Beachlife in Malibu, Santa Monica and Venice
In Los Angeles, the sun shines around 300 days a year. If you drive along the Pacific Coast Highway, you will find enchanting coastal cities, extensive beach promenades and entertainment for young and old.
Malibu
There are several reasons that Malibu is known for its beautiful beaches: The Paradise Cove beach section served as a Baywatch backdrop and as a location for various films, music videos and commercials. Surfrider Beach is also internationally known. Since there are many luxury houses on the beach in Malibu, the coastal town regularly attracts onlookers. Anyone hoping to meet one or two celebrities privately has a good chance at the Malibu Country Mart.
Santa Monica
The Ferris wheel on Santa Monica Pier can be seen from afar. The famous entertainment district is very popular with tourists and locals alike. There is a fair, numerous restaurants and many small souvenir stands. In addition, Santa Monica impresses with a kilometer-long sandy beach. The third Street Promenade is also the flagship of the coastal city. It is one of the few pedestrian zones in LA with more than 200 shops as well as numerous bars, clubs and cinemas.
Venice
The Ocean Front Walk, probably the most famous beach promenade in the world, is a magnet for street artists, fortune tellers and walkers, but also musicians and bon vivants. This is mainly about one thing: Observing other people and being seen for yourself. The body cult is particularly pronounced in Venice Beach. This is most evident on so-called Muscle Beach – an open-air gym where bodybuilders steel their bodies in front of enthusiastic spectators.
Those who like it quieter can head to the Venice Canals. It was once a several kilometers long canal system modeled on Venice. A few canals are still preserved today. There are beautifully landscaped gardens and holiday homes along the canals.
Studying at universities in Los Angeles
Los Angeles is not only an exciting travel destination, but also a top study destination. Over 110 accredited colleges and universities are located in the greater Los Angeles area. Many of them enjoy an excellent reputation nationally and internationally. This is especially true for the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). As part of the University of California System, it is one of the best research universities in the USA. Learn more about USA and North America on militarynous.
UCLA is located in Westwood, a neighborhood popular with stars and students, which borders on Bel Air, Brentwood and Beverly Hills, among others. Students will find a variety of nightlife options in Westwood, but they are also well catered for on the UCLA campus. As the largest location within the UC system, the university has more than 1000 clubs and student organizations, and impresses with its state-of-the-art campus facilities and excellent sports facilities.
The California State University Los Angeles (CSULA) is only a few kilometers from the city center, to the east of Los Angeles, near the San Gabriel Mountains. The university is part of the CSU system and thus a member of the second large university network in California. With its six colleges, Cal State LA has a broad range of subjects. The mountains and the beach are within easy reach and downtown LA offers a wide range of entertainment. The best conditions for an eventful time in Los Angeles.
If you are not drawn to the city of Los Angeles, you will also find first-class universities in the County of Los Angeles and the metropolitan area of Los Angeles. These include
- CSU Northridge
- CSU Dominguez Hills
- CSU Long Beach
- CSU Fullerton
- CSU Channel Islands
- UC Riverside
- UC Santa Barbara
- CSU San Bernardino
Semester abroad and summer sessions in Los Angeles
A semester abroad in LA is ideal to get a feel for the many facets of Los Angeles. Compared to a full course, a semester stay is easier to finance. The tuition fees are lower and there are various financial aids such as foreign BAföG, scholarships and student loans.
A semester abroad as a free mover has the advantage that the courses attended abroad can be recognized through a learning agreement with the home university. This gives you the option of studying in the USA for one semester or several quarters and then continuing your studies in Germany. Thanks to the flexible choice of courses in the semester abroad, it is possible at many US universities to take courses across subjects and semesters and to broaden one’s professional horizons.
As an alternative to the semester abroad, some universities in and around Los Angeles offer attractive summer programs. In the context of so-called summer sessions, international students get access to top universities like UCLA and at the same time can spend an unforgettable summer in Los Angeles.
