Living in Los Angeles
Most residents at Harbor-UCLA leave 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, Long Beach, and some residents choose to live slightly farther including Downtown Los Angeles, West Los Angeles, or Culver City. The temperature in the South Bay is usually perfect for a t-shirt and jeans nearly year-round (see the weather forecast below!). Although traffic is always a concern in Los Angeles, residents learn how to get around and avoid traffic in the process. Luckily, there’s so much to do in Los Angeles that you don’t need to go far to have a great time. Here is our current weather forecast to give you an idea of what the weather is like in Los Angeles right now!
The Beaches
Many residents (and attendings!) regularly surf, play beach volleyball, bike or run along the beach, kayak, stand-up paddleboarding (and even stand-up paddleboard yoga!), or just relax in the sand and sun. With the beach so close to the homes of most of the residents, 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’s more than enough other 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 and even a few ultramarathon runners!), 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 during the winter time will even make a short trek to Big Bear (2 hours) to go skiing and snowboarding. 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! The first Friday of every month, a location in Venice (15-20 minutes north of Harbor) has “First Fridays” where many food trucks will come together so you can try everything from sushi burritos (yes, this is a thing… and yes, it is delicious) to gourmet grilled cheese to delicious and creative burgers. 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, libraries, and great family activities available. In addition, major amusement parks such as Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, 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 that they put on at the Santa Monica pier a few times per year.
Shopping
From outlet malls and outdoor bazaars to ultra-high-end shopping on Rodeo Drive (there’s even a $1.7-million-dollar Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport as a piece of advertisement parked outside one of the stores!), 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. Maybe wait until your student loans are paid off before shopping on Rodeo Drive, though.
