My Los Angeles Bucket List

Doing a contract in Los Angeles was a goal of mine as a travel physical therapist. I fortunately was able to secure a great contract right outside of Hollywood. I felt both overjoyed and overwhelmed! A couple weeks before moving to LA, I decided to make a bucket list to prioritize the things I wanted to do in the short thirteen weeks I had. If you enjoy hiking, sporting events, concerts, recreational sports, and celebrity spotting this list may be perfect for you!

Santa Monica Pier: Play some carnival games, get a funnel cake, and hang out on the beach! There is plenty of parking right by the beach ranging from $2-$10.

Culver City Stairs: Not to be confused with the Culver City Be ready for a workout that leads to an amazing view of the city.

Lakers Game: Ticket prices vary greatly based on who they are I sat way high up, but it was worth it! I recommend taking the Metro to get to the stadium.

Bike from Santa Monica to Venice Beach: Bring your own bike, or there are plenty of rental bikes available along the It’s a very enjoyable ride that brings you past muscle beach, outdoor performers, and plenty of restaurants to stop at along the way.

Hollywood Walk of Fame: A very iconic and fun way to find some of your favorite

Live Jazz at the Culver Hotel: Free jazz music multiple nights of the week! Make sure to check out the speakeasy after the show—this hotel has tons of cool history.

Channel Islands National Park: I highly recommend doing a couple hikes and the kayak tour. I just spent a day here, but I would love to go back and camp for a night or two.

Malibu Beach: I spent a full day in Malibu that consisted of walking along the beach, having brunch at Malibu Farm, exploring the historic Adamson House, hiking the Solstice Canyon Loop, and walking along the Pier.

Starline Celebrity Tour: A very touristy experience but I enjoyed seeing a bunch of celebrity homes and being brought on a beautiful drive through Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, Bel Air, and more.

Griffith Observatory: This was something that extremely exceeded my You get a beautiful view of the city and there is plenty to do including hikes, exhibits, a train ride, and cafes.

Hollywood Sign Hike: I actually did this twice because it’s a great hike—on a steady incline for 3 Make sure to hike up to above the sign and then down in front of it as well for best pictures.

Shop at Rodeo Drive: By shop, I mean walk through all the shops, admire the clothes, and be shocked by the prices.

Joshua Tree National Park: I spent two nights camping here. This is something I had to book almost two months in advance since the campgrounds fill up fast! I am planning to go back here the first chance I get.

Hollywood Comedy Show: I went to a standup show at Hollywood Improv which consisted of five different comedians. They host great comedians here who are well-known, and the tickets are affordable.

Big Bear Mountain: I spent a weekend skiing at Big Bear in It’s unbelievable how much snow they get!

Hollywood Bowl Show: This is actually something I haven’t been able to do just yet, but I have tickets to an upcoming show!

I have enjoyed experiencing LA even more than I expected! There is so much to do, which can feel overwhelming—my hope is this list can provide a little guidance so you can enjoy this city as much as I have.