Nearby attractions provide new ways to explore city

USC is a vibrant community with many attractions. Students, however, should not lose sight of USC’s greatest asset: Los Angeles. Strap on some sunglasses, straddle up the fanny packs and put on a little sunscreen. It’s time to be a tourist and discover some of Los Angeles’ finest hot spots.

Exposition roses · The Rose Garden at Exposition Park is a brief tourist getaway that, albeit off campus, is just a brief venture on Exposition Boulevard, around the corner from USC’s campus. - Carlo Acenas | Daily Trojan

Some attractions are immediately within walking distance. Across the street south of USC is Exposition Park, home to the peaceful Rose Garden, the California Science Center, the Natural History Museum and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the stadium of the USC Trojans football team. And just west of the intersection of Jefferson Boulevard and Hoover Street is the Shrine Auditorium, the scene of award shows throughout the year.

Now, the rest of Los Angeles awaits. Just two miles separate USC from L.A. Live, an entertainment and dining hub of activity and, the location of both the Staples Center, the home of the Los Angeles Lakers, Clippers, and Kings, and the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Places not within walking distance are typically a bus or subway ride away. Despite the public transportation system’s bad reputation, it is incredibly efficient and can take residents to nearly any
destination.

Hollywood Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard are just a short ride away via Metro’s Red Line. Tourists stroll along the Walk of Fame, catch a free taping of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, browse the shops at the sprawling Hollywood & Highland complex, hike up to the Hollywood sign or take one of the infamous tours that take patrons past the homes of various celebrities. Sunset Boulevard and, most notably, the Sunset Strip is a hub for the nightlife scene with an extensive concoction of clubs and music venues, including The Roxy and Whiskey-A-Go-Go.

Keep heading west on Santa Monica Boulevard (yet another trendy area) and land in Beverly Hills to wander through the shops on Rodeo Drive.

Another upscale shopping destination, The Grove, is just a short bus ride (Metro line 217) away. It is full of stores and restaurants that cater to a college student’s budget, at least more so than Rodeo Drive. And if the timing is right, visitors can catch a live taping of Extra with host Mario Lopez.

Still not satisfied with Los Angeles’ trendy areas? Well, Downtown Burbank is home to even more shops and restaurants, in addition to various movie and television studios. There, one can snag tickets to see a taping of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Ellen DeGeneres Show and Lopez Tonight.

But enough about activities on land, it’s time for a day at the beach. The area certainly does not lack for beaches, but the most popular ones tend to be Santa Monica and Venice.

Santa Monica, home to the famous pier and miniature amusement park, is a tourist hotspot with its enormous beach nicely complemented by the shops and dining at the adjacent Third Street Promenade. Venice Beach, however, is far more eclectic, with a lively mix of street performers and various beach vendors.

Of course a tourist’s trip is not complete without visiting amusement parks, of which there are no shortages.

Options include Disneyland in Anaheim (a single bus ride away — Metro line 460), Universal Studios Hollywood (a subway ride away), Knott’s Berry Farm (accessible by the same bus that goes to Disneyland) and Six Flags Magic Mountain (car needed). For extra fun and scares, check out what these parks have to offer around Halloween.

Finally, cap off any day by taking a trip up to Griffith Observatory (a free attraction) to view its various exhibits and take a look at the stars and planets through telescopes.

Students at USC should not take the extremely diverse and exciting city of Los Angeles for granted.

Just try to avoid a certain area in Westwood; it is not a very good neighborhood.