Preface: Welcome to one of my Short City Adventures. These are shorter not due to any lack of affection for the featured locations, but because the visits were either brief, offering just a glimpse of the city, or because the cities only have a handful of attractions. Join me and discover whether these cities might interest you.
Whenever I tell people that I’m not a fan of Los Angeles, they look at me like I’ve committed some sort of travel sin. “But the weather! The beaches! Hollywood!” Yes, I’ve heard all the supposed selling points, and yet my recent trip to LA and Anaheim only reinforced my lukewarm feelings about this sprawling metropolis.
Los Angeles: The City That Never Walks
LA has always struck me as a city that exists in theory rather than in practice. It’s less of a cohesive urban area and more of a collection of neighborhoods separated by endless stretches of highway. During our visit, the famous LA traffic lived up to its reputation, turning what should have been 15-minute journeys into hour-long exercises in patience.
What bothers me most about LA is its unwalkability. Coming from cities where pedestrian life creates vibrant street scenes, the empty sidewalks of LA feel almost post-apocalyptic. Without a car, you’re essentially stranded, and even with one, the constant driving removes that sense of spontaneous discovery that makes city travel exciting.
Safety concerns also colored our experience. We were constantly reminded by locals and hotel staff to be careful in certain areas, especially after dark. The visible homelessness crisis and stories of car break-ins made us perpetually vigilant rather than relaxed – not exactly the carefree California vibe I’d hoped for.
Anaheim: A Pleasant Surprise
The Anaheim portion of our trip, however, was a different story. My husband’s conference brought us to this corner of Orange County, and I found myself unexpectedly impressed.
The cleanliness of Anaheim struck me immediately – the kind of spotless urban environment that’s increasingly rare in Western cities. Streets were well-maintained, public spaces were tidy, and there was generally a sense of order that LA proper sorely lacked.
We discovered several excellent restaurants within walking distance of our hotel (yes, actual walking!), including a fantastic fish place where we went to for lunch basically everyday!
One afternoon, we escaped to nearby Palm Beach (a welcome break from conference sessions for my husband). The beach was beautiful – wide stretches of golden sand, palm trees swaying in the breeze, and the Pacific Ocean stretching to the horizon. For a few hours, I understood the California dream that draws so many people here.
Nice to Visit, Impossible to Live
Despite these bright spots, I left Southern California with my overall impression intact: it’s a region I’m glad to have visited but could never imagine calling home. The cost of living is astronomical, the environmental challenges (drought, fires, earthquakes) are daunting, and the car dependency would drive me crazy within weeks.
For those with California dreams, I can see the appeal – the weather truly is magnificent, and certain pockets like Anaheim offer comfortable, if somewhat sterile, living environments. But as a visitor who values walkable cities, public transportation, and the energy of street life, LA-Anaheim remains a place I’m happy to leave behind after a short visit.
Sometimes the most popular destinations just don’t click with your personal travel style, and that’s okay. There are plenty of other cities waiting to be explored – preferably ones where I can leave the car behind.
LA-Anaheim: A Tale of Two SoCal Experiences
Preface: Welcome to one of my Short City Adventures. These are shorter not due to any lack of affection for the featured locations, but because the visits were either brief, offering just a glimpse of the city, or because the cities only have a handful of attractions. Join me and discover whether these cities might interest you.
Whenever I tell people that I’m not a fan of Los Angeles, they look at me like I’ve committed some sort of travel sin. “But the weather! The beaches! Hollywood!” Yes, I’ve heard all the supposed selling points, and yet my recent trip to LA and Anaheim only reinforced my lukewarm feelings about this sprawling metropolis.
Los Angeles: The City That Never Walks
LA has always struck me as a city that exists in theory rather than in practice. It’s less of a cohesive urban area and more of a collection of neighborhoods separated by endless stretches of highway. During our visit, the famous LA traffic lived up to its reputation, turning what should have been 15-minute journeys into hour-long exercises in patience.
What bothers me most about LA is its unwalkability. Coming from cities where pedestrian life creates vibrant street scenes, the empty sidewalks of LA feel almost post-apocalyptic. Without a car, you’re essentially stranded, and even with one, the constant driving removes that sense of spontaneous discovery that makes city travel exciting.
Safety concerns also colored our experience. We were constantly reminded by locals and hotel staff to be careful in certain areas, especially after dark. The visible homelessness crisis and stories of car break-ins made us perpetually vigilant rather than relaxed – not exactly the carefree California vibe I’d hoped for.
Anaheim: A Pleasant Surprise
The Anaheim portion of our trip, however, was a different story. My husband’s conference brought us to this corner of Orange County, and I found myself unexpectedly impressed.
The cleanliness of Anaheim struck me immediately – the kind of spotless urban environment that’s increasingly rare in Western cities. Streets were well-maintained, public spaces were tidy, and there was generally a sense of order that LA proper sorely lacked.
We discovered several excellent restaurants within walking distance of our hotel (yes, actual walking!), including a fantastic fish place where we went to for lunch basically everyday!
One afternoon, we escaped to nearby Palm Beach (a welcome break from conference sessions for my husband). The beach was beautiful – wide stretches of golden sand, palm trees swaying in the breeze, and the Pacific Ocean stretching to the horizon. For a few hours, I understood the California dream that draws so many people here.
Nice to Visit, Impossible to Live
Despite these bright spots, I left Southern California with my overall impression intact: it’s a region I’m glad to have visited but could never imagine calling home. The cost of living is astronomical, the environmental challenges (drought, fires, earthquakes) are daunting, and the car dependency would drive me crazy within weeks.
For those with California dreams, I can see the appeal – the weather truly is magnificent, and certain pockets like Anaheim offer comfortable, if somewhat sterile, living environments. But as a visitor who values walkable cities, public transportation, and the energy of street life, LA-Anaheim remains a place I’m happy to leave behind after a short visit.
Sometimes the most popular destinations just don’t click with your personal travel style, and that’s okay. There are plenty of other cities waiting to be explored – preferably ones where I can leave the car behind.