Tag Archives: adventure

L.A. Life, Travel

What to do in Los Angeles Over Winter Break

By Alexa Povlitz

When students put down their pencils, return their rented textbooks, and submit their final papers on December 14, they breathe a sigh of relief. It’s finally winter break – no more tests and no more work. For those staying around USC over winter break, the time off from school is the perfect opportunity to explore Los Angeles. While LA isn’t typically thought of as a “winter destination,” this is all the more reason to see all the city has to offer – areas that may be packed during peak tourism season in the summer are equally as great in the winter, but with less crowds. If you’re looking for some things to cross off your LA bucket list this winter, check out some of my favorite destinations below.

LA Live Ice Skating Rink

Ice skating is a great winter activity, perfect for an evening out with friends. The ice skating rinks at LA Live and Pershing Square are decorated enough to make you feel like it’s the dead of winter, but you never need to wear more than a coat to feel warm enough. LA Live is just a few minutes away by public transportation or Uber, and there’s plenty to do when you hang up your skates. Grab some friends, get some dinner and watch a movie after! Continue reading What to do in Los Angeles Over Winter Break →

Travel

Joshua Tree

By Layla Zomorod

The Airbnb was booked and my friends and I were set to spend two days in Joshua Tree National Park. I was mistakenly under the impression that Joshua Tree equated to a smaller-scale Yosemite, and prepared for hiking trails that met cascading waterfalls to the backdrop of evergreen trees and whiffs of pine needles. I hoped to take a nap on a bed of moss or dip my toes in a flowing river; a sweet ending to my summer. Little did I know, I was heading to the extreme opposite. In actuality, I was walking into an endless desert, littered with sparse shrubs and various types of cacti. Despite an underwhelming sense of disappointment that this was not the picturesque nature I had envisioned, I was on this trip with ten of my favorite people, so I gave Joshua Tree a chance. The house itself was an architectural labyrinth, built by a rock climber in the 2000’s. Slate walls and strategically placed geometric windows filtered natural light and balanced the Mojave themed furniture. Shoes in the house were recommended by our Airbnb hosts because cactus pricks tend to trail in and fire ants posed painful surprises. A shower with a sliding door to a balcony, a newly fastened ring of hammocks in the front yard, a working record player, and spiraling staircases; turns out, exploring the house was half the fun and certainly a modern oasis in this dust bowl of a national park.

Naturally, we began to cook a truly continental breakfast to the blaring tunes of our favorite 90’s hip hop jams. A platter of avocado toast sprinkled with radishes and sunny side up eggs hit the table alongside roasted Potatoes O’Brien and turkey bacon. We feasted and exchanged antics, I would safely say we made King Arthur’s round table jealous.

Continue reading Joshua Tree →