Being a transfer student, new to LA, and away from my parents for the first time permanently was something I was dreading. In an effort to make myself feel better about living away from my closest friends and family, I started to drive around LA and look for new places to explore. I quickly began to realize that LA was only going to be as fun as I made it so I started intentionally looking for the best of LA. I spent my first two months in LA on different beaches, Venice, Manhattan, Santa Monica, and Malibu are just some of the ones I have seen.
LA’s coastline is legendary, with stunning views and sunsets. My favorite beach so far has been Manhattan, especially at night. I like to catch the sunset on the beach and walk around the surrounding town and explore the area without a pre-set agenda. Walking around without a clear plan has been the most rewarding part of moving to LA. Because of this, I have found countless new hiking trails, restaurants, and cafes.
Besides for walking around, hiking has been a great way to see so much of the city at once. Starting with the most known trails, the Hollywood trail and Griffith Observatory hikes, from these hikes I can see LA all at once, and it is a beautiful, easy, and active way to see LA from the top.
Going to piers is also a great way to go outside, meet new people, and explore LA. The most notable is Santa Monica pier, known for its marvelous beach and lively pier. During the day, I like to enjoy the beach and then head to the pier afterwards to walk around, enjoy some food, and spend some time with friends. After catching the sunset, of course (I like sunsets, is that obvious?).
Last but not least, LA is so full of culture. A wonderful way to see LA’s culture is the Getty Center, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The Broad, and a Mexican street market in downtown LA. These museums offer so much culture, music, history, food, and art–a great way to take a peek into what LA has to offer.
