Sometimes I wonder about people.
I was looking at my Threads social media account yesterday ,where I saw that someone worried about the demonstrations in Los Angeles asked if it was safe to visit Monterey, California.
What?? Has this person ever looked at an atlas or a map? Did they bother to look at the map on their phone to see where Monterey is?
Folks, it’s a good five-plus hours from L.A. to Monterey, which is a sleepy, tourist town known for its aquarium and lovely waterfront. Of course, it’s safe to visit Monterey.
It’s like asking if it’s safe to visit Montreal because there’s a demonstration in Toronto, or asking if it’s okay to visit the French Riviera because of political issues in Paris.
Oh, and, by the way, it’s also perfectly safe to visit Los Angeles. The demonstrations that have President Trump all riled up (for no good reason) are taking place in a small area near the federal building in downtown L.A.
Above the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles, California.
I wouldn’t recommend visiting that area right now, and I’d probably skip downtown as a whole. But, in case you hadn’t heard, Los Angeles is a very large city. Hollywood is several miles from downtown LA, and there are no reported issues at all. Universal Studios Hollywood is nine miles away. The beaches of Santa Monica are a good half-hour drive from downtown LA. Disneyland is 40 minutes away on a good day.
NBC Los Angeles sent a news reporter out on June 13 to talk to visitors. Here’s what a couple of them had to say.
“Up at Griffith Observatory, one of the city’s jewels high above bustling Los Angeles, visitors like Karin Brocades took in a view Friday that helps illustrate the city’s vast size,” NBC said.
“Well, we haven’t been here that long, but what we’ve see so far is very good, very safe, very nice,” Brocades said.
Matthias Meiberg, visiting from Austria, made the trip downtown and saw signs of this week’s protests and violence.
“We’ve been to downtown, and we felt quite unsafe to be honest,” Meiberg said. “But everything else is super safe. The police are amazing here and, actually, we have felt super safe in other areas.”
It would be foolish to deny there are problems in downtown L.A. But suggesting all of Los Angeles or the L.A. area as a whole isn’t safe is ridiculous. It also does immense harm to tourism businesses and workers who depend on visitors to pay the rent and feed their families.
Homes along a canal in the Venice area of Los Angeles, California. JIM BYERS PHOTO
I’ve also read crazy suggestions online that way the World Cup shouldn’t have any games in Los Angeles next year, or that the 2028 Summer Olympics should be moved. If the Olympics or World Cup never went to places with political disputes or demonstrations, they wouldn’t exist.
My suggestion? Just relax, people. The L.A. demonstrations aren’t a picnic in the park, but there’s no riot going on. Trump sent in the Marines and the National Guard to make a political statement, and because he hates Liberal California, not because innocent visitors might get into trouble.
California is a perfectly safe place to visit, and a wonderful destination. I would avoid downtown L.A. for now, but that’s no reason to skip a visit to Griffith Observatory or take a bike ride along the canals of Venice or visit Laguna Beach. Or take a trip to Monterey.
SPEAKING OF CALIFORNIA
I saw a nice item on Yahoo today and talks about great small towns in the Golden State. I was pleased to see a few faves on the list, including Sonoma, the town of Avalon on lovely Catalina Island, Sausalito, and the wine region of the Temecula Valley in Southern California. They’re all deserving of mention.
The town of Avalon on Catalina Island. Jim Byers Photo
Based on my having lived in the state the first 25 years of my life and on very frequent visits over the years, I’d add the following:
Capitola – a fabulous, colorful beach town on the north shore of Monterey Bay; just east of Santa Cruz.
Morro Bay – a lovely coastal town that’s roughly midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Here’s an item I posted about the town a couple months ago.
Carlsbad – a beautiful, pedestrian-friendly beach town a few minutes north of San Diego
Murphys – a delightful, old-time western town in the foothills of Sierra Nevada, with fine shops and terrific wineries
NEW ZEALAND’S NEW TOURISM CAMPAIGN
As part of the 100% Pure New Zealand brand, Tourism New Zealand has launched its new global brand campaign to encourage manuhiri (visitors) to make the trip at any time of the year.
The campaign breaks down the 100% New Zealand experience into smaller moments throughout one’s visit like 10% invigorated and 20% captivated – totalling 100% in the end.
The videos, which live on TNZ’s social accounts like Instagram and TikTok, feature various regions and experiences from across the country including Hump Ridge track hiking in Fiordland, exploring Hobbiton in Matamata, creative culinary experiences in Kaikōura and enjoying Auckland’s Tiritiri Matangi wildlife heaven.
Mount Maunganui, New Zealand. JIM BYERS PHOTO
Visitors can create their own 100% Pure New Zealand itinerary on the new Experience Planner portal.
I’ve had the pleasure of visiting New Zealand twice, and it’s one of my fave places on earth. The geography is both stunning and incredibly varied, the people super welcoming, and the food and wine excellent.
Some of my highlights:
- Visiting wineries and taking an off-road Segway tour on Waiheke Island, a short ferry ride from Auckland
- Taking a thrilling jet boat ride on the fast waters of Skippers Canyon
- Touring the French-village of Akaroa on South Island and visiting a wonderful, wacky, artsy spot called The Giant’s House
- Visiting the Hobbiton set in Matamata, which is a heavenly experience for any Lord of the Rings/Hobbit fan like me
- Stumbling onto a fierce and fabulous display of Maori culture on Waitangi Day on the North Island
- Playing golf on legendary courses such as Kauri Cliffs and Cape Kidnappers
- Visiting luscious wineries in the Otago region on the South Island
- Riding on the back of a Harley Davidson on a tour of Auckland
- Touring the Art Deco town of Napier on North Island
- Taking the “Wings over Whales” airplane tour near Kaikoura, where I spotted pods of whales and dolphins
