Los Angeles on a Budget

If you are looking for good weather, lots of culture, diverse food and lots of day-trips, then heading to Los Angeles is a great option without leaving the country. Los Angeles sits in between the mountains and the ocean, providing for a unique landscape that is very conducive to outdoor activities. Combine this location with its Mediterranean climate, a very rare combination of moderate temperatures and very little rain, and the city makes for a charming summer destination. But be careful: Los Angeles is not cheap. You have to select activities wisely to truly save money by staying in the country. Some suggestions:

Tour Venice Beach

Many tourists flock to Santa Monica beach’s pier for daytime activities. This pier is among the most expensive and crowded in Los Angeles. Try renting a bike at the pier for approximately $15 to ride the “Strand.” This will take you through Venice Beach, a virtual carnival lined with vendors, performers and sidewalk cafes. A bite to eat here will save you versus eating on the Santa Monica Pier.

Walk Crystal Cove State Park

If you can get to the Corona Del Mar area for a day, take the chance. Touring Newport Beach, the stately Balboa Island and the surrounding neighborhoods brings a fairytale charm to the day. Go early with a cup of coffee and walk through the miles of Crystal Cove State Park. You will find houses preserved in time since the early beach town of the 1940s. If you are lucky, you will see a lot of wildlife in this abundant natural habitat.

Hike to the Hollywood Sign

Don’t be embarrassed to take this iconic trip – thousands of Angelenos do it every year. The hike is five miles round-trip. Start with a tour of Griffith Park, a scenic location and planetarium near Hollywood. Take the Brush Canyon Trail through the natural landscape. You will enjoy the natural streams, trees and bushes that cover the trail. The trail dead-ends about 20 feet behind the sign. You cannot actually touch the sign for risk of citation. However, you will be afforded an excellent photo opportunity of the city from a unique viewpoint.

Aquarium of the Pacific

Long Beach is one of the best kept secrets in Los Angeles. Heading down to Long Beach for the day allows visitors the opportunity to see the Queen Mary where it is permanently docked. Driving across the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach is a breath-taking view of the shipping containers and cranes bringing in goods from Asia. While you are there, splurge on the $7-$15 to see the Aquarium of the Pacific. The exhibits are very interactive. The aquarium boasts unique exhibits such as the river otters and shark tank.

Visit the Getty Museum

It is hard to believe that such a beautiful day can be spent at the Getty free of charge. The museum is managed by an endowment that keeps the grounds impeccably clean while allowing visitors to browse the gardens and exhibits totally free. The tram ride will show a unique view of the city, and the architecture is well situated in the hills for viewing sweeping skylines.

Tags: aquarium of the pacific, crystal cove state park, getty museum, hollywood, venice beach