It had only been a few months since my Contiki trip across Canada when Sophie and I decided to go on another Contiki together.

We had met both travelling solo for 3 weeks across Canada, but instantly became close friends, and we knew we wanted to do it again.

So we looked at some overlapping bucket list destinations and chose to go on Contiki’s LA to the Bay trip together: a week and a half tour starting in LA, visiting San Diego, Phoenix, the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Yosemite, and ending in San Francisco.

I’ve always wanted to see the Grand Canyon, and visiting Las Vegas would be an experience I wanted at least once in my life. So we booked it and eagerly waited for our reunion.

I actually booked to arrive a day early so I could arrive and do my own thing in LA before the trip started. This being my third group travel tour with Contiki, I was well-versed in the fast-paced travel experience.

It’s always good to have rest time between the chaos.

My flight arrived early afternoon. I checked into the hotel and began to wander downtown LA.

I’d been to LA before, so I knew to stick to the more touristy areas, to be safe. I grabbed a burger for lunch at Grand Central Market, did some shopping, visited the Broad Museum, and wandered a nearby park before heading back to the hotel for a nap.

*Spicy vegan ramen and a watermelon slush, Jinya Ramen (August 2023)*

That’s about when Sophie had arrived at the hotel. It was so great to see my Contiki pal again! We caught up on our travels as we walked toward a ramen place for dinner.

I’d been to Jinya Ramen Bar when they had a location in Toronto, so it was quite nice to visit and have my favourite Spicy Vegan Ramen again.

*Me and Sophie on LA, day one (August 2023)*

The first official day with our tour group was a whirlwind. There’s a lot to see in LA and we only had one day to see it!

We got everything sorted with our tour manager, Maddie, and got on the bus to go to the Hollywood Walk of Fame. I’ve been to LA before, but hadn’t been up that way, so it was pretty cool to see some of my favourites’ stars.

*Robin Williams’s hand prints (August 2023)*

After a bit of a wander, we got back on the bus and were driven to Santa Monica Beach for lunch. Sophie and I grabbed some food at the Cheesecake Factory and then walked down to the pier for some ocean views before we got on the bus and were whisked off to Venice Beach.

I love the vibes at Venice Beach. It’s so vibrant and fun, but also laidback and easygoing at the same time. Just my kind of spot.

We walked up and down the beach to appreciate the full extent of this stretch. Lots of quirky stalls and shops, skateboarders, and cool cafes.

With some time to kill, I was happy to grab an iced coffee from Cafe Collage and enjoy the rest of our time here.

We had a solid first dinner as a group that evening. I do remember the feeling was different from the other Contikis I’d been on.

While it is quite fun to meet new people and have unique experiences on these trips, it was also nice to have a friend with me for a change. It’s nice to know you have someone with you and aren’t at risk of navigating the next few weeks alone.

So when everyone went to the bar next door, I wasn’t anxious about fitting in with the group. We went together for a quick drink and then headed back to our room for an early night.