Jennifer Miner is a travel writer based in Los Angeles and the co-creator/editor of The Vacation Gals, a popular, multiple-award-winning travel blog featuring family-friendly destinations, tips for traveling with kids, romantic getaways and more. Most recently, she has created and is co-chair of the Los Angeles Consortium of Online Travel. LACOT brings travel writers and other members of the travel industry together to highlight LA-area activities and attractions.
Cheapflights: What drives your passion for Los Angeles and the wider Southern California region?
Jennifer Miner: I moved to Los Angeles reluctantly, when my husband’s job moved him here from New York City. I fought liking it at first, since so many people love to hate on Los Angeles – but after settling in, I realized that a lot of those people are ignorant or have only been exposed to one or two parts Los Angeles. Los Angeles is a big, big city; bigger than Cleveland, Pittsburgh and, needless to say, Manhattan. It’s bigger than all three combined. There’s so much space and so many places to explore in LA and Southern California in general, and I relish in opportunities to show travelers just how diverse and wonderful it is out here.
CF: How would you describe LA to someone who’s never visited?
JM: I would describe Los Angeles as incredibly diverse. Instead of thinking about LA as one large, difficult-to-navigate city, think of it as a bunch of small connected towns, each with its own culture and personality. If you don’t like the thriving art scene of Silver Lake, perhaps the tiny beach neighborhoods are more to your liking – or Museum Mile or hiking around Griffith Park and its famous observatory. Young adults tend to congregate by the clubs along Melrose, or downtown Los Angeles. In fact, I’d say that the rebirth of downtown LA is one of the most interesting things happening in Southern California as a whole.
CF: Do you have any tips to offer for visiting families?
JM: Tips I offer visiting families include not trying to fit in too much in one day and – because during the peak travel seasons, Los Angeles traffic is really awful – plan your days by geography. It’s not fun to spend half of a Los Angeles family vacation driving five miles an hour on a freeway.
CF: Where would you recommend for easily accessible day trips in the area?
JM: Accessible day trips in the area include Malibu and Santa Monica north of Los Angeles, and Manhattan and Huntington Beach south of Los Angeles. Both allow you to drive on Pacific Coast Highway. Also, Disneyland is in Anaheim, which is around an hour drive from downtown LA, traffic permitting. The mountains north and east of LA are great, and if you love driving, even the desert can be a day trip. Although that’s pushing it. Last, Catalina Island is always a sweet way to “get away from it all” here in Los Angeles, too.
CF: Where are some of your favorite places in LA?
JM: My favorite places in Los Angeles include the beach, the Getty Museum and Getty Villa, Universal Studios Hollywood for child-centered fun, and the funky scene at Abbot-Kinney and Venice Beach.
CF: What do you love about the arts and cultural scene?
JM: What I love about the arts and cultural scene is that there’s everything here, at a world-class level. From the Los Angeles Philharmonic at Walt Disney Concert Hall to the grungy noise at clubs, from the classic art found on Museum Mile to the artists trying new things, no matter what your cultural preference is, you can find it here. I’d say the single only element of art and culture that Los Angeles doesn’t lead the pack in, is fashion.
CF: How do you discover local or off-the-beaten-path places when traveling?
JM: When traveling, you can discover local and off the beaten track places by asking people that live there, or by doing some online research. Any traveler wanting to get away from the usual “top 10” attractions should check out sites like Not For Tourists to start.
CF: What is an absolute must on your packing list?
JM: One absolute must on my packing list is basic toiletries, pre-packed. I used to always pack a new toiletries kit each time I was traveling, and consistently forgot to pack something important like toothpaste or a tiny first aid kit. Now that I have a pre packed toiletries kit, I only get into trouble when I forget to replenish my supplies.
CF: How do you recommend anxious travelers stretch their comfort zone?
JM: I feel for anxious travelers, really, I do. It must be so hard to want to explore the world, but have anxiety issues. I’d recommend that they don’t try to step too far out of their comfort zone right away – if you have a serious fear of heights, don’t go from zero to bungee jumping. Maybe first look out a window of a skyscraper, later, stand near the edge of a cliff, and gradually get closer to your travel goal of bungeeing off it. Clinically, this is called desensitization. Laymen call it baby steps.
CF: Who’s the most memorable seatmate you’ve had on a plane?
JM: Not me, but my husband once sat next to a retired Navy SEAL while I sat a few rows back with our then toddler and baby. I don’t think you’d publish what the SEAL said, if this is a family-friendly interview! Suffice it to say that my spouse and I were supposed to switch off who sat with the kids halfway through the flight, but I stuck to my origin seat for the entire six hours instead.
Cheapflights is proud to have guest voices express their opinions. The views expressed are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of Cheapflights Media (USA) Inc.
(Image: R Schofield)
