Surely, everyone is excited about the holidays coming up, but one thing I suffer from every winter break is trying to figure out what to do in between holidays. I grew up in Los Angeles, so for the most part, I have seen almost everything there is to be seen in this city, but for those of you who may be new here or want to experience something new this winter break, I want to share a few places and events that you can visit so you can avoid winter break boredom.
1. Stop by a free show at The Echo in Echo Park!
http://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/music/monday-ni...
If you're a fan of all things music, check out these local bands for free at the Echo. Every Monday night, you can stop by, check out a new band, and meet a bunch of cool, new people.
2. Camp out to watch the Pasadena Rose Parade!
http://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/things-to-do/ro...
The Rose Parade is an ongoing Pasadena tradition, featuring several floats made out of freshly picked flowers. There are also performances by singers, musicians, and inner-city marching bands. It is a great sight to see and a fun family experience! If you aren't able to go on the day of the parade, you can go see the floats the next day!
3. Visit the new Broad Museum!
http://www.thebroad.org/art/jeff-koons/rabbit#
The Broad is L.A's new contemporary art museum on South Grand Avenue in Downtown L.A. It's open Tuesday through Sunday, and you can reserve free tickets on their website thebroad.org.
4. Visit the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles!
http://www.nhm.org/site/explore-exhibits/special-e...
From now until January 18, you can purchase tickets to the "Mummies: New Secrets from the Tombs" exhibit. There you can "get a rare, up-close look at a selection of 20 mummies, many of which have never been on public display." (NHMLA) You can also check out several other exhibits in the museum.
5. Visit the Griffith Observatory!
http://griffithobservatory.org
This extraordinary observatory is open all week and is completely FREE! Stop by to learn more about outer space and check out some of the Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon Theater Programs! On the first Friday of every month, they have a special show called "All Space Considered" from 7:30 pm to 9:45 pm.
6. Take a stroll through the Venice Canals!
http://xplorela.com/tag/venice-canal-historic-dist...
If you've got a special someone, take them for a walk along the canals! They're absolutely gorgeous when the sun is setting, and afterwards, you can easily walk on over to the Venice Boardwalk and eat, shop, or hang out on the beach!
7. Visit La Placita Olvera, otherwise known as Olvera Street.
http://www.visitcalifornia.com/attraction/olvera-s...
More often than not, someone is performing on Olvera Street. Here, you can get to experience some of the Mexican culture in Los Angeles. There are tons of shops and a few Mexican restaurants to enjoy here. It is one of my favorite places to visit!
8. Go Hiking!
http://www.discoverlosangeles.com/blog/hiking-los-...
There are plenty of hiking trails in Los Angeles! There's the Griffith Park hiking trails, which will take you up to the Hollywood Sign,and there are trails at Eaton Canyon, which will take you up to a waterfall. There are also trails at Ernest Debs Park, which will take you up to a lake! For more hiking trails, click the link above.
9. Visit a Farmers Market!
http://www.laweekly.com/restaurants/the-ultimate-l...
Almost every region of Los Angeles has some sort of Farmers Market! They can be a great place to meet people and try out new and organic foods. Oftentimes, local vendors will sell other things like clothes or jewelry, and there may also be live performances by local artists! For a list of some local Farmers Markets, click the link above.
10. Visit the Santee Alley!
If you're trying to be ballin' on a budget, this is the perfect place to find tons of cheap clothes and accessories. From formal wear to casual, they have everything!
So when you start to get a little restless this winter break, try to visit some of these places! Most, if not all of these places can easily be enjoyed by you alone or with family and friends!
Happy Holidays everyone!
