In January, I decided to escape the Boston cold and fly west to visit my parents, who had been staying in Los Angeles with my aunt and uncle for the past month. The change of scenery was especially meaningful for my dad, who has been the primary caregiver for my mom as she navigates Alzheimer’s. A little sunshine, palm trees, and 70-degree weather go a long way.

I flew in on a Tuesday night, worked remotely Wednesday, then took Thursday and Friday off to turn it into a long weekend. My aunt and uncle live in Cerritos — a quiet, suburban pocket of LA County known for its well-kept neighborhoods, strong school district, and the iconic Cerritos Library (which looks more like a spaceship than a library). It’s calm, residential, and a sharp contrast to the stereotypical chaos people imagine when they think of LA.

The Joshua Tree That Wasn’t

Originally, I had ambitious plans to continue our “National Park Tour.” When my parents visited Boston in October, we road-tripped up to Acadia. So naturally, I thought we’d keep the momentum going with Joshua Tree National Park.

But coordinating four older adults — each with varying levels of mobility, energy, and enthusiasm — proved more complex than mapping desert hiking trails. Add LA traffic to the equation and suddenly a spontaneous park adventure feels like a logistical summit meeting.

The Getty: Art, Architecture, and a Win for Logistics

The one place I successfully convinced everyone to visit was the Getty Center.

Perched in the hills above LA, the Getty is part museum, part architectural masterpiece. Designed by Richard Meier, the white stone buildings overlook sweeping views of the city, ocean, and mountains. The tram ride up alone feels like an event. Inside, you’ll find European paintings, sculptures, decorative arts, photography, and rotating exhibitions. Outside, the Central Garden is a living sculpture — winding paths, vibrant flowers, and perfectly manicured landscapes.

It checked all the boxes:

Easy to navigate
Plenty of places to sit
Mentally stimulating
Incredible views

Griffith Observatory: A View Worth Repeating

Another highlight was a trip to the Griffith Observatory — this time just my mom and me.

Perched on the southern slope of Mount Hollywood, the observatory offers one of the most iconic panoramic views of Los Angeles. From the terrace, you can see the skyline stretching to the ocean — and of course, the unmistakable Hollywood Sign sitting proudly in the hills.

Inside, the exhibits dive into space, physics, and astronomy. It felt good to be somewhere intellectually energizing. At the same time, traveling with my mom means answering the same questions on repeat or gently reminding her where we are. There are moments of sadness in that — knowing she may not remember the day — but there’s also clarity. The memory may not stick for her, but the experience still matters. For me, for us.

Getting her out, walking in the sunshine, sharing a view of the city — that’s the point.

The Huntington Library

On Saturday, we visited the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. Conveniently, the stock market was closed — which meant my dad had no day-trading excuse and joined us.

The Huntington is massive and stunning. It’s part research library, part art museum, and part botanical wonderland. The gardens alone could fill an entire day:

The serene Japanese Garden
The elegant Chinese Garden (Liu Fang Yuan)
The Desert Garden filled with dramatic cacti and succulents
The Rose Garden
The lush Subtropical and Australian Gardens

With blue skies and perfect temperatures, it was one of those Southern California days that makes you understand why people never leave. We wandered slowly, took breaks, and soaked it in. It felt peaceful — multigenerational, unhurried, and grounded.

Bonus Days

I was supposed to fly home Sunday evening. Instead, a major snowstorm back east canceled my flight and pushed my return to Wednesday.

Unexpected extension.

Working East Coast hours in California meant I wrapped up work around 2pm each day. Suddenly, I had entire afternoons free. I took my mom on walks around the neighborhood and to the local park in Cerritos to play pickleball.

Surprisingly? She’s really good.

We’d rally for long stretches. It wasn’t competitive, but that wasn’t the goal. Rallying is more engaging than walking laps while answering the same repeated questions. It gave us something active to share — a rhythm, a focus, a moment.

Small wins matter.

Wagyu Night at Chubby Cattle

The only time I broke from the older generation was dinner with my cousin at Chubby Cattle.

All-you-can-eat Wagyu. Let that sink in.

Chubby Cattle is a modern hot pot spot known for premium meats and over-the-top options. Depending on the tier you choose, pricing ranges roughly from mid-tier premium to top-tier luxury — with higher levels unlocking unlimited Wagyu. You order rounds of beautifully marbled beef, swish them in simmering broth for seconds, and repeat. The tenderness was unreal — buttery, melt-in-your-mouth, borderline irresponsible.

Apparently, my brother once played ping pong with the owner there — which feels very on brand for our family.

Final Thoughts

This wasn’t the adventure-filled Joshua Tree trip I initially envisioned. It was slower. More local. More logistical.

But it was meaningful.

It was pickleball rallies.
It was panoramic city views.
It was art museums and botanical gardens.
It was answering the same question again — patiently.
It was sunshine in January.
It was time.

And sometimes, that’s enough.

Los Angeles - January 2026