Los Angeles Up Close

If you had asked me a year ago if I liked the idea of living in Los Angeles, I would have said no. I always used to tell people that no one ever really dreams of living in LA and that it’s just a place to go for work, school, or to become an actor. Before I moved to LA, I lived in very laid back and peaceful towns like Pleasanton and San Diego where I always felt like I knew people wherever I went. When the time came to pack up my bags and move to LA, I was nervous about getting lost in the hustle and bustle of the big city. Surprisingly, it didn’t take long to feel acclimated to my new home. The fact that every other student at Graziadio was new to LA made the transition easier. It gave us an excuse to go out and explore the city together. And now that I know more about the culture, food, entertainment and activities in LA, my opinion about this city has completely changed.

I’m the type of person who’s always looking for new experiences, good deals and tasty food. I follow all the LA food trucks on Twitter and sign up for several local newsletters to find new things to do every weekend. Below is a list of my favorite LA experiences. If you are new to this great big city, I encourage you to try some of these yourself!

Fun & Free Stuff

  • Take a stroll down Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica. You’ll find good shopping, lots of restaurants, movie theaters and plenty of bars. It’s especially cute at night when it’s all lit up. Sometimes if my boyfriend and I are bored on a weeknight, we’ll wander down there and hang out at Barnes and Noble. It’s open until 11pm.
  • Play carnival games at the Santa Monica Pier. I dare you to play the basketball game (one shot in and win) and win one of those ridiculously huge teddy bears. Then have it ride with you on the Ferris wheel.
  • Take a picture in front of the Bellagio-like fountain at The Grove. Another great outdoor mall east of Beverly Hills.
  • Visit the Getty Museum or Getty Villa in Malibu. Admission to both of these museums is free (parking is $15). These are beautiful museums with spectacular views of LA!
  • Hang with the hipsters at First Friday on Abbott Kinney in Venice Beach. Every first Friday of the month, the entire street is open late including the art galleries and street vendors. Plus, all the best food trucks hang out at this monthly event.
  • Go hiking in Malibu. There are tons of trails near campus and in Pacific Palisades that will take you to the most spectacular ocean views.
  • Look at the stars at the Griffith Park observatory. There are also good hiking trails at this park, which will get you pretty close to the famous Hollywood sign!
  • Play beach volleyball in Manhattan Beach. Actually, there are volleyball nets set up at nearly every beach in LA. But playing at Manhattan Beach will give you an excuse to check out this cute beach town!
  • Work up a sweat on the Santa Monica stairs or jogging down San Vicente towards Ocean Ave. (Disclaimer: I can’t say I’ve done either of these, but I know they are popular!)
  • Hang out during a Lakers game at LA Live. This is where the Staples Center is downtown. It’s a fun place to go out for a bite to eat, see a movie, or my personal favorite – go bowling at Lucky Strike.
  • Go wine tasting at Ugo in downtown Culver City. They’ve got these cool do-it-yourself wine dispensers with lots of choices.

Fun & Cheap Stuff

  • Have brunch at Café Montana in Santa Monica. The entire street has good window shopping, bakeries and cafes. This is one of my favorite Sunday activities.
  • Buy 5 outfits for less than $100 at the outlets in Camarillo. It’s a little bit north of campus, so if you live closer to Santa Monica, I’d suggest going after class one day. Definitely a good option if you are looking for some new interview clothes.
  • See a play or musical at the Pantageas or Ahmanson theater downtown. All the best Broadway shows make it to one of these stages eventually. I know I’m going to see Avenue Q at the Pantageas in March, 2011!
  • Watch a live musical performance at the Hollywood Bowl. During the summer weekend shows, I know they often have great fireworks displays.
  • Stand in line to taste these supposedly unbeaten treats: Sprinkles cupcakes in Beverly Hills, Diddy Riese ice cream sandwiches in Westwood, or Pinks Hot Dogs in Hollywood. If you go, please bring me some so I can finally try one of these!
  • Try a new happy hour each week. Almost every restaurant in LA has happy hour. Gather up a bunch of your new Graziadio pals set up an ABC Happy Hour group – each week try a new happy hour that starts with the next letter of the alphabet.

Places to Visit on a Long Weekend

LA is close to a lot of great southern California destinations. If you have a long weekend and want to get away, consider visiting the following nearby towns:

  • Santa Barbara
  • San Diego
  • Newport/Laguna Beach
  • Palm Springs
  • Las Vegas
  • Disneyland!

More Ideas

The activities are endless in LA. Check out these web sites to stay on top of the good deals and new adventures to be had!

Have fun exploring!