30 Before 30: The Ultimate Los Angeles Experience Bucket List
Celebrating your 30th birthday is a great reason to see more of Los Angeles than just the usual tourist spots. The city offers famous landmarks, fun coastal activities, great places to eat, cultural sights, and unforgettable nightlife. This list will help you make the most of your twenties before the next decade starts, whether you’ve lived in Los Angeles your whole life or are just visiting for a while.
*This post was written and is sponsored by Deluxe Bartending Service.
1. Watch a Sunset at the Griffith Observatory
The Griffith Observatory during golden hour is one of the best places to see the magic of Los Angeles. Get there early to explore the exhibits, and stay for views of the cityscape, the Hollywood Sign, and the Pacific Ocean. Oh, and did I mention it’s free?
2. Hike to the Hollywood Sign
You can see the famous sign in person if you walk along one of Griffith Park’s beautiful trails. The hike offers some of the best views of Los Angeles, and once again it doesn’t cost a thing. Map yourself to 3200 Canyon Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90068 if you want to avoid residential parking issues.
3. Visit Catalina Island
From the mainland, you can take a ferry to Avalon and spend the day exploring the island. You can snorkel in the clear water or rent a golf cart to get around. Although it’s so close to LA, it seems like a whole different world.
4. Attend a Dodgers game
Even if you don’t like baseball, Dodger Stadium is a great place to experience what Los Angeles is all about. Enjoy one of the city’s most beloved traditions: a Dodger Dog while watching the sun go down over the stadium.
5. Visit Grand Central Market
You can try tacos, ramen, pastries, coffee, and local specialties all in one place. In just one afternoon, it’s one of the best ways to experience LA’s wide range of food cultures. Even if you’ve been before, the restaurants rotate enough to give you a glimpse of what’s hot right now. Pair it with a ride on Angel’s Flight nearby to see what the city was like in 1901.
6. Learn how to surf in Santa Monica
In Southern California, trying surfing for the first time is almost like a rite of passage. Santa Monica has waves that are good for beginners and instructors who make the process of learning a lot less scary.
7. Visit Five Wineries in Malibu in one day
In the Malibu hills, you can get away from the city to enjoy views of the ocean, vineyards, and wine tastings. Compared to the busy center of Los Angeles, it’s surprisingly calm and offers wineries without a two-hour drive. Cielo Farms and Malibu Family Wines are some of the most popular, or you could hire a car service to see more in the safest way.
8. Go to the Getty Center
The Getty Center is worth spending several hours at because it has world-class art, beautiful architecture, and well-kept gardens. The hilltop location also gives you amazing views of the city. The cost is only the price to park.
9. Try a Michelin-starred eatery
Allow yourself to enjoy a meal that turns eating into an adventure. Michelin-starred restaurants in Los Angeles, such as Providence and Osteria Mozza have stood the test of time, remaining in the guide for decades. You can also go with something newer like Kato to gain a fresh perspective on dining out.
10. Watch a movie outside at Hollywood Forever Cemetery
It’s unforgettable to watch an old movie under the stars in one of LA’s most unusual places. For a truly Los Angeles evening, bring a blanket, some snacks, and your friends to the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. The screenings feature DJ music, food trucks, and a fascinating look through the history of stars gone by.
11. Go paddling in Marina del Rey
This is a great activity for first-timers because the water is calm. Furthermore, it gives you a fresh look at the marina, boats, and marine life without the chaos of Santa Monica.
12. Go to a movie night on a rooftop
Relax and enjoy the movie while taking in the view of the city skyline. Food, drinks, and fresh air are available. Rooftop screenings are a unique way to enjoy both entertainment and nightlife in Los Angeles.
13. Take a helicopter ride over Los Angeles
When you look at the city from above, you get a whole new sense of how big and varied it is. From above, the coast, downtown skyline, and Hollywood Hills look especially beautiful. This is definitely one for the 30 before 30 Bucket List.
14. Go Whale Watching
There may be gray whales, blue whales, dolphins, and other sea life off the coast of Southern California at different times of the year. It’s one of the best things to do outside close to the city.
15. Visit the Huntington Library & Gardens
This huge cultural center in Pasadena features rare books, art collections, and beautiful botanical gardens. Give yourself at least half a day to really explore it, as it’s easy to get lost in the beauty of the Japanese and Chinese Gardens.
16. Go on a taco crawl through East Los Angeles
Visit a few taco shops and look at the different styles, tortillas, salsas, and fillings each one has. One of the best ways to see the city’s neighborhoods is to eat your way through them. Teddy’s Red and Tacos al Cabron are a good way to start.
17. Learn how to play a new “Board Game“
For decades, Los Angeles has shaped skate culture, and getting on a board is a fun way to connect with that history. For safety reasons, many people learn to skateboard from a local instructor or community program before going to the city’s famous skateparks.
18. Learn how to make Cocktails
It’s useful to know how to make both old-fashioned and new drinks, even after the class is over. Another great way to meet new people and bring a bit of Los Angeles nightlife culture into your home gatherings is to take a local bartending class.
19. Go to the Hollywood Bowl to see a live show
One of the most famous places in the world to see live music outside is the Hollywood Bowl. With a picnic, you can watch a show in the evening outside under the stars. Famously, you can also sit in the stands up top for just $1 for some shows.
20. Go to Joshua Tree for the weekend
If you drive a few hours east, you can see some of California’s most beautiful deserts, stargaze, hike, and other natural sights. It’s the perfect place to get away from the city on the weekend so you can howl at the moon.
21. Check out the Canals in Venice
Behind the busy Venice Beach area, there are some quiet canals and footbridges that you can walk along. It’s one of the most peaceful places in Los Angeles, and you might never expect it.
22. Go to Universal Studios’ Annual Halloween Horror Nights
This should be high on your list of Halloween attractions. It’s one of the biggest holiday events in Southern California, thanks to the themed haunted houses and live music. Dates run from September 3rd to November 1st this year.
23. Get outside for a Food Fair
Los Angeles has festivals that honor all kinds of food, from tacos and barbecue to vegan dishes and world cuisine. Find one in your neck of the woods or check out Smorgasgburg in DTLA every Sunday.
24. Go Kayaking through the Caves of the Pacific
For a more exciting ocean experience, explore caves and rock formations along the coast in a kayak. With guided tours, even people who have never been before can do it.
25. Ride horses in Griffith Park
For a fun and relaxing way to see the Hollywood Sign and Griffith Park, saddle up and take a ride. It’s a surprisingly calm way to enjoy one of Los Angeles’s biggest parks without breaking too much of a sweat.
26. Go to the Broad Museum
This is one of the best modern art museums in the city and has works by artists like Yayoi Kusama and Jeff Koons. If you can, book your tickets ahead of time and take advantage of free admission.
27. Try Skydiving indoors
Feel what it’s like to be in free fall without jumping out of an airplane. You’ll enjoy the challenge, which will take you out of your comfort zone a bit without having to take to the skies.
28. Discover Little Tokyo
In one of the oldest Japanese American neighborhoods in the US, you can walk through Japanese bookstores, cafes, restaurants, and cultural sites.
29. Take a drive along Mulholland Drive to see the sights.
Take a drive through the Hollywood Hills and stop at lookouts to see some of the most iconic views in the city. Visit during sunset to really see why this is the city of stars.
30. Throw a cocktail party for friends that they’ll never forget.
To end the list, make an experience instead of going to one. Get your friends together, craft your favorite drinks, play some great music, and enjoy a party for all the things you’ve accomplished in your life so far. You deserve it!
Make Your Own Version
It’s not a race to make a bucket list. It should remind you to say “yes” more often, like to the trip you’ve been wanting to take, the concert or museum you’ve been meaning to see, and the activity that is a little out of your comfort zone. You will have memories that are worth much more than anything you could buy, even if you only do a few of these things before you turn 30.
