California, an exciting mix of breathtaking views, large cities, and a relaxed lifestyle. With all those attributes, it is not a surprise this state is a top destination for international students. As a matter of fact, reports by Migration Policy show California had a total of 135,000 international students in 2014-15, out of the 975,000 national total.

Having been on the east coast since 1999, we are excited about opening our first campus on the west coast. With this in mind, we wanted to give you some fun suggestions of things to do in Los Angeles! And trust us, we found a lot of options. Check out our top 10 choices for students from all kinds of backgrounds and entertainment preferences.

Top 10 Things to Do in Los Angeles

# 1 Sand, surfing, and adrenaline at the Santa Monica Pier

Santa Monica is a neighborhood of Los Angeles located next to the beach and the Pacific Ocean. You can relax on the beach, swim in the ocean, or try surfing—California’s favorite pastime. If you’re craving an extra adventure, you can walk up to the Santa Monica Pier and ride the roller coasters and other rides at the amusement park, or just grab lunch at one of the restaurants on the pier and boardwalk. If the beach looks familiar, it’s because it was used to film a TV show. Santa Monica beach was where the popular American TV show, Baywatch, was filmed.

#2 Go to the TCL Chinese Theater and compare your hands to your favorite celebrities’
The TCL Chinese Theater is a working movie theater designed to look like a Chinese palace. Outside the theater is the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame, where celebrities put their hand prints in the sidewalk. You can pay to see IMAX movies in the theater or opt to spend an afternoon comparing your hands with your favorite celebrities’. There are also movie premieres here, so if you don’t mind standing with a big crowd, you can see movie stars walk down the red carpet in real life!

#3 Be on a TV game show!
If the TLC Chinese Theater or movie studio tours are not enough, TV lovers can also be a part of a live studio audience for game shows. You can sit and cheer on the contestants from game shows like Wheel of Fortune or Jeopardy! and you may even get featured on TV in the audience! And the best part? The tickets are free!

#4 Take a tour of real movie studios at Warner Brothers or Paramount Pictures
If you love entertainment, movies, and TV then Los Angeles is definitely the place for you. You can even sign up for a tour of Paramount Pictures or Warner Brothers to get up close to the movie studios where many movies and TV shows are filmed. The tour at Paramount Pictures takes you to replicas of city streets and a warehouse filled with props from famous movies. Take a tour from Warner Brothers and you can actually go into famous TV sets yourself. You can even take photos with your friends in Central Perk, the coffee shop from the popular American TV show, Friends, or sit in the Batmobile!

#5 Buy trendy souvenirs at a great price from Melrose Trading Post
If shopping on Rodeo Drive is a little out of your price range, don’t worry! You can find vintage, trendy clothing and more at a much more reasonable price at Melrose Trading Post, dubbed “L.A.’s favorite flea market”. Every Sunday, you and friends can come and explore the market and buy clothing, art, and handmade crafted items. You can also hear live music and eat from the nearby restaurants or food trucks. You will not want to leave!

#6 Go window shopping on Rodeo DriveRodeo Drive is a famous street filled with upscale boutiques and luxury brand-name stores. Now, we get that if you’re looking for things to do in Los Angeles as a student, the stores on Rodeo Drive may be out of budget. However, you can walk along the palm-tree lined street and browse in the stores for fashionable clothing and jewelry. Bonus: You may even see a celebrity shopping or walking down the street!

#7 Get more thrills at Universal Studios Hollywood amusement parkUniversal Studios is a large theme park with amusement rides that are all themed from popular movies, including Fast & Furious, the Walking Dead, and Harry Potter. There are also movie studio tours, special effect tours where you can see movie explosions, and 3-D movie experiences. It is the perfect day for a thrill-seeker and entertainment-lover.

#8 Little Tokyo
Little Tokyo is a neighborhood in Los Angeles filled with Japanese businesses, museums, and festivals. Take a trip to Little Tokyo to eat authentic Japanese restaurants or check out the extension for Museum of Contemporary Art, called the Geffen Contemporary. There are also theaters specializing in Asian films, plays, and musical performances.

#9 Take a break from the city at Griffith Observatory
Not all things to do in Los Angeles are TV & Movie related. The city also offers some great options for nature lovers. If you need a break from the hustle and bustle of L.A’s city pace, check out Griffith Observatory and park—the largest urban park in the country. You can hike or bike up to the top of the hill and explore beautiful waterfalls and scenery along the way. Once you get to the top, you will be rewarded with beautiful views of Los Angeles and you can also get great pictures of the famous Hollywood sign. You can either head back down into the buzzing city life or check out the Observatory, a dome-shaped building at the top of the path. The Observatory even has a planetarium where you can see shooting stars and planets from a theater.

#10 Cheer on the L.A. Dodgers at Dodgers Stadium
If you want the authentic American baseball experience, Dodgers Stadium is the perfect place to go! You and your friends can eat traditional baseball foods: hot dogs, popcorn, and soda while cheering for the L.A. Dodgers.

Learn English and Make Memories in L.A

We hope to see you make the most of our recommendations of things to do in Los Angeles. If you are looking for a truly unforgettable city to experience American culture, practice your English, and make great memories along the way, this is the perfect place for you.

And if you haven’t made your mind about joining Harvest Los Angeles yet, contact our team and find out about everything Harvest has to offer. All you have to do is fill out the form on your right or use the contact methods at the bottom of this page. We’ll be delighted to hear from you!