UCLA is a fun campus with a lot to do!
Food
There are many on-campus dining options available to grad students at UCLA. A list of restaurant options, locations, and hours can be found here: https://www.asucla.ucla.edu/hours
While some restaurants only accept dining plans (which are not available to grad students), grad students can purchase meal swipes from undergrads to gain access to them. Some students like to do this occasionally but there are plenty of other options available that don’t require meal swipes.
There are events most weeks that offer free food to attendants. They can be found in our department (weekly colloquium snacks, socials) or elsewhere on campus (grad division events). Keep your eyes out for emails from Brenda and Helen, as well as Graduate Division, to stay up to date with these opportunities.
Events/recreational activities
Division of Graduate Education puts on a number of events throughout the year, ranging from professional development to purely social. Their events are announced via email newsletter and often involve free food so many grad students attend.
In the past, the physics department has participated in intramural sports. Teams can consist of undergrads, grads, and even faculty. The options and registration timelines vary from quarter to quarter, but more information can be found here: https://recreation.ucla.edu/intramural-sports
Many grad students take advantage of their access to the gym at the Kinross Recreation Center on campus. As grad students we get to go for free throughout the school year. Summer access requires a small fee.
Other facilities available to grad students (pool, tennis courts, challenge course, etc.) can be found here: https://recreation.ucla.edu/facilities
One of the nice things that you can find at the above link is the rental center. Students planning hiking and camping trips can rent the gear they need for a very low price.
Classes
Some students choose to take fun classes during the school year/summer. While it's not recommended to take additional classes in the first year, it can be a fun thing to add on later in your grad school career. UCLA offers fitness classes of all levels in many different sports (tennis, gymnastics, Olympic weightlifting, etc.). The offerings differ from quarter to quarter so make sure to check them out when registering for classes.
Besides those on-campus opportunities, there is a lot to do in Westwood and other areas nearby. Buses from campus/Westwood can take you to malls, restaurants, movie theaters, and even the beach. Many students go off campus to spend their free time because there is so much to do in the areas surrounding campus.