Olvera Street Travel Guide - Los Angeles | California Travel Tips

California travel journalist Veronica Hill shares an Olvera Street travel guide in this episode of California Travel Tips.

This festive Mexican marketplace, located right across the street from Union Station, makes a wonderful day trip. Considered the birthplace of Los Angeles, the area dates back to Sept. 4, 1781 when 11 Mexican families from Los Alamos founded a pueblo here.

Today, Olvera Street is home to 27 original buildings, including the 1870 Pico House — once the Southwest's grandest hotel.

Don't miss the free tours of Avila Adobe, built in 1818. This is the oldest standing residence in Los Angeles, furnished with period pieces from the 1840s. It was also the home of Christine Sterling, who developed the marketplace during the 1930s.

Sepulveda House, built in 1887, now serves as the visitors center. Here, you can view an 1890s boarding house kitchen, watch a short film, or sign up for the free 50-minute historic walking tours.

One of the biggest highlights on Olvera Street is the food. Some of the best restaurants are Cielito Lindo (213-687-4391), known for their beef taquitos drenched in avocado sauce, and La Noche Buena (213-628-2078), where you can dig in to authentic street tacos stuffed with carne asada. For a more upscale Mexican menu, enjoy a margarita and mole poblano at La Golondrina (213-628-4349). Open since 1930, this was the first true Mexican restaurant in Los Angeles.

LIKE ME ON FACEBOOK http://tinyurl.com/nqx9osq
FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER https://twitter.com/Californiatips
FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM http://instagram.com/californiatraveltips