Its the most wonderful time of the year!!! I’m not sure about you, but I LIVE for Christmas. The music, the decorations, the
eggnog…hell, even the crowded malls are something I’m into…is that crazy to admit?! Christmas in LA is something that I didn’t love when I first moved here, but I’ve grown to love it because it definitely has its own charm. Just because its sunny and 70 doesn’t mean that we can’t get into the holiday spirit, so I’ve rounded up some of my favorite spots to do Christmas in LA right!Christmas in LA: Outdoor Ice Skating
Fun fact: I used to be a competitive figure skater growing up. I was actually so serious about my skating career that I feel like I basically grew up at my local ice rink. Of course, we didn’t practice outdoors, but getting to step out on the ice in the open air is always such a treat. In LA, its even more of a treat because more than likely, the sun is out and the weather is near perfect, as usual. The weather was so perfect in fact, that this ice was struggling to stay in its frozen state, but I digress. There are several outdoor rinks you can check out all around the city. Here’s some of the locations I found where you can channel your inner Michelle Kwan:
- Pershing Square
- LA Live (this one features a giant Christmas Tree in the middle of the rink!)
- Santa Monica….how many times can you say you surfed AND ice skated in the same afternoon?!
- Woodland Hills
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Christmas in LA: Fa La Land
We all know people go crazy for pop up “museums.” Remember the one that started it all, Museum of Ice Cream? My husband was very quick to point out that these shouldn’t be called museums, but massive photo opportunities, and I have to agree. Fa La Land is Los Angeles’ latest pop up that is dedicated to all things Christmas, and I have to say, it was a fun time! There are photo opportunities galore, and the staff was super fun and welcoming and really got us excited for Christmas! At Fa La Land, you can write a letter to Santa, jump into a pool of candy buttons…even ride in Santa’s sleigh! I highly recommend buying tickets for a weekday, as you won’t have to worry about it being too crowded. Get your tickets here, and in meantime, enjoy more photos from Fa La Land, and make sure to check out the links below to shop this gorgeous dress. Its perfect for Christmas and comes in so many colors…I want all of them!
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Christmas in LA: Universal Studios
Just a stone’s throw away from my apartment (literally, if you had a good arm you could come close!) lies the magical Universal Studios Hollywood in all of its holiday festive glory. I love going up to Universal around this time of year because they really deck the park out for the occasion. Being the Harry Potter nerd that I am, Christmas at Hogwarts is just magical. Every night, you can catch a beautiful light show projected onto the castle, followed by a little snowfall. It is truly magical, if ya know what I mean! 😉
You can also enjoy all the Christmas fun at Grinchmas! I particularly loved the crooked, larger than life Christmas tree they had in that area of the park. They also do fun performances and tree lightings in Whoville, yet another way to get those festive feels in the park.
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Christmas in LA: Los Angeles Zoo Lights
Christmas in LA takes over the Los Angeles Zoo as it transforms into a magical display of Christmas lights. I haven’t gotten to check this out personally yet, but we plan on going sometime this week! You can expect to find huge animals made of lights, a disco ball forest, a herd of animated elephants, and more! Get tickets here!
Christmas in LA: Miracle Bar
Well, we talked about a pop up museum, now we have to discuss this oh so festive pop up bar at the Kimpton Everly Hotel in Hollywood. Miracle Bar actually has locations across the US, so even if you’re not in LA, you might be able to catch these yummy libations somewhere near you! You can’t ask for a more festive setting…the entire bar just looks like Christmas exploded on it, but in a good way. Their cocktail list includes drinks like “Run Run Rudolph,” “Snowball Old Fashioned,” and, my person favorite, “Yippee Ki Yay Mother F****r” after every man’s favorite Christmas flick, Die Hard. You know, because nothing says Christmas like Die Hard….I’ll never get it, but what do I know?!
Christmas in LA: Candy Cane Lane
One of the things I remember loving when I was a kid was when we would pile into the car and my parents would drive us around neighborhoods that were notorious for their awesome Christmas lights and decor. I know…this was the world of childhood BEFORE iPads and smartphones….crazy, right?! Even though I’m an adult now, I’m still highly distracted by shiny things, which is why I love taking a drive through Candy Cane Lane, which is a neighborhood in Woodland Hills that really goes all out on the Christmas lights. I mean, even Clark Griswold would be impressed by these people, who have probably all been one-upping each other every year for the last 60 years. To find Candy Cane Lane, take the 101 West and exit at Winnetka. After that, you’ll want to head to the intersection of Lubao Ave. and Oxnard St., at which point you should start seeing lights so, just head in that direction!
Christmas in LA: Dinner at Tam O’Shanter
Tam O’ Shanter is one of those super old school gems in LA. I mean, its so old school that its the oldest restaurant in LA, and its still operated by the same family. We went the other night in search of prime rib, which they are known for, but they have so many other delicious dishes on the menu too. If you’re wondering why this is part of my Christmas in LA list, its because they have carolers that walk around to each table in the restaurant to sing a carol or two. You’ll feel straight out of a Dickens novel for sure. Make sure to make a reservation, because, old as this place is, its still super busy. As an added bonus, ask for Walt Disney’s favorite table. He used to frequent the joint, and his regular table features etchings of old animated characters.
I hope you enjoyed this round up of Christmas in LA fun! Did I miss anything? If so, please drop me a comment, I’m always looking for new places to check out and go into holiday overload this time of year!
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