www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGozN3T_vHQ

This video is part of our On-The-Go Series, videos shot, edited, and uploaded using only Mobile Devices.

My rules for enjoying fish tacos:

• Order two.  One won’t be enough and three is too many.  You’ll thank me later.
• Get extra “white sauce”.
• If they have avocado or guacamole- get it.  Actually make it a double- you can never have too much guac!
• Add a lime.  Squeeze the lime all over the taco.  It adds the perfect zesty flavor.

Now, without further ado- here are my favorite places to grab a fish taco in Los Angeles!

Now for my picks:

When in Malibu… Go to The Reel Inn! It sounds like a cutesy hotel, but it’s actually a seafood restaurant right on Pacific Coast Highway.  The ocean is right across the street, so go inside, wait at the long line (don’t worry- it’s totally worth it), and take your fish tacos to the beach.  Don’t forget condiments and napkins- you’ll need them!  The tacos are grilled and battered and the cole slaw/ cabbage relish is amazing.  The fish is fresh and you can tell.

Best Fish Tacos in Ensenada might trick a few people as to where it’s located.  It’s in the heart of Los Feliz (just opened in Glendale, too!) and this place only has two things to order; fish or shrimp tacos.  They also have about four different salsas to choose from.  I love the pineapple one and top it all with the white sauce!

For a great happy hour taco- I head to Don Cuco’s in the Valley.  They now have three locations and all of them are great.  I order the fish taco a la carte, but they also have plates that include soup, rice and beans.  Their margaritas go perfect with the fish tacos and they are strong- so you know their good!!

Food Trucks are all the rage in Los Angeles and this list wouldn’t be complete without one.  Luckily Border Grille Truck doesn’t just fulfill that spot, they serve up some of the best fish tacos, and for only 3 bucks- a pretty great deal too.  Follow Border Grille Truck on Twitter for where the truck will be daily.

In a hurry?  Don’t worry- Rubio’s Mexican Grill sounds fancy, but they make great fish tacos and they make them fast. You can’t drive through- but this fast food Mexican place makes some delicious fish tacos. Started back in 1983, the owner Ralph got the idea from a college trip to Baja. Curious about “fish” tacos, he became friends with the cook and learned how to make them himself.  And on Tuesdays they are only $1.25! Definitely get some of the red hot salsa to go on top, it adds a spicy punch. I pretty much want to drink the stuff.  (Is that TMI- I told you I love tacos!)

Do you have a favorite taco joint?  If you live in Los Angeles, did yours make my list?  Let me know- I’m always up for trying more tacos!

photo via.

One of the best things about Los Angeles is its location in California.  Within a few hours you can be in Palm Springs working on a great tan, watching the surfers in San Diego, having a wine tasting in Santa Barbara or observing the marine life in Long Beach. Here’s what I would do in each city for a day trip or weekend away.

Palm Springs

Try to arrive early in the day and go for a hike at Coachella Valley Preserve and see the dunes, springs and riding trails. It’s only about 10 miles east of Palm Springs and a great way to start the day before it gets too hot.  Spend the rest of the afternoon lounging pool side to work on a tan and just to stay cool.  Later, walk down Palm Canyon Drive where the street becomes an old fashioned fair with food, farmers market and musicians.  Just walking up and down the street you’ll see retro boutiques, art galleries, thrift stores and modern furniture stores that give a unique view on the city.

San Diego

Start your day with breakfast at Beach Break Cafe in Oceanside, Ca.  Order the Banana Crunch French Toast and get it to share with the whole table.  Now with a full belly, drive down the coast until you get to Moonlight Beach.  You’ll want to find street parking and walk down the cliff to the beach.  The beach is beautiful, so take in the surfers and enjoy the beautiful sunshine. Helpful hint- bring sunscreen- even on an overcast day you can get seriously burnt.  Afterwards, throw on your sundress and sunglasses and drive to Encinitas.  Walk along the strip for fun shops and great food.  There is even a small movie theatre that shows first runs and a midnight showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show. For dinner drive down to Del Mar for fish tacos and a margarita at El Fuego.  If you get there before sunset, walk down the block to the beach to see the sunset.

Santa Barbara

About an hour and a half north of Los Angeles, you have access to over 15 wineries and a great night life.  During the spring and summer months, college kids completely take over the beach and it has a laid back and relaxed feel.  Almost every weekend has some type of art festival along the boardwalk and it’s really interesting to see all the local artist.  After dark, hit up State Street for dancing, food and drinks- most bars have great happy hours- and since they are all centrally located, you can walk to different ones as the night goes on.

Long Beach

This isn’t quite as far away as the other locations, still in L.A. county actually, but it couldn’t feel further away.  The marina is really cool and you should take an on board tour of the Queen Mary while you are there.  Afterwards, go to the Aquarium of the Pacific- it’s a smaller aquarium but the main room has a huge glass wall that is well worth the admission price.  They also do a great job of separating different animals and organizing it so it feels bigger than it actually is.  At night, the lights from all the boats cast the most beautiful glow on the Pacific Ocean.

Have more than a day? Head further north to Carmel, Big Sur or San Francisco.  All totally different experiences but completely do-able for a weekend trip.  No matter what route you choose, you’ll have a unique and exciting adventure that is totally different from being in Los Angeles.  Have fun and explore!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2J8YXzKumnk

We visited all the booths and sat through several of the talks and workshops gathering as much information as we could about what is happening with travel for 2010.  The talks proved to be the most informative with experts like Jen Leo from the LA Times, Johnny Jet and Rick Steves.

Here’s what the experts had to say:

Best iPhone Apps for Travelers with Jen Leo

• Well-known Apps: Southwest, Kayak, Google Maps, Priceline, TripIt, Skype
• Lesser-known Apps:

Flight Track Live ($4.99) – Let’s you know when the plane left the gate and which terminal you need to go to.

G Park and iCar Park ($0.99) – Identifies where you parked your car, gives visual and directions for getting back.

AAA Roadside Service (Free) – If your car battery dies, need to change a tire, general car problems.

Road Trip Fun ($0.99) – List of games and directions on how to play favorites.

• International Apps:

Babelingo ($1.99) – Translates phrases into 11 different languages.

Pano ($2.99) – Takes panoramic pictures.

Travel Fish ($7.99) – Guide Book-like allowing you to book a trip, see pictures, attractions, lodging and restaurants.

Rick Steves Walking Tour Podcast (prices vary) – Walking tour of different European cities.

The Best Tips for Getting Travel Deals Online with Jen Leo (moderator), George Hobica, Johnny Jet & Sam Shank

• Sign up for low air fare alerts such as Air Fare Watchdog, Kayak, Bing Travel, Yapta and farecompare.com.
• Sign up for frequent flyer programs. Some sites send out a weekly newsletter with promo codes for a percentage off airfare.
• Choose a site like Kayak over Travelocity or Expedia because Kayak searches internally through all airlines sites and the others don’t.
• Always check out the airlines directly to get an idea of what they are selling the tickets for and compare that to prices on Kayak or Orbitz.
• If you are flexible with your trip, use Orbitz flexible search option.  Can search specifically weekends or leaving only on Mondays, etc and compare over a month time to see the cheapest price.

Budget European Travel Skills with Rick Steves

• Travel in a way to connect with the locals and the culture.
• Try to think about how to minimize crowd connection.  Major cities like Rome and Paris are so congested and busy during the day, but at night no one is around and you’ll have the romantic experience you want all to yourself.
• Learn a little history before you go so you know the difference between time periods and design styles.
• Find a good map.
• Do things as if you lived there.  If you go to church every Sunday, go to church.  Just because you aren’t at home and can’t go to your church, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go.  You are in some of the most beautiful cities with huge cathedrals and so much history— go to Mass and have a unique religious experience.
• “If art isn’t fun, you don’t know enough about it!” See the art where it was commissioned to be made.  Use it as a way to time travel to that period and experience the life at that time.
• Go to sporting events- you’ll see a lot of locals and the events are always full of energy.
• Fly into one city and out of another.
• “Start mild and work your way to exotic.” If you’ve never traveled out of your state before, start with England where many day to day experiences are very similar to yours here. Then work your way to Greece, where you can’t speak the language or even read the symbols on the street signs.

The biggest tip I took away from the LATTAS was to prepare myself well for my trip. Whether through the latest tech gadget or even in a history book, the places I travel to are going to be more enjoyable if I know not only what I’m looking at, but also how to best take it in. Did you attend the show? What do you think about the experts advice?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qFQh_ygNkY

Fish Tacos, Malibu, the PCH, Venice, Santa Monica, the Pacific Ocean, Downtown, Food from a truck.  That was our first day in LA.  Here’s a quick recap.

Quick tips on making this the best picnic possible: The Reel Inn has parking, valet, and cost three bucks.  (And trust us, that’s the best three bucks you’ll spend.  You can try to park on the street- but this will take quite some time on the weekend as everyone is at the beach.)  They take cash or cards.  Once you get the tacos, you can walk across the street to the beach or walk a few blocks to find a perfect spot.  Make sure to get napkins and silverware from the Inn and bring a blanket or towels to sit on at the beach.  *insiders note: eat the tacos pretty quickly after getting them or they’ll get soggy.

Sunset Ranch is offering discounts on their trailrides.  They are currently offering “2 for 1 Tuesdays” and “Rainy Day Discounts” where a second rider rides free on 1 hour rides.

Check out their website for more information. http://www.sunsetranchhollywood.com/