Welcome to Los Angeles! You have arrived at one of the most exciting cities around the world, and the city will be your home base for five out of the nine intensive sessions. Being here can be somewhat overwhelming due to all the different activities there are to do. In less than 45 minutes from USC you can find yourself at the beach, in about two hours you could be enjoying some sun in the desert in Palm Springs, and in about three hours you could be skiing or snowboarding at Big Bear Mountain (during the right time of the year of course!). Staying busy in Los Angeles is quite simple so here is a list of some fun things to do when a study break is needed.
When you are in the heart of Downtown LA, going to the beach is one of the most obvious local getaways! In less than one hour you can find yourself surfing in Malibu, walking down the pier in Santa Monica, enjoying some people-watching in Venice Beach, or just simply lying out down in Manhattan Beach. All of these different beaches offer unique experiences all year round! Some fun activities you can enjoy could be paddle boarding or surfing. These are some of the more popular activities locals enjoy doing and they are great workouts too!
Another very popular way to stay active is hiking. Locals in Los Angeles are avid hikers as there are many options all over Southern California. Some of the local favorites are:
- Runyon Canyon – This one is a favorite in LA. Located in the Hollywood Hills this hike will give you a great view of all of Los Angeles and the Hollywood sign. Celebrity sightings are a high possibility here and they also offer some free yoga classes.
- Escondido Falls – If you would like to be somewhat more adventurous, this is the hike for you. It is a four-mile round trip with waterfalls and pools for you to enjoy during a hot day.
- Griffith Park – This is the place to go to to see the Hollywood sign. There are various trails to explore and the Griffith Observatory also has a lot of educational activities.
- Culver City Stairs – Another very popular way to stay active in Los Angeles is doing the Culver City Stairs. It is a long hike of stairs which makes for a great workout with locals.
A great spring or summer activity in Los Angeles is watching outdoor movies. Many venues (such as cemeteries) all around the city host movie nights in outside gatherings where you’re welcome to bring your own snacks and drinks.
If live music sounds like the perfect study break, museums such as LACMA have jazz nights every Friday beginning April through the end of November. They have hosted great artists, and it is a great way to feel like a local in LA. During the summer, Santa Monica hosts Twilight Concerts at the pier which makes for a fun summer night.
The Hollywood Bowl is a unique venue for concerts and other various activities. The concert schedule could be found here. One amusing way to spend a weekend is by being part of their Picnics at the Hollywood Bowl right before a concert. As early as 4:00 p.m. before a concert you can bring your favorite food and drinks to enjoy a picnic at their park.
Rooftop dining is a favorite in the city. Locations have quite a view to offer with the DTLA skyline, the mountains, and the Pacific Ocean. Restaurants have a wide range of food and drinks.
Los Angeles brings everything into the city so its visitors never have to leave! One great example of this is wine tasting. Residents and visitors don’t have to drive out to the vineyards to experience wine tasting, they can just visit any of these locations to try some of the best Californian wines.
Another amusing way to stay busy in LA is by attending some sporting events. Los Angeles has some of the best teams in the nation all year round:
- Baseball: October – June
- Basketball: April – November
- Hockey: October – June
- Soccer: March – October
For more recommendations to stay busy in the area, or other questions about the suggestions above, please contact any of the staff members.
USC Global Executive Ed.D. 