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23 Oct, 2025
10 min read
Date Updated: 23 Oct, 2025

12 Fun Things to Do in Los Angeles in November

What to do in los angeles in november | Questroom

November in Los Angeles is the perfect time for fun fall activities. This time of year offers cooler weather, fewer tourists, and holiday season activities that surround food, culture, and art! People who live in the area or are from out of town should take advantage of the many memorable events Southern California has to offer. Check out iconic spots like Hollywood or Santa Monica. Enjoy the outdoors at beautiful botanical gardens, Echo Park, or the many local beaches. Experience the culture of Los Angeles County by eating at famous food truck spots, breaking out of high-quality escape rooms, visiting the twinkling lights of the LA Zoo, or getting in the holiday spirit by running in a Thanksgiving 5k. If you are wondering what to do in Los Angeles in November, we have got you covered.

1. Santa Monica

Santa Monica is a beachfront city located in Los Angeles County, famous for its climate, beaches, and hospitality industry. November in California is around 20 degrees cooler than July. This cool fall weather is the perfect time to hit the trails in Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. The hiking options are endless, with over 500 miles of trails through canyons, fields of wildflowers, and ocean view paths. The Santa Monica Pier is an iconic attraction for all ages. Stroll through the excitement down at Pacific Park. This pier has amusement rides, including the famous Ferris Wheel that overlooks the ocean waves. Other noteworthy attractions include a historic merry-go-round, the Playland Arcade, the Santa Monica Trapeze School, the Heal the Bay Aquarium, and many unique street performers.

2. Quest Room Escape Room LA

Our escape rooms in Hollywood, Culver City, Redondo Beach, and Koreatown are your go-to for immersive, highly themed escape room experiences incorporating puzzle solving, live actors, and Hollywood-quality storytelling. Our escape rooms are the best hour spent this November. Perfect for community building or an exciting night out with friends, we offer many escape room genres, including horror and family escape room options. Let us know if your group would like a beginner or expert challenge level. This fun activity is perfect for the spooky season or anytime your friends are looking for an exciting night out. We do have certain age recommendations for some of our escape room challenges due to language or suspenseful themes, so double-check your group's ages and comfort levels before booking your adventure. We are proud to offer all of our escape rooms as completely private experiences and will never place you with a stranger. Enjoy booking a room for just two friends or a large group.

3. Hollywood, LA

Hollywood, LA, is the historic center of the American film and entertainment industry that attracts millions of tourists each year. Hollywood has several noteworthy options to explore with friends or family. Madame Tussauds Wax Museum houses over 125 lifelike wax figures of Hollywood actors, music legends, and film stars. Be sure to take your camera for special selfies and photo ops all throughout the museum. The Hollywood Walk of Fame is another iconic Hollywood district activity. Begin this famous walk on Hollywood Blvd at Gower Street and end in about 1.3 miles at LaBrea Avenue. This is a free activity, perfect for an anytime tour of your favorite celebrity's stars. Weekends and evenings tend to be busier. Consider taking a morning walk at this location and enjoy one of the most famous free things to do in Los Angeles County!

4. Descanso Botanical Gardens

Descanso Gardens is a 150-acre botanical garden of both cultivated and wild land surrounded by mountains. Throughout the month of November, there are beautiful blooms to enjoy, including the gingko tree, chrysanthemums, toyon berries, sasanqua camellias, and a lot of fall foliage. Consider packing a picnic or warm drink for a relaxing time out in the cool, yet sunny day. Be sure to check out the twinkling lights at the Enchanted Forest of Night garden starting mid-November. Light, color, and ambient music are paired with the garden's natural beauty to bring an aspect of magic you will love.

5. Echo Park

Echo Park is a culturally diverse neighborhood in East Central LA that is centered on Echo Park Lake. It’s a great November outing for people who enjoy a quiet, cozy, and romantic boat ride. Rent one of the new Swan Boats and pedal around the lake. Explore lotus beds, a large fountain, and more while getting in a bit of exercise with up to four adults. Rentals are available daily, with evening rides beginning at sunset and lasting for one hour. Reservations must be made online, and walk-up bookings are not allowed. Feel free to bring a picnic on board, but save the alcohol for afterwards. Known as one of LA's hidden gems, the Swan Boats are a perfect getaway this fall season.

6. Long Beach & Dana Point

Long Beach and Dana Point are both coastal California destinations known for their beautiful beaches and laid-back culture. Everyone knows summer is the popular time for beach bumming, but November is also a wonderful time to visit these beach cities. Dana Point is one of the prime spots for whale watching. November is a great time for Minke whale watching, so look for tours offering guaranteed sightings for an amazing once-in-a-lifetime viewing. In November, temperatures rarely drop below 50 °F. This allows for crisp oceanfront walks, bike rides, and eating along the harbor promenade. Long Beach is especially known for its diverse beach environments, in addition to paddleboarding, sunbathing, and biking.

7. Food Trucks at Avenue 26 Night Market

Avenue 26 Night Market is the most diverse food truck hub in Southern California and the informal home of over 100 vendors. This food truck marketplace is located in Whittier, in Los Angeles County. It is open on Saturdays and has many mouthwatering options, including Sweet Meats barbecue skewers and El Jefe's BBQ tri-tip sandwiches. Check out this spot if you're into an exciting lunch outing with friends, live music, and plenty of unique food choices!

8. LA Zoo Holiday Lights Experience

The LA Zoo Holiday Season Lights experience is a yearly display of holiday light festival located throughout the LA Zoo. Visit the zoo starting mid-November for a night presentation of illuminated displays. Enjoy large lantern animal sculptures, interactive light exhibits, and hundreds of festive decorations. Begin this lovely November tour of lights with a cup of hot cocoa and a group of friends for about two hours of beautiful displays. Favorite displays include glowing animals, light projections, and immersive environments. The Rainforest Riverwalk includes a moving alligator and animated jellyfish. There is an entry fee for each person, and live animals will be asleep during this experience. However, the beauty of the lights, food and drink vendors, interesting holiday merchandise, and an accessible hard path throughout the grounds make this location for fun a popular tradition.

9. Run a Thanksgiving 5k

Thanksgiving 5k runs are a great way to come together for a cause and burn extra calories. LA has several options for holiday 5/10k runs. Depending upon your wants and needs, people looking for things to do in Los Angeles over Thanksgiving weekend will find the perfect fit for a holiday race. People who are in shape and wish to run alone may enjoy a longer race, and people who want to run a shorter distance with others should consider running a shorter 5k. Some races allow children to participate, so for groups with young people, be sure to check the 5k rules for the age range. The Turkey Trot is an annual charity event held in downtown LA. People can choose to do a one-mile, 5k, 10k, or the Widdle Waddle race for children 12 and under. This race goes past landmarks like Grand Park, the Disney Concert Hall, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Los Angeles City Hall. Proceeds from the race go to helping the homeless of LA. The Rose Bowl Turkey Trot is every November in Pasadena at the Rose Bowl. It is a timed race and goes along a 3.1-mile route around the Rose Bowl Stadium. Everyone who races receives a medal and a bib. While this race is for all ages, children under the age of 12 must always be accompanied by a registered guardian. This race is particularly enjoyed by dog lovers, as dogs are welcome as long as they are leashed! Both the Rose Bowl Turkey Trot and the Turkey Trot encourage participants to wear festive costumes for all to enjoy. Each race also hosts a costume contest featuring awards for the best-dressed.

10. Los Angeles Auto Show

The Los Angeles Auto Show is one of the most influential and highly attended auto shows in the world. This car show encompasses more than 1 million square feet of the future of cars. Check out the newest ideas from brands like Tesla, Cadillac, Porsche, Ford, and Jeep. Special exhibits, VIP tours, test drives and rides, LA car culture, VIP tours and more are available for people to enjoy. There are several options for tickets, including:

  1. Opening Day Friday Tickets
  2. Thanksgiving Family 4 Packs
  3. Any Day Tickets
  4. VIP Guided Tour and Show Ticket
  5. Weekend Priority Entry and Show Ticket This world-famous 10-day car show began in 1907 at Morley's skating rink and included over 99 vehicles on display and 46 manufacturers represented. The show continues today, celebrating the innovations of the car industry and encourages car enthusiasts and professional buyers to choose forward thinking in regards to the auto industry.

11. Universal Studios Hollywood

Universal Studios Hollywood is a theme park and one of the most famous and oldest film studios still in use. This film studio and theme park, located in Hollywood, California, is popular for tourists and locals alike. It has numerous options for behind-the-scenes looks into what it takes to produce favorite TV shows and movies. Tickets include the world-famous studio tour, where guests can explore real film sets, backlots, props, and special effects. There are many noteworthy rides at the theme park. Famous rides that bring popular movies to life include:

  1. Jurassic World - The Ride
  2. Kung Fu Panda Adventure
  3. Revenge of the Mummy - The Ride
  4. Transformers: The Ride 3D
  5. The Secret Life of Pets Off the Leash
  6. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey November is the perfect time to visit Universal Studios Hollywood as Holidays at Universal is in full swing and includes special holiday entertainment, holiday merchandise, unique holiday treats and drinks, and the Universal City Walk that is complete with festive decor, lights, and more! You’ll notice a big change in decor if you went to Universal Studio’s Halloween Horror Nights as a fun activity in Los Angeles in October and return in November. Universal is a top pick for people looking for an exciting outing with friends or family. It is open 365 days a year, but be sure to check the website first for any possible daily hour changes.

12. Watch an LA Kings Hockey Game

The LA Kings Hockey Team is a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles and competes in the National Hockey League. Sports fans in the house will have a blast at the next LA Kings game. Both home and away games are scheduled throughout November, and tickets are easily purchased online. The Kings have had many legendary players, including Wayne Gretzky, Anze Kopitar, Luc Robitaille, and Marcel Dionne. This is a fun LA activity for anyone to enjoy!

Noteworthy LA Events for This November

This November is stocked full of options for you to check out. People who want to take advantage of the cool fall weather should check out the Santa Monica Pier or Descanso Gardens. People who are ready for an adventure will make lifetime memories at Quest Room or Universal Studios Hollywood. There's plenty of fun for sports lovers with a Thanksgiving 5k or an LA Kings game. Whatever your desire this fall, Los Angeles will not disappoint. These 12 fun activities for November in LA will fill your calendar to the brim with fun, food, adventure, and memories you will remember forever!

Ivan is an expert in escape room design and development for almost a decade. He and his team have developed dozens of 5-star escape rooms across multiple genres in the United States, focusing on amazing live experience and unforgettable storytelling.

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