Jamie Ferrell, Author at Secret Los Angeles

Hi there! I grew up in Santa Cruz and graduated from UC Berkeley in 2018 with an English major and Spanish minor. After teaching ESL for a few years, I joined the Secret Media Network as a Staff Writer. I love to write about California history, hidden gems, museum exhibitions, and local wildlife.

Orange County is getting a brand new 5,000-capacity concert hall within a year — the centerpiece of a new $4 billion, 100-acre entertainment district

Orange County’s live entertainment scene is getting a massive upgrade next year. Set to open in early 2027, the highly anticipated OCVIBE Concert Hall will be a state-of-the-art, 5,000-person-capacity ven...

Escapes

National Geographic named this 25-mile California trail among its ‘100 hikes of a lifetime’ — it traces the longest undeveloped coastline in the nation

This April, National Geographic writer Stephanie Pearson released 100 Hikes of a Lifetime U.S.A., a guide showcasing some of the country’s most unforgettable bucket-list trails. Through vivid storytelling...

Things to do

The biggest swimming pool in the U.S. is about to reopen in one of L.A. County’s hottest inland neighborhoods — and entry is only $4

Memorial Day weekend is almost here, kicking off the summer season! Thousands of Angelenos have their eye on Hansen Dam Aquatic Center, which officially reopens to the public on Saturday, May 23, 2026. ...

Culture

Anaheim’s new $4 billion, 100-acre entertainment district will double as an open-air art gallery with 70+ free public artworks

Anaheim's enormous $4 billion OCVIBE entertainment district project is overhauling the area around Honda Center, creating a new 100-acre gathering space with public parks, a state-of-the-art concert hall,...

Cinema Things to do

After 25 years, this century-old L.A. mansion is transforming back into the Genovian consulate for an exclusive ‘Princess Diaries’ anniversary pop-up

Shut UP! The Princess Diaries is officially celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, and Disney's official fan club, D23, is ringing in the milestone with a one-of-a-kind pop-up on June 13th. L.A.'s...

After nearly 2 decades of conservation efforts, this tiny 0.75-mile trail has finally opened in L.A. — unlocking one of the city’s most elusive open spaces

Los Angeles' newest hidden gem is the Elephant Hill Open Space Trail, a short but scenic 0.75-mile switchback trail that just opened on May 2, 2026. It may be tiny, but this trail project actually dat...

Things to do

The California Strawberry Festival returns for its 40th anniversary this weekend with 50 acres of strawberry-themed food and activities

Kick off the summer season at the 40th annual California Strawberry Festival, taking place at the beachside Ventura County Fairgrounds on May 16th and 17th, 2026! The quintessentially Californian festi...

Food & drink

Huntington Beach’s wild Wurst Fest returns this May with free admission, live music, and a hilarious 30-year dachshund racing tradition

Old World Huntington Beach is bringing back its popular Wurst Fest for the third year! On the weekends of May 16-17 and May 23-24, 2026, head to The Biergarten to enjoy fantastic beer and an impressive sa...

Sports

Over 100 free World Cup watch parties are coming to Los Angeles parks next month — here’s the full list of venues

We're only a month out from the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and living in a host city has its perks! Last week, Mayor Karen Bass announced "Kick it in the Park," a series of more than 100 free outdo...

Escapes Secret Guides

16 Best Day Trips From Los Angeles, From Spring Flower Fields To Catalina

Southern California is an international travel destination thanks to its wealth of beautiful nature escapes, unique small towns, scenic drives, and excellent weather year-round. We're lucky to live withi...

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