On Southern Californian Weather and Activities to Do

When in Southern California, the barometer for your daily activities should be the weather. Trust me, living in this wonderful place for years should tell you that I’m correct. Of course, nothing is permanent in this world; most especially the weather. While try as we might predict what weather’s going to come out for the next day, it’s up to science to help us gain an advantage over our planet’s unpredictable weather. 

So if we take a look at this Southern Californian weather forecast, it says that we are going to have sunny and breezy weather for the full seven days. So that’s a week of hot weather. If that doesn’t excite you, then nothing will. It’s the perfect time and weather to go to the beach. And if that’s not your thing, you can also take this time to go on a mountain adventure with some friends. Because of the dry weather, mountain trekking and camping should be a blast. 

And speaking of camping, the weather is perfect for such an activity too. Whether it’s camping just right across your front lawn, or you want to make it all fancy and take your entire family or friends for a camping trip to Moro Campground, then you are most certainly going to do just that. Be prepared to stock up on food, gas, and not feed the animals when staying in the camping grounds! 

Finally, this fine and sunny weather is also the perfect time to treat your kids to an amusement or theme park. Southern California is ripe with many amusement parks, pool resorts, and theme parks. Just make sure you bring food and a lot of water, an umbrella, and some hats. Remember, it’s going to be a very hot day and you’ll need to get out of the shade every so often. This is especially important for kids, who are more prone to heatstroke. 

Take your pick from Knott’s Berry Farm, Adventure City, and Pacific Park to Universal Studios Hollywood, Six Flags Magic Mountain, and Disney California Adventure. If that’s not your style and you’d rather get wet, then there are a lot of water parks to choose from too. There’s Raging Water Los Angeles, Buccaneer Cove at Castle Park, and the Great Wolf Lodge Water Park. Not only will your kids enjoy it, but you and the rest of the adults as well!  

Just don’t forget to bring the suntan and some decent sunblock too! – Steven Taylor, LA 

Originally published at https://steventaylorlandlord.com on October 28, 2021.

Steven Taylor on the 5 Best Beaches in Southern California

It’s a perfect day to hit the beach. These days, those sunny Southern California days seem to be on a roll, so why not call your friends and family and hit the beach for some tan and fun under the sun? Steven Taylor, a LA native, also loves going to the beach and he’s been at it since college. If you happen to live near Southern California or you’re on your way here for a visit, then why not visit our best beaches here too? 

If it’s about beaches, Southern California has a lot to offer. Of course, Steven Taylor has his own personal list of the best beaches to visit during this warm weather. So if you feel like you want to take a dip in the ocean, then here’s Steven Taylor’s personal pick on the 5 best beaches in Southern California. 

Photo credits: www.santamonica.com

Santa Monica Beach - One can’t simply miss Santa Monica Beach. It’s just 20 minutes from downtown Los Angeles and it’s possibly the most popular beach in Southern California. A lot of people visit the area and it also features an amusement park with a Ferris wheel and some kiddie rides. It’s a great place for swimming, beach volleyball, surfing, and just plain chilling under the sun.  

Photo credits: cntraveler.com

El Matador Beach - Located in Malibu, El Matador Beach is one of the most stunning beaches in Southern California. The beach features amazing rocky formations, which gives visitors a stunning view of the entire beachfront. If you want to enjoy this beautiful beach, just bring a blanket, some food for a picnic, and find a hidden spot behind the rocky formations and enjoy your day at the beach!  

Photo Credits: www.beaches.lacounty.gov

Zuma Beach - Malibu seems to be lucky enough to have multiple beautiful beaches in its area. Another beach in this area is Zuma Beach. Located in Point Dume in Malibu, Zuma Beach is a popular tourist destination for surfers and annual surfing events. This is also the perfect place to fly kites, as the wind can tend to be rather strong in this area. 

Photo credits: Learningescapes.net

Coronado Beach - Coronado Beach is known for its calm ocean waters, the famous Hotel Coronado, and the Gaslamp Quarter. After a whole day of swimming and you’re hungry enough to eat a shark or a whale, visit the Gaslamp Quarter for its fancy restaurants. 

Photo credits: Hotels.com

Venice Beach - Venice Beach is a unique experience. Not only does it have sun, sand, and the ocean, but it also has artists, barefoot sand sculptors, and weightlifters. The beach has a skate park, an outdoor gym, some food stands and kiosks, and dozens of colorful murals. The beach is pretty much a feast for the eyes.

Originally published at https://steventaylorlandlord.com on October 14, 2021.

Steven Taylor on Family-Friendly Activities in Los Angeles

 

Family-Friendly Activities in Los Angeles

Los Angeles never runs out of beautiful destinations and exciting adventures that suit the likes of various families. With the crisis that the pandemic brought over the past year, providing children with a safe and healthy environment has been the focus of most families. It is also undeniable that the kids missed the normal way of life where they get to freely interact with their friends, roam around in the city, or have escapades in the heart of nature. With various sites back to business in L.A., coming up with family-friendly activities that bursts with adventure will no longer be a problem.

 

This list of activities highlights unique yet educational activities that are perfect for kids of today’s generation. A time away from the gadgets and a much-needed immersive experience are all they need to recognize the natural beauty that the Earth freely offers.

 

Go glamping

When planning a getaway with the family, packing the things alone may be fun but it’s undeniable that it is quite exhausting especially when the kids are too busy daydreaming or asking questions about the trip. Going camping means rearranging all the things again while building the actual tent—another task that can get stressful. Nowadays, families would rather just relax and destress without having to worry about all those ruckuses. This is when glamping comes into the picture; experiencing the great outdoors and connecting with nature on a beautiful tent that has already been set up with luxuries and accommodations similar to a hotel room. Unlike going on a camping trip, glamping means not having to stress about finding the perfect location or packing all the basic necessities.

 

A popular glamping site in Los Angeles is La Boheme Living. It features an urban safari tent experience in a private residence that is just a few miles away from Dodger Stadium. It is already equipped with everything from air-conditioning, comfy bed, wifi, hairdryers, shower with a heater to barbecue facilities and chimineas that can be used at all times. They also have opportunities for biking, hiking, playing tennis that will surely be well-loved and enjoyed by the kids. What makes this place even better is that they can book a personal masseuse once requested—something that most parents would appreciate at the end of a tiring day. Furthermore, the site also stated that they have free-roaming friendly cats, chickens, raccoons, and opossums that love to hang out on the porch. This unique bohemian glamping site is an experience that families will surely look forward to or even look back on when they want to unwind.

 

Meet the rescue animals at Kfar Saba Urban Farm

Locally rescued animals such as dogs, goats, chickens, tortoises, donkeys, sheep, alpacas, horses, and birds are being taken care of at Kfar Saba Urban Farm in the Winnetka neighborhood of Los Angeles. They provide a private COVID-19 safe tour where families can learn more about each of the animals. The kids would have the opportunity to interact with various animals as they gain knowledge on how to properly take care of or handle them with love and care. Of course, kids are also known to be curious about animals, hence, this is an educational experience that they would surely love and appreciate.

 

Explore Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden

While Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden are located in Arcadia, it’s only less than an hour away from Los Angeles. An earthy destination that is worth traveling to as it features a beautiful 127-acre botanical garden and historical site. The Arboretum Foundation Board and senior staff team established this arboretum with a mission to cultivate natural, horticultural, and historic resources for learning, enjoyment, and inspiration; they also have the vision to serve as a resource for environmental stewardship and education in the sciences and history. The arboretum includes plant collections from all over the world, historical architectural landmarks, wildlife sanctuary, crescent farm, and the Baldwin lake. They also hold activities such as yoga in the garden, sound baths, forest bathing, and other educational exhibitions that would certainly be enjoyed by people of all ages.

 

Check out SOAR: South Coast Botanic Garden

South Coast Botanic Garden added a new experience that lets people observe the life cycle of butterflies. They have an immersive pavilion that features monarchs and mimics where SOAR guides teach them more about the butterflies. They also make sure that the butterflies are well taken care of by providing them with everything that Western Monarchs love such as the milkweed, which allows them to repopulate the butterflies. In addition, they have a SOAR garden area that contains eggs and caterpillars where people can freely recognize and understand the initial stages of a butterfly. . Steven Taylor

 

Originally published at https://steventaylorlandlord.com on September 21, 2021.

Steven Taylor – Moving to Los Angeles? Here’s What You Need to Know

 

Steven Taylor Los Angeles

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If you’re thinking of moving to Los Angeles, you probably have a lot of questions. Los Angeles is clearly a popular place to live — 3.9 million people currently choose to live in the LA area. But, is it right for you? Before you make any move, you should do some market research. It is important to understand the culture, lifestyle, real estate, and other aspects of a city prior to making a jump. In this article Steven Taylor, Los Angeles Native and real estate professional, answers some of the most common questions people ask him when first moving to Los Angeles.

Who will I meet in Los Angeles?

One of the most beautiful things about Los Angeles is its diversity. LA has always been known as a melting pot, and for good reason. The city has great cultural, ethnic, and experiential diversity. Moving to Los Angeles can expand your horizons — according to the 2019 US census, Southern California residents hail from 180 different countries, and 59.1% of people speak a language other than English. With a population of 3,979,537, LA is home to many different cultures. The city is currently 49% Hispanic, 29% White, 8% Black, and 12% Asian. This diversity contributes to Los Angeles’ epic cultural, art, and food scenes!

In Los Angeles, you will meet people with passion. A large portion of LA residents are transplants, who moved to the west coast to pursue their goals. Everyone has their own reasons for coming to LA, but it has always been a home for big dreamers. Whether you’re an entrepreneur or hoping to become a star, you will meet like-minded people in Los Angeles.

What do people do for work in Los Angeles?

Los Angeles is a land full of opportunities. Whether you are looking for a more traditional work lifestyle, hope to work from home, or are pursuing seasonal or gig work in the entertainment industry, there is work for you in LA.

When people think of LA, many of them first think of the entertainment industry. While it’s true that many Angelenos are employed in the world of film and television, some of the most common jobs in LA outside of Hollywood are retail, real estate, tourism, healthcare, and education.

While many people still work 9–6 type office jobs in Los Angeles, a large portion of the population works on flexible schedules. Jobs in entertainment, fashion, hospitality, and other industries provide the opportunity to make your own hours or work an atypical schedule. Los Angeles native, Steven Taylor, says this means you’ll find more people out and about exploring the city during typical weekday “working hours”.

Is the traffic really that bad in Los Angeles?

This quick answer is — yes. Unfortunately, sitting in traffic is part of the reality of living in Los Angeles. How bad is the traffic? That depends on where you are coming from, where you are going, and at what time. While Los Angeles does have public transportation, most people still commute by car. The COVID-19 pandemic has decreased traffic as more people are working from home, but the problem is not completely solved.

There are wonderful rewards that come with living in Los Angeles, so traffic is an annoyance many people are willing to put up with to live here. The best thing you can do is avoid driving on the major highways at peak hours, and take public transportation when you can! No one likes traffic, but Los Angeles native, Stephen Taylor, says it’s worth it to experience all that Los Angeles has to offer its residents.

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Originally published at https://steventaylorlandlord.com on February 5, 2021.

The Best Beaches in Los Angeles — Steven Taylor

 

Steven Taylor in  Los Angeles with family at the beach

Los Angeles is famous for many things including its food, art, entertainment, and culture. Los Angeles is also known for its biodiversity — it is a short drive to an incredible variety of mountains, deserts, and beaches. Los Angeles native, Steven Taylor has witnessed firsthand the pull of LA’s beautiful beaches for homebuyers. As a real estate expert, he is familiar with the many amazing beaches along the stretch of coastline from Malibu to the Southbay. In this article, he shares the best beaches in Los Angeles, whether you’re a local looking for your new favorite spot, or a tourist exploring for the day.

Venice Beach

Venice beach is a hotspot in Los Angeles for homeowners and visitors alike, and it’s plain to see why it’s so popular. Venice has always been known for its artsy, hippie vibe. It’s a home to surfers, creatives, designers and all of those who want to soak up the scenery they provide. Walk the oceanfront boardwalk that runs the length of the coastline to find artists and street performers, as you check out the surf and soak in the sun. If you’re interested in real estate, wander the Venice Canals to find uniquely beautiful homes perched along the water.

El Matador

El Matador is a secluded beach in Malibu with a rocky coastline, beautiful sand, and waves worth watching. The area is a popular spot for photo shoots and beach dates due to its romantic scenery and close proximity to a variety of great shops and restaurants. If you’re looking to make a day of it, El Matador State Beach is a great choice for locals and tourists alike.

Malibu Surfrider Beach

The Surfrider beach in Malibu is arguably the best place to surf in the entire Los Angeles area. Not far from the Malibu pier, the beach is famous for its perfectly rideable waves, and approachable waters for both newbies and professionals. If you would prefer to stay safely on the warm beach, you can people-watch the surfers tackle the water instead at this iconic spot.

Santa Monica Beach

LA native, Stephen Taylor, argues that Santa Monica beach may just be the best beach experience for those visiting Los Angeles. The beach boardwalk winds past great shops and dining options. Sunbathers and surfers enjoy views of the skyline and Santa Monica pier, which boasts its own amusement park and arcade. The sandy area of the beach is deep and wide, making it perfect for social distancing. The beach is also great for getting a good workout in — there are multiple outdoor exercise areas and plenty of places to rent a beach cruiser for cycling along the bike path. Whether you’re hoping for a lazy afternoon or an active experience, Santa Monica beach is a great option.

Pelican Cove Beach

Located in Palos Verdes, an area that, Steven Taylor, Los Angeles native explains is a real estate hot-spot, Pelican Cove Beach is a place to see. Cliffside mansions line the bluffs of the coastal area, and Pelican Cove Beach allows access to the quiet and secluded waters. The beach is rocky and can only be reached by a steep walking path, but the hike is worth it. Once you reach the bottom, you can experience the tide pools, gorgeous views of Catalina, and popular scuba diving coves. This beach may not be the best choice if you are looking to play in the sand, but it’s great for an afternoon excursion to experience all the nature the LA coastline has to offer.

Originally published at https://steventaylorlandlord.medium.com/the-best-beaches-in-los-angeles-steven-taylor-e4b85731ffa1

WRITTEN BY

Steven Taylor Taylor Equities

Steven Taylor of Taylor Equities in Los Angeles https://steventaylorlandlord.com/

Steven Taylor Taylor Equities on the Importance of “Family Time” in a Well-Rounded Life

Steven Taylor Taylor Equities

In the last few weeks, my work at Taylor Equities like many American’s typical daily schedule has shifted dramatically. Many parents have been thrust into homeschooling, and some are out of work. With these changes comes a sudden increase in time at home spent with family. These times can be incredibly stressful. But, during quarantine you may also find new and creative ways to enjoy spending time with your kids. Hopefully, some of these habits will carry on when things return to normal. Quality family time comes with many benefits and is an important part of a well-rounded life.

If you are isolated with family, you may be tempted to create detailed quarantine schedules or tackle work projects. While there is always space for productivity, this is time to take advantage of the opportunity for quality family bonding. Here are a few points that support the importance of family time in a well-rounded life:

1. Quality time with parents builds children’s self-esteem

Kids who regularly participate in activities with their parents are able to build their sense of self-worth. It’s as simple as this: by demonstrating that you value spending time with your children, they in turn feel valuable. Quality family time doesn’t need to involve elaborate activities or expensive outings. A walk through the neighborhood, collaborating on a puzzle, watching a movie, or baking together can all be quality activities. It’s not about what you are doing. It’s about being present with each other and listening.

2. Common interests strengthen family bonds

Parents and children who share interests such as hobbies, sports, cuisine, or even movies, can develop strong family bonds. Of course, it isn’t realistic that you will all love the same things. But, finding some common ground with different members of your family can help build emotional ties. By sharing a common experience and developing memories, families grow closer. Take this down time as an opportunity to find new ways to relate to your family members and build common ground.

3. Prioritizing family sets a positive example

Spending quality family time is a way to create fond memories and solidify traditions. Children who have positive experiences with family and have happy memories are more inclined to provide a nurturing environment when they have their own children. Finding the time to routinely make space for family is one of the best examples you can show your kids. Showing your kids love and attention only inspires them to show love to others in return.

4. Time together allows parents to reconnect

Connection is an important part of a well-rounded life. For many career-driven adults, it is easy to lose sight of what is important. It’s possible that while you’ve been focused on providing for your family, you have been missing out on essential shared moments.

Spending quality time with your family allows you to reconnect. It is easier to get kids to open up about their lives while they are doing a fun activity. Take the opportunity to ask them more creative questions than “How was your day?” If you open up to your family, you may find that they are more willing to share their emotions than you thought. Family time has many benefits, but the joy of genuinely connecting with your kids is hard to beat. - Steven Taylor Taylor Equities