Exploring the City

You’ll never run out of things to explore in Los Angeles. We’ve even got tips for helping you get around town.

10 Destinations Within 10 Miles of Campus

The Broad Museum
In-N-Out Burger
Chinatown
Old Pasadena
Dodger Stadium
San Gabriel Mountains
Griffith Observatory
Staples Center
Hollywood Bowl
Walt Disney Concert Hall

Students in front of Walt Disney Concert Hall (designed by Frank Gehry) in downtown L.A.

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L.A.'s famed Hollywood sign.

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A nighttime view of L.A. from the Griffith Observatory.

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A view from the park at Echo Park Lake in L.A.'s Echo Park neighborhood.

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Students bike along the beach in Santa Monica.

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Students in front of the Broad Museum (modern art) in downtown L.A.

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Students in front of a mural in the Highland Park neighborhood.

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A view from the Getty Center art museum in L.A.

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Students surfing at the beach.

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A view of downtown Los Angeles.

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Music

There are more live music venues in Los Angeles than you can shake a drum stick at. Whether you catch a concert or exhibition at the Center for the Arts Eagle Rock or experience classical music under the stars at the Hollywood Bowl, you are never at a loss for somewhere to hear something special. For a deeper dive into the music scene, check out LA Weekly's concert listings.

Movies

They make them here, so you better believe you can watch them here. From premieres at the famous Chinese Theater, to movies at the Arclight, to classics and outdoor movies at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, L.A. has lots of options. If you're looking for a more low-key experience, you can buy discounted movie tickets from the Student Activities Center on campus and grab some friends to catch a flick at one of the local theaters.

Culture

Lions and mammoths and bears at the Natural History Museum appeal to some, but others are fascinated by the classic Monet paintings at the Getty. L.A. has a wide range of arts and cultural venues to fit any taste. Some museums are free; others offer free days each month or discounts with your student ID. If you prefer live theater, you can catch touring Broadway shows at various venues around the city as well.

Exploring

Hop a bus or the Gold Line into downtown and explore a world of interesting sights, sounds, smells and tastes. Olvera Street is the oldest part of L.A. and a great place to explore some of the culture and history of the city. Little Tokyo is the heart of the Japanese-American community and has a lot to offer. Students also enjoy wandering (and shopping) in Old Pasadena or heading west to the Santa Monica Pier.

The Outdoors

If you want to get away from the hum of the city, maybe you want to take a hike in Eaton Canyon, or head to one of the many beaches for surf lessons. If you prefer wheels to walking, you can take a ride on one of the many bike paths around the city. In the winter you can go skiing at places like Mountain High. Both the Huntington and Descanso Botanical Gardens serve as a peaceful refuge.

Sports

The crowd goes wild for L.A. sports! You can find fans of sports teams from around the world here, but the home teams definitely get the loudest cheers. If you love baseball you've got the Dodgers and Angels. For basketball it's the Clippers, Lakers and Sparks. For the soccer fans out there, the Galaxy is the team for you. We even have two hockey teams in the Kings and the Ducks.

Theme Parks

If rollercoasters and costumed characters are your thing, then L.A. has something for you! Universal Studios can give you an inside look and feel of the movies, and Magic Mountain and Knott's Berry Farm will spin you around and upside down. And who could forget about Disneyland, the happiest place on Earth? Best of all, the Student Activities Center on campus has discount tickets to many of them.