More zen, less rush. It’s a sure way to slow down and enjoy long spring days in Los Angeles like a local.
Last updated: July 9, 2025
Local in Los Angeles: 6 Must-Do Things
La La Land is normally hectic. The city is ever evolving, ever demanding, and hardly ever slowing down.
LA’s pace of life increases even more with the arrival of the longer spring days. The streets are full with people always rushing, always doing something. More flower tents pop up on street corners. Many food trucks extend their hours to feed hungry crowds well into the wee hours.
At the same time with the spring in the air some kind of slow living can be witnessed on the patios of cozy cafes and tea houses scattered throughout Los Angeles. Their visitors consist mostly of locals that, despite the overall to-go trend, opt for a ceramic cup of signature drink and long conversations with their fellow LA residents.
A few of them enjoy the long spring days in the sunny Los Angeles area with a book, sometimes new, often worn by the time and use.
Savor Spring Day in Los Angeles like a Local
Slow living in LA in the springtime seems impossible. At least for newcomers or those who have only a few days to wrap their minds around the unique culture and lifestyle of the unofficial capital of California.
It doesn’t sound surprising at all, considering that a good number of the locals also find LA’s tempo of life excruciating. It’s fast-paced. It’s always work, no play. And it’s expensive. The latter, however, is a completely different story.
Yet despite all these shortcomings, the majority of the locals have learned how to slow down and enjoy the long spring days in their beloved LA to the fullest. The trick is to take one day at a time. One activity a day.
TIP: For visitors, especially if you have limited time on your hands, do a few simple things per day (considering that you’ve checked out the city’s most famous landmarks already). Fortunately, longer spring days allow you to combine several activities while still letting you enjoy the slower lifestyle the locals of LA succumb to.
While we, the now long-time locals, still find new places to explore within the LA region, our spring weekends are mostly filled with simple activities. We call them “day excursions”.
HOW TO EXPLORE LOS ANGELES LIKE A LOCAL
1. Plan a Cultural Excursion
Cultural heritage, centuries-old traditions, and architectural splendor inspire you to visit some Asian temples in the LA area. We might have come from different religious backgrounds and have different views on God, faith, and religion.
Yet don’t let this stop you from discovering new cultural centers and various traditional shrines and monasteries, such as Lake Shrine and Hsi Lai Temple, that together comprise the epic multicultural scene of LA.
READ MORE: 13 Asian Destinations in Los Angeles: Asian Sites and Culture
2. Visit a Local Stadium
LA with its endless kid’s playgrounds and public stadiums/recreational centers is the epitome of a health-oriented city. Thanks to notable Southern California weather, locals never let these play centers and soccer fields stay empty for long. A few rainy days may be the only exceptions.
Thus, when the spring is in the air, LA welcomes back even more locals that emerge from their winter hibernation and are ready to enjoy the longer days at the faster, but at the same time relatively slower pace in the heart of the city.
3. Go for a Hike in Los Angeles
Expansive parks and gardens in the LA area, normally with small lakes, see a steady return of locals and visitors as soon as the sun shines brighter and the days become longer. Some visitors fly kites, others peruse books under tree canopy. The majority, however, hit a trail and enjoy wildflowers and nature within one of the most diverse cities in the U.S.
4. Go to the Beach
In Los Angeles, you don’t need an excuse or even perfect weather to go to the beach. If you dream of getting into the water, then choosing the right times for your visit may be important. The ocean is normally still cold in early spring. It warms up by late April – early May.
On LA’s beaches, the spring sand is neither cold nor summery hot yet, offering the most ideal conditions for building sandcastles and making sand angels. Moreover, while the ocean may still hold back its invitation, the coast never turns its back on tan-obsessed locals and visitors of Los Angeles.
READ MORE: El Matador State Beach – Malibu’s Secret Gem
5. Attend an Event
Every season, Los Angeles offers some places and reasons for locals and visitors to get together. Some of these events require a prior booking. Others are free and maybe a surprise activity for everybody who is willing to attend. Check the calendar and see what looks appealing to you. Here is a hint for you to start your search.
On weekends leading to Easter, many local parks invite LA’s youngest residents to engage in egg hunts along with coloring contests and endless games.
In early March, Asian communities of LA congregate in local parks to celebrate Holi, another popular spring holiday. These days are packed with throwing and smearing on clothes and faces brightly colored powders, dancing, and lots of traditional goodies.
6. Stop at a Library or a Local Bookstore
Numerous libraries and bookstores don’t wait for the spring to allow the residents of LA to slow down within their book-filled rooms. But with the arrival of the longer days, a normally short visit to a book sanctuary often turns into a day-long activity.
Spending a day inside a bookstore or library is one of the best ways to explore Los Angeles like a local when you need a quick escape from the heat or a rare rain.
