Fun Summer Activities in Los Angeles That Every LA Girl Must Try

Summer in LA means longer days and an endless amount of opportunities of things to do in the city. I love sipping cold lemonade, the feeling of sand beneath my toes, and witnessing the lushness of fresh fruit and vegetables. Summer is the perfect time to get outside and explore! Here’s a roundup of summer activities in Los Angeles that every LA Girl must try!

Sit back, relax and watch a drive-in movie

I appreciate a good movie as well as a great cinema atmosphere. The Electric Dusk Drive-In presents monthly movies, private screenings and special events in the heart of downtown. You can park and enjoy the movie from your car or grab an astroturf ticket to sit on the grass.  You will also get a snack sheet when you arrive, which you can fill out and hand to your carhop, who’ll bring your order right to you. In addition, I love this venue because it is pet- friendly, so bring your pooch along for a night out!

Discover the Downtown Arts District

Hundreds and thousands of people pass through, work or live in Downtown. But if you’ve ever taken a closer look, you would discover that the Downtown Arts District is a mecca for artistry, innovation and lively characters. Abundant with street art, brick walls, bridges and mostly empty streets, the landscape of the neighborhood makes for the perfect photo shoot. Along with a community rich in personality, the Downtown Arts District also features stylish boutiques and galleries, and some of the best restaurants and bars. These well hidden establishments lie amidst a stretch of warehouses and many ex- factories that have become artist studios or loft apartments.

Shop at Urban Radish, and fill up on organic produce, artisan cheese, custom brewed coffee and beyond. You can wander off to the Downtown Design League or Arts District Co-op, where you can peruse handcrafted clothing, footwear, leather goods and accessories, many of which are Angeleno-made.

Spend the evening on the outdoor patio at Villains Tavern, where you can sip draft beer out of mason jars, accompanied by live blues, rock and bluegrass. Or for those beer lovers, on the district’s western border sits Angel City Brewery, an expansive beer hall, good for a casual brewski and pretzel or a behind-the-scenes tour of the brewery itself.

Attend a star party

Want to spend a night amongst the stars, but don’t have your own telescope at home or not on the A-list? Then you’re in luck! Join Griffith Observatory’s monthly (and free) public Star Parties. Head out to the Observatory’s expansive lawn among hundreds of other celestial enthusiasts and check out the views through a wide variety of telescopes, with savvy astronomers happy to discuss what you see through the equipment. The views of heavenly objects above and LA’s breathtaking sea of  city lights below make this a otherworldly experience for the whole family.

Surround yourself with beautiful butterflies 

Nature lovers rejoice! Spend a day at the Natural History Museum’s Butterfly Pavilion, with more than 30 butterfly and moth species and an assortment of California plants. The seasonal outdoor exhibit allows for adults and children alike to witness nature up close. But do not wait until the last minute, this exhibit only lasts until Monday September 7, 2015!

 Get in the mood with some wine & jazz

Before you hop on the Hollywood Bowl shuttle, stop for a drink and a few tunes at Hollywood & Highland’s annual Jazz & Wine series. Each week, KJazz 88.1 FM hosts a free jazz performance in the outdoor courtyard. In addition, you can sample wine by Stella Rosa and an appetizer box (proceeds benefit Project Angel Food). This event begins on Tuesday June 30, 2015 and goes on till Tuesday July 28, 2015. See the full events calendar here.

I hope this summer is full of fun and adventures for you! Follow me on Instagram or Twitter to see what I’m up to and I can’t wait to see yours!