They say that “home is where the heart is.”  Having lived in Utah for the past two years, I’ve become increasingly homesick, wanting to go back to the endless LA streets filled with palm trees, the warm sunshine and long drives up the coast. Going back to California over winter break proved to be an adventure of a lifetime.

One of the best things to do in LA is to visit Griffith Observatory. Open everyday and free to the public, this popular tourist destination has views of the entire valley and the city of LA as well as hiking trails to the Hollywood sign.

Being an avid fan of the coast, another favorite activity of mine is to take a drive up the coastline.  Miles up Pacific Coast Highway stands one of my favorite coastal cities in Southern California– Santa Barbara.  This Spanish-style city is home to the famous Santa Barbara Mission and the most amazing coastal views from the harbor and streets filled of restaurants and local shops.

Another favorite activity of mine is to participate in the annual Tournament of Roses Parade on the first day of the New Year. This year, I volunteered to help decorate four different floats that made their way down Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena, California.  In the days leading up to the New Year, tensions were high in the decorating tents as the designers and volunteers scrambled to put endless flowers and seeds on the elaborate floats.  In the end, it was well worth the hard work to help the community in celebration of the new year.

What did you do over winter break? Tell the Signpost and send your pictures to [email protected], and you might feature in the paper.