Outdoor glass slide is an exciting visit for thrill-seekers, LA visitors and new residents of the city. A guest rides the slide along the outside the U.S. Bank Tower. Photo courtesy of OUE Skyspace.

Students new to the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, or those visiting the school, have many sites to see in Los Angeles while they're here. One exciting site to check out and to get a wide view of the city is OUE Skyspace LA in the U.S. Bank Tower building. Visitors can spend the afternoon getting to know the city from above and experiencing thrills with the Los Angeles glass slide.

Skyspace Art Exhibits

The theme of Skyspace is to immerse visitors in LA culture and allow them to experience the views. Ride to the top of one of the tallest buildings in LA and find entertainment on the top four floors. The 70th floor features interactive art exhibits that highlight LA neighborhoods and culture. The Infinity Mirror casts reflections along an elevator shaft, and the Silhouette Wall projects visitors' images and movements onto a screen. Guests can learn more about landmarks and key sites in LA with the Skyline Time Lapse exhibit.

Skyslide

Guests who are up for a little more thrill-seeking (and not deathly afraid of heights) can try the Skyslide: a 45-foot glass slide from the 70th to the 69th floor along the outside of the building. The ride is quick but the entire slide is glass so riders see the views from 1,000 feet above the city.

The slide has received a lot of attention since its opening in June 2016. Thrill-seekers love the chance to try something new, and there's no other slide like it in the United States.

360-degree views

The slide drops riders at the open-air observation deck on the 69th floor. This deck features 2,800 square feet of outdoor space, giving visitors a 360-degree view of the city. Although there are some great views throughout the city, this building offers sweepings views from nearly 1,000 feet above the city streets.

The observation deck is a great chance for students to get familiar with the layout of the city, some top sites and maybe even an opportunity to plan a few weekend excursions to get a break from studying. Visitors get views of Glendale, the San Fernando Valley, the Pacific Ocean and all the way out to the San Gabriel Mountains. Get a view of the Hollywood sign, Dodger Stadium and the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Dining

On the 71st floor is a high-end restaurant with a lounge and bar called 71Above. More affordable eats can be found within walking distance. Try Pez Cantina for Mexican or Specialty's Cafe & Bakery for sandwiches and light eats. Two blocks away are a few farm-to-table meals at Industriel Urban Farm Cuisine, the cafeteria-style Tender Greens, or the Cabbage Patch Restaurant. LA has many neighborhoods with unique cuisine to try as well.

Skyspace and its attractions are open starting at 10 a.m. and stay open into the evening, so visitors have a choice of seeing the sites during the day or lit up at night. Come near sunset and stay until dark to get breathtaking views. OUE Skyspace tickets for the Los Angeles glass slide can be pricey, but it's a great attraction for family visits.

By Patricia Chaney