Exploring Los Angeles

By Angela Lu

Ever since I moved to Los Angeles, I started to noticed a strong Instagram culture here. Every time I go to areas such as West Hollywood or Beverly Hills, there will always be influencers who are posing for the best Instagram picture in front of a nice looking cafe or street.

As an Instagram enthusiast myself, I have also discovered a few instagrammable spots in Los Angeles that you can bring your families/friends to when they are visiting you. 

Number 1: PINK WALL. If you haven’t noticed, but there is a pink wall outside a store called Paul Smith on Melrose Ave in West Hollywood. There are always a lot of people lining up there just to get the perfect picture with the wall. 

Photo by Achim Hepp on Flickr

Number 2: Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. A classic location that represents the ultimate luxury lifestyle with all the designer brands you can think of. Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Prada, and etc. You name it, they have it. 

Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Number 3: Urban Lights. This attraction is outside a museum called LACMA, and if you go there during the nighttime would make your photos look better than the daytime. I personally have not been inside the museum, but I heard it always has great exhibitions. 

Photo from Unsplash

Number 4: Hollywood Sign. This is the most iconic landmark of Los Angeles and you can’t say you have been to LA without seeing the Hollywood Sign. My first time seeing the Hollywood sign got me a parking ticket of $99 so make sure you park at the right places.

Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Number 5: Hollywood Walk of Fame, is a must but you have to be careful because a lot of actors who dress up as movie characters will force you to take pictures with them and ask you to pay them afterwards. 

Photo by Ken Lund on Flickr

Number 6: Griffin Observatory is another great location especially for “La La Land” fans (yes, it was filmed here). However, parking can be difficult so maybe take a Uber or park near the bottom and hike up.

Photo from Wikipedia

Number 7. The Broad. A museum who is famous for its Yayoi Kusama exhibits (the infinity mirrored room) in which has been on display since 2015 and people line up for hours just for photos. But the other art pieces are also worth lining up for.

Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Number 8: Venice Beach. Hipsters, skaters, and street artists always gather at Venice beach. If you just want a day to relax and chill, Venice is the place to be. You can grab a coconut and drink it while watching cool skaters perform their tricks at the skate park.

Photo by Magda Wojtyra on Flickr

Number 9: Disneyland! Known as the happiest place on earth. A 40 minute drive from Los Angeles and you can choose between Disneyland or California Adventure Park. (I suggest go to both because the rides at California Adventure are more suitable for adults and the fireworks are at Disneyland).

Photo by Anthony Quintano on Flickr

Number 10: USC. The weather is so beautiful on campus, so it can be great for taking selfies.

Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Being a student of a prestigious university can be really stressful sometimes, therefore you should take some time off and get away from the campus to explore all the lovely places in Los Angeles. And don’t forget to take some great pictures!

Featured image by Nathan DeFiesta on Unsplash


Angela graduated from USC with a Masters in Communication Management in Annenberg. She was born in China but raised in Vancouver, Canada. She studied international development at McGill University in Montreal as an undergrad so moving to Los Angeles was a huge transition for her. She loved exploring new places and meeting people from all over the world. As a student, she was passionate about entertainment, fashion, and music. In her free time, she loved to be involved with student organized events, dance (Hip-Hop, Jazz, and Kpop) workshops, and new places for Instagram pictures. She speaks fluent English and Mandarin, (a bit of basic French). As an international student (although Canada is close to the United States), she deeply acknowledged the struggles students face in a new country.