Favorite Hike: Betty B. Dearing Mountain Trail

The Betty B. Dearing trail loops through the Santa Monica Mountains, and can be accessed either from the parking lot at Fryman Rd. or from the TreePeople headquarters on Mulholland. We prefer starting at TreePeople since their parking lot is free.

Once you park, head straight through the TreePeople garden and down the back path to access the trails. Stay to the left and walk down the hill. Once you reach the bottom, you'll see the Betty B. Dearing sign and the parking lot. Cross out and to the right, then head up Iredell Lane (a residential street) to get back to the fire road trail. This will bring you back up to TreePeople. If you have extra time, TreePeople is a really neat organization dedicated to planting more trees and better water usage in the Los Angeles area, worth checking out.

Foodie Favorite: Bay Cities Italian Deli & Bakery

A Small Salami Sandwich

When you think of the best foods in LA, Italian sandwiches aren't usually the first thing that come to mind.  But Bay Cities has cornered the market on them in Santa Monica, featuring their freshly baked bread, a variety of deli meats and cheeses, and the option of having a small or large sandwich, prepared with the works, either mild or spicy.  The Godmother, a sandwich which includes Genoa Salami, Mortadella Cappacola, Ham, Proscuitto, and Provolone Cheese is a classic, although we tend to go a little lighter with just salami or turkey with the works.  But no matter how hungry you are, unless you are sharing a sandwich (and why would you want to do that?), always order a small one.

A Large Turkey Sandiwch

Foodie Favorite: The Blueberry Cornmeal Cake at Huckleberry

Huckleberry, on Wilshire Blvd in Santa Monica, has a number of wonderful pastries and cakes on their menu, but our favorite is the Blueberry Cornmeal cake.  Perfect for breakfast, dessert after brunch, or just as an afternoon snack, this cake has a crumbly, not-too-sweet cornmeal base, and is filled with juicy blueberries.  We can't recommend it enough.

See more on Huckleberry's site here.