City Page Type: Destination

One of the oldest universities in California, USC has been pumping out degrees for over a century. It first opened in 1880 with 53 students and 10 teachers. Now, over 44 000 students are working towards degrees at this private research university. With its tall palm trees and green grass that screams for an afternoon game of hacky sack, USC’s University Park Campus is the kind of campus you see in movies (it’s been the set of many). The grounds and buildings are adorned with public art and its galleries hold work from both old masters and contemporary artists, making it a popular tourist destination as well as a high profile school. USC Athletics are a draw for both students and sports fans. The university has turned out more Olympic athletes than any other university in America. Rent an LA bus rental for your next trip to the Galen Center or the LA Memorial Coliseum to see the USC Trojans play.

Both a film studio (one of the longest-standing and famous Hollywood studios still in use!) and a theme park, Universal Studios Hollywood is considered a mecca for all things entertainment. Living up to its title as “The Entertainment Capital in LA,” Universal Studios Hollywood is sure to pack on the action and thrills for the whole family with heart-pounding theme park rides, film-themed attractions, immersive shows, a real working movie studio, and a variety of shops, restaurants, and cinemas at CityWalk. With Hollywood icons and characters out of Universal’s media library roaming around the park, be ready to run into a few of your favorites from some of the world’s biggest movies and shows, like Harry Potter and the Simpsons. You can even take on the famous Studio Tour and bear witness to all the magic behind movie making. Needless to say, anyone with a love for the silver screen will walk out satisfied from their visit!

Founded in 1919, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has been nurturing minds for nearly 100 years. During that time, UCLA has supported 14 Nobel Laureates and 13 MacArthur fellows. Technology developed there has lead to the creation of over 140 companies. This university turns out success stories! UCLA is a leader in research but it’s also produced some pretty high profile athletes. We’re talking sports superstars like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Jackie Robinson. UCLA’s basketball team, the Bruins, has taken home over 100 NCAA titles. Their home court Pauley Pavilion is a destination that attracts sports fans from all over California. Charter a Los Angeles bus rental for your next trip to campus. Take in a basketball game, tour the grounds, wander the botanical garden, or visit the Hammer Museum. You don’t have to be a student to visit the campus. UCLA has something for everyone.

The TCL Chinese Theatre is a landmark IMAX Theatre in Hollywood. The theatre hosts more than 50 events every year. These events include movie premieres, imprint ceremonies, and film festivals. The theatre prides itself on being an integral part of Hollywood’s history and working to create new moments in Hollywood history every day. It is home to the world’s largest IMAX auditorium and it’s the only movie palace in California with a state-of-the-art IMAX Laser projection experience.   TCL, which stands for “The Creative Life,” is one of China’s largest electronics manufacturers. They have partnered with the theatre since 2013 to make many exciting upgrades and embark on several important preservation projects. The TCL Chinese Theatre has been hosting Hollywood’s most prominent red carpet premieres and special events since 1927. It’s THE location where LA’s biggest and brightest stars go to watch their movies.

As one of the major sporting facilities in the Greater Los Angeles area, the Staples Center is known for being home to the Los Angeles Kings (NHL), the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers (NBA), and the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). The venue also doubles as host to over 250 specials events and performances as well as nearly 4 million guests each year, earning its reputation as the Sports and Entertainment Center of the World. Combine that with some of the finest entertainment experiences, state-of-the-art amenities built with Los Angeles fans in mind, and extensive dining options such as the Smokehouse BBQ on City View Terrace which has stunning views on downtown Los Angeles’ skyline, it is no wonder that the Staples Center has been named one of the most Instagrammed places in the world. Definitely worth the visit for that alone!

The Santa Monica Pier Aquarium is operated by a nonprofit organization called Heal the Bay. Previously, it was operated by UCLA and was known as the Ocean Discovery Center. Heal the Bay is “dedicated to making the coastal waters and watersheds of Greater Los Angeles safe, healthy and clean,” using science, educational community action and advocacy to fulfill their mission. More than 65,000 visitors from around the world come to the aquarium each year, 15,000 of which are students.   The aquarium features Arthropods such as crabs and lobsters, Molluscs, such as octopuses and snails, Echinoderms, such as sand dollars and sea stars, Cnidaria, such as anemones, and Chordata, such as sharks, halibut, rays and scorpionfish. In 2009 the mischievous two-spotted octopus manipulated the pipe connection draining their water tank. This stunt flooded the visitor center causing major media attention.

The Santa Monica Pier was built in 1916. It was originally called the Looff Pleasure Pier after Charles I.D. Looff, the man who built the first carousel in the Looff Hippodrome at the center of the Pier. The carousel has since been replaced and the rest of the Pier has been modernized to attract amusement park enthusiasts from around the world. The attractions on the pier may have been adapted for the 21st century (that iconic ferris wheel is solar powered!), but it still has that early carnival vibe. If roller coasters and bumper cars aren’t your thing, visit the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium to learn all about ocean conservation—a perfect activities for school groups. Or, check out Santa Monica State Beach—3.5 miles of soft white sand with the Pier at its center. Restaurants, bars, and boutiques are spread out over the Pier and throughout the surrounding neighborhood, making this vibrant destination a true crowd-pleaser.