Okay so this post is two weeks late but it’s been a busy few weeks around here. It seems like one of us has been sick non-stop since November hit and we can’t shake whatever has been going around our house. I finally had some downtime this weekend and wanted to share highlights from our recent trip to North Hollywood.
We stayed at The Garland and it was absolutely gorgeous. The boutique style hotel reminded me of something right out of the 60’s. The updated retro hotel had so many vibrant colors and personality to it. I just love the feel of a boutique hotel and we felt right at home.
We dined at The Front Yard for my birthday dinner and it was d-e-l-i-c-i-o-u-s. Danny swore we were going to run into an A-list celebrity here and I could definitely see that happening. The food was so good and so was the ambiance.
The Front Yard has a free shuttle to Universal Studios, making it a great place for families. We took the trolley right to the entrance of the theme park so we didn’t have to deal with the hassle of parking.
If you’re taking toddlers to Universal, be prepared to stop for all of the characters. We saw Poppy, Shrek and the minions strolling around the park. Nati is terrified of characters but Ari was beyond thrilled to see Poppy.
When it comes to rides, most of the rides do have height requirements so if you have toddlers, you’ll be spending most of your time in Super Silly Fun Ride. The rides and the music will make you feel like you are right in the Despicable Me movie. There’s a kids play zone here and the lines are significantly shorter than the other rides at the park.
When we were there, they were setting up for Grinchmas and it looked amazing! I saw the construction of the Grinch tree going on so if you are planning a trip during the holidays, I recommend checking that out.
I was also able to convince Ari to go on the Harry Potter ride with me and it was her first roller coaster. She absolutely loved it. Everything about Harry Potter World is just magical and the butter beer is so tasty.
Danny’s favorite is the Studio Tour. It’s such a cool experience for the whole family as you get to experience the backlot of Universal. They were filming a few TV shows when we were there and actually saw some cast on set. If there’s one thing you absolutely have to do on your trip, it is definitely the Studio Tour!
