I have lived in Southern California almost my entire life. Although I lived in the Bay Area for about 4 years, I have always been a SoCal girl at heart. That is why it always comes as a shock when I tell people that I have never truly explored Los Angeles until I came to USC. From my freshman year until now, I have had my fair share of trips and adventures throughout LA. From the sunny beaches to the concrete jungle of Downtown LA, I have learned so much from the city and would like to share some tips on how to make the most out of exploring LA!
Layla’s Bagels and Coffee in Santa Monica
Tip #1 Find friends who are excited about trying new things
Exploring Los Angeles with a friend can be very exciting. Whether you join outdoor clubs like SC Outfitters or gather a group of your roommates, you will have a great time with people who find joy in trying new things.
Tip #2 Find inspiration
I found that it is helpful to find inspiration for places to visit and plan ahead of time for trips out to LA. Usually, I will see a TikTok about a cute cafe in LA on my for you page and save it to a folder of places I want to visit. This also saves you so much time from searching for places to visit since you’ll have a folder filled with various options.
Tip #3 Make the time
As engineering students, it is no secret that we are busy people. However, everything is all about balance! Making time for fun activities is great for your mental health and a great way to give yourself a break from classes. Or, if you don’t have time, you can always change up the scenery by studying in a cafe or library.
Strawberry Matcha Latte from Aanuko Coffee in Culver City
Tip #4 Use USC Transportation
My final tip for exploring LA is to take advantage of USC-provided transportation. For places close to campus, USC has a free, shared Lyft service that runs within a 2-mile radius of campus from 6 pm to 2 am daily. Also, when traveling to further destinations, such as Disneyland in Anaheim or San Clemente Beach, USC’s Student Adventure Pass guarantees free transportation on MetroLink for all USC students.
Now, you may be familiar with the iconic and well-known landmarks in LA, such as the Hollywood sign, Universal Studios, and Santa Monica Beach Pier. Although these are great places that are worth visiting, here are some of my favorite spots in LA to visit:
Pasta Sisters, Culver City – Perfect for a casual, but classy dinner with some friends who enjoy pasta and breadsticks.
Sawtelle Blvd – In my personal opinion, one can never go wrong with a trip to Sawtelle. The entire street is lined with Asian-fusion restaurants and dessert shops with the most delicious food. I am impartial to B Sweet Dessert Bar which serves one of my favorite Filipino desserts: Halo-Halo.
The Broad Museum, Downtown LA – A perfect off-campus excursion to look at some contemporary artwork or take some amazing pictures. It is also the home of the iconic Infinity Mirror Room.
Redondo and Hermosa Beach – These are my absolute favorite beaches in Southern California! Hermosa Beach is gorgeous and has many boutique shops along the Strand. Redondo Beach is also a great option and is better known for its pier and delicious seafood.
LA Regal Live, Downtown LA – Finally, LA Regal Live is perfect for your typical Friday Movie Night. It is located in the heart of Downtown LA which encapsulates the glamour of LA city life.
Even though I have spent almost 2 years navigating through the city, I just barely scratched the surface of all that LA has to offer. Hopefully, these tips and recommendations will be helpful in your future adventures throughout LA. Have fun exploring!
