20's & 30's Somethings LA - Friends, Parties, Hikes, & More!

Dine at the oldest restaurant in the world, visit iconic museums such as Prado and Guggenheim, be amazed at Gaudi's architecture, taste pinxtos, sip good Spanish wine and view the Running of the Bulls from your own private balcony! To top this off...visit Portugal with its rich history, vibrant culture and breathtaking views!

This is just a little taste of what awaits us on this awesome culinary and cultural adventure!

Spain is truly a magical and fascinating country - full of history, culture and oh...so much good food and fun time!!! Portugal's history is intertwined with Spain's, so it makes perfect sense to combine these two destinations and be amazed at the similarities and the differences.
We get to travel as locals, mostly by trains between the cities AND at the best time of year to be able to experience in person The Running Of The Bulls in Pamplona.

CLICK HERE to see the photos from our 2022/2023 amazing adventures!

We visit:

• Lisbon (with Sintra an Unesco World Heritage)
• Porto
• Madrid
• Bilbao
• Pamplona RUNNING OF THE BULLS
• Barcelona

Guided tours in each city, breakfast daily and several dinners, museum entrances, tasting menus, Running of the Bulls w/balcony view, transportation throughout the trip and much more!

We travel as a group, and also have the flexibility of hop-on, hop-off tours and museum passes with "skip the line" so you enjoy a complete independence. You can take our organized tours or do your own thing, cater to your special interests, visit other sites and locations in the cities, while still being guided and aided with arrangements. You can do it independently, or you can join new friends traveling with you, and do it together. The idea is come alone, meet new like-minded people and make lifelong memories, without the "one size fits all" tour formula.

Price per person, double occupancy: $4850
(we match roommates for those wishing to share)
Price for single room: $6450

Included:

• 13 nights in first class hotels with central locations
• Breakfast daily
• Dinner at Casa Botín in Madrid, founded in 1725, is the oldest restaurant in the world according to the Guinness Book of Records https://botin.es/
• Authentic Basque Foodie Tour in Bilbao
• Transportation between the 6 cities
• Arrival and departure transfers from airport to hotels and train stations
• City Sightseeing tours in Lisbon, Madrid and Barcelona
• Entrance tickets and guided tours at Sintra, Prado and Guggenheim museums, La Sagrada Familia, Park Guell and more
• Front Row Private Balcony to view (safely from above) the Running Of The Bulls in Pamplona

In addition to the services listed above, what's included mostly comes down to creating an awesome trip at a great value and balanced logistics, making new friends and lifelong memories.

Not Included:
x Transatlantic Airfare (we can help you arrange that)
x Meals not listed above
x Tips and any personal and accidental expenses

The only way to secure your spot is a $500 deposit
Click Here for Secure Deposit Link
Deposit is refundable up to 90 days before the departure (less PayPal fees).
Click Here and Fill out this Form if you are making a Deposit
Click Here to fill out our google info request form and receive detailed itinerary and inclusions.
Limited capacity of 24 total. This trip will fill up extremely quickly.

We have designed this to include all the "must see" locations.
Click Here to Message Direct to Anna with any questions.
She can help you arrange the airfare and answer any logistics questions.
Click Here to see all our other fun events

SOT 2000318-10

(event update 5/4/2025

The short digest is the date needs to move to Saturday July 19th.
Your RSVP is moved to that date OR you can get a refund if that date does not work for you.
If you are a paid attendee . . you have been sent an email with longer info. Reply to that. You can also Meetup Message me at https://secure.meetup.com/messages/?new_convo=true&member_id=273063881&_ga=2.191436962.929442188.1735060618-506003524.1733355531

(what follows below is now the event info)
This was a rare event that has now become even more rare because Covid stopped it for 6 years!!

This is a murder mystery train ride from LA to San Diego and back.

And for those wondering . . . TOTALLY DIFFERENT STORY FROM THE Valentines Strangers On A Train Murder Mystery Event.

Those who sign up for the Strangers on a Train Murder Mystery will be an active sleuths in solving the mystery.

A unique drama will unfold in, among and around us. Different scenes will happen in two or three separate train cars simultaneously.
So you will only see the part of the plot that unfolds in front of you in your train car.

It will ALSO be a full and fun day where we will:

• Go Round Trip from LA to San Diego
• Including TWO Hours in San Diego
• One Hour in Oceanside
• AND
• A Murder Mystery on the way down to SD IN THE AISLES OF THE MOVING TRAIN.

All this for $86 per person CLICK HERE for secure Payment Link https://www.paypal.com/instantcommerce/checkout/YALSVSJT3537A

If you are X2 or have +1 . . . . just do the link a 2nd or third time.
(note: you do not need a paypal account to use the link. Just click the "use any credit or debit card" button on the 2nd or 3rd screen and continue as guest)
I
We will start out as Strangers on a Train.
And end as some new and old friends.
And have quite a ride of a Murder Mystery along the way.

You will interact with the other participants in the other coaches in San Diego and on the return, and piece together the other parts to figure out your guess of Whodunnit And Whydunnit.

If you guess BOTH correct you will win a FREE ticket to the next mystery train

Let me say this again: Vignettes will occur simultaneously in multiple cars. It is possible to comprehend the whole story only if you communicate with other participants and collaborate info.

After all, . . . it's a meetup!!! So of course there is a way to meet the other people. And THIS is the vehicle to do it.

This has been done several times on group before (in 2020, 2019, etc) and it sold out!!.

Here is the itinerary:

• 8:40am-10:48am is LA to Oceanside. First Acts. (2 hr)
• 10:48am-12:16pm is Intermission ( and change trains)
• 12:16pm-1:17pm is Oceanside to SD Final scenes/vignettes (1 hr)
• 1:17pm-3:20pm is Lunch and fun in San Diego (2 hr)
• 3:20pm-4:22pm Return towards LA (1 hr)
• 4:22pm-5:23pm Stop in Oceanside (1 hr)
• 5:23pm-7:38pm Oceanside to LA (2 hr)

How much is all this fabulousness?

All this for $86 per person CLICK HERE for secure Payment Link https://www.paypal.com/instantcommerce/checkout/YALSVSJT3537A

INCLUDED IN THE COST:

• Your train tickets.
• Fantastic Murder Mystery
• Breakfast pastries and coffee served on LA to San Diego portion.
• 2 hrs to roam and explore Downtown San Diego
• 1 hr in Oceanside at the pier/Beach/Sunset (Sunset is at 5:33 PM)
• More fun than you can shake a stick at.

Not Included:

• Whatever you do in San Diego is for you to decide to spend. Drinks, lunch, drinks, food, drinks, museum entries, drinks, baubles etc.
• Whatever you buy in Oceanside for the 1 hour we are there.

Refunds given if notice is 1 week prior to departure. Less than 1 week notice and a credit can be given for future events.

There will be NO tickets sold Day Of Event.

Want to be in the cast? This is an immersive experience. Message about being in the cast. https://secure.meetup.com/messages/?new_convo=true&member_id=273063881

Cast members still fully participate and guess who did it, you will still only know your portion of the plot. There is NO rehearsal time needed.
YES!!! YOU can be in the cast. Just message me!!

Last notes for ALL attendees:

• This will be a Western Americana tale.
• Come dressed to theme. Cowboy Hats, Straw Hats, Plaid, Gingham, Boots, Worn Jeans, Chaps, Ranchers, Daisy Duke, Ma & Pa Kettle, . . . Think Yellowstone (the TV show) without all the stuff that makes Yellowstone Yellowstone.
• Come on your own and leave with friends.

Some questions people ask:

Question: When do I need to decide by or when is the last day to pay?
Answer: This event is limited in numbers due to space. AND the event will fill. When it fills payment links are disabled. So there is no set last day. When it fills . . . . that's the last day. Don't want too long. When you circle back links may be disabled.

Question: I see 100 people signed up. Is there still space?
AND
I don't see anybody else signed up. Is anybody going? Is the event happening?
Answer: When was the last time you saw 100 RSVP'd and that is how many are at the event? If the payment link is active there is still space. The event is cross posted to several groups. Some groups have many RSVP's, others with fewer. The number of RSVP's is not important. The number of folks who take the time and effort to make a payment are important. When it fills the payment link is disabled. And our events do always fill!!
AND
Answer: The event is cross posted to several groups. The event will fill . . . it always does . . . with many folks upset and saying "but I was jus about to send payment." The event is happening. We will have a wild ride to San Diego and back with even more fun and good decent social.

Refunds given if notice is 1 week or more prior to departure. So it's OK to commit now and if plans change

Come join us!!

Message me with any questions: https://secure.meetup.com/messages/?new_convo=true&member_id=273063881

Main Event Link https://www.meetup.com/sevenarts/events/306042366/
Saturday Payment Link
https://www.paypal.com/instantcommerce/checkout/YALSVSJT3537A

A note to everybody . . . come. It will be a blast.

This is our Annual Ensenada Thanksgiving Cruise.

The 4-day Thanksgiving weekend can be sometimes too long and too boring if you are stuck at home. So why not get out of town and have a blast?!

This will be DIFFERENT from previous years. We will be on a 4-day cruise & INCLUDE A DAY IN CATALINA AND A DAY IN ENSENADA!!!!

AND WE ARE LEAVING ON THANKSGIVING!!

Best Thanksgiving EVER . . .No dishes!!

Perfect for folks with no family in town.

AND

Perfect to take the whole family out of town!!

We've all got Thurs to Sun totally off . . . So let's make the most of it.

Thanksgiving can seem a long way off . . . We have been doing this cruise for 5 years now. And each year it fills up months in advance!

Check the photo gallery with past pix from previous trips https://photos.app.goo.gl/b7ebjhUuL7bajLhb7

As a group, we have negotiated a special price.

The cost is $602 Per Person TOTAL FOR 4 NIGHTS (all in) including taxes and port charges. (many places give you a false price not including taxes, and port fees). Rate is guaranteed only if you make a deposit.

The deposit is only $190 and it is refundable (less PayPal fees) until Sep 01, 2025
CLICK HERE to make a Deposit:

The $602 per person (total all in) gets you an interior cabin, double occupancy (share).
Get a friend and come along. OR come Solo. We do the roommate matching so you can get the share price and save!

There are upgrades to balcony cabins or single occupancy. CLICK HERE TO SEE OPTIONS

Space is limited and only an RSVP ACCOMPANIED WITH A DEPOSIT will guarantee your spot.

The deposit is only $190 and it is refundable (less PayPal fees) until Sep 01, 2025
CLICK HERE to make a Deposit

After Paying the deposit be sure to CLICK HERE and fill out our ATTENDEES INFO FORM to let us know what cabin accommodation you want.

There are PLENTY of cruises on Meetup. Ours is decidedly different and not like the others.

The boat (ship) has all the things that make a cruise ship fun

• 9-hole mini golf course
• WaterWorks (waterslide park)
• Tropical resort-style pool
• Serenity Retreat area.
• Casino
• Comedy shows
• Stage shows
• Bars
• Nightclubs
• Dancing
• Live music
• Spa type services
• . . . and more.

BUT...as a Meetup we get special treatment. We will get reserved seating together for the formal dining room.
ALSO
We will be doing our own activities on the boat, such as a scavenger hunt and an Open Bar Cocktail Hour. That's right . . . open bar . . . on a cruise ship!!
AND
Best of all a great group of like-minded people from our Meetup, ready for play and have fun!

Schedule:
Thu: Long Beach (Los Angeles) 04:00 PM
Fri: Catalina Island 08:00 AM 05:00 PM
Sat: Ensenada 08:00 AM 05:00 PM
Sun: Fun Day At Sea
Mon: Long Beach (Los Angeles) 08:00 AM

On the 2nd night we get a Cocktail Mixer with an OPEN BAR (unlimited drinks). We will also have a formal dinner and dress in our fineries.

The BEST part are OUR shore excursions in Ensenada. And this is what will make our Meetup and this cruise different from others.

Totally optional if you want to join us! We will have our own coach and driver for our shore excursion and we will do:

• Zip Line Canopy Tour
• ATV
• Horseback Riding

We have enough time there for you to do any two.

The best way to see what it's like is to check the gallery with past pix from previous trips https://photos.app.goo.gl/b7ebjhUuL7bajLhb7

But wait!!! How about some wine? We will visit Santo Tomas historic Winery for a tour and tasting! An olive oil tasting too! We will also have time to visit to Anthony Bourdain's Favorite Street Food Cart for some ceviche!

Since we are organizing our own excursions we will be able to save from the ones offered by the cruise line.

This is an all-around great way to spend the Thanksgiving weekend.
And...this is NOT like the other meetup cruises you see.

Come join us for the fun and adventure!

Question: Is this for Singles? Or Couples? Or Families?

Answer: This is for everybody. Kids are welcome. It's about people, not your relationship status, sexual preference or age. All are welcome! We will be a good size bunch so you will find folks you would hang with.

CLICK HERE for Main link for this event. RSVP there to get any conversations and discussions.

Have questions? Click here to Message Anna direct

We do a monthly Q & A Zoom for all our international trips, including this one.
Click Here to RSVP to our Zoom
Meet others attending, be social, or come and get any questions answered.

We believe in good decent social. We have a set of sister group we post our local free, local/regional camping, and our overseas events too.

Click Here to see or join our other events

SOT 200318-10

Live the adventure instead of only dreaming it!

Join us on this magical trip to Japan to experience the enchanting allure of spring, where nature paints the landscape with vibrant colors. We chose this season for the unparalleled opportunity to explore some of the country’s most iconic destinations at their best: Tokyo, Mount Fuji, Kyoto, and Osaka. We will also visit the Japanese Alps with stays in Matsumoto and Kanazawa. Each city boasts unique attractions and seasonal charm that will captivate our senses and leave us with unforgettable memories. A true Meetup Experience!

What is included:

• 3 nights in Tokyo
• 1 night in Matsumoto
• 2 nights in Kanazawa
• 2 nights in Kyoto
• 3 nights in Osaka
• Arrival and Departure Airport Transfers
• Transportation throughout by Coach
• English Speaking guide throughout the itinerary
• Sightseeing tours with admissions fees per itinerary
• Breakfast Daily
• 2 lunches, 5 dinners

Experience:

• Visit to shrines, temples and castles with amazing Spring Blossoms
• The Bullet train-Shinkansen
• Sushi Making Class
• Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony
• Maiko Dinner (apprentice geisha)
• Samurai Experience

What is not included:

• International Airfare
• Tips for the guide and driver
• Meals not listed in the itinerary
• Items of personal nature

Japan during spring is a feast for the senses, offering a harmonious blend of natural beauty, cultural heritage, and urban excitement. We will enjoy it all and this promises to be an unforgettable adventure with our fellow Meetup travelers!

Land Tour cost $5760 per person, double occupancy
(we match roommates for those wishing to share)
Solo occupancy additional $1050
***International Airfare not included***

The only way to guarantee your spot for this meetup is a $400 deposit.
CLICK HERE for secure deposit link:

Upon submitting the deposit, please fill out this form

RSVP to the event with your email to receive additional info.
RSVP DOES NOT RESERVE YOUR SPOT.
Deposit is the only way to hold your spot.
Click Here for secure deposit link.

Your deposit is fully refundable up to 90 days before the departure.
For airfare and other info on the trip, click here to message Anna
Click Here to fill out our google info request form to receive detailed itinerary.

We believe in good decent social. This event is cross posted to several other groups and the number of RSVPs on each is not reflective.
Click Here for the main location of this event.

Still have questions? We do a monthly Q&A Travel Zoom on all our events

Come to the zoom and ask any questions. Great way to get the info you want without all the other fluff. As well as meet us and other attendees.
Click here for General Policies and useful info about our international trips.
We have a set of sister groups where we post our local free, local/regional camping, and our overseas events too.
Click Here to see all our other fun events

Live the adventure instead of only dreaming it!

SOT 2000318-10