Hey everyone! I hope you enjoyed reading my blog last week about my freshman dorm experience. It is finally spring break! Woohoo! Time to get my tan on. Speaking of, I thought I would tell you about a few places in LA that are great if you love the outdoors.
Sometimes in LA it is very easy to become consumed with the constant movement of people bustling through the city, or lack thereof during rush hour. To get away from all of the stress, I like to take some time to myself and just breathe. I thought I would give you a list of a couple of places that I love to visit around LA to escape my worries.
1. The Hidden Gem – The Top of the World
The Top of the World is a location in the Pacific Palisades. When you arrive, you hike up a small dirt incline to reach the peak. From the top, you can see all the landscape of LA spanning from city to city. It is a great place to bring a blanket and have a picnic or go at night and see all of the bright lights of the city. My favorite time to go is at night with my friends after a frozen yogurt run!
2.The Popular Venue – Runyon Canyon
For many people in LA, Runyon Canyon is the hot spot to go on a hike. It is located just off of the 101 in Hollywood. It is great for hikes with friends and walks with your dog. From this trail, you can even see the Hollywood Sign! I have been here many times with my sorority sisters for sisterhood events. It is a great place to get a workout in and enjoy the outdoors.
3. The Scenic Spot – The Rose Gardens
At USC we are lucky enough to have our campus located right next to the Rose Gardens. There are small gazebos to sit in and just relax. My favorite time to go here is when I just need to think things through. It is great to walk down the rows of roses and just reflect on what’s going on. There is also a beautiful fountain in the middle!
4. The Summer Site – Will Rogers State Beach
Will Rogers State Beach is located between Malibu and Palos Verdes. It is one of my favorite beaches because it is never too crowded and has a ton of volleyball courts. Since beach volleyball is one of my favorite activities, I love it! My friends and I play here during the summer to get some game time in.
5. The Chill Location – Lake Balboa
Lake Balboa is a little bit of a trek from USC, located in Encino, but it is worth it. It is a cute little lake with benches and playgrounds for children. My favorite part of this area are the beautiful cherry blossoms. My friends and I would come here and feed the ducks and just have a relaxing day. It is also a great place for a picnic date!
Well those are my top 5 favorite places to enjoy the outdoors in LA. I hope you get a chance to check some of these out if you are in the area any time soon! Well I am off to enjoy my spring break. Have a great weekend! Fight on!
Jacquie