Must-Do Activities in LA:

1. Ice Skating

Ice skating with friends or family is the perfect way to get into the winter spirit. If you’ve never ice skated before, no worries, most ice skating rinks have Skate Helpers –a tool used to help learners balance on the ice– available to use. Plus, LA is typically warm, so this cold adventure will give you an excellent excuse to wear adorable winter clothes! Los Angeles features several ice skating rinks. My favorites include:

• LA Kings Holiday Ice at L.A. LIVE. Located in South Park, Los Angeles. Although this may be a long drive for some, it is worth the unforgettable experience you will have. This large rink features a huge Christmas tree in the center and several restaurants close by. I recommend purchasing tickets ahead of time because this rink is quite popular and can get very busy. To learn more about this location and the opening dates, visit their website: https://www.lalive.com/la-kings-holiday-ice-la-live.
• Ice at Santa Monica. As stated in its name, this rink is located in Santa Monica, Los Angeles. If you are searching for an option that doesn’t require pre-purchased tickets, this spot is perfect for you! Ice at Santa Monica is a smaller rink that offers treats and warm beverages. This ice skating rink also features a kids’ rink, ideal if you or your family wants to bring younger children. This location opens today, Friday, November 8th, at 11:30 a.m. and will have a season Opening Celebration tonight at 5 p.m. For more information and business hours, feel free to visit their website: https://iceatsantamonica.com/.

  

  2. Enjoy a refreshing hike

  

  There are several amazing hikes in Los Angeles that everyone should visit at one point. Hiking during this time of year is ideal because instead of sweating in the heat, you’ll be able to enjoy the refreshingly crisp air of winter. To discover some gorgeous hikes in the Pacific Palisades, I recommend visiting the website https://www.alltrails.com/us/california/pacific-palisades. Another popular hike I recommend is the Cahuenga Peak Trail which takes hikers above the Hollywood sign. This hike in particular has a beautiful view of the city. For more hiking inspiration, read Alex Fidanovski’s article on the Anchor, Best Hikes In LA.
  3. Christmas at Universal Studios Hollywood

  

  During the winter season, Universal Studios goes all out with its decorations. Since we don’t have snow in LA, this is the perfect opportunity to enter a winter wonderland. Several different themes go on during Universal’s winter celebration. Grinchmas, the most popular attraction during this time, celebrates Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas with characters from the movie. Also, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is filled with tons of festive decorations and introduces new holiday food items. This event will begin on November 29 and run till January 6. Visit this special occasion for a guaranteed spectacular experience. For more information, visit Universal Studios website: https://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/web/en/us/things-to-do/events-and-seasonal-activities/holidays-at-universal-studios-hollywood

Things To Do at Home:

1. Fireplace Activities

   

• Bundling up with hot cocoa and a new book by a warm fireplace is my favorite way to spend a cold winter day. Although winter break provides an opportunity to rest from school, it remains important to stay well-read. Immersing yourself in this comfortable haven provides the perfect setting to read a new book or a book you have been forgetting to finish. My favorite hot drink for winter is hot cocoa, but you can also choose another hot drink to personalize this experience to your liking. As an addition, you can listen to some holiday music to truly add to the winter effect.
• Roasting marshmallows in your fireplace is another must-do winter activity. Although simple, this classic activity can be the perfect touch to a boring afternoon.

2. Holiday Movie Marathon

Who doesn’t love a good holiday rom-com? The perfect way to spend a chill day at home —but still stay in the holiday spirit— is a holiday movie marathon. To make the experience even better, get cozy with a bunch of blankets and share the time with a friend, family member, or yourself! For movie idea inspiration, visit Ava Gordon’s article on the Anchor: “Which Classic Holiday Movies Should I Watch?”.

3. Decorate Your Christmas Tree/Home

We are typically too stressed during school to spend quality time with our family members, but our holiday break is the perfect time to bond with them. Decorating your home or Christmas tree together is the perfect way to spend time without leaving your home. You can listen to holiday music and drink hot cocoa while placing ornaments on the Christmas tree and stockings on the mantel! If you don’t celebrate Christmas, you can still spend time with your family by decorating your home with your religion’s typical displays and other holiday decorations that don’t involve Christmas.

Take a Weekend Trip

Sadly it does not snow in Los Angeles, but there are several snowy mountains nearby. Visiting the snow introduces tons of must-do winter activities that cannot be done in LA. Some activities that you can do include:

1. Sledding: a thrilling activity to do with friends or siblings. Some sledding locations have slides carved out of the snow, or other obstacles to add excitement to this experience.
2. Create a snowman: Creating a snowman is an activity everyone must do when in the snow. You can decorate your snowman however you please and make it as small or large as you desire. You can also have a snowman-building competition with your friends or family.
3. Snowboarding/skiing: If you have never skied or snowboarded before, it is never too late to learn! There are plenty of instructional classes offered at most mountains, or a friend can teach you to make it more fun.

   

Some mountains I recommend visiting nearby that feature great villages to explore include: Big Bear Lake, Mammoth Lakes, and Lake Tahoe.

• Big Bear Lake is around a 2-hour and 30-minute drive from the general Los Angeles area. Big Bear is ideal for a quick trip if you don’t want a lengthy road trip.
• Mammoth Lakes is around a 5-6 hour drive from the general Los Angeles area. This location is a popular mountain, but it does require more planning and a road trip.
• Lake Tahoe is around a 2-hour and 30-minute flight from LAX to RNO. There is also an additional 45-minute drive from Reno to Lake Tahoe. This location requires a flight,