I’ve been in Los Angeles for nearly a year and a half now, and I’ve been lucky enough to have experienced many different places and events around here. Here is a list of my favorite things to do in LA (so far)!
Fun Events:
Los Angeles is the international capital of entertainment, and this is reflected in the sheer number of entertainment related events and venues. Concerts are always happening, and your favorite artist is guaranteed to stop by every once in a while. Whether it’s your favorite niche alternative underground singer from Berkeley, or the most popular rapper of the year, there will always be an opportunity to see them. There are also plenty of opportunities for major events such as music festivals, raves, pop up shops, and more!
Touristy Places:
There are some places in Los Angeles that everyone has heard of, but are not worth visiting more than a couple times. Examples include the Walk of Fame in Hollywood Boulevard, Griffith Observatory, the LACMA lights, Santa Monica Pier, and the Venice Beach boardwalk. These places should be checked out at least once, but you will quickly realize that they are always jam packed with people and not really the most pleasant experience. Disneyland and Universal Studios are an amazing experience, but there are always tons of people and the price tag is pretty steep.
Food:
My favorite places to eat around USC are the Armando’s food truck, Chick fil a, Chipotle, El Huero, and Tacozone. In LA, my go to favorites for dinner are Oo-Kook Korean BBQ, Pasta Sisters, and Sushi Ippo. I don’t go out and get brunch often, but the best diner I have ever been to here in LA is Patrick’s Roadhouse in Santa Monica. LA hosts immigrants from all over the world, so early every cuisine imaginable has a location here in the city of angels.
Weekenders:
The classic USC weekender occurs first semester, when there is a mass migration of students who travel to the bay area to support the USC football team. But there are other locations that you could travel to as well! If you are interested in nature, then excursions to Joshua Tree, Malibu, Death Valley, Yosemite, or Sequoia might be of interest. There are some nearby cities as well, such as San Diego, Santa Barbara, Palm Springs, and even San Francisco if you are willing to make the drive.
