39 Unique Things We Did in 2015 We Hope Will Inspire You To Explore L.A. in 2016

2015 was a good year for We Like L.A.

Christina and I accomplished more and explored more parts of Los Angeles than we probably ever thought we would (at least if you’d asked us at the beginning of 2014).

That said, we wanted to put together a bit of a look back at some of our favorite moments from the past 11+ months in the hopes that it’ll inspire a few of our readers to push their experiential boundaries for the year to come.  L.A. is a city just begging to be explored, so we hope that in some way this list helps you answer that call.

Without further adieu, here are just 39 of our favorite memories from this year, all documented via our Instagram.

Enjoy!

(Oh, and if you do feel inspired after seeing some of the photos below, I strongly recommend checking out this big list of fun & free things to do as a jumping off point for your 2016 adventures).

1. Went on a late-night donut run

#donuts …. #koreatown style

A photo posted by We Like L.A. (@welikela) on Jan 25, 2015 at 6:36pm PST

2. Took a big group on a hike to the Hollywood Sign.

So we hiked up Bronson Canyon to the Hollywood Sign and for some strange reason all these people decided to follow us 😉 #hollywoodsign #hollywood #losangeles #hiking #mydayinla

A photo posted by We Like L.A. (@welikela) on Jan 31, 2015 at 11:03am PST

3. Hung out with new friends at Grand Central Market.

Just some awesome angelenos conversing during our morning meetup at #grandcentralmarket

A photo posted by We Like L.A. (@welikela) on Mar 7, 2015 at 10:30am PST

4. Hiked to a waterfall (Eaton Canyon to be exact).

Thank you to all the wonderful folks who showed up to our #hike at Eaton Canyon this morning!

A photo posted by We Like L.A. (@welikela) on Mar 14, 2015 at 1:57pm PDT

5. Tried MANY new Happy Hours.

Building the perfect #HappyHour plate @plancheck #plancheck #plancheckDTLA

A photo posted by We Like L.A. (@welikela) on Apr 2, 2015 at 6:13pm PDT

6. Had an artist write us a poem on the spot at Artisanal LA… “City of Angels”

I told her #cityofangels and this is what @jsuskin created. @artisanalLA #poetryondemand #mydayinla

A photo posted by We Like L.A. (@welikela) on Apr 25, 2015 at 1:00pm PDT

7. Saw a musical parody table stage show at The Rockwell (Cruel Intentions in this case).

The cast of Cruel Intentions The Complete Unauthorized Musical Parody was nothing short of exceptional! Even Buffy The Vampire Slayer showed up to support! Flash back to the 90s tonight! #CruelIntentions #musical

A photo posted by We Like L.A. (@welikela) on Apr 10, 2015 at 10:31pm PDT

8. Joined in the Big Parade (takes place annually).

Made it to #echopark with the @bigparadeLA! Might be heading back soon, but plenty of time for others to join up!

A photo posted by We Like L.A. (@welikela) on May 2, 2015 at 10:27am PDT

9. Posed for an obligatory “Angel Wings” photo.

Still not tall enough to get my wings 😂 #shortpeopleproblems #collettemiller #streetart

A photo posted by We Like L.A. (@welikela) on May 13, 2015 at 4:59pm PDT

10. Went to a beer festival at the Rose Bowl.

That's ALOT of #vegans #lavbf @veganbeerfest #mydayinla

A photo posted by We Like L.A. (@welikela) on May 16, 2015 at 1:32pm PDT

11. Hiked with Ranger Ernie to Amir’s Garden.

Great way to start our Sunday in #LosAngeles #hiking with Ranger Ernie to #amirsgarden #griffithpark #mydayinla

A photo posted by We Like L.A. (@welikela) on May 17, 2015 at 9:31am PDT

12. Saw the Queen Mary up close… and the LEGO replica too!

This is what a 25 ft., 604 lb. LEGO replica of the #queenmary looks like #longbeach #mydayinla #legos

A photo posted by We Like L.A. (@welikela) on Jul 3, 2015 at 12:32pm PDT

13. Snapped a photo of the Chandelier Tree.

The #chandeliertree is all lit up tonight. Ain't she a beauty? #mydayinla #silverlake #losangeles #welikela #discoverla

A photo posted by We Like L.A. (@welikela) on Jul 10, 2015 at 9:25pm PDT

14. Got caught in a rainstorm at a soda festival at Galco’s.

Typical Angeleno reaction to the rain. Flooding in #highlandpark right now but still sampling sodas at @galcossoda at the international #soda fest! Will not be deterred!

A video posted by We Like L.A. (@welikela) on Jul 19, 2015 at 5:22pm PDT

15. Tried some of the most amazing craft cocktails you’ll ever find (thanks Matthew Biancaniello).

Trying this delicious array of hand crafted cocktails prepared by @eatyourdrink at a pop-up (every Wednesday for rest of August) at @thefatdogla in #noho. See reaction to our taste test on Snapchat, user name = welikela. #losangeles #lafoodie #drinkup

A photo posted by We Like L.A. (@welikela) on Aug 12, 2015 at 7:30pm PDT

16. Had a giant seafood platter next to the sea.

Seafood platter at @saltmdr. It's not small. But it is delicious. 😍🍴#lafoodie #marinadelrey #losangeles #nomnomnom #mydayinla #goodeats #seafood

A photo posted by We Like L.A. (@welikela) on Aug 14, 2015 at 6:59pm PDT

17. Saw free concerts at unique venues.

We nabbed a killer spot. #annenberg #coldwarkids #krcw

A photo posted by We Like L.A. (@welikela) on Aug 15, 2015 at 5:01pm PDT

18. Enjoyed the unique public art of Los Angeles.

Kinda gives a whole new meaning to #batman vs. #superman #mydayinla

A photo posted by We Like L.A. (@welikela) on Aug 16, 2015 at 5:04pm PDT

19. Walked on the Love Lock Bridge.

Did you know there's a love-lock bridge right over the #lariver? #atwatervillage #losangeles #welikela #discoverla

A photo posted by We Like L.A. (@welikela) on Aug 19, 2015 at 5:25pm PDT

20. Saw a replica of the original In-N-Out burger location.

So this is what #innout used to look like… And yes, those burgers are priced for a quarter each!!! #mydayinla #losangeles #lafoodie #baldwinpark #nomnomnom #welikela

A photo posted by We Like L.A. (@welikela) on Aug 20, 2015 at 11:23am PDT

21. Walked some of the secret stairwells of Los Angeles.

Sometimes you're just walking along and #losangeles decides to send you a lovely message. #silverlake #secretstairs #welikela #discoverla #explorela

A photo posted by We Like L.A. (@welikela) on Aug 21, 2015 at 5:38pm PDT

22. Went to a BBQ Festival (Long Beach).

And it tastes as good as it looks 😛🍴 #canconfirm #mydayinla #longbeach #longbeachbbqfestival #bbq #lafoodie #nomnomnom

A photo posted by We Like L.A. (@welikela) on Aug 29, 2015 at 3:17pm PDT

23. Took some pictures of balls.

Taking pictures of balls. #macarthurpark #mydayinla #losangeles #discoverla #explorela #welikela

A photo posted by We Like L.A. (@welikela) on Sep 2, 2015 at 12:57pm PDT

24. Sampled amazing food at “The Taste”.

About last night… #tastela #thetaste #lafoodie #mydayinla @thetastela

A photo posted by We Like L.A. (@welikela) on Sep 5, 2015 at 11:20am PDT

25. Took our dog Milo everywhere we went (within reason).

The LA dog life at one of our favorite spots in the city. #vistahermosa #dtla #losangeles #dogsofinstagram #discoverla #welikela

A photo posted by We Like L.A. (@welikela) on Sep 8, 2015 at 12:07pm PDT

26. Went to the re-opening of Clifton’s Cafeteria.

The new @cliftonsla cafeteria is open to the public next week. Previewed it today and it looks fantastic! 🍴😀🍗🍔🍕🍧🍰 #cliftonscafeteria #dtla #downtownla #losangeles #lafoodie #mydayinla

A photo posted by We Like L.A. (@welikela) on Sep 17, 2015 at 2:38pm PDT

27. Went to an outdoor movie screening.

If you're going to do @stfoodcinema then you should do it in style😀🎥 #goonies #streetfoodcinema #pacificpalisades #losangeles #mydayinla

A photo posted by We Like L.A. (@welikela) on Sep 19, 2015 at 6:49pm PDT

28. Went to the Eastside Food Festival.

First bites at the #eastsidefoodfest featuring @elcondorla @belcampomeatco @pineandcrane @littlebeastrestaurant #lafoodie #nom 😀😁😉🍴

A photo posted by We Like L.A. (@welikela) on Oct 18, 2015 at 4:34pm PDT

29. Avoided parking tickets (whenever possible).

So what you're telling me is I should never, ever park here… #mydayinla #laparking #laproblems #miraclemile #wilshireblvd #losangeles

A photo posted by We Like L.A. (@welikela) on Oct 25, 2015 at 9:45am PDT

30. Found (sort-of) hidden gardens in the heart of DTLA.

A (not so) secret Japanese Garden in the heart of #littletokyo #dtla #losangeles #explorela

A photo posted by We Like L.A. (@welikela) on Oct 31, 2015 at 4:28pm PDT

31. Had some eye opening revelations at the Last Bookstore

Hmmm I love tacos. Wait, does that mean I'm a dragon?!? 🌮🐲😀#lastbookstore #mydayinla #welikela

A photo posted by We Like L.A. (@welikela) on Nov 3, 2015 at 7:35pm PST

32. Watched the sun go down at the Santa Monica Pier.

The perfect ending to the day was capturing this… #santamonica #mydayinla #santamonicapier #losangeles #discoverla #sunset

A photo posted by We Like L.A. (@welikela) on Nov 12, 2015 at 5:27pm PST

33. Discovered some of the best views in Griffith Park (Dante’s View in this case).

#dantesview never gets old. #griffithpark #griffithtrails #hiking #losangeles

A photo posted by We Like L.A. (@welikela) on Nov 20, 2015 at 4:06pm PST

34. Ate chicken and waffles (whenever possible).

Thinking about great spots for brunch after a hike in #griffithpark and @messhallkitchen definitely comes to mind #losangeles #losfeliz #hiking #chickenandwaffles

A photo posted by We Like L.A. (@welikela) on Nov 23, 2015 at 12:55pm PST

35. Saw some of the city’s most amazing Christmas lights displays.

Amazing holiday display put together by @lightsondisplay in #shermanoaks. One of the best you'll see. Merry Christmas! #holidays #christmaslights #xmaslights #welikela #weownthenight_la

A photo posted by We Like L.A. (@welikela) on Nov 28, 2015 at 8:28pm PST

36. Attended an epic tea party (thanks Art of Tea & Elysian).

About to partake in the world's most epic tea party 🍵😀#artoftea #atwatervillage #elysianteahouse #mydayinla #welikela

A photo posted by We Like L.A. (@welikela) on Dec 6, 2015 at 1:26pm PST

37. Went to “All Space Considered” at Griffith Observatory.

Spent a great evening at @griffith_observatory at their first Friday 'All Space Considered' program. Hands down one of the coolest free things to do in #losangeles 😀🚀 #griffithobservatory #griffithpark #mydayinla #welikela

A photo posted by We Like L.A. (@welikela) on Dec 4, 2015 at 10:07pm PST

38. Toured Venice with our friends at Mojo Maps

Had a fun time exploring the #venicecanals today with our friends from @mojomaps 😄📷 #explorela #mydayinla #welikela

A photo posted by We Like L.A. (@welikela) on Dec 5, 2015 at 3:49pm PST

39. Went to a Christmas Concert at The Bradbury.

From the top floor of the #bradburybuilding, packed for a holiday concert. Amazing view. 🎄🎧🎺 #welikela #discoverla #mydayinla #dtla #losangeles

A photo posted by We Like L.A. (@welikela) on Dec 13, 2015 at 4:30pm PST

Honestly, the fact that anybody actually reads our site still seems somehow miraculous, but the kind notes we get and the positive feedback really do push us to try even harder, do even more.

We’d just like to say that it’s been great our pleasure to explore Los Angeles and inform our readers of the happenings around this amazing city.

We hope to do an even better job in the year to come.

All smiles last night at @thelarchmont. Shoutout to @gwenthelagirl for the sweet photo of @lilbitostyle and myself #larchmont #hancockpark

A photo posted by bchampla (@bchampla) on Dec 9, 2015 at 11:51am PST

Happy holidays.

Hoping you have a tremendous 2016.

-Brian & Christina