La Mirada, CA Road Trips

The Boulevard, La Mirada Blvd. between Beach Blvd. and Leffingwell. To get the full La Mirada-effect, you should cruise the boulevard (literally La Mirada Boulevard). Begin at LM Blvd and Beach Blvd and continue on until you hit Leffingwell. You begin on one end of LM's continuum, the new and ever multiplying tract homes indicating the wealthier end of the city (think: good side of the tracks), and end right near the Whittier/Santa Fe Springs border, where the dilapidated apartment buildings stretch out on both sides (yes, wrong side of the tracks). You'll pass the theatre, the city's original shopping center, Regional Park, the Cemetery, City Hall, the Public Library, Creek Park, and more. Plus, during certain times of the year the boulevard is decorated, delivering the small-town charm this little city manages to maintain. (updated Mar 2016) 1 Neff Park, San Cristobal & San Esteban Drives, ☏ +1 562 943-7277. The historic hub of the city located on San Cristobal Ave. It's generally frequented by local school children on field trips to the historic Neff House or for outdoor day-camps. There are basketball and tennis courts on the grounds. The Neff Barn houses a mini-museum of historic memoribilia from its namesake, a family of the early settlers of the city. Definitely, a must-see for history-buffs especially if they're interested in California history. (updated Mar 2016) 2 La Mirada Regional Park, 13701 South Adelfa Avenue (Adelfa Dr and Alicante Rd), ☏ +1 562 902-5645. Sunrise-sunset.

1 La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Boulevard, ☏ +1 562 944-9801, [email protected]. Box office hours: M-F 11AM-5:30PM, Sa noon-4PM. The LA Times once deemed it "one of the best Broadway-style houses in Southern California." Though the calendar of events is less than stellar, the theater is lovely and provides a satisfying theater-going experience. A typical season might include the stage adaptation of "Driving Miss Daisy" or the musical stylings of Engelbert Humperdinck. Local acts like the La Mirada Symphony and the moral dramas produced by Phantom Projects are usually well worth the price of admission. (updated Mar 2016) 2 Splash! (La Mirada Regional Aquatics Center), 13806 La Mirada Blvd. (turn onto Civic Center Drive from La Mirada Blvd.), ☏ +1 562 902-3191. Hours vary by season.. In 2007, a competitor for the main attraction title opened its gates to reveal a 50-meter pool and a pirate-themed water playground. Allegedly, the pirate theme was selected to reflect La Mirada's Spanish heritage, but it smacks of the Caribeean. Splash! (the catchy given name for) the La Mirada Regional Aquatics Center features two pools, a spa, and a water slide. Prices vary by facility being used.. (updated Mar 2016) 3 AMC La Mirada 7, 15296 Rosecrans Avenue, toll-free: +1 714 739-1009. The unofficial main attraction, which has really boosted LM name recognition in surrounding cities, is this $2 movie theater. It is located in the La Mirada Shopping Center and shows last month's movies at a discounted rate.

Gondola's Pizza. Talk about a La Mirada staple. Gondola's is synonymous with pizza in La Mirada. This is another family business, but it's not always the fam that's serving you. It's often some teenage girl, so take the sass with a grain of salt. They serve pizza, pastas, lasagna, salads, garlic bread, etc. for dine-in or take-out. It's all good. The spaghetti sauce is a little on the sweet side, so you've been warned that it's not regular-old-marinara, but they do have other sauces. The pizza pie is amore, and that's all you need to know. The crust is crispy on the outside but smothered in cheese and sauce and more cheese. They serve the large bottles of Moretti, the Italian beer, which is hard to find in restaurants, so take advantage. Tom's Jr. Burgers. Another LM hangout. It's way less classy or kitschy than the Max on Saved by the Bell, but hey this is real life, remember? Tom's is a real life high school hang-out. It's a burger joint, like Bob's Big Boy, they serve breakfast and Mexican food too. You have to try the fries and don't be afraid to ask for extra seasoning salt. Almost everything is good, but steer clear of the pork chops. (updated Jan 2019) Millie's. This is a part of a chain, but it's the closest thing LM has to a diner. Still, Millie's is no consolation prize; it's grand. They make homemade cinnamon rolls and in the summer, strawberry cheese rolls. Their chicken tortilla soup is the best anywhere. Then their biscuits and gravy are killer. Panera. Another chain, but an honorable mention because their bakery is probably the best in LM.

Coffee and tea: Java Co.. La Mirada's independent coffeeshop. They have good coffee and better tea. They supply Wi-Fi and board games. There is sidewalk seating for the Euro experience of sipping espresso and people watching al fresco. Live music on occasion. The staff is usually quite friendly. Adult beverages: There are only dive bars in La Mirada. Yesterdays, The Golden Brick, Tubby's. They are standard dive bars with the standard regulars hangin' over the bar and the standard underage drinkers crowded in the corners. For a classier place to get a drink, maybe on a date, try Pisces Sushi or Mr. Z's. If you're looking for something in between the dive bar/ restaurant divide, or if you're alone and new in town, head over the hill to La Habra where Red Robin, Chili's, and Applebee's offer the dive bar experience set within a casual, family restaurant. Scratch. On Imperial Highway in the Home Depot Shopping Center is a pool hall with a bar. Across the street there's a Round Table Pizza that serves comparably priced pitchers of beer. Gondola's Pizza (see above) also serves beer and wine.

Holiday Inn Select, 14299 Firestone Blvd, ☏ +1 714 739-8500, [email protected]. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Residence Inn La Mirada Buena Park, 14419 Firestone Blvd, ☏ +1 714 523-2800, fax: +1 714 522-5884. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Extended Stay America - Los Angeles - La Mirada, 14775 Firestone Blvd, ☏ +1 714 670-8579, fax: +1 714 670-8361, [email protected]. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM.

Most people get to La Mirada by car. From the I-5/ Santa Ana FWY, take the Valley View exit. It dumps you off in the industrial outskirts of La Mirada. Follow the signs that direct you North toward Biola University which is near the city center. From the 57 freeway in Brea, exit Imperial Highway and head West. From the 60 freeway, take the Azusa exit South toward Colima, turn right on Colima (headed West) and though this is a longer route, it's hilly and scenic at times (especially at night when the city lights are all aglow). Plus, it's a straight shot: Colima forks off into La Mirada Blvd (after you pass Whittier Blvd) and takes you right into LM. You can also take the bus. Coming from Downtown Los Angeles, Montebello, and surrounding areas take the Montebello Bus Line #50. Coming from Orange County take the OCTA bus, either #20 from Yorba Linda or #29 from Huntington Beach. For maps and more details check out the city's map of local bus routes. Nearby Norwalk and Fullerton have Metrolink train stations which have connecting bus routes and accommodate travelling further distances which can be painfully slow by bus. Check the 91 Line or the Orange County Line schedule. Most major airlines serve Long Beach Airport (LGB IATA) which is the area's regional airport, it is 10 miles (16.0934 km) from the airport which is in Long Beach.

Sometimes La Mirada resembles Mayberry USA (of Andy Griffith Show fame) but it is undeniably Southern California in at least one way: you need a car. Access to a car is required to thrive in and around La Mirada. But if you're on vacation or your life is pretty centralized around LM, then by all means ditch the gas-guzzler and try life in the bike lane. LM has extensive bike lanes and sidewalk space, making it relatively safe for cyclists and pedestrians. La Mirada Transit, sometimes referred to as "Dial-a-Ride," also offers convenient door-to-door shuttle service Monday-Saturday at varying times for $1 one-way. It's a bus-taxi hybrid that is quite reliable and especially helpful on rainy days or for those without driver's licenses. Their website lists the phone number to arrange pick-up and their hours of operation.