West Hollywood

West sssssside! Whut whut?! Whassssup?!

....

Oh...it doesn't go that way for West LA? Can't throw the cross-the-middle-finger-over-the-ring-finger-to make a W sign? I guess not.

Melrose Avenue is anything but the ghetto. High end stores, Aston Martins, tall, slim beautiful girls and handsome guys all wearing stunner shades. This is L.A. Welcome to all the scenes I've religiously watched on The Hills and Entourage.

We went to Taste on Melrose (http://www.ilovetaste.com/) where there were beautiful young people all around us. Included in the mix was Shaun White and yes, a hot date. I was star struck. He is a snowboarding icon! I was so star struck I couldn't get myself to snap a photo of him while the camera was still in my hands. What I do have are pictures of my day in West L.A. at Taste and Urth Caffe (where Entourage scenes are frequently filmed).

Urth Caffe on Melrose Ave. (http://www.urthcaffe.com/) They're known for their organic estate grown coffee farms. Coffee was delicious.

Runyon Canyon

One of my dog-owner friends told me about Runyon Canyon. "You can take your dog off leash and stars like Ryan Seacrest run there!" What?!! (I run into the car, tires screeches off...Garmin searches this "Runyon Canyon")

Not that I have a special liking to Ryan Seacrest--but the thought of seeing hot tan celebrities running along Runyon Canyon in the scorching sun in nothing but their six packs? Ohhh yeah...I'm there. =) (hi boyfriend you also count as my personal hot tan celebrity)

Aside from my own superficial reasons of wanting to go to Runyon Canyon, this park is a really fantastic place to hike with or without a dog. I brought the boyfriend and Chewy and had an absolutely awesome hour and a half hiking experience.

Runyon Canyon is an 130 acre park 2 blocks away from Hollywood Blvd. There are 3 entrances, one off Vista St, one off Mulholland, and the one I took which was on 2000 N. Fuller Ave. There are a few trails to choose from--we followed everyone else up to the peak of the canyon that led us to an amazing view of Griffith Park, the Hollywood signs, and Hollywood Hills.

Along the dirt-trail hike, you can look over at the homes of the rich and famous on Hollywood Hills. If you look even more closely, you might even see Lindsay Lohan's house being robbed...again.

Unfortunately no celebrities were seen, but a handful of physically fit Southern California guys and girls did flaunt their sweaty tone bodies as they effortlessly ran past the "trail-walkers" like myself.

But don't let the "fit" people scare you! The hike is suitable for people of all sizes, shapes and levels. It's such an easy and enjoyable hike. Chewy loved it.

For more information, check out this website: www.lamountains.com/parks.asp?parkid=122