food & drink · music & nightlife · attractions & tours · outdoor activities ·
Published March 11, 2024
The Ultimate Los Angeles Spring Bucket List
All the can’t-miss events in LA this spring. 🌷🌼
by Los Angeles Bucket List
The winter chill in LA (if you can call it that) is melting away, and the California sun is making its glorious return to the City of Angels. Warmer temperatures and longer days are here, so you can soak up every last drop of sunshine. Plus, flowers are in super bloom, outdoor movie season is underway, and rooftop bars are calling our names.
From activities on the water to scenic hikes and horseback rides, there are endless opportunities to take advantage of everything LA has to offer this spring. To make things easy, we've rounded up a handy list of some of the best activities and events to check out during this beautiful season in La La Land.
The Best Things to Do in LA This Spring
Visit the Butterfly Pavilion
Butterflies are taking flight at the LA Natural History Museum! This springtime exhibit features hundreds of bright butterflies and up to 30 different species, plus colorful native flowers and greenery to admire as you stroll among the butterflies.
Where: 900 Exposition Blvd
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Wander Through Descanso Gardens
Spring flowers bring late weekday hours at Descanso Gardens. Starting March 18, Descanso will remain open until 7:00 pm, so visitors can soak up an extra two hours of springtime at the gardens. Explore hundreds of varieties of flowers and greenery across almost a dozen different themed gardens like the stunning Rose Garden, Camellia Collection, California Garden, and more.
Where: 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge, CA
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Watch an Outdoor Movie
Movie night, but take it outside and add an MC, food trucks, games, and live music! Street Food Cinema is back starting April 27 with a new lineup of themed movies, photo ops, activities, and more. This season, you can expect nights dedicated to timeless classics like Pulp Fiction, along with new faves like Barbie, Crazy Rich Asians, and more!
Where: Locations vary. Please check the screening schedule.
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Ride a Railbike Through SoCal
Walk the Wildflower Trail at Diamond Valley Lake
Each spring, the super scenic Wildflower Trail of Diamond Valley Lake opens briefly to the public! The 1.3-mile loop trail winds through fields carpeted with stunning wildflowers, providing views of deep blue arroyo lupines, purple Canterbury bells, yellow rancher's fiddleneck, and more. It's open Wednesday through Sunday, from 5:45 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
P.S. We rounded up 14 more scenic hikes in LA here!
Where: 2615 Angler Ave Hemet, CA
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Go to a Sober Morning Dance Party
Embrace fresh starts and new beginnings with Daybreaker, the invigorating morning dance party coming to Santa Monica on April 28. Kick off your morning bright and early with a 6 am dance party—we promise it will be worth the early wake-up call. The experience includes a DJ, live musician, free coffee, kombucha, and breakfast treats, along with a host of surprise performances.
Where: Santa Monica Pier: 401 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA
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Celebrate Spring at the Cherry Blossom Festival
Monterey Park holds an annual spring cherry blossom festival complete with taiko drum performances, martial arts demonstrations, tea ceremonies, hand-made crafts, authentic Japanese cuisine, and much more. Don't miss it on April 27 and 28; admission to the festival is free and open to the public!
Where: Barnes Park, located at 350 S. McPherrin Ave., Monterey Park, CA
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Embark on a Jet Ski Adventure to Catalina Island
LA is one of the best places to go jet skiing, with easy access to the ocean, warm temps, and sunshine most days of the year. Take a spring jet ski adventure to Catalina Island and ride with dolphins, swim through beautiful caverns, and snorkel in crystal clear waters. This all-day excursion lets you experience all the wonder that exists in our offshore playground.
Where: 700 Queensway Dr, Long Beach, CA
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Have Dinner & Drinks on a Rooftop
Why have dinner inside when you can have it on a rooftop? LA is home to dozens of rooftop bars with gorgeous views no matter where you are in the city. Now that temperatures are hitting that sweet spot between not too hot and not too cold, it’s the perfect time to grab drinks or book a dinner reservation with a view. For a lineup of all the best places, check out our guide to the best rooftops in LA.
Where: Various locations.
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Take a Sunset Flight Tour
Soar high above the clouds this spring on a sunset flight tour of Los Angeles. The city is beautiful from any angle, but taking in the greenery and blooms from above is breathtaking. You’ll get to see DTLA, the Dodgers Stadium, Griffith Observatory, and the Hollywood Sign from a totally new perspective for an experience you’ll never forget.
Where: 4015 Santa Anita Ave, El Monte, CA
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Take a Gondola Cruise Through Newport
Take a dreamy springtime cruise through Newport Harbor in a traditional gondola. Choose from a romantic couples cruise with shared apps (think: charcuterie boards, mozzarella kabobs, or Mediterranean bites), a dessert cruise with decadent cheesecake, or a casual pizza cruise with sparkling cider or mineral water.
Where: 200 Bayside Drive, Newport Beach, CA
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Go Wine Tasting
Wineries are opening back up again, and California is *the* place to be when it comes to wine tasting. Experience a taste of Malibu with a Saddlerock Wine tasting flight paired with a cheese and charcuterie board! This preset flight includes a tasting note sheet to help guide you through your own wine tasting and two branded wine glasses to take home.
Where: Malibu Wines and Beer Garden: 23130 Sherman Way, Los Angeles, CA
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Rent a Swan Boat at Echo Park Lake
Get outside and spend an afternoon pedaling around Echo Park Lake in a swan boat. The lake features an unbeatable view of the LA skyline and surrounding park. Go during the day and pack a picnic (food and non-alcoholic drinks are allowed onboard), or wait until sunset and take a night ride with the boats all lit up! You can even play an interactive Find & Seek Trivia game included with your boat rental.
Where: Echo Park Lake: 751 Echo Park Ave., Los Angeles, CA
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Party at Bingo Loco
If you haven't experienced Bingo Loco yet, let this be your sign to go this April. The epic bingo rave show has come to LA with dance-offs, rave rounds, lip sync battles, throwback anthems, confetti showers, CO2 cannons, conga lines, and prizes ranging from international vacations and cars to air fryers and lawnmowers. In other words, this is not your typical bingo night.
Where: Exchange LA: 618 S Spring St / Academy: 6021 Hollywood Blvd
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EXCLUSIVE
Go Horseback Riding Through the Hollywood Hills
Spring is the perfect time to experience LA in full bloom, and what better way to experience nature than from horseback? Take a guided horseback ride through the Hollywood Hills and see some of LA's most iconic landmarks, like the Griffith Observatory and Hollywood Sign. Schedule an evening tour to catch sunset views, or go on a Saturday or Sunday morning and round out your weekend at one of LA's best brunch spots.
Where: Sunset Ranch Hollywood: 3400 N Beachwood Dr, Los Angeles, CA
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Make Pasta at a Cooking Party
You might have taken a cooking class before, but have you gone to a cooking party before? This handmade pasta- and gnocchi-making class is actually just a party where you happen to be making pasta. You'll learn the art of crafting cavatelli, tagliatelle, or gnocchi alongside complimentary apps, free-flowing wine and spritzers, dessert, and music from a live DJ!
Where: 6 Rose Ave in Venice Beach
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EXCLUSIVE
EXPLORE MORE:
14 Scenic Hikes in LA That Offer Amazing Views
The Best Family-Friendly Things to Do with Kids in LA
The Best Unexpected Date Ideas in LA
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