Things To Do in LA Without a Car
By: Amy Argueta ‘24 (Guest Blogger)
Thanks to USC”s Los Angeles location there are always so many fun things to do and places to visit so I decided to make a small list of them here. Even if you don’t own a car, don’t worry! All of these spots are accessible by walking or taking the metro. So if you ever find yourself wanting to travel around LA on a weekend here are some places you should visit.
Santa Monica
Santa Monica is a must visit when in LA. Besides the beach, there are so many attractions at the Santa Monica Pier such as the Pacific Park amusement park where you can ride various roller coasters and even a ferris wheel. Santa Monica also hosts a wide variety of restaurants and food carts along the beach and pier if you're ever feeling hungry while exploring the area.
Exposition Park Rose Garden
If you need some beautiful photo spots for your next Instagram post then the Exposition Park Rose Garden is the place to go! The park is filled with over 200 varieties of flowers and plants that you can view. The park is also conveniently located next to USC across Exposition Blvd so it's accessible just by walking.
Natural History Museum of LA County
This museum is another site located right next to USC across Exposition Blvd so you can easily walk there. The museum hosts various new and ongoing exhibitions where you can see artifacts and dinosaur fossils. The museum also has a beautiful garden where you can explore over 600 kinds of plants. Plus, you can get in free with your USC ID!
Koreatown
Koreatown has so many things to do and see from Korean BBQ restaurants to cafes to karaoke bars to various shops. You can shop at over 70 stores in Koreatown Plaza, eat pastries at the Paris Baguette cafe, and see some beautiful Korean architecture at the Koreatown Pavilion Garden.
Little Tokyo
Little Tokyo is another place you should visit if you want to look for restaurants, shops, and beautiful sceneries. In Little Tokyo you can eat delicious ramen at Daikokuya, shop for Japanese stationary at the Kinokuniya bookstore, see beautiful gardens at the James Irvine Japanese Gardens and more!
Grand Central Market
If you want to spend a day eating delicious food then the Grand Central Market is the place you need to go. They host a variety of cuisine ranging from katsu sandwiches to barbeque to tacos and so much more. If you have a sweet tooth there are also various dessert shops selling donuts, pies, ice cream, and Mexican candies. Whatever your preferences are, there is something for everyone here!
Hopefully some places in this list piqued your interest and gave you some ideas of where to visit during your next LA outing. USC Student Life also recently did a TikTok about exploring LA with and without a car, which also includes these spots, so be sure to check that out too. You can also check out the USC Student Life Instagram page for more content!
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