by Kyle Grace (’21) and Mandy Wu (’22)

Griffith Park/Observatory
This is a great place to go for some free sights in LA. With a view of the city’s skyline and the Hollywood sign, this place shouldn’t be missed. It is a bit of a walk up to the observatory from where the free parking is, but it is definitely worth the trek. There are a fairly large number of free exhibits within the observatory and some paid ones as well. It’s normally a little crowded but worth the trip regardless.

Big Bear
We may be cheating here since this isn’t exactly in LA, but it’s a great place to get away for a day or the weekend. Big Bear Lake is a beautiful nature-filled town that has a great mix of hikes, restaurants, and shops to keep you busy for a while. It is one of my (Kyle Grace ‘21) personal favorite places to go as a nice escape from Mudd. There’s a fair number of Airbnbs if you want to spend the night and it’s also perfect day trip material. I would definitely recommend visiting if you want to reconnect with nature and experience the other side of what Southern California has to offer.

Little Tokyo/Arts District
One of our favorite spots in DTLA (and, based on our polls, yours as well!) has to be the Arts District– where gritty industrial buildings are brought to life by vibrant murals and rich graffiti. The classic Arts District experience includes taking a walk down the neighborhood, stopping by Salt & Straw for a fresh scoop of handmade ice cream, and snapping some colorful mural shots (for the ‘gram, of course). Just a short walk away is the Little Tokyo Village and Weller Court, both of which are rich with mouth-watering food (and boba).

(Best!) Places to visit in LT/Arts District (by category):
Boba/Tea – Boteaga, Gongcha, MILK+T, Tea Shot, Midori Matcha
Sushi – Hama Sushi, Sushi Gen, Kula
Snacks – Snowya, Mikawaya, Beard Papa’s, Salt & Straw, Cafe Dulce
Misc – Umami Burger, Spitz, Shin Sen Gumi, Daikokuya, Honda Ya (Mandy met Ryan Higa here!)

Disneyland
Disney is lit, you already know. It’s very pricey but if you can swing it on a CAP event or something, it’s an amazing way to spend a day. Our favorite rides are Space Mountain and the Guardians of the Galaxy Mission Breakout. It’s definitely worth seeing at least once if you can.