This past weekend, Rosie Alvarez, after much protest, had no choice but to take her visiting parents to the La Brea Tar Pits.
“It started with a text,” complained Rosie. “My parents texted that they were visiting me this weekend and wanted to do some fun ‘LA’ activities. Since we had already been to the Walk of Fame and the 3rd Street Promenade on a previous visit, my dad suggested the La Brea Tar Pits after seeing it advertised on TripAdvisor.com.”
Ms. Alvarez, much to her chagrin, had already been to the La Brea Tar Pits three times before on random trips with her friends. “The first time you go, I guess it’s kind of interesting. Ya know, there’s a dinosaur model, and some tar. It’s all pretty much over in 20 minutes. But going for a fourth time, especially with your parents, is excruciating.”
After spending 20 minutes helping her dad take selfies at the light fixture at the entrance of the tar pits, Rosie knew she was in for a long, long day. “Suddenly, my dad is a trained paleontologist, reading us all these facts about dinosaurs, like I’m his lab assistant being paid to care,” vented Ms. Alvarez. “I just wanted it to end. The only thing that got me through was knowing I’d get a free dinner out of my parents at the Water Grill.”
John Corcena, Director of Tourist Relations for the La Brea Tar Pits, asserts that the tar pits attract over 50,000 visitors a year. When asked in regards to Rosie’s situation, he commented, “Yeah, four times, that’s probably too much.”
At press time, Ms. Alvarez was busy with her roommate and her roommate’s family, pretending to have fun at the Santa Monica Pier.
