Terranea Resort in Palos Verdes is what I think of as a real getaway without really getting away.

READ ON TO FIND OUT WHY...

I just got back from Seattle, WA Sunday and while I'm putting together a more comprehensive view of everything I enjoyed, this week I'm sharing some recent fun excursions in Los Angeles.

We wanted to hike in Malibu, so my friends and I reviewed some options and decided on Solstice Canyon. It's about an hour — on a good day — from the South Bay. The day we chose was a nice balance of sunshine and clouds, so it wasn't too hot.

We chose Solstice Canyon because of the remains of two buildings — which seemed historic and exciting in some way — and the potential sight of a waterfall. With the drought, we weren't expecting much. But we got a lot.

READ ON TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE KIND-OF EXISTENT WATERFALL...

Utah and Las Vegas have been primary visiting points these last few years. Maybe because it's within driving distance. And if you're driving from Los Angeles to Utah, you go right through Las Vegas, so you might as well stop.

When I'm in Vegas, I don't drink, gamble, or usually go out to show off my moves at a club. So what the heck do I do?

Surprisingly for some, Las Vegas is actually more than just for partying. For example, there's places like the Neon Museum.

FIND OUT WHY THIS IS A MUST-SEE PLACE...

Aside from wanting to see the ice castles, I just really wanted to experience winter. Or at least what winter should feel like. So while all my Utah friends were super happy it wasn't snowing, and there wasn't really snow on the ground, I was personally super disappointed. I wanted snow. I wanted to make snow angels, have a snowball fight, freeze a little bit, and make a snowman. I always want to build a snowman.

READ MORE ABOUT OUR MINUTE IN BRIGHTON

I've been to Utah about four times in the past four years. For different reasons and different lengths of time... so far in the fall and winter. I'm not a local, but I usually stay with people who have grown up in or around Salt Lake City.

The four places I've chosen as my favorites were chosen because they're the ones I consistently visit every time I'm there, and they're still just as fun/interesting/beautiful to me as the first time I explored them.

READ ON TO SEE MY FAVORITES...

I'm taking a trip this weekend and I realized I never shared some of my trips from earlier this year. So I guess this is like a "take-me-back-Tuesday," and tomorrow's "way-back-Wednesday," etc., because these trips were way worthwhile.

It was the end of January when I journeyed to Utah with my friend Krystal. Why go to Utah since it's snowy and usually freezing cold?

We had the intention of seeing the ice castles in Midway.

Aside from snow sports (which we didn't get to do) this is probably the only other exciting thing that seems to happen in Utah winter. The ice castles are only open for a small window of the year, but it's also dependent on the weather.

Spoiler alert: we did not get to see the ice castles because it wasn't cold enough, so they only opened for one weekend – the weekend before we came – and never reopened. That was a huge bummer. But all was not lost!

FIND OUT WHAT WE ENDED UP DOING INSTEAD...

I saw pictures from where my co-worker lives in Northern California – she has cows in her backyard. Like 50 of them all in a line. And she's backed up to a meadow so you know, pretty flowers, beautiful sunsets. All that greatness. I usually imagine her frolicking in the fields up there. It's not the California I know, but I can romanticize it.

Not that it's all bad here. There's always something to do or experience. It's a nexus of amazing activities. For me, living in the South Bay area, I've always had the beach as a refresh and a recharge away from the close-knit houses, tall buildings, and people.

Plus, I've always found other ways to make it more of what I romanticize about living in the country, or in an area where there's not as many activities and all you have are the people around you and nature and maybe that cute little diner that everyone gathers at.

Things like when my friend had the idea of getting a projector so we could watch movies in her backyard. That's what I'd imagine I'd be doing in the country.

READ MORE ABOUT OUR SWEET BACKYARD MOVIE SET-UP...

I'm not one to kiss and tell or anything, but I'm feeling lucky. Seven years of lucky to be exact. 

The secret? 

Kissing a sea cucumber. Which I did. For the second time in my life. The first time was on an elementary school field trip to the same place – the SEA Lab in Redondo Beach. Right at the border of Hermosa Beach.

READ MORE ABOUT MY SEA LAB EXPERIENCE...

May is becoming a month of remembrance for me. Taking a slightly different, and more personal, tone from the things highlighted this week – today marks one year that we put my dog Gidget down.

FOR ALL THE SAD DETAILS, READ ON...

Hermosa Beach is one of the three beach cities of the South Bay – Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach being the other two. Honestly, it's my favorite of the cities. It's kind of the in-between of everything, and the beach itself is the one closest to where I grew up and live.

From knowing it the past twenty-four years, I've seen how it's changed – shops have come and go, things have been remodeled, redesigned, the pier now has a four-way crosswalk... It's not for better or worse changes, just changes.

I was biking to the beach with my friend Chloe this past weekend, going down Pier Avenue and passing the building where I once took some creative performance summer school, and saw the sign out front saying that the Hermosa Beach Historical Museum was open from 2 – 4pm. Lucky for us, it was 2:30pm.

We locked up the bikes and went inside.

READ MORE FOR PHOTOS AND EXPERIENCE...

The Wiltern is one of the most beautiful inside concert venues I've been to in Los Angeles. The detail in the architecture, the ceilings, the chandelier's are gorgeous representations of the art deco era. It's a treat to see any performance there.

That particular night I got to see Gavin James and Kodaline perform.

READ MORE ABOUT THE VENUE & PERFORMANCES...

That's me. In the bubble.

To be more precise, I am the one in the blue shirt, closest in the picture, on team "Tiki Punch" dribbling the ball diagonally toward the orange Shasta can. I feel like now... I know what a professional athlete must feel like. Because that's me, on the LA Galaxy soccer field, in a bubble. Did I mention, I am in a bubble, dribbling, on a professional field, in front of all LA Galaxy fans?

Not to overemphasize this excitement about being in a bubble, but I WAS SO EXCITED.

READ MORE ABOUT HOW I GOT INTO A BUBBLE...

If you're feeling colorful and in a painting mood, sign up to help paint spheres for the Portraits of Hope project! The last time they were here, all the lifeguard towers became bright and colorful in what seemed like an overnight transition for a summer. I didn't realize this organization was behind it. And now they're back and it's an opportunity not to be missed!

READ MORE ABOUT PAINTING THE SPHERES...

Another cool night spot is this swanky bar in Hollywood – Good Times at Davey Wayne's. All you need for this experience to be memorable is entering through the refrigerator door.

They were purposeful and smart about the way they put this place together. You really feel like you went through a time-warp back to a 1970's house party. Between the interior decorating, all 70's songs, and backyard hang-out with an airstream – it's the perfect recipe for the sweetest 70's treat. (I don't drink, so I can't comment on how good the drinks were – my friends seemed to enjoy them.)

READ MORE ABOUT THE NIGHT'S FESTIVITIES...

#TBT to that time Whitney and I went camping and failed on so many levels, but won because we did it together. This is a story of dreams not coming true in the way you initially pictured them, but having fun anyways.

When Whitney last visited Los Angeles, and we were thinking about things to do that she hasn't done before, we ultimately decided it would be the best idea for us to go camping.

Let me preface:

I had this desire to be more "nature-y." In general, I fantasize about being the type of person who goes out into the wilderness on a whim and just sets up a tent, builds a fire, doesn't have any cell service around, and sees some stars. As if I'm some wilderness woman over here who doesn't freak out by an ant inside a tent or gets picky about the design of a hotel room.

But sometimes I get these crazy notions. And sometimes my friends are all for it.

That's why Whit's the best. Not only did she want to go camping too, she was willing to go to a campsite that didn't even have a bathroom. 

I mean, we're talking no amenities here. 

READ MORE ABOUT OUR SUCCESS IN FAILURE...

The Sunken City in San Pedro felt like a small part of Venice Beach had left an imprint here. There was graffiti, and palm trees, and areas where it seemed like you could make it into a skatepark. It also felt like it's own treasure, hidden from view until you climbed over a wall and down a dirt road.

READ MORE ABOUT THE TREACHEROUS BUT ACTUALLY NOT HIKE...

Near the Korean Bell of Friendship is the Marine Mammal Care Center.

It's kind of tucked away but completely worth stopping by and learning about. The smell of fish is strong, but don't let that deter you.

The care center provides a place of rehabilitation for sick or injured marine mammals in Los Angeles County.

READ MORE ABOUT THIS CENTER & THE SEALSSSS...