15 Budget Friendly Spring Vacation Destinations
12. Los Angeles, California
Views of the LA skyline from a hiking trail at Runyon Canyon.
Although it may come as a surprise to many, a vacation to the Southern California area can easily be modified to fit anyone’s budget. Although airfare can be pricey based on your location, the endless availability of free recreational activities more than makes up for any increase in travel and lodging costs. Almost anything you do in the Southern California area is free including gorgeous beaches, hiking and biking trails, museums, art galleries, outdoor sports, and TV show tapings.
Hotel rates will vary depending on which beach city or non coastal town you decide on. Certain areas like Long Beach, Santa Ana, and cities in the Inland Empire offer cheaper rates than surrounding towns. Long Beach is a fantastic coastal option that is quite affordable. Long Beach is home to many great attractions of its’ own including The Aquarium of the Pacific, The Queen Mary, Shoreline Village, and a beautiful 6 mile beachfront walking/biking path. Additionally, the city is located within driving distance to both L.A.’s and Orange County’s fabulous beach towns.
The Queen Mary in Long Beach, California
Budget friendly fun in the area
*Hiking the trails at the Griffith Observatory – L.A.’s iconic star gazing hot spot is the must-see for any new visitor to the area. Aside from beautiful starry views of Los Angeles by night, great exhibits and shows, and public telescope viewing events, the Griffith offers some of the best hiking in the area. A few miles of trails allow you to get one of a kind views of the Hollywood sign, the city, and the surrounding mountains.
The Griffith Observatory as seen from a hiking trail – one of the must see sights in L.A.!
Great views of the Hollywood Sign can be observed from many different locations along the Griffith hiking trails.
*Soaking up the sun at Orange County beaches – Orange County is home to some of the prettiest beaches in the country – Newport, Laguna, and Huntington are all must sees during your LA vacation. Head to Laguna for gorgeous cliff and cove scenery, Newport for a relaxed setting, clean beaches, and views of gorgeous waterfront homes, and Huntington for the lively sports atmosphere. Be sure to take a ride or walk along the fantastic Huntington Beach Bike Path for 7+ miles of beautiful coastal views and fun people watching opportunities!
Huntington Beach is one of Orange County’s best for sports including biking, running, volleyball, and surfing!
Laguna is the picture perfect Southern California beach.
*Enjoying a lazy day of fun in the sun at the South Bay beaches – L.A. is home to a diverse range of beaches, each offering a unique vibe. Hermosa and Redondo are great for volleyball. Torrance offers a beautiful setting with beautiful views of the Palos Verdes cliffs in the background. Manhattan Beach is laid-back and beautiful with the historic pier. Venice is unique as ever with the lively boardwalk filled with crazy street performers. Santa Monica is home to the famous Pier, featuring a waterfront theme park and the iconic End of Route 66 sign. Also be sure to check out Will Rogers, a beach well known for the filming of several TV shows including Baywatch. What’s even better is that each of these beach towns are connected via a 22 mile bike path known as The Strand.
The Manhattan Beach Pier
Summer crowds at Santa Monica Beach.
*Exploring L.A.s beach towns via the Marvin Braude Bike Path – Get ready for a fun filled ride along the best waterfront path in the country. Pass beautiful beaches and unique sights like the Venice Beach boardwalk as you leisurely absorb all the different scenery, people, and landmarks found throughout L.A.’s diverse beach towns. L.A. really is a unique place and The Strand is the best way to take in all that which makes L.A. so much fun. The Marvin Braude Trail, frequently referred to as The South Bay Bike Path is the top thing to do in L.A. It’s fun. It’s scenic. It’s the best way to explore L.A.’s beach towns. You do not have to put up with traffic getting to and from different beach areas. And best of all, it’s completely free!
Great view of the Pacific for the entire length of the journey!
Take a break to explore the famous Santa Monica Pier.
One of many volleyball games in action in Hermosa Beach.
*Attending a live TV show taping – Sure it screams tourist, but how could you visit the entertainment capital of the world without taking time to sit in the studio audience for one of your favorite shows? Whether it is an iconic game show like The Price is Right, your favorite long running daytime talk show, or your favorite new sitcom, here’s your chance to observe the behind the scenes action of a Hollywood production.
*Window shopping Rodeo Drive & checking out the iconic Beverly Hills sign
Rodeo Drive shops
The famous Beverly Hills sign as seen in many popular movies and TV shows.
And the list goes on… There are so many free things to do in L.A. that it would be impossible to list them all. For a few more ideas for free fun, check out my 10 free things to do in Southern California post.
