Cowgirls and Cupcakes-A Luxury Weekend in LA

Luxury can come in many forms, the richest buttercream, the most breathtaking view, a hotel that caters for your every whim. Packing all of the best bits into one long weekend in LA is a fine art but one I have got down to a tee. I was lucky enough to spend 10 long luxurious days in LA but if you only have a weekend, here is a luxury itinerary that singles out some of my favourite holiday highlights that will help you to squeeze every ounce of luxury out of your stay.

1) Sprinkles

Image source: Sprinkles.com

The absolute hub of naughtiness in LA. I forbid you to visit Los Angeles without paying Sprinkles a visit. The original cupcake bakery, Sprinkles is famous for creating signature cupcakes that scream luxury. As a cupcake connoisseur, I can assure you that you won’t be disappointed with any aspect of the Sprinkles cupcake. I spent three months in total exploring some of the most fabulous places in America but out of all of the places I visited, Los Angeles was the only place to satisfy my cake cravings. You can find mousse cake, cheesecake, pound cake and ice cream cakes on every corner but a good old sponge cake topped with icing is a rare find. After experiencing an extreme cake drought in Orlando and Miami I was starting to worry that I would be celebrating my birthday with an ice cream cake when fortunately someone told me about Sprinkles. Hooray for Sprinkles for making cupcakes with the best icing to cake ratio I have ever experienced.

2) The Malibu Mountains 

If you are looking to experience something a little different while in Los Angeles, why not swap your cut out swimsuit for a cowboy hat and take to the mountains for a day? After five days of poolside lounging, I wanted to do something a little out of the ordinary and a horseback ride through the Malibu mountains was exactly that. The lovely guide from the Los Angeles Horseback Riding Company showed us what it was like to be a cowgirl for the day and made sure that even though I hadn’t ridden a horse since around the age of 8, we returned unscathed.

3) The Pool Scene at the W Hotel 

My most fond memories of LA are the lazy days spent people watching at the pool. The W hotel in West Hollywood is a magnet for members of the Hollywood elite and has a reputation for throwing the hottest weekend pool parties. The perfect occasion to wear your most outrageous swimsuit and don’t forget the heels.

4)  Rodeo Drive

A visit to LA would not be complete without a trip to Rodeo Drive. There is nothing that cannot be achieved here. A fabulous blowdry, a magnificent lunch or a little retail therapy in one of the many designer stores. The epicentre of luxury labels, Dior, Prada, Louis Vuitton and Herve Leger are just a few of the stores that might take your fancy.

5) Hollywood

I was surprised to find that Hollywood was the least luxurious experience on my itinerary and rather than gleaming pavements and Hollywood superstars, I found shabby streets and tacky gift shops. That being said, it is something of a spectacle and is a great way to pass an afternoon in LA. Putting your hands in the imprints of your favourite movie stars at the forecourt of stars at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and the Walk of Fame are just a few of the highlights. It is also a great place to pick up fabulously tacky souvenirs for your friends.

Three things to do on my return:

*      Enjoy a luxury picnic under the Hollywood Sign

*      Go to a party at The Playboy Mansion

*      Visit Madame Tussauds

What are your favourite memories of LA? I’d love to hear them!