Emma Josephine

This past week, Anna (my dance bestie) and I went to LA for the very first time!

Due to the plethora of healthy activities and restaurants that the city has to offer, this trip was super wellness-focused – think, workouts and green juice instead of cocktails and clubs. Nothing wrong with that, just wasn’t the vibe of this particular trip :)

I hope you enjoy reading about our days and get some inspiration for places to sightsee, workout, indulge, and shop!

Monday - Early morning flight

After waking up bright and early at 3:45am to make the long journey to Cali, we finally made it! As soon as I stepped outside, the balmy weather gave me an instant endorphin rush.

We walked into our hotel room and the light was beaming through the white curtains, illuminating the room with this ethereal, angelic glow–very on-brand for the City of Angels. When we drew back the curtains, we saw the Hollywood Sign in the distant mountains.

Tuesday - Hollywood

Hollywood is the provenance of classic film – so we of course had to walk around Hollywood Boulevard to see the iconic landmarks that honor the city’s legacy.

I’ve always loved the glitz and glamour of Old Hollywood, so we sought out numerous stars on the Walk of Fame (Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, and Grace Kelly were favorites), as well as Marilyn’s handprints at the Chinese Theatre.

We then went over to Griffith Park for a hike on the Brush Canyon trail. To be honest, it was much more difficult than we expected (lol!), but well worth the effort for the picturesque views of the Hollywood Sign.

Exhausted from our hike, we spent the rest of the day basking in the sun by the *glimmering* swimming pool (iykyk). We relaxed in pink-and-white-striped lounge chairs that definitely exuded Beverly Hills Hotel vibes.

Wednesday - WeHo/Beverly Hills

We began the day with a Sculpt & Burn class at the LA P.volve studio! The space is absolutely gorgeous – bright, open, with lots of natural light pouring in.

The class was led by Dani – a Lead Trainer, ray of sunshine, and overall beautiful human being. She greeted us with hugs and made us feel so welcome–it’s like we were instant bffs with her!

In class we worked a lot of booty and legs (the added resistance from the band and ankle weights burned oh-so-good), along with core and arms (the p.band is killer for this) for an energizing full-body workout. The moves really tested my balance as well.

Everyone in class and at the studio was so kind, motivating, and inspiring. I loved seeing all the LA wellness girlies in their Lulus, Airmaxes, and gold jewelry. Talk about GOALS.

Shoutout to P.volve for their generosity – they gifted Anna and I adorable goodie bags - with a scrunchie, lip balm, cooling stick, hat, and their Recover 9 supplement. (Thank you again!)

We continued the wellness girl theme by stopping for a green juice post-workout class.

We then shopped around Melrose and The Grove. A clear highlight was the Glossier store – a millennial-pink, beauty-lover’s paradise!

Thursday - Santa Monica

We started the day with a quick workout and stretch at the hotel gym. Then, we headed to Santa Monica – a quintessential beach town with a nostalgic pier and shops downtown.

~Brief intermission to talk about food~

As you can imagine, LA has an abundance of nutritious and yummy vegan/vegetarian restaurants. Some of my favorites that we had are:

Erewhon - basically Whole Foods 2.0 (my heaven)
Kreation - some of the most creative and nutrient-dense food I’ve ever had
My Vegan Gold - super healthy Asian-inspired dishes
Flower Child - a palatial space filled with greenery, and a wholesome, plant-forward menu to match
Pressed - perfect for clean, on-the-go smoothies and juices
Malibu Farm - a modern and fresh restaurant right on the pier with beautiful views overlooking the ocean
Naturewell - a local smoothie and juice shop with the sweetest staff
And of course, the ever-reliable Sweetgreen if you’re in a pinch or just want something easy

Friday - Malibu

Anna had to leave this morning, so I had the whole day to myself. I’ve dreamed of going to Malibu for a while, so I met up with a friend of mine and we drove there! I marveled at the mountainous terrain, manicured landscape, and pristine beaches. The relaxed vibe and salty air was reminiscent of Cape Cod (one of my favorite summer destinations), so I instantly felt at home here.

Saturday - Flight back

As I boarded the plane on Saturday morning with my green juice, açaí bowl, and stack of personal development books, I was truly so sad to leave LA. I really felt the positive, happy vibe that the city radiates. Given my passion for wellness, along with my Valley Girl vernacular, I think I’d fit right in.