Living in Los Angeles

Most trainees and faculty at Harbor-UCLA live in one of the beach cities — many of them within viewing- or walking-distance of the ocean! Popular places to live include Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, or Long Beach. Others live slightly farther away in Downtown Los Angeles, Koreatown, West Los Angeles, or Culver City. The temperature in the South Bay is usually perfect for a t-shirt and jeans nearly year-round. Although traffic is always a concern in Los Angeles, residents learn how to get around and avoid traffic-heavy times or secret shortcuts. Luckily, there are so many choices for fun in Los Angeles that you don’t need to travel far.

The Beaches

Many residents (and attendings!) regularly surf, play beach volleyball, bike or run along the beach, kayak, stand-up paddle boarding (and even stand-up paddleboard yoga!), or just relax in the sand and sun. With the beach so close, it is a great way to unwind after a long day’s work. If you love being active but the beach isn’t your thing, there are more than enough other outdoor and indoor activities in Los Angeles to keep you entertained.

Active Life and Sports in LA

Whether it be triathlons, running (many residents run all kinds of distances — from a 5K to marathons), rock climbing (Los Angeles has multiple indoor rock climbing gyms and close proximity to beautiful outdoor climbs), hiking, or more; Los Angeles has it all. Surprising to most, Los Angeles has multiple beautiful scenic and serene hikes ranging from a quick 2-mile jaunt to 10+ miles of beautiful and secluded outdoor terrain. Many residents will even make a short trek to Big Bear Mountain (2 hours) to go skiing and snowboarding in the winter. You can snowboard AND surf in the same day. There are archery and gun ranges, go-karting, parasailing, hang-gliding, kite surfing, skydiving, bungee jumping, and more — if you can think of it, it is likely that Los Angeles has it.

Food and Dining

Los Angeles is a mecca for food enthusiasts and we are lucky to have a broad diversity of restaurants in Los Angeles. From food trucks to fine dining, Los Angeles has a vast array of places to eat. There are beer and wine events, food tastings, and events multiple times every month in the area. If you are a foodie, Los Angeles will not disappoint! Whether it be Mexican, Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Seafood, Indian, Italian, Californian, Gourmet Pizza, Steak, Vegetarian, Brazilian, or just plain burgers and fries, you don’t have to drive too far.

Southern California also has a very active craft brewing scene. In fact, there are three breweries within three miles of Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (Monkish Brewing Company, Smog City Brewing Company, and Absolution Brewing Company) in case you’re in the mood for a craft beer. There are multiple other craft breweries if you’re willing to drive just a little bit farther, as well.

Family-Oriented

Los Angeles seems like a huge city, but it is also family-friendly, especially in the South Bay. Many residents raise children during residency, and there is no shortage of things for their children to do. There are multiple public parks, museums, libraries, and great family activities available. In addition, major amusement parks such as Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, Universal Studios and Six Flags Magic Mountain are all a short drive away and loads of fun.

Los Angeles Culture and Entertainment

The Los Angeles area is full of diversity and culture. Iconic museums in the area include the Getty Center, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Natural History Museum, the Griffith Observatory (which also has an optional hike to get there!), the Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens and many more. If you’re interested in concerts and plays, the Hollywood Bowl is sure to excite, or check out the Greek Theater or the Walt Disney Concert Hall. There are many outstanding stand-up comedy and improvisation shows, as well. Cirque du Soleil also usually has a traveling performance at the Santa Monica pier a few times per year. And…our own Dr. Smogorzewski can get you in to the Magic Castle!

Shopping

From outlet malls and outdoor bazaars to ultra-high-end shopping on Rodeo Drive, there is no shortage of retail stores. Along the beach you will find independent shop owners selling their unique handcrafted goods, and in the large malls and shopping strips you will find hundreds of places to explore.