llama named Dolly and just fell in love with the weirdness of naming a shop after the llama. MY FAVORITE FACT!
Dolly Llama logo - Sherman Oaks location is now closed :(
Why should you ditch the predictable and embrace the llama-licious? Let me break it down:
The Names are Pure Genius: Forget boring vanilla and mundane chocolate. At Dolly Llama, you're ordering things like "Salted Caramel Swirl," "Cookie Monster," and "Matcha Made in Heaven." Okay, those might sound normal, but they have unique twists. The names on the menu themselves are fun and quirky. It's like they hired a poet laureate of puns to craft their flavor descriptions. It's an experience just reading the menu!
Dolly Llama Menu
More reasons…
It's an Instagram Dream: Let's be real, we all secretly (or not-so-secretly) love a good photo op. Dolly Llama understands this. Their shops are designed to be utterly charming, often featuring, you guessed it, llama-themed decor. Think pastel colors, quirky artwork, and maybe even a plush llama or two hanging around. Your Instagram feed will thank you.
The Ice Cream is Actually Amazing: All the quirky branding in the world wouldn't matter if the ice cream wasn't up to snuff. Thankfully, Dolly Llama delivers. They use high-quality ingredients and create unique and delicious flavors. It's not just a gimmick; it's genuinely good ice cream.
It's a Mood Booster: Walking into Dolly Llama is like entering a tiny pocket of pure joy. The vibrant colors, the playful atmosphere, and the promise of delicious ice cream are guaranteed to put a smile on your face. It's the perfect antidote to a bad day, a mid-afternoon slump, or, let's be honest, any time you just need a little bit of happiness.
Dolly Llama Ice Cream options
How to build a yummy concoction? Well, let’s pick an ice cream base and a cup or cone (always pick the bubble waffle) and then sprinkle toppings to your heart’s content!
Fan that fresh bubble cone! Don’t let the ice cream melt!
Ice Cream Artist at work!
AND TA DAAAAAAAA!
The llama is having an OG Liege waffle with caramel salted ice cream!
The llama above is having an OG Liege waffle with caramel salted ice cream! What the heck is that? The Liège waffle is one of the two main types of waffles that originated in Belgium. Known for its rich sticky texture, its unmatched flavor and caramelized finish are what make it so unique.
My only word of warning: Be prepared for a sugar rush. And maybe a slight obsession with llamas. But hey, there are worse things in life, right?
So, next time you're craving a sweet treat, skip the usual suspects and head straight for Dolly Llama. You won't regret it. Just remember to alpaca your spoon! (I couldn't resist.)
P.S. If you see a real llama wandering around the shop, please alert the authorities. That's probably not supposed to happen.
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Another scoop please!
Hyatt Regency Westlake Review: A Family-Friendly Hotel in Westlake Village
Hotel review of the Hyatt Regency Westlake location! Perfect for events and overnight stays in Los Angeles. The guest rooms have been recently renovated and are very nice!
Updated May 30, 2026
Is Hyatt Regency Westlake Good for Families? Our Stay with a Toddler
Address: 880 S Westlake Blvd, Westlake Village, CA 91361
We had a free Hyatt reward night expiring and wanted to see how the baby would do away from home, so after a day trip to Santa Barbara, we stayed at the Hyatt Regency Westlake. It was a midpoint from Santa Barbara to LAX, and it was weird staying in a hotel 15 minutes from where I grew up, but nice to break up the 2+ hour drive, and baby’s first hotel stay!
Hyatt Regency Westlake at a Glance
✔ Family-friendly hotel in Westlake Village
✔ Spacious renovated rooms
✔ Pack 'n Play available upon request
✔ Outdoor pool and hot tub
✔ On-site restaurant and bar
✔ Free World of Hyatt award night option
✔ Convenient stop between Santa Barbara and Los Angeles
✔ Easy access to restaurants and shopping
➡️ Check the best room rate here: Hyatt Regency Westlake
Main Entrance - Hyatt Regency Westlake
There is valet or self park, we opted to self park because we knew we’d be in and out. Self parking was FREE!
The lobby was large and felt a little dated but had some charm to it.
Hyatt Regency Westlake Rooms
The guest rooms are really nice and spacious! They have been recently renovated and have really nice wood floors, modern furniture, and are relatively quiet, though we were on the top floor and I don’t think anyone was in the room next to us.
The room had a very large TV and an empty mini fridge, perfect for leftovers and baby bottles! There was a nice Keurig with some pods and paper coffee cups. Not sure if it’s a new thing, but there weren’t any glasses or cups in the room. I like to take a glass and put my toothbrush in it in the bathroom. I improvised this trip.
The 4th and 5th floors have balconies but there isn’t a ton of room to do anything but stand and get fresh air. We were hoping to hang out there after the baby went to bed but there wasn’t any patio furniture or room to pull out a chair. There isn’t much of a view, just of the parking lot, which by the way, has plenty of self-parking and is free!
When the curtains and blackout curtains are drawn, the room is nice and dark. The hotel is really close to the freeway so you could occasionally hear freeway noise, but we brought our white noise machine and it really drowned it out.
One nerdy thing that got us excited was that the outlets by the bed had not only usb3 chargers but USB-C chargers for our iPhones! There was also a hole that you could slip the cord down and charge in the shelf below the drawer so you have more room on top of the nightstand.
There is a couch in the room with a pullout bed, or you can just use it as a couch to write blog posts and eat your Sprinkles cupcake. I do regret not taking a picture of said cupcake, I do not regret eating the cupcake. 😂
We asked for a crib and they brought us a Graco pack n play that is just like ours at home! It didn’t have a mattress but had a pad with a sheet tightly wrapped.
Balcony at Hyatt Regency Westlake
The bathroom was a decent size, though it’s not huge, but had enough counter space for our toiletries and a shelf below for towels and storage. There wasn’t a tub, but a shower with a wand so we could give baby a bath. I did like the clock in the mirror as well as the dim automatic light while I was trying to be quiet and keep it dark to not wake the baby.
Bathroom Hyatt Westlake Guestrooms
Shower Hyatt Westlake Guestrooms
The Hyatt Regency Westlake features a large outdoor pool surrounded by lounge chairs and shaded seating areas.
Pool and Outdoor Areas
The Hyatt Regency Westlake has a large outdoor pool and hot tub surrounded by palm trees and lounge chairs. While we didn't spend much time at the pool during this quick overnight stay, it's one of the hotel's biggest family-friendly amenities and would be a great place to relax on a longer visit.
Dining at Hyatt Regency Westlake
There’s a restaurant and bar called Harvest in the hotel, which has indoor and outdoor seating. There were also some grab and go items for breakfast.
There are a ton of restaurants nearby and shopping centers if you need anything! May I recommend Brent’s deli for breakfast or lunch, Paul Martins for dinner, and Sprinkles Cupcakes for dessert! I also love the wine bar, Stonehaus, which is about a mile away, they have tons of outdoor seating in a beautiful garden and great wine and food (mainly salads, sandwiches, and pizza). Perfect spot for lunch or cocktail hour!
What We Loved
Recently renovated rooms
Free self parking
Spacious room layout
USB-C charging ports by the bed
Pack 'n Play available for babies
Convenient location between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara
Plenty of nearby restaurants
Located close to Thousand Oaks area in the Conejo Valley
Things to Know Before Booking
The hotel is located close to the freeway, so light traffic noise is possible.
Most room balconies are small and do not include patio furniture.
Some rooms overlook the parking lot rather than scenic views.
Bathrooms have showers rather than bathtubs.
Brent’s Deli Westlake
Things to Do Near Hyatt Regency Westlake
Here are a few things that are a must to visit in Westlake Village:
Zin Bistro - Cute little bistro with Westlake Lake views
The Stonehaus - Excellent outdoor wine bar and restaurant. Beautiful outdoor atomosphere and fire pits on cool nights. Great for toddlers to run around! We also bring hot wheel cars to roll around.
Brent’s Deli - Walking distance from the hotel and perfect breakfast spot. Their bagel chips are my favorite.
Gardens of the World - Beautiful flowers and a nice walk.
Conejo Valley Botanic Garden - A nice little hike (and there is a park next to it too that we love). On Sundays, there is a special garden for kids open in the morning.
Malibu Creek State Park - great place to for for a walk and find tadpoles.
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library - Beautiful grounds and rotating exhibits. Our kids loved seeing Air Force One!
Triunfo Park - amazing park for young kids, our toddlers love it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is parking free at Hyatt Regency Westlake?
Yes, self parking was free during our stay.
Does Hyatt Regency Westlake have a pool?
Yes, the hotel features an outdoor pool and hot tub.
Is Hyatt Regency Westlake family friendly?
Yes. The hotel offers spacious rooms, Pack 'n Plays upon request, and family-friendly amenities.
How far is Hyatt Regency Westlake from Los Angeles?
Westlake Village is approximately 40 miles from downtown Los Angeles, depending on traffic.
Would We Stay Here Again?
For a quick overnight stay with a baby, absolutely. The recently renovated rooms, free parking, convenient location, and family-friendly amenities made this an easy and comfortable stop. While it isn't a luxury resort destination, it's a great option for families looking for a clean, spacious hotel in Westlake Village or a convenient stop between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara.
➡️ Check the best room rate here: Hyatt Regency Westlake
Please note this is not a sponsored post and based on my own personal experience, all thoughts are my own.
More to read:
Malibu Wine Hikes - Best Hike in Los Angeles, California
Malibu Wines is a wonderful place to go for an outing with friends in LA. We hiked, saw some animals, savored rosé pops, got some wine to go, had some laughs - it was a perfect way to spend the day outside and socially distant. You may remember my Malibu Wines Safari post or the Malibu Wines Tasting Room in West Hills, but this time we tried a new experience, Malibu Wine Hikes!
Malibu Wine Hikes Trail and Saddle Rock Wine!
Malibu Wine Hikes - The best thing to do outside in LA!
Address: 32111 MULHOLLAND HWY. MALIBU, CA 90265
Malibu Wines is a wonderful place to go for an outing with friends in LA. We hiked, saw some animals, savored rosé pops, got some wine to go, had some laughs - it was a perfect way to spend the day outside and socially distant. You may remember my Malibu Wines Safari post or the Malibu Wines Tasting Room in West Hills, but this time we tried a new experience, Malibu Wine Hikes!
Malibu Wine Hikes Trail
Our Wine Hike Experience
I went with 7 of my girlfriends, who I hadn’t seen since the beginning of the year! We wore masks (took them off for pictures) and kept our distance, it was so nice to see them in person and not on a screen!
We checked in and waited in the shade for our guide, Joe! He was nice, entertaining, and knew so much about the vineyard and grounds. Since we’re all concerned about the spread he took photos of us throughout the hike and sent them to us in a dropbox at the end of the day. This was above and beyond our expectations.
Strike a pose in the Santa Monica Mountains
Typically the hike starts with Rosé pops, but ours weren’t frozen enough, so they gave them to us at the end.
We toured around the grounds on a 2-mile loop, the trail wasn’t too steep. It took us about 3 hours, but we weren’t in any rush, just enjoying the sunshine and company. There were water stations at the beginning of the hike and about halfway through. You can bring your own reusable bottle or purchase one of theirs.
Joe would point out the crops that were growing in the gardens, and said we could try the berries (SNACKKKS).
Berries on the hike!
White Sage growing
There are even Chumash Native Cave paintings on the property and if you’re lucky, you might even find one of their spearheads!
Chumash Native Cave Paintings
The Woolsey fire in November 2018 took out the tasting room and a lot of the vegetation on the grounds. Luckily the animals were ok and from our hike, many of the crops came back and a lot of the vineyard survived! 2020 hasn’t been easy for anyone, but their safety protocols and open-air tours make it easier for people to be together and still do fun things! We saw zebras, water buffalo, and other animals!
Malibu Wines Zebras
After we were done touring around, we returned back to the entrance where we had our rosé pops and chose our bottle of wine to take to go. I like their rosé but went with the Merlot, which is a nice red with notes of spice and pepper. These weren’t full bottles but enough for 2 large glasses of wine!
Saddlerock wines
Booking Your Hike Reservation
The grounds are not open to any to walk around, you must be on a tour or attend an event. Book your ticket and reserve your spot on malibuwinehikes.com. We booked 3 weeks in advance to get our desired date and time.
WINE HIKE - The open hike is a 2 mile loop hike where you get to explore the vineyards of Saddlerock Ranch, organic gardens, Chumash Native American cave paintings, and more! Guests will receive wine to-go when the hike concludes. $49/person
4x4 VINEYARD TOUR - There is also a vineyard tour that you ride in a 4x4 for an adventure tour around the Saddlerock Ranch Vineyards. Guests will explore the vineyards and natural areas on the property. Includes snacks, beverages and wine to-go! $375/Vehicle (each vehicle holds 1-5 people).
Saddle Rock Ranch Sign
Arrival and Parking
There is a huge dirt and gravel parking lot with plenty of parking spots. There are also nice trailer bathrooms in the parking lot too, better than a port-a-potty, but it’s not the Four Seasons or anything.
Don’t drink and drive!
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Ice Cream Review: Rori’s Artisanal Creamery - Great Ice Cream in Los Angeles, CA
Amazing organic ice cream flavors can be found at Rori’s Artisanal Creamery in Los Angeles such as Wild berry Chocolate Crisp. YUM! Best ice cream in LA | Ice Cream in Los Angeles | things to do in LA #icecream #LA #losangeles
Rori’s Artisanal Creamery - Century City
Rori’s Artisanal Creamery - Fantastic Los Angeles Local Ice Cream
Locations: Santa Monica, Century City, Long Beach (and up the coast)
Website: rorisartisanalcreamery.com
Pricing: Get a split scoop in a bowl for your best value. The cones are really good too.
Dietary Restrictions: Vegan ice cream options available
Take-out: Pints are available and you can find them in select grocery stores. See their website for more!
Rori’s Artisanal Creamery Ice Cream Cone
LA Ice Cream Natives
Rori’s originates here in California, freshly scooped from Carpinteria! Owner, Rori Trovato, makes all the ice cream, cookies, cones, and candy recipes, and try some of her great flavors like Biscoff, Black Pepper Pistachio, Fresh Mint Patty, Malted Milk English Toffee, Nutella, Peanut Butter Candy Swirl - mix a unique flavor with a classic flavor for the best combo!
Rori’s Ice Cream Menu
Rori’s Ice Cream Menu
Get shakes, floats, homemade cookies, brownies, What the Fudge bars and pints to go here too! They even cater parties, but you have to invite me if you hire them! ;-)
Rori Trovato makes all the ice cream, cookies, cones, and candy recipes! She finely crafted each flavor to organic perfection. Rori used to supply the lavender and lemon from her garden but has since sourced it from local organic farms.
Straus Family Creamery Organic cream, milk and eggs create a delightfully creamy texture to their unique flavors including Honey Almond Crunch, Fresh Mint Patty, Malted Milk English Toffee, you can't go wrong with any of these choices.
"The best cream for your coffee is ice cream!!" I'm adopting this as my new motto. Need a pick me up? Try an affogoto (coffee/espresso with ice cream)! Also, love that they have candy and cookies - SO MANY SWEETS!
Rori has even made ice cream for your dog to enjoy! Organic yogurt, bananas, and peanut butter will leave your four-legged friend happy too!
Not near a scoop shop? That’s okay! Local supermarkets like Erewhon are selling Rori’s ice cream by the pint!
You MUST try the Wildberry Chocolate Crisp and Malted Milk ball
GET FREE ICE CREAM ON YOUR BIRTHDAY
Join their birthday club! CLICK HERE - see the bottom of the page for email signup. They also make ice cream cakes to make your special occasion even more special! AND they have Taco Tuesday... ICE CREAM TACOS! WHAT! Anyone wanna try these with me?! Also, they sell ice cream by the pint if a scoop isn't enough! ;-)
Rori’s Ice Cream Locations
Rori's has more locations along the California coastline, including Montecito, Santa Barbara, and Santa Monica. Visit the factory near Santa Barbara next time you’re in town!
Please note this is not a sponsored post and based on my own personal experience, all thoughts are my own.
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Need another scoop? Try these:
Ice Cream Review: Halo Top Scoop Shop in Los Angeles, CA - Best soft serve!
Love ice cream? Hate dieting? Halo Top’s got you covered - a lower calorie treat yet creamy and full of surprises. They’ve permanently closed most Halo Top Scoop Shop locations but one is still open in the Grove, where you must try their fabulous soft serve ice cream! Read all about it in my review! #icecream #whatdiet #losangeles
Halo Top Scoop Shop
LA Location: The Grove, 189 The Grove Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90036 - all other locations have been permanently closed! :(
Website: https://www.halotopscoopshop.com/
Pricing: Generous soft-serve portion for a great price - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
Taste: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 for their soft-serve but 3/5 for their ice cream)
Take-out: Take-out only - enjoy on the grass near the fountain!
Dietary Restrictions: Dairy Free Options Available and Guilt-Free Options!
Hot pink ice cream cone with Halo Top’s Peaches and Cream Soft Serve!
I love ice cream but I hate dieting! I was thrilled when I discovered Halo Top at my local Ralphs, finally, a low-calorie ice cream that is delicious! I love everything about this brand, their marketing, flavors, and was so excited to hear the news that an ice cream scoop shop was opening near me!
2020 UPDATE: A lot of the scoop shop locations have closed but The Grove is open with the same options as my visit to Century City! The Grove location is right in front of Nordstroms where Haagen Dazs used to be. It’s best to grab a soft serve cone and enjoy it near the fountain!
Don’t forget to check out our complete list of Best Ice Cream Scoop Shops in Los Angeles
Halo Top Scoop Shop - Century City - PERMANENTLY CLOSED
Halo Top Scoop Shop Menu Flavors
If I buy the pint, I’ll want to eat the whole thing! Here you can get not only your favorite pint flavors but also incredible soft serve options! Since I can get a pint anytime at my local Ralphs, I wanted to try something different so I went for the soft serve. I tried all three soft serve options - Chocolate, Vanilla, Strawberry, and Peaches & Cream. All were tasty, but the peaches and cream flavor was perfect for the warm summer day!
There were so many different options from 4 different kinds of cones to ice cream sandwiches and ICE CREAM TACOS! Also, the cones came in the best colors - pink and a bluish turquoise!
Halo Top Scoop Shop Menu
Halo Top Ice Cream Scoop Shop
Halo Top Scoop Shop Menu
It was also chock full of topping options to add to your delectable treats.
Toppings bar at Halo Top
I was debating on what my base should be, and when I heard they had pink ice cream cones, I knew it was a must (and it matched my nails!).
YUM! If you get the chance, grab a cone or a taco and always add sprinkles on top!
Please note this is not a sponsored post and based on my own personal experience, all thoughts are my own.
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MORE LOS ANGELES POSTS:
Ice Cream Scoop Shop Review: Little Damage and the little black cone | Downtown Los Angeles
Little Damage is located in Downtown Los Angeles and is known for its iconic charcoal black waffle cone! Ice cream flavors are made in small batches with local ingredients from organic dairy farms. Vegan options are available. See our full review of this Instagrammable LA ice cream scoop shop! Grab this gothic cone in DTLA!
Ice Cream Scoop Shop Review: Little Damage
Location: Downtown LA - 700 S Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90014
Website: littledamage.com
Pricing: Generous soft-serve portion for a great price (one free topping included -⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars for that)
Taste: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 creamy soft-serve)
Dietary Restrictions: Vegan option always available
Take-out: Local delivery service available
I had been wanting to visit Little Damage for a long time and always saw on social media how the line went out the door and wrapped around the corner. I waited until winter to finally check it out and it was definitely worth the hype!
Little Damage counter and menu with a list of their flavors!
ABOUT LITTLE DAMAGE
Little Damage is known for its devilish, black charcoal waffle cone. It gives a unique look against contrasting colorful soft serve or bright sprinkles. Flavors often rotate as they make their ice cream in small batches with local ingredients from organic dairy farms and zero preservatives.
Little Damage Ice Cream Quote - “I licked it, so it’s mine!”
LITTLE DAMAGE ICE CREAM QUOTES
The shop is small but has cute neon signs with fun sayings like:
“I licked it, so it’s mine”
“Cute but psycho, but cute”
“I like love you”
Are you singing the “Cute but Psycho” song too?
Little Damage neon sign quote - Cute but psycho, but cute
HOW IT TO ORDER AT LITTLE DAMAGE
I mean it’s not complicated but here we go: there are a handful of flavors listed on the wall, pick one of those plus a free topping from the selection of topping jars on the counter!
Kiki n Cream was blue! Tasty with crumbled Oreos on top!
LITTLE DAMAGE IS SOCIAL MEDIA FRIENDLY
This place is an Instagram dream! So many great spots for social media pics from neon signs to spots on the side walk out in front! They even have a FREE photo booth in the back to entice you to take pics with your ice cream and post to social media!
Cute outline for Instagram pictures of gothic ice cream in front of Little Damage
In conclusion (because that’s how you end a good blog post, right?) if I’m in DTLA, I’d stop here again for a gothic black ice cream cone!
Please note this is not a sponsored post and based on my own personal experience, all thoughts are my own.
If you liked this post please share it on your favorite social media site using the Share button below because we’d love to get the word out! Feel free to pin this to your favorite Pinterest board:
Ice Cream Review: Little Damage Ice Cream DTLA
More Ice Cream Related Posts:
6 Most Instagrammable, Pretty, Colorful Ice Cream Shops in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles has tons of Instagram worthy ice cream shops, you just have to know where to look. Influencers, tourists, LA locals - here is our list for your next perfect social media ice cream pictures! Best Instagram spots in Los Angeles!
6 Best Instagram Ice Cream Spots in LA
You know I love ice cream… especially pretty ice cream pictures! You can go to places like Black Tap and get crazy Freak Shakes for $15 or you can go to a local ice cream shop and get something just as tasty and Instagram worthy! Los Angeles has tons of Instagram Ice Cream shops, you just have to know where to look. Influencers, tourists, Angelinos - here is our list for your next perfect social media ice cream pictures!
Related Post: BEST ICE CREAM SCOOP SHOPS IN LOS ANGELES (Rated, ranked, and map included)
After’s Ice Cream in Venice
Afters Ice Cream
Locations: All over LA (this photo was taken at the Venice Beach location)
Afters Ice Cream has tons of tasty flavors and some are bright in color! Cookie Monster ice cream is blue and tastes amazing, but caution, it will temporarily leave your mouth blue! Totally worth it though. The Venice location is nice with a picture-perfect beach background, however, keep in mind ice cream can melt pretty fast!
They also have witty sayings like, “ruining diets everywhere.”
See more photos in our full review: AFTERS ICE CREAM REVIEW
Little Damage Ice Cream - Downtown LA
Little Damage
Location: Downtown LA - 700 S Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90014
This devilish, black, charcoal waffle cone gives a unique look against contrasting colorful soft serve or bright sprinkles. Flavors often rotate as they make their ice cream in small batches with local ingredients from organic dairy farms and zero preservatives.
See our full review here: LITTLE DAMAGE ICE CREAM REVIEW
Milk Bar LA
Milk Bar
Location: 7150 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046
Shopping in Melrose? Momofuku’s Milk Bar is open in Los Angeles and people are flocking from all over for these tasty treats! Cookies, cakes, and soft serve will leave you happy and full!
Lots of hot pink colors here! Outside there is a cake painted on the side of the building that is a full story high! See it in our full review: MILK BAR REVIEW
Sloan’s Ice Cream Shop
Sloan’s Ice Cream
Locations: Santa Monica and Woodland Hills
These pretty pink stores are vibrant and can be seen a mile away! Inside, you’ll find walls with sprinkles and lollipops with fancy chandeliers hanging. Sloan’s also has amazing ice cream flavors and serves up generous portions!
Bumsan Organic Milk Bar
Bumsan Organic Milk Bar
Location: Koreatown - 534 S Western Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90020
Ok, don’t these pretty ice cream cones just scream Instagram ME!? The colors, toppings, and fancy swirl give these classy cones an edge. Bumsan serves premium 100% organic soft-serve ice cream from the leading organic dairy producer in Korea.
SomiSomi Ah-Boong Fish Shaped Waffle Cone with Ice Cream
SomiSomi Soft Serve and Taiyaki
Locations: Santa Monica, Glendale, Little Tokyo, Koreatown and more!
SomiSomi serves a very special Korean dessert known as “Ah-Boong,” which is a fish-shaped waffle cone with your choice of filling and topped with soft serve.
Flavors include: Milk, Matcha, Ube, Black Sesame and more.
Filling stuffed inside the taiyaki cone include: Custard, Nutella, Red Bean, Cream Cheese and Taro.
Don’t forget a topping like Oreo crumbs, Strawberry, macaron, Graham crackers, Fruity Pebbles, or rainbow sprinkles (always my fave)!
Please note this is not a sponsored post and based on my own personal experience, all thoughts are my own.
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6 Most Instagrammable, Pretty, Colorful Ice Cream Shops in Los Angeles, California
More ice cream posts please!
Ice Cream Scoop Shop Review: Supercool Creamery | Los Angeles, CA
STEP RIGHT UP for ice cream and a show! With the magic of liquid nitrogen, this nitro-artisan ice cream is made by hand! They have great flavor options such as Key lime with dark rum, Coconut Chocolate Chip, Coffee Toffee, and Berry Sorbet (dairy-free). Located in Silver Lake, California!
Supercool Creamery
SUPERCOOL CREAMERY
Location: 4469 Sunset Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Website: supercoolcreamery.com
Pricing: Hearty scoop and show make it worth the price!
Dietary Restrictions: Dairy-free Options Available
Take-out: Local delivery service available
NOTE: They are TEMPORARILY CLOSED! I’m spreading the word so you can come back when they reopen!
With a name like SuperCool, I wasn’t sure what to expect! I was pleasantly surprised when we walked in and the ice cream artists were dressed like performers and put on quite a show!
SUPERCOOL ICE CREAM MENU AND FLAVORS
STEP RIGHT UP! The best ice cream can be found within! With the magic of liquid nitrogen (which is -320 degrees), the cream base I chose, turned into ice cream before my eyes. They call it nitro-artisan ice cream made by hand - yeah, that’s accurate! They have great flavor options such as Key lime with dark rum, Coconut Chocolate Chip, Coffee Toffee, and Berry Sorbet (dairy-free). You can always get a float or a shake if you’re in the mood! It took me a while to figure out what I wanted, but I ended up with Coffee Toffee!
Supercool Menu - so many great flavors!
Here is a little video from my adventure:
THE ICE CREAM MAGICIAN
Once I had my selection, the ice cream magician went to work. Ok, I don’t know if that’s what they actually call themselves, but go with it… He was so animated and funny, it was definitely an experience and not just going into Baskin Robbins for a scoop. Even shops like Creamistry or Smitten will use a mixer of some sort, but Supercool does it by hand!
SUPERCOOL CREAMERY LOCATION AND CATERING
Located in Silver Lake, they are right next to the Vista Theater. I noticed the ice cream sign, otherwise, I would have thought it was part of the theater! They also cater events and parties which would probably be really fun as the ice cream magicians are so enthusiastic! They’ll even spike their ice cream for events, so keep that in mind for your next party! I know I will!
Ta DA!
Supercool is a win in my book! Check them out when you can!
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St Patrick's Day Ice Cream & Events in Los Angeles 2020
Happy St Patty’s Day! See how to celebrate in Los Angeles on St Patrick’s Day! Things to do on St Patrick’s Day in LA | Ice Cream for St Patrick’s Day
HAPPY ST PATTY'S DAY! Let's celebrate with a wee bit o' ice cream!
O’Venice Sign in Venice Beach
I normally like to list the St Patrick’s Day events around town but it seems like they have all been canceled due to the Coronavirus. :( Instead, I’ll just share a few things that will require minimum social contact. Help stop the spread!
St Patrick’s Day Ice Cream
Salt and Straw
Salt and Straw features many different unique flavors that you won't find in most ice cream shops.
November Menu
Monthly, they rotate seasonal flavors relating to the season or a holiday! For instance, see the weirdest flavors we tried last November:
The buttered mashed potatoes and gravy flavor was uh interesting, to say the least.
For March 2020, here is a good flavor to enjoy in celebration of St Patrick’s Day per their website for Los Angeles flavors:
James Coffee & Bourbon We cold brew our favorite roast from James Coffee Co. and blended it with the warm, woodsy, sweetness of Greenbar Distillery Slow Hand Whiskey to make a new spin on coffee ice cream.
Made with James Coffee and Greenbar Distillery Whiskey
Pots of Gold and Rainbows - St Patrick’s Day 2019
Stop everything that you're doing and get to the nearest Salt and Straw! Locations and local flavors can be found: HERE
Afters Tipsy Cream Boozy Ice Cream - St Patrick’s Day 2020
Afters Ice Cream
Locations: Southern California
Try Afters Ice Cream’s new Tipsy Irish Cream this St Patrick’s Day!
As luck of the leprechaun would have it, this ice cream is made with a whiskey-infused coffee liqueur ice cream and a Guinness Stout beer chocolate ganache swirl! It's available starting on Friday 3/13 at all 27 Southern CA locations for a limited time only. Don’t forget to lick responsibly!
Shamrock Shake and Oreo Shamrock McFlurry - From McDonalds Instagram
McDonalds
The return of #ShamrockShakeSZN is back! Celebrate 50 years with the creamy Shamrock Shake or with the delicious new OREO Shamrock McFlurry!
I’m lovin’ it! Do they even say that anymore?
Goldbelly Irish Cream Boozy Ice Cream
Goldbelly Delivers Tipsy Scoop to Your Door
Quarantined with the coronavirus? Thank goodness Goldbelly will deliver ice cream right to your door! Get St Patrick's Day Boozy Ice Cream - 4 Pints for only $99 + free shipping!
Flavors include:
Vanilla Bean Bourbon – Vanilla bean ice cream infused with bourbon
Spiked Mint Chip – Mint chocolate ice cream infused with creme de menthe and chocolate liqueur
Irish Coffee – Ice cream spiked with Redbreast Irish Whiskey and Coffee Liqueur
Dark Chocolate Whiskey – Dark chocolate ice cream with salted caramel infused with whiskey
PLEASE NOTE THAT AN ADULT SIGNATURE IS REQUIRED UPON DELIVERY. Package will not be left at the door. All flavors contain up to 5% alcohol by volume and can only be consumed by those 21 and over.
Middle West Whiskey Pecans Spoonhead - from Jeni’s
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams
Here’s a flavor to enjoy at Jeni’s for St Patrick’s Day:
MIDDLE WEST WHISKEY & PECANS - A classic returning for the season. Middle West Spirits whiskey-fueled ice cream laden with crunchy, salty, toasted pecans.
You can even order this one ONLINE!
The Venice Beach Sign - St Patrick’s Day
The Venice Chamber has been in the holiday spirit, adding elements to the iconic VENICE sign at Pacific St and Windward Ave! The Venice Sign Committee is responsible for the maintenance of the sign and started the Adopt-a-Bulb program.
Venice Beach Sign - O’Venice
At Christmas, there were red and green bulbs, for Valentine's Day they added a heart with purple lights. See more holidays on their website, Venice Sign Committee. For St Patrick's Day, they add the "O" to the beginning and change the lights to green! So cute!
Hope you enjoy your St Patrick's day! :) Be safe out there!
Before Summer Ends, You MUST Visit Ice Cream Alley at Smorgasburg LA
Giving you the who, what, when, where details of Smorgasburg LA’s Ice Cream Alley and why you must visit this summer! Best thing to do in LA on a Summer Sunday!
We kicked off the Ice Cream Alley season at Smorgasburg LA on National Ice Cream Day, make sure you stop by for a scoop before Labor Day! Let me give you the who, what, where, and when!
*******THIS SUNDAY, Aug 11, 2019 - APPLE PAY x ICE CREAM ALLEY TAKEOVER THIS SUNDAY********
This Sunday, Apple Pay is taking over Ice Cream Alley at Smorgasburg LA to bring you 40% off at select vendors featuring sweets & treats! Stroll on down to find discounts from all sorts of vendors like:
Plus, more TBA! Just like the rest of Smorgasburg LA, Ice Cream Alley is completely free to enter. Just pay for the sweets and treats once inside. See you in Ice Cream Alley!
WHO IS AT ICE CREAM ALLEY?
Ice Cream Alley typically includes the Smorgasburg veterans: Wanderlust Creamery, Sweet Rose Creamery, Buddy Pops (vegan), Donut Friend, Afters Ice Cream, Smoreology and more!
McConnell’s visits often as well!
We loved trying vendors we haven’t tried before like Blast and Sweet ‘N Hollow. Their chimney cakes are SO GOOD!
Oreo for Real? Chimney cake from Sweet ‘n Hollow
Total Recall sundae from Blast
Ice Cream Alley entrance
WHEN IS ICE CREAM ALLEY OPEN?
Ice Cream Alley typically opens starting on National Ice Cream Day and runs through Labor Day.
Smorgasburg is open every Sunday year round from 10AM-4PM and some of the ice cream vendors are regulars!
It’s ALWAYS free to get in, you just have to pay the vendors for your items!
What a typical Sunday looks like at Smorgasburg LA
WHERE IS ICE CREAM ALLEY (AND WHERE CAN YOU PARK)?
Address: 777 S Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90021
Located in Downtown LA, you can park at ROW DTLA and free parking for an hour! Yes, it’s true, easy and parking in Downtown Los Angeles! There is a giant structure if you enter off of S Alameda and Center St, I recommend going to a higher floor so you don’t run into those waiting for someone to pull out.
Don’t forget your ice cream purse!
WHAT IS SMORGASBURG LA?
Smorgasburg LA is a great place to eat, really! SO MANY vendors selling anything you could think of: BBQ, burgers, fish, french fry station, grilled cheese, pizza, tacos, Indian food, Korean food, falafels, churros, donuts, ice cream, popsicles… literally everything!
Smorgasburg is the largest weekly open-air food market in America, with markets in New York and Los Angeles attracting 50,000 people each weekend to eat from a hundred local vendors.
See which vendors are attending next weeks Smorgasburg here: Vendors
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Ice Cream Review: Ginger's Divine Ice Creams
I discovered the best-kept secret on the Westside called Ginger's Divine Ice Creams! So many unique, fresh flavors, it’s hard to choose and you’ll want to return again and again! Best Ice Cream in Los Angeles | Favorite Ice Cream in LA #icecream #LA #LAicecream
Ginger's Divine Ice Creams
Location: 12550 W. Washington Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90066
Website: gingersicecream.com
Pricing: Great value for amazing homemade ice cream
Dietary Restrictions: Vegan ice cream options
This sign should say AMAZING ICE CREAM MADE HERE! I discovered the best-kept secret on the Westside called Ginger's Divine Ice Creams.
Ginger’s Ice Cream Front - love the yellow umbrellas
I had driven by a few times and those bright yellow umbrellas caught my eye. I was surprised to see an ice cream shop I hadn't heard of!
Bird scooter
ALSO, we traveled by Bird scooter for the first time! SO FUN! It was so easy, all we did was download the app, scan the QR code and boom we were good to go. Get your first ride free with the code: AQYZOQ. Careful, they go pretty fast!
Ginger’s Ice Cream Counter of Goodies
I did a little research and found out that Ginger goes to local farmer's markets to find the freshest fruits, nuts and spices for her ice creams and baked goods. Apparently she lives local too! Hope to meet her someday! She even has options for our vegan friends!
There were tons of options - cones, sundaes, popsicles, cookies, ice cream sandwiches... I figured since it was my first time, I'd go with a classic ice cream cone.
With so many unique flavors to choose from, I tried a couple of course, and was beyond satisfied with the strawberry rhubarb crumble and blood orange. AND they were both PINK!
Strawberry rhubarb crumble and blood orange
Josh went with cookies and cream and salted caramel tuxedo (it has chocolate chunks)!
Cookies and cream and salted caramel tuxedo
Run over to Ginger's Divine (savory, enticing, delightful, wonderful) ice creams as soon as you can!
Ice cream cone - strawberry rhubarb crumble and blood orange
In a hurry? Get a quart, pint, or pop to go!
Pints to go
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Want some more ice cream? Me too! Check these places out:
Ice Cream Review: Manhattan Beach Creamery
Ice cream and ocean views? What could be better! Check out why Manhattan Beach Creamery is one of the best places for ice cream in Los Angeles! Where to go in LA and things to do in Manhattan Beach! #manhattanbeach #icecream
MANHATTAN BEACH CREAMERY
Location: 1120 Manhattan Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
Website: mbcreamery.com
Pricing: Their Sundae has the best value!
Dietary Restrictions: Gluten Free Options Available
Ice cream and ocean views? What could be better!?
Sunset in Manhattan Beach
On the corner of Manhattan Ave and Manhattan Beach Blvd, you fall right into those beach vibes and Manhattan Beach Creamery…
This magical place is like walking into a unicorn’s dream. I love the chandeliers and the pink sky ceiling, they add that fun girlie touch. It also reminds me of the Caesar’s Palace Forum Shops ceiling! Anyone know that reference?
Now, not only do they make and sell ice cream, Manhattan Beach Cream makes cupcakes, cookies, and many other sweet treats!
With 28 flavors that rotate daily, it was hard to choose! I tried quite a few including Maple Bacon Crunch, Red Velvet, Smores, Taro, Salted Caramel, and even that one that looks like fruit cake in the front (it was French Macaroon)!
Ice Cream Flavors
SO MANY TREATS! Everything looked so delicious! They are also known for the Cream’wich – an artisan ice cream sandwich made with a combination of artisan cookies from their family business, Katella Bakery.
I wanted to try them all! Fresh-baked cookies, French macarons, chocolate dipped treats, the sweetness was endless. Their most popular treats include Oreos, graham crackers, pretzels, Rice Krispies, s’mores, marshmallows, vanilla wafers, and of course strawberries.
We’ve gone a few times, my favorite flavors have been Heath Bar Coffee, Maple Bacon Crunch, Mocha Almond Fudge and Super Sonic (sweet cream taste, filled with lots of sprinkles). I think the best value here is a Sundae! If you don’t finish it, take it home and throw it in the freezer! 😃
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The Brick Bar - Lego Pop-up Bar is coming soon to Los Angeles
The Brick Bar AKA Lego Pop-up Bar is coming in September to Los Angeles! Get your tickets before they sell out AND get 15% discount with my coupon code by clicking the link here! Great things to do in Los Angeles!
I’ve always loved Lego’s, although I think I really liked organizing the pieces mainly (yup, really), and I am SO excited for the Brick Bar to come to LA!
Get your tickets for the Brick Bar in Los Angeles! Get a 15% discount with the coupon code link: BRICK BAR LA
Get a 15% Discount by clicking here!
Details for the Brick Bar Los Angeles:
When: This unique bar will be sold on a first come first serve basis with limited tickets for 4 nights only - Thurs, Sept 19th - Sun, Sept 22nd
Price: $25 for 90 minutes in the Brick Bar (There is a special price for Sunday, 9/22 8-9p, get them for only $18 with code!) - get a 15% discount using this link:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-brick-bar-los-angeles-tickets-59558416828?discount=PARTNER
What: Brick Bar consists of over 1 million blocks, with an Instagram worthy menu including a Brick burger and beer, or you can dance by the DJ, win a prize for being the best brick builder, and play ping pong table made out of 22,050 legos! You can admire brick sculptures or even create your own, either way, I wouldn’t miss this for the world! I must jump in the ball pit!
Where: Boomtown Brewery - 700 Jackson St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Not in Los Angeles, don’t worry, check-out the other cities they are visiting: Brick Bar Website
All photos provided by The Brick Bar website or Instagram account!
Per their website:
After amazing events overseas, weeks of planning and building, we are sending the Brick Bar to LA for you to come and play with. The event will only be in LA for FOUR NIGHTS WITH TICKETS NOW ON SALE!
Please note: Under 21's must be accompanied by an adult and should attend prior to 6pm.
Ticket prices include entry for 90 minutes in the bar, lots of prizes to be won, ping pong (table made from 22,500 bricks), and most importantly, amazing instagram photos to make your friends have serious FOMO.
See our Facebook, Website and Instagram for photos and videos of the last event!
Get your tickets now before they sell out and get a 15% discount using this link:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-brick-bar-los-angeles-tickets-59558416828?discount=PARTNER
More Los Angeles Posts:
Restaurant Review: Alameda Supper Club - Downtown Los Angeles, CA
After opening their doors in March 2019, the Alameda Supper Club should be added to your Los Angeles restaurant bucket list! Located in ROW DTLA as part of the Manufactory, Chris Bianco’s new dinner restaurant is spectacular! See our full review with menus and pictures!
Alameda Supper Club
Address: 757 ALAMEDA ST,LOS ANGELES, CA 90021
Website and Reservations: https://www.alamedasupperclub.com/
After opening their doors less than 2 weeks ago, the Alameda Supper Club should be added to your restaurant bucket list! Located in ROW DTLA as part of the Manufactory group along with Tartine, Chris Bianco’s new dinner restaurant is spectacular! Although pizza is not served here, there are plenty of appetizing dishes with an Italian flair!
Our food menu is inspired by Chef Chris Bianco's Italian origins with influences from Chef Lee Foden-Clarke's English background, combined with inspiration from the California Farmer's Market. It is is designed to be shared, emphasizing the true meaning of the word “supper”.
Location
Part of ROW DTLA near the Arts District, this trendy area has tons of warehouses, and is home to merchandisers such as Splended / Ella Moss, NationBuilder, Nasty Gal, Colony Capital, Steelcase, rhubarb studios, and Gensler. On Sundays (especially during summer), Smorgasburg LA is the place to be, filled with LA’s best food joints!
Dining Room
The dining room design is very modern, bright and I loved the wood tables in this warehouse space.
Dining Room
The Bar
We had the best table in the place, right next to the kitchen!
Our Table at the Alameda Supper Club
MENU
Alameda Supper Club - Drink Menu
Alameda Supper Club - Food Menu
Drinks at the Alameda Supper Club
SO many great cocktail options with the best names! I loved my Celine Dijon, light and refreshing complete with a huge rectangular shaped ice cube and a metal straw!
Celine Dijon - Pineapple Mostarda, tequila reposado, lilet blanc, seltzer
Apricot Sour - Apricot 4 way, hazelnut, egg white, Japanese gin
Romance Language - mole spices, mezcal, citrus, basil, finochietto, averna
Barley Legal - Fermented Barley, single malt whiskies
Appetizers at Alameda Supper Club
We tried almost all of them! Our favorite was the ham and cheese toast! Almost paste like in a crispy toast, we ordered another round!
Cheddar and Smoked Ham Toast
Grilled Country Bread and Cultured Butter
Bread and butter… always a good choice.
Pork Crackling - Smoked Paprika
The pork crackling was so different, the texture was almost like a chip. Still worth a try.
Entrees at Alameda Supper Club
Let’s start with the pasta. IT WAS ALL AMAZING! The strozzapreti and ravioli were the highlights. The strozzapreti melted in your mouth with a buttery finish and pepper after taste. We discussed how the peas in the ravioli are not your mom’s peas in a can, and so delightful.
Strozzapreti - Sheep’s milk, lemon, black pepper
Ravioli - English Peas and ricotta
The ribeye was also a great choice, the garlic butter gave off so much flavor and not too rich.
Bone-in Rib eye - garlic butter
We weren’t going to order the Fermented Pearl Barley, because it sounded so strange but our waitress, Andrea, recommended it! It was good, but we did prefer the pastas!
Fermented Pearl Barley - turnip
Desserts at Alameda Supper Club
OMG, GET THE ICE CREAM. If you know me, you know I would say that anyway, but I mean it here! So many weird things together, but it was SO good. Hazelnut, Balsamic, olive oil, orange-anise crumble, maldon.
Ice Cream - Hazelnut, Balsamic, olive oil, orange-anise crumble, maldon
Alameda Supper Club Dessert Menu
Buckwheat Cannoli - pistachios
We also enjoyed the buckwheat cannolis with pistachios. Very fitting in the Italian setting. We also ordered the Insalata di Agrumi but weren’t blown away by it, we found it very sour and tart.
Insalata di Agrumi - fresh citrus, lemon cream, tangerine granita, mint
Hope you get down to DTLA and try the latest and greatest restaurant Los Angeles has to offer!
More Los Angeles
St Patrick's Day Ice Cream & Events in Los Angeles
Happy St Patty’s Day! See how to celebrate with the events in Los Angeles on St Patrick’s this Sunday! Things to do on St Patrick’s Day in LA | Bars for St Patrick’s Day
HAPPY ST PATTY'S DAY! Let's celebrate with a wee bit o'ice cream!
O’Venice Sign in Venice Beach
Here are some other great events in Los Angeles to celebrate St Patricks Day in Los Angeles:
Hermosa Beach St. Patrick’s Day Parade
St. Patrick’s Day 5K in Redondo Beach
Casey’s St. Patrick’s Day Street Festival Downtown LA
Rock and Reilly’s Annual St. Paddy’s Day Block Party West Hollywood
St. Patrick’s Day Celebration at the Original Farmers Market
Flogging Molly at the Hollywood Palladium, Hollywood
Time Out LA’s The best Irish pubs in Los Angeles to raise a pint
Popsicle: St Patrick's Day - Summer is here! Rick's Pool Bar @ Hotel Figueroa
Downtown LA St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl and Beer Garden!
St Patrick’s Day Ice Cream
Salt and Straw features many different unique flavors that you won't find in most ice cream shops.
Monthly, they rotate seasonal flavors relating to the season or a holiday! For instance, see the weirdest flavors we tried last November:
November Menu
The buttered mashed potatoes and gravy was interesting to say the least. For March, they have some of the best flavors I have ever tried!
The real winner here was the classic: Pots of Gold and Rainbows, which has come back every March since 2013.
Pots of Gold and Rainbows
Mixed with chunks of lucky charms, ice cream makers spend over 600 hours this month separating out the Lucky Charms marshmallows from the cereal to create this fabulous edition. They then seep the cereal in cream for the ice cream base and the marshmallows transform into perfect frozen gooey nuggets that are blended into the cereal goodness.
Stop everything that you're doing and get to the nearest Salt and Straw! Locations and local flavors can be found: HERE
The Venice Beach Sign - St Patrick’s Day
The Venice Chamber has been in the holiday spirit, adding elements to the iconic VENICE sign at Pacific St and Windward Ave! The Venice Sign Committee is responsible for the maintenance of the sign and started the Adopt-a-Bulb program.
Venice Beach Sign - O’Venice
At Christmas, there were red and green bulbs, for Valentine's Day they added a heart with purple lights. See more holidays on their website, Venice Sign Committee. For St Patrick's Day they add the "O" and green lights! So cute!
Hope you enjoy your St Patrick's day! :)
Malibu Wines and Beer Garden in West Hills - Los Angeles, CA
Malibu Wines is one of my favorite wineries in Los Angeles! They recently opened a location in the San Fernando Valley and it is perfect for wine tasting! Things to do in Los Angeles.
Malibu Wines and Beer Garden
Address: 23130 Sherman Way, West Hills, CA 91307
Hours: Open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. most nights, with an extension to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday
Website: https://www.malibuwines.com/malibu-wines-beer-garden/
I was ecstatic when I heard Malibu Wines was opening a tasting room in West Hills of the San Fernando Valley! I've been to their tasting room in Malibu and on the Wine Safari so I knew I would automatically like their new wine and beer garden.
Check out our related post: Malibu Wine Safari
The venue is a historic 1930's mission-styled mansion initially owned by 1930s-era actor Francis Lederer, and was declared a historic cultural monument in 1978. For years it has been utilized as an event space but is now licensed to serve beer and wine to the public. No reservations required!
Walking in, I was excited to see their signature WINE sign just like the one in Malibu.
The garden is full of tables and chairs with areas also to put down a blanket on the grass. Near the tasting area there are barrels with tops so that you can enjoy flights or a glass of vino. I found it so enchanting with all the lights hanging from the willow trees.
A band was setup on stage, playing live music all afternoon.
We had trouble finding a table so we posted up around one of the planters.
WINE AND BEER SELECTION
The Semler family own the garden and serve their signature Saddlerock Ranch brand as well as the Selmer branded wine from their vineyard set in the Santa Monica Mountains. Wine and beer are served as flights, by the bottle or by the glass.
Ales from local breweries such as 14 Cannons, Modern Times, Cellador Ales, and Five Threads Brewing are served on tap.
FOOD
Two Doughs food truck is located just off the entrance providing pizza and charcuterie plates for guests. They even have salads! Note they only serve Friday nights as well as all day Saturday & Sunday.
Cheers! Will definitely be back soon!
Here are our some of our favorite things:
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Best Star Wars Themed Bar in Hollywood: Scum & Villainy Cantina
The Star Wars bar, Scum and Villainy Cantina has become a permanent fixture in Hollywood! See what to expect from this classic movie in Los Angeles! They take pride in being called a “Geek Bar!”
Scum & Villainy Cantina
Location: 6377 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, California, CA 90028
In Los Angeles there are many pop-up events to go to that are only around for a limited amount of time, such as restaurants like the Saved by the Bell - Saved by the Max, the Museum of Ice Cream and now there a Star Wars themed bar, Scum & Villainy. Now it is staying as a permanent fixture in Hollywood! We all remember the cantina scene in A New Hope, where Han shot first, right?
If not here it is:
I love the Star Wars movies, but I'm not an expert like my friends are. Although, I did rock a 40th Anniversary shirt from the GAP! Disneyland has also opened Star Wars land called Galaxy’s Edge complete with Oga’s Cantina, see more here: 10 Things to do at Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge
Everyone dresses up for the Star wars Bar, Scum and Villainy
We made reservations by buying tickets online a month in advance. Since they are now permanent in Hollywood, tickets are no longer required and its FREE to visit! Operating hours are from 6p-2am and they often have special events such as karaoke, LA Game Night, see more on their Facebook page for more info: https://www.facebook.com/scumandvillainycantina/
We had a designated check-in time at 8:30p. We arrived around 8:15p and lined up in an alley among ewoks, princesses and other charming characters. There wasn't a marking or anything on the building, just someone standing by the door checking people in. Oh and Han on the wall across from it.
Han SOlo Street Art in Hollywood
We entered the bar and were amazed how it looked!
Everyone was let in at once and we had a little over 2 hours to enjoy our time at the bar. The drink tokens were exchanged for one of their three pre-made mixed drinks (which weren't bad and pretty strong) or a beer. I don’t think this is the case anymore, it was more for their ticketed event.
Drink TOkens
I REALLY WANTED THE GLOW STICKS TO BE STRAWS!
We managed to get a booth in the corner (just like Han Solo).
I WAS REALLY EXCITED I HAD A LIGHT SABER.
There were a lot of lights and fog machines, but what really make this bar great? The patrons. Those who came in costume gave this bar its charm, feeling like you stepped into a galaxy far far away...
2 STORM TROOPERS WALK INTO A BAR...
And here's a little video to see the inside...
For bar snacks, they were served quickly and not bad for bar food. Portions were a decent size and sharable. We got a couple of orders of the AT Tots and the Carbonite Queso.
AT Tots at the Scum and Villainy Bar
Here are the menus known as “Liquids and Solids” instead of Drinks and Food. Clever.
On our way out we got some merchandise, a pint glass and a challenge coin.
I really had a great time being a Star Wars nerd for a night! May the force be with you!
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More things to do in LA:
Looking for a family hotel near Disneyland? See why we keep staying at Hyatt House Anaheim with toddlers—walkability, kitchen suites, breakfast, and more.