It’s that time of the semester where you can unwind after all those midterms and projects. If you’re in California for spring break and are tired of the Fryft zone, Santa Monica, Downtown LA, or just LA as a whole, consider making your way to LA’s sister-city, Miss Orange County!

I was born and raised in the OC moving from Westminster to Fullerton – so here are my best recommendations for traveling locally this break.

By: Sophia Pei ‘22

Every Sunday from 10AM to 4PM Smorgasburg LA can be found in the oddly gentrified factory lot located at 777 S Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90021. This is the perfect place for foodies to bring their friends to try some of LA’s signature food fusions. Not only is there great food, but it’s also a great place to just canvas shop and enjoy aesthetic lifestyle stands (after all, admission is free!). Looking for fun weekend plans? Keep reading!

By: Sophia Pei ‘22

If you hadn’t heard already, USC is implementing fall break this year! Essentially, we have a 4 day weekend starting on Thursday Oct. 17th. Here are some fun last-minute ideas for fall break. Don’t like planning outings? No worries, I’ve done the planning for you! I’ve listed four days worth of day trips to different locations in LA. For each destination, I’ve covered the basics of transportation, my favorite food places (one meal, one dessert/snack), and a fun activity. Keep reading for a detailed itinerary.

By: Sophia Pei ‘22

It’s that time of year! School is starting, summer is coming to an end. You may believe you’ve escaped the worst of the heat, but September only brings more of that dry, signature LA heat. Whether you’re hoping to explore LA with friends, looking for ideas for a date, or simply love ice cream, here are some of my favorite ice cream stores in LA that are easily accessible by public transport. This list is not for the weak of heart, all these stores are known for their unique (and unconventional) flavors so explore with an open mind!

By: Sophia Pei ‘22

Every Sunday there is a food festival with hundreds of vendors hosted in Downtown LA and New York City. Smorgasburg in LA is hosted from 10AM to 4PM at 777 S Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90021. This is the perfect place for open-minded people willing to try LA’s signature food fusions as well as a great place to just browse the latest food trends and enjoy aesthetic lifestyle stands (after all, admissions is free!). This Sunday, some friends and I decided to explore. Here are some highlights and breakdown on the biggest open-air food market in America.

By: Sophia Pei ‘22

Looking for great Japanese food and cute plushies but don’t want to deal with Little Tokyo tourist traps? Visit Sawtelle instead. Just 10 stops heading west on the Metro Expo line from USC is West LA’s “Little Japantown.” This mini center of East Asian food and novelties is located on Sawtelle Blvd. As a West LA resident, this was one of my go-to spots growing up. Here are some of my favorite things to do at Sawtelle.

By: Sophia Pei ‘22

It may be autumn but it won’t be cooling down (much). Here are some of my favorite ice cream stores in LA that are easily accessible by public transport from USC. This list is not for the weak of heart, all of these stores are known for their unique (and unconventional) flavors so explore with an open mind!

By: Terry Nguyen ‘20

Dark eyebags and the overwhelming aura of desperation are all too common during midterm season, but there is a special treat for the despairing: coffee and café goods. Although Starbucks drinks add little to improve the aura of dark energy literally leaking out from Leavey, you might be feeling as if everyone is rushing to Starbucks and clogging up the Tapingo virtual lines. Have no fear — this listicle is here to guide you to the hidden gem cafés and coffee shops around USC that will help you survive midterms and bolster your energy levels into spring break!

By: Paul Samaha ‘17

Los Angeles is known for being a diverse city, and the food options are a great representation of that. While exploring the heart of Downtown LA will offer you infinite possibilities, there are still some great options that are just a walk, bike ride or free USC Uber away from campus. Listed below are restaurants that are necessary for every USC student to experience while at school.

By: Judy Lee ‘17

Trojans can’t be expected to fight on (or study on) without eating on first, right? Thank goodness these food places are here to save us (hyperlinked for your perusal):