USC is amazing, but who doesn’t need an escape from campus every now and again? USC’s prime location in the heart of LA makes finding something cool to do off campus simply a matter of taste! Art lovers, music junkies and adventure seekers alike can find something that strikes their fancy within the college budget—how does free sound?
Here’s ten free things to do around USC that won’t disappoint!
Imagine: walking into a gorgeous, antique-y lobby of a historic hotel and riding the elevator to the roof to find an outdoor yoga space overlooking all of LA—fifteen minutes from campus! Head over to the Hotel Normandie in Korea Town every Saturday at 10 am for a free yoga class and juice tasting for all yogi experience levels. Wait, does this mean college kids actually get up before noon on a Saturday!? A select few of us do…!
Situated right behind the Natural History Museum, the Exposition Park Rose Garden is a short 5-minute drive from campus and is the perfect date venue for a couple looking for a cute place to stroll or have lunch. And by date I mean, you and your bae or you and your best friends! Better yet, bring that I-phone along and snap some Insta-worthy pics amongst the very photogenic roses!
Just minutes from campus, the center of DTLA turns into an open art gallery the second Thursday night of each month. Free of charge, grab your art loving friends and walk through the storefront-turned art galleries for a glimpse of how local artists interpret the world around them. Oh! And added bonus: food trucks of every cuisine line the streets in case you get inspired to grab some pho or tamales…
Definitely worthy of the drive, the Griffith Observatory is an iconic site for star gazing and city-light admiring! Besides the cost of gas, entrance to the stunning observatory is completely free and so are the little science demos found inside on most nights of the week!
Sweat out all the stress of exams on these hidden stairs in Silver Lake, not too far from campus! Sure, there’s the Lyon center on campus, but fitness lovers know how motivating a simple change of scenery can be! Simply Google “hidden stairs of Silver Lake” and you’ll be map-quested to the secret workout spot before you can change your mind! *The only workout you’ll regret is the one you didn’t do!*
LA is known for being a concert hotspot, but college funds don’t always allow for a special ticket budget! Good thing the Echo, in Echo Park has free concerts every Monday night–They Call it “Monday Night Residencies.” Who said Monday’s have suck?!
So unassuming from the outside, the Bradbury Building on South Broadway and Third Street in DTLA is a historical landmark built back in 1893 that has appeared in countless movies, TV shows and music videos! You won’t pay a penny for walking in and around the breathtaking building, or climbing the famous wooden stair cases and snapping some more pics for that Insta page!
Whether you’re a total bookworm or someone who has never voluntarily picked up a book in your life, The Last Book Store will draw you in off its whimsical interior alone! Located for in the heart of DTLA and a quick drive from campus, The Last Bookstore is everything a bookstore should be and more. Warm lighting, high ceilings, books quite literally surrounding you from every angle, and whimsical architecture built out of, you guessed it, BOOKS.
If you’re always looking for a new place to walk around and discover new, unique finds, head over to China Town in (yes…our fave) DTLA. Enter the world of Chinese authenticity with nothing but Chinese food, shops, and architecture that will make you feel as though you literally left Los Angeles for the continent of Asia on a whim. Go with or without money, as the sights are enough fun on their own!
Now, this is an activity very few people take advantage of: a walk through the LA Flower District. About 12 minutes from campus an underrated gem of farmer’s market-style flower vendors as far as the eye can see, offers the perfect weekend morning adventure! Suggestion: Grab a hot coffee or tea, your special someone or best friend just walk around. The people you’ll see, the buzzing energy of the site, and of course, the stunning flowers surrounding you at every angle, will make you wonder why everyone doesn’t go…!
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