About Carrie T
Carrie got the travel bug in college and immediately set out for a long term career in the tourism industry. She’s lived and studied abroad in France and Mexico, and traveled extensively both domestically and internationally. As the West Coast Regional Manager for Smart Destinations, she is an expert on Southern California attractions. She splits her time between San Diego and Los Angeles, building travel products that help clients save both time and money. Outside of enjoying the California sunshine, her favorite hobby is giving travel advice to her friends and family!
Blog posts written by Carrie T
May 2nd, 2008 by carrie t
Downtown Los Angeles photo uploaded by
The is gearing up for the Downtown Los Angeles Open House 2008. The weekend extravaganza, set for June 6–8, will give visitors and Angelenos the opportunity to sample living and playing in Downtown’s eclectic neighborhoods. Thousands of visitors are expected to attend Open House weekend events, which include residential open houses, cultural activities, food samplings and entertainment.
The event will offer residential open houses from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Residential property owners and developers, restaurants, retailers, hotels, bars, nightclubs, museums and art galleries will all be featured on the exclusive web page. The is offering a rate of $99 per night exclusive for participants, and other hotels are being encouraged to offer special rates. For more information or to learn how to participate, contact openhouse AT downtownla DOT com.
Planning a trip to
Los Angeles?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Los Angeles Card.
May 1st, 2008 by carrie t
Photo courtesy of Ciudad Restaurant
Ciudad Restaurant in downtown Los Angeles has an amazing late night happy hour from 9pm – 12 midnight on the weekends, and 9pm – 11pm on Wednesday and Thursday nights. Food specials include their signature dishes like Peruvian Ceviche, Argentine Gaucho Steak, Crispy Potato Rajas Tacos, and much more. This happy hour includes $4 drink specials to top it off!
Ciudad also offers a free dessert with purchase of an entrée to Go Los Angeles Card customers.
Planning a trip to
Los Angeles?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Los Angeles Card.
April 24th, 2008 by carrie t
Farmer’s Market photo uploaded by
The Farmer’s Market has been open since 1934 and continues to be the premier market in Los Angeles for fresh groceries and eclectic dining. The Farmer’s Market is attached to a hip and trendy mall called, “The Grove,” which makes for an odd pairing but keeps visitors entertained for hours on end.
There are over 30 restaurants in the Farmer’s Market, including French, Chinese, Korean, and American fare. Parking can be tough in this area, so come early for breakfast and spend the day shopping at The Grove afterward.
The Grove also offers an exclusive discount book with the Go Los Angeles Card.
Planning a trip to
Los Angeles?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Los Angeles Card.
April 18th, 2008 by carrie t
Marina Del Rey Pier photo uploaded by
Plenty of local charter boat companies are available from Marina Del Rey, a beautiful coastal town close to LAX airport. If you’re looking to enjoy a relaxing day on the water with a private skipper, then has information about our local charter boat companies and more.
Blue Pacific Sailing, Bluewater Sailing, Marina Sailing and Paradise Bound Yacht Charters are a few of the companies that provide this service. As the weather heats up, tours will book up in advance so be sure to call ahead before you travel.
Planning a trip to
Los Angeles?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Los Angeles Card.
April 1st, 2008 by carrie t
Silver Bullet at Knott’s Berry Farm Photo uploaded by
Here at Go Los Angeles Card, we’re thrilled to announce the addition of several new attractions and special offers to the Go Los Angeles Card. As of today, you can enjoy included entry to Six Flags Magic Mountain (express entry), Knott’s Berry Farm (pictured above), Paramount Studios Pictures Tours (adults only), Warner Bros. VIP Studio Tours (adults only), and more! View our complete list of new LA attractions and discounts.
To celebrate, we’re offering 15% off 3, 5, and 7-day cards through Thursday, April 10. This sale is available for a limited time and is offered exclusively online, so don’t miss out on your chance to see LA’s best attractions for this special price.
Planning a trip to
Los Angeles?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Los Angeles Card.
February 26th, 2008 by carrie t
Deluxe Night Tour Photo courtesy of Celebrity Helicopters
Avoid the traffic and check out Los Angeles from the sky!
offers affordable and fun helicopter rides, complete with million dollar views of the coastline, Beverly Hills, Downtown, Hollywood,and more. Flights start as low as just $69 but they have a wide array of options available.
One of our favorites is the Deluxe Night Tour for $269; this is a sunset flight and includes champagne hors d’oeuvres. After a 35 minute flight, it lands in front of Stefano’s daVinci in Long Beach, where you’ll enjoy a full course dinner and private transportation back to your home.
This is definitely one of our most exciting attractions in the city!
Planning a trip to
Los Angeles?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Los Angeles Card.
February 13th, 2008 by carrie t
Route 66 sign Photo uploaded by
Historic highlights key historical and cultural sites throughout Los Angeles. We all know the horror stories about traffic in LA, so of course I’d recommend finding an off peak travel time to start your drive. Early morning on the weekends is best, particularly on Sunday.
Route 66 winds through Rancho Cucamonga, Pasadena, Downtown, and Santa Monica. In the winter, the snow capped mountains and clear skylines make for incredible views. Along the way, you’ll have the opportunity to stop at major historical landmarks!
Planning a trip to
Los Angeles?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Los Angeles Card.
January 30th, 2008 by carrie t
Malibu Pier and Beach Photo provided by Carrie T.
This is a great time of the year to visit . Avoid the summer crowds, pack up a picnic lunch, and head to the beach in Malibu for the day with your family … it’s a great way to unwind on a Sunday.
You can shop or grab food at the . You might even casually bump into a star here!
Another great place to spend a day sunning is on the . Let the guard know that you are just visiting and head up to the grassy lawn overlooking the ocean. You can park on the street and even bring pets … this is an amazing place to waste away the afternoon reading a good book or sharing time with your family. The views are stunning.
Access to the exclusive beaches in Malibu can be tough to find. Many beaches used to be closed off to the public all together but that has all changed… Appropriately nicknamed “Billionaire’s Beach,” (a one mile stretch of Carbon Beach) now has public access from Pacific Coast Highway. To find it, head to the Malibu Pier and look for the beach access signs.
There are a few along the way but you have to look closely for them because they are sandwiched between closely connected houses. Parking can be tough but it’s well worth the work; the beaches are breathtaking and you’re likely to see paparazzi or a star along the way.
To get to Malibu, just follow Pacific Coast Highway north of LAX.
Planning a trip to
Los Angeles?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Los Angeles Card.
January 2nd, 2008 by carrie t
Party photo provided by Carrie Tayloe
Most people who visit LA want to experience a night out in Hollywood, but they have a hard time figuring out how to organize it. Hollywood has so much to offer: great restaurants, world famous nightlife, comedy shows, concerts and performances – you name it, they probably have it.
- One of the first things you should do when planning a night out in Hollywood is set up transportation. Assuming you are not staying in Hollywood, renting a limo can be cheaper than a taxi, particularly if you have more than 8 people. Shop around in advance – or you can often find a taxi van that will drive you for a reasonable fee (remember to try and negotiate a rate with a company prior to the trip so that you will be charged a flat fee). You might even be able to meet a taxi driver at the airport that will assist you by offering a roundtrip fare at a flat rate. Transportation options include and .
- Another tip is to head out early for dinner so you can avoid traffic, long lines at nightclubs, and crowded restaurants. Locals head out for dinner fairly late in Hollywood, so if you take an earlier reservation you’ll be likely to get better service and you can hang onto your table for a while longer.
- When heading out to nightclubs, make sure to call in advance to reserve a table so that you won’t be stuck in a line at the front door. If you want to walk-up to a nightclub, come early (before 10 pm) and make sure to dress to impress!
- Do a little research before you go. , , and are all good resources for finding events in Hollywood.
Planning a trip to
Los Angeles?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Los Angeles Card.
December 14th, 2007 by carrie t
Photo courtesy of Carrie Tayloe
boasts the most breathtaking views in Los Angeles. Situated high above the Hollywood hills, the canyon overlooks Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and the Downtown Skyline. Runyon Canyon consists of various hikes and nature trails which all wind around the canyon.
This is one of the best spots in California to bring a dog – it’s acceptable to take your dog on the path without a leash. Some people will bring bigger dogs and run through the harder trails, while others will bring their small dogs and enjoy the easier paths.
And one last hidden secret about Runyon Canyon is that it’s actually one of the best areas in L.A. for celebrity sightings! Hayden Christenson, Justin Chambers, and BJ Novak have all been sighted in the area recently.
Planning a trip to
Los Angeles?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Los Angeles Card.
