It’s almost impossible to run out of things to appreciate about LA because every now and then, I stumble upon a hidden gem, a hole-in-the-wall restaurant with the best food, or a unique experience I know I won’t find anywhere else. In my four years living in LA, never once did I believe I’ve seen all there is to see about this bustling city… because I never will! There’s just too much it has to offer.
ART, HISTORY, and CULTURE
There are so many cool places to visit, whether you’re in the mood for art, history, classical music, or broadway.
- For some artistic inspiration, there’s the Los Angeles Contemporary Museum of Art (LACMA) and the Downtown LA Artwalk, each with a totally different vibe.
- The famous Bradbury Building near Bunker Hill has been featured in tons of movies because of its stunning interior design — a throwback to the 1800’s.
- Then for music and performances, there’s the Pantages, the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, where the world’s best performers take to the stage.
- The real treat is that USC’s Visions and Voices program takes USC students to lots of amazing shows for free!! I highly recommend checking out their calendar here: http://web-app.usc.edu/ws/eo2/calendar/113/.
at LACMA
The FOOD
Ah, yes. The hunt for good food is what sends me to different corners of the city, searching high and low through Southern California for a good meal. I still have a long wish list of restaurants and cafes I want to try, but I’ve already found many good ones for nights on the town with friends or a quick grab-and-go lunch.
Some recent favorites:
- Bacaro LA – a cozy Italian bar with tapas-style small plates ranging from pan-seared scallops to lamb burgers. It’s so close to campus, which is my favorite part! They have some interesting fare on the menu which is great for an adventurous meal.
The Bacaro burger
- Daikokuya – when my friends visit from out of town, they always hit up Daikokuya multiple times during their trip to LA. It’s hard to find authentic Japanese ramen in many other cities, but LA isn’t one of them 🙂 I hear good things about Santouka’s ramen too, but Daikokuya definitely satisfies my ramen craving.
Tsukemen ramen
- Jacks N Joe – breakfast with a twist. There are so many unique options on the menu! Their french toast is made with hawaiian sweet bread (heaven) and the Portugese sausage is amazing. It’s tempting not to go back often just to try something new! It’s just a few blocks away from campus, so it doesn’t get better than this.
Jacks N Joe
The OUTDOORS
In LA, the beaches, hiking trails, mountain slopes, and zip lines are at our disposal. It’s really up to you to take advantage of the great outdoors. Some awesome things to do:
- check out the beaches — from Santa Monica to Marina Del Rey, Manhattan beach, Dockweiler beach, Hermosa beach, Malibu, and tons more, everyone has their own favorite!
- hike up to the Hollywood sign via Runyon or Bronson Canyon
- go skiing/snowboarding at Big Bear or Mammoth
- go zip lining at Big Bear
To check out more of my favorite places around LA, read my reviews on Yelp: mica-lee.yelp.com
