Explore LA Pre-Trip

Wednesday, September 2nd to Friday, September 4th

Summary: Spend one or two days visiting the Los Angeles area with Mosaic as we explore some famous Los Angeles sights with an outdoor focus. Stay at the Hacienda Hotel for one or two nights and tour L.A. with lots of activity options, all scouted and chosen as favorite outings by local host Mosaic chapter, Mosaic-Los Angeles. We can accommodate both Wednesday and Thursday arrivals. Please note that we will be driving to our outings in 15 passenger vans and possibly minivans, and we'll need volunteers to drive in order to make this trip happen. Please arrive into LAX any time on Wednesday, 9/2, or on Thursday, 9/3. We will complete our last outing on Friday afternoon in time to drive the rental vehicles to camp.

Cost: The base cost of the pre-trip is $225 for double occupancy with Wednesday arrival, and includes a wine and cheese welcome reception, all activities except those with an additional charge, and transportation. Cost of meals is not included. Price also includes roundtrip shuttle to camp on Friday, and back to LAX on Monday (a $45 value) Single occupancy options are available, as are options for no hotel (for local folks).

Wednesday arrivals: $225 Double Occupancy; or $310 Single Occupancy. $150 No hotel; pre-trip only with shuttle to/from camp.

Thursday arrivals: $185 Double Occupancy; or $225 Single Occupancy. $125 No hotel; pre-trip only with shuttle to/from camp.

Hotel Information: The Hacienda Hotel is located very near Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), with a complimentary airport shuttle. There is an outdoor pool, fitness center, spa, onsite restaurant and bar, onsite car rental facility, a grocery store and Starbucks across the street, and many nearby eateries. Room amenities include free wireless Internet, hair dryers, and ironing boards. We have reserved 2-bedded rooms though 1-bedded rooms may be available upon request. For those arriving by car, guest parking is available for $5/day. Website: www.haciendahotel.com

Contact: Janet Farhie for more info. If you call, please be respectful of the fact that they are on Pacific Time, which is three hours earlier than Eastern Time.


EXPLORE LA PRE-TRIP SCHEDULE

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2nd:

Afternoon: Arrive at LAX airport, hotel shuttle to Hacienda Hotel, hotel check-in, relax by the pool with Mosaic.

Evening: Wine and cheese reception at the hotel. Optional group dinner at area restaurant. Walk at a local beach in Playa Del Rey/Marina Del Rey.

5:00-6:00 p.m.:Volleyball

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3rd:

Day Outings:
Your choice of two excursions:
Option 1: Hike or Tour of Will Rogers State Historic Park, followed by visit to Getty Museum. Leave around 9:00 a.m.; back around 4:00 p.m.
Option 2: Hop On, Hop Off Tour: A Trolley Tour of Beverly Hills, LA and Hollywood. Leave around 9:00 a.m., back by around 6-7 p.m.

4:30 - 6:00 p.m. Break at the hotel: Enjoy the pool; R & R.

Evening: Group Dinner and Optional Pier to Pier Walk, Manhattan Beach to Hermosa Beach.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4th:

Day Outings:
Your choice of two excursions:
Option 1: Venice Beach Activities/ Optional Walk to Santa Monica Pier.
Option 2: Descanso Gardens followed by visit to Griffith Park Observatory.

About 3:00 p.m.
Depart from Excursions (without returning to LAX area) and travel to Camp.

About 4:00 p.m.
Arrive at Camp.


DETAILED ACTIVITY DESCRIPTIONS

Hike or Tour of Will Rogers State Historic Park, followed by visit to Getty Center. This is a very scenic hike to Inspiration Point, with great views of the Pacific Ocean, in the nearby Santa Monica Mountains. There are two hike options: 2.5 miles and 3.5 miles, on dirt trails, rated easy to moderate. If you prefer not to hike, there are self-guided and docent-led tours of the ranch and house. Visit the Will Rogers SHP website. After hiking, we will head to the close-by Getty Center, where we have lunch at the cafe, tour museum exhibits and see the beautiful grounds, gardens and ocean vistas. Visit the Getty Center website.

Hop On, Hop Off Tour: A Trolley Tour of Beverly Hills, LA and Hollywood. ADDITIONAL COST OF $25. This double-decker trolley tour travels around LA, making stops at area hot spots including Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, Hollywood, Farmer's Market, La Brea Tar Pits/LACMA/Peterson Museum Area, and Melrose Avenue. Our group will get on and off the trolley at various stops to walk around, see the sights, etc. If you prefer, you may take the tour solo, stop where you want, and meet up with the group for transfer back to the hotel at the end of the day. **Note: We will arrive back at the hotel later in the day, around 6-7:00 p.m., not in time for the group dinner, but you can catch up with the Pier to Pier walk later that evening.

Pier to Pier Walk, Manhattan Beach to Hermosa Beach. We will walk two miles round trip, out and back, on a pedestrian promenade along Manhattan Beach, seeing the ocean at night as well as both piers, many mansions and gardens. You can shorten the walk by turning back at any point-- just meet us at a local coffee shop in Manhattan Beach where we will pick you up on our way back.

Venice Beach Activities/ Optional Walk to Santa Monica Pier. See the sights at the famous Venice Beach. Stroll on the boardwalk and take in the scene: Street musicians and artists, hippies, bikini volley-ballers, shops and Muscle Beach. Go swimming in the Pacific Ocean, rent a bicycle or rollerblades and ride up to 20 miles of beach bike path; see the Canals of Venice. Or join us for all or part of the walk to the Santa Monica Pier, 5 miles total, out and back, on the oceanfront paved pedestrian path. Lunch available at area cafes, taco stands, etc.

Descanso Gardens Followed by Griffith Park Observatory. ADDITIONAL COST ONSITE: $8 FOR DESCANSO GARDENS; GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY IS FREE BUT THE PLANETARIUM SHOW, OPTIONAL, IS $7. Descanso Gardens has acres of sculpted gardens, forests and walking paths with a huge diversity of plants and flowers. While there, tour the historic Boddy House. Website: www.descansogardens.org/site/general.cfm After Descanso, we will depart for the Griffith Park Observatory, where you may tour the observatory and grounds, take a short hike or see the planetarium show. Website: www.griffithobs.org/ Lunch in the cafe at Griffith Park Observatory, or, if desired, earlier at the cafe at Descanso Gardens.

Optional night walk at a local beach in Playa Del Rey/Marina Del Rey. Stunning night walk on a paved path along the ocean and marina. View waterways, city lights and lots of pelicans, egrets and other shore birds. Approximately 2-2.5 miles, no hills.



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