There are a lot of great places to visit and explore around the APU campus and Azusa area!
Whether it is your first time on campus or your third, it can be a challenge at times to find things to do in the surrounding area of Azusa that are accessible and affordable. So here’s a list of top things to do in the area around campus!
1. Coffee shops
Since this is a really big college town, there are many cute coffee shops in Azusa, Glendora and Covina. My personal favorites are Classic Coffee and Mantra Coffee Company.
Classic Coffee is close by in quaint downtown Glendora and is the perfect place to hangout and study with friends since there are lots of tables inside and out. Mantra is an adorable hole-in-the-wall place right here in Azusa and is also a great place to study. The aesthetic feels right out of a hipster city coffee shop. Located right near the local Target, it can be a fun place to relax after a weekend shopping trip for the housing essentials.
Coffee shops are the perfect place to catch up with friends, grab some espresso, accomplish some homework or just relax on a Sunday evening.
2. Boba places
Boba is a favorite among many college students, so it’s great that there are many options right near campus to choose from. Bungalow is a fantastic boba spot with great coffee and food as well. There’s plenty of space to do homework and they even provide a fun selection of board games for customers to play.
The only downside is the pricing, so if you’re looking for something a little cheaper, 85° Cafe and Tea Bar are also great choices. Many of these places offer slushies if you’re not a fan of tea — and 85° Cafe is also a bakery, so you can get a tasty baked treat with your boba!
3. Little Tokyo
If you have a little more time on your hands, a trip to Downtown L.A. is a great option — and it’s all accessible by the metro link! The Gold Line goes straight to one of my favorite places in that area: Little Tokyo.
This is a fun getaway to a small part of the city with a plethora of authentic shops and restaurants. It has places to buy everything from cute souvenirs to authentic Japanese snacks and desserts. There’s a revolving sushi bar and other delicious spots to grab ramen, coffee, boba and much more. Even if you don’t have a lot of money to spend, it’s a great place to walk around, window shop and just enjoy the vibe.
4. Glendora mountain road
Outside of shops and restaurants, there are many great hiking trails just up in the mountains right behind Glendora. Although this isn’t very accessible without a car, it is worth trying to convince a friend with a car to take a ride up there. The easily accessible hiking trails range from easy and flat to steep and mountain-scaling. They all lead through beautiful hills and trees and beside streams and rock formations. Plus there’s a pretty impressive view at the top! It’s a wonderful getaway from campus and will help you clear your head for that big test coming up. I recommend you do not do it in place of actually studying and make sure you go with at least one other person!
5. Foster’s Freeze and Donut Man
We are lucky to have so many great places to eat near campus. A couple that I recommend visiting for a late night snack are Foster’s Freeze ice cream and Donut Man. Foster’s Freeze is by far the best soft serve ice cream place around. Right off of Grand Avenue, this old fashioned walk-up ice cream shop has a large variety of options from classic vanilla ice cream to delicious burgers and fries. Donut Man is a famous spot in Glendora right on Route 66 that has some of the best donuts in town. They are known for their creative, fluffy creations that make for a perfect midnight dessert run. If you are a strawberry lover their strawberry donuts were made just for you.
6. Farmer’s Market in Covina
Right now, every Friday night from 5 to 9 p.m. in Downtown Covina, there is a great Farmer’s Market that is a must to visit. It has fresh produce, flowers, artisans, retails, live bands, food and fun. Even if you don’t have extra cash, it’s a great place to walk around and browse while enjoying the cool evening air and lovely atmosphere of Downtown. And if you’re still looking for something to do after the Farmer’s Market is over, Downtown Covina is right next door with awesome shops and restaurants.
7. Downtown Pasadena
Another great place that is a little farther away from campus but accessible by the metro is Downtown Pasadena. This is a perfect place to visit shops, adventure or just meander through the different streets and alleys. It has a variety of mainstream stores and restaurants as well as smaller, unique shops. So have a night on the town and explore a whole other world only 30 minutes away from campus.
Azusa and its surrounding areas are full of things to do and places to explore, so as things start opening back up, enjoy the adventure!