Being born and raised in Glendale, CA, about 30 minutes away from campus, I’ve had the luxury of knowing the ins and outs of the city around USC from day 1. From my 18 years of living here, I’ve found the best way to explore Los Angeles is to think of LA as not just the big city, but more of SoCal as a whole.
The way I’ve lived it, everything in SoCal above San Diego and below Bakersfield is LA. The urban areas you’ll go into will be primarily in downtown, most of the suburbs will be pretty similar to each other, and there isn’t a whole lot of empty space.
The beauty of LA (besides the city itself) lies in its geographical location. Drive an hour west, and you’ll be in sunny Newport Beach. Drive an hour east, and you’re ready for a ski trip at Mountain High in Wrightwood. I believe the best way to truly experience LA is spend lots of time outside of the main city, especially because of how much SoCal (and California as a whole) has to offer.
If you enjoy urban, metropolitan areas, then you could spend weeks in downtown and experience something new everyday. From the skyscrapers to the intricate plazas, Downtown LA is the perfect place to experience corporate culture, technological advancements, and so much more. You’ll see a bunch of self-driving cars, new startup technologies being implemented in stores and cafes, busy people running from one meeting to another, and just about anything that comes to mind when you think of “big city”.
If you’re a big foodie, then you’re in luck – LA has some of the most, if not the most diverse food options in the country. There’s cultural representation from just about every demographic in the world, and there’s no shortage of amazing restaurants, from those hidden hole-in-the-wall gems to the fanciest Instagram celebrity food spots. There’s a vibe and flavor for everyone, and several options for each. You honestly can’t go wrong with just trying a place at random – I can guarantee you’ll find something you’ll love.
My last – and probably most controversial – tip for exploring LA is to not go to Starbucks. Don’t worry, there are more Starbucks locations in LA than I can count, but you’re just doing yourself a disservice by not experiencing those local mom and pop coffee shops around the city. There are so many different locations, all with their own vibes and offerings, and I couldn’t recommend them enough. As with my restaurant advice, go ahead and just try them at random – you can’t go wrong.
And on that note, I think trying things at random is the best way to explore LA. In a city with more things to do than there is time to do them, don’t fall for the trap of paralysis by analysis. Pick any restaurant, any activity, any trip or excursion, and you will have a phenomenal experience.
I’ll put it this way: there is not another city in the world where you can go snowboarding, hiking in the mountains, and swimming in world-famous beaches all in the same day – so enjoy LA.
