10 Free Things to do in Southern California

6. Huntington Beach Biking/Walking Path

This scenic 8.5 mile multi-use path along the beach offers you the chance to exercise, while taking in fantastic views of the Pacific Ocean. The path is paved and wide enough to accommodate bikers, walkers, skaters, and joggers, although sometimes it can get a bit crowded. Nevertheless, it is always a fun time! On a side note, it’s always super windy and I get in more of a workout on this one than the Strand which is over 10 miles longer.

Take a break and walk down to the pier to watch the surfers. This city is one of the surf capitals of the US. I love watching the surfers in action – I’ve always wanted to try it myself but I am terrified of sharks. Huntington is a lively town with plenty of year-round events, including surfing competitions, live music, festivals, and more!

I just love the vibe of this place – it really is one of the most unique and laid-back areas in all of Orange County. This town is what I think of when I think of SoCal. It’s got that fun Saved by the Bell 90’s California type vibe going on.

Location: Pacific Coast Highway & Warner Ave. Huntington Beach, CA 92649

 7. Live TV Show Tapings

Who can visit L.A. without some type of Hollywood experience? Attending a TV show taping, whether sitcom or reality, gives you an inside look into the production behind your favorite shows. For the big shows (talk shows) you will need to place your name on a waiting list, and be willing to visit on a random given date. Make sure to put your name on the list several months before your intended trip!

I’ve been a part of the studio audience of many shows since moving here including: Big Brother, The Price is Right, Melissa and Joey, and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. The Price is Right was by far the most exciting and memorable experience. I would have rather of seen the show when Bob Barker was still host, but it was still a fun time. We waited all night and basically had to drag ourselves in the studio, but we enjoyed talking to unique people from around the country while waiting in line. We also got a front row seat thanks to toughing it out all night.

I also saw an Extra taping at The Grove (Mario Lopez from Saved by the Bell was there hosting which was pretty cool). I got one of those Fujifilm mini polaroid cameras for free which was nice.

There are several websites for reserving sitcom and reality TV studio audience tickets. Audiences Unlimited and On Camera Audiences are both great options. Update: Extra now tapes at Universal Studios Hollywood, Monday-Friday from 10am-4pm.

8. Runyon Canyon

Head over to Runyon Canyon for beautiful hiking right in the city. There are places in L.A. where you can escape the noise and traffic…just don’t plan your hike on a weekend! Weekends are crazy as you get regular hikers, as well as tourists trying to catch a peek of their favorite celeb (most likely due to TMZ spotlighting the canyon as a popular place for celeb sightings). Weekday mornings and afternoon are actually pretty quiet due to the lack of tourists.

This fantastic hike doubles as both a hardy workout and a scenic photography hotspot. On a clear day (it’s smoggy most of the time), you will get a pretty good viewpoint of the city. I loved running at Runyon as part of my half-marathon training as the hills really added an extra boost to my workout and the views helped motivate me to keep going.

There are some pretty steep climbs here, however, the amazing views of the mountains and city are well worth the effort! For those of you who prefer a less intense activity, free yoga sessions are held multiple times a day.

Location: 2000 N. Fuller Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90046

9. Griffith Observatory

This free planetarium is the perfect place to stargaze and take in incredible night views of the city. However, the best time to visit is during the day for the stunning views of the Hollywood sign and surrounding hills. Several miles of hiking trails will take you so close to the sign that you appear to be standing right beneath it. You can take all sorts of crazy photos as you can see in the pic below.

The Mt.Hollywood hike is moderate with great views throughout. The Observatory itself is also fantastic. The architecture is stunning, exhibits are interesting, and looking through the telescopes at night is a unique experience. Everything is free asides some of the shows.

Location: 2800 E. Observatory Road Los Angeles, CA 90027

More info on hiking at the Griffith

10. Hollywood Walk of Fame

You can search for your favorite celeb hand and footprints and take your pics by famous “stars” at this long running attraction. I loved seeing the historic Grauman’s Chinese theater in person. If you time your visit, you can watch as your favorite celebrities walk the red carpet for a movie premiere. We saw Ryan Reynolds in town for the Green Lantern premiere which was pretty cool as he is one of my favorite actors (I really love Just Friends and The Proposal!).

There is plenty of free touristy fun to be had, although the area is a little overcrowded and gritty. And for that reason this is really a one time attraction for me. I also recommend walking over to Hollywood and Highland Shopping Center (now Ovation) for fantastic views of the Hollywood Sign. Other tourist attraction on the Blvd. include: Hard Rock Cafe, the Hollywood Wax Museum, and Ripley’s Believe or Not Museum.

Location: Hollywood Blvd. (between Gower St. and La Brea Ave.) Los Angeles, CA 90028

If you are looking for even more free fun, here are a few more activities you can add to your bucket list. As you can tell from my article, you will never run out of interesting things to do.

Sea lion watching at La Jolla Cove

La Jolla Cove is the best beach in San Diego to wildlife watch. It’s really gorgeous, quiet, and lots of sea lions call the shores home. Arrive super early in the morning for the best photo opportunities & virtually no crowds. I found this beach so peaceful and relaxing compared to others. I also found quite a bit of seaglass which I wasn’t expecting.

Location: Coast Blvd, San Diego, CA 92037

Rodeo Drive/Beverly Hills

No first timer’s trip is complete without seeing out the iconic Rodeo Drive and Beverly Hills signs. Here you can window shop amongst world famous designer boutiques on one of the most famous streets in the world. This is also one of the best streets for people watching. Although you are likely to see more tourists here than actual celebrities, you will still have a blast taking your pictures by the famous signs and shops.

This is a great free activity for those on a budget looking to fill in some spare time. It’s nothing something I would ever do more than once, but I had a great time seeing the street some of my favorite movies filmed on. Clueless, Pretty Woman, and Troop Beverly Hills are 3 of my favorite 80’s and 90’s movies which filmed in this famous area.

Location: 9480 Dayton Way Beverly Hills, CA 90210 (Two Rodeo Drive Shopping Complex). You can find the iconic Beverly Hills sign at: Sunset Blvd. and N. Sierra Drive Beverly Hills, CA 90210.

La Jolla Shores

Every San Diego beach offers a different vibe. La Jolla Shores is one of the most active beaches and you’ll see all sorts of fitness buffs here including joggers, surfers, and volleyball players. The mile long coastline and soft sand make it a perfect place for a morning stroll. We lucked out and visited on a rare overcast day so there was virtually no crowds. Dogs are allowed before 9am and after 6pm (4pm during the winter months).

Location: 8300 Camino Del Oro, La Jolla, CA 92037

The Mission/Pacific Beach Boardwalk

This 3+ mile long boardwalk links San Diego’s 2 most popular & active beach towns: Mission and Pacific Beach. Get up early (it gets too crowded by mid afternoon) and grab your bike or gym shoes and take a walk or ride down this scenic path. I loved the views, the people watching, and I got in a great workout too. Both free and paid parking is available, so check the signs carefully. A few large free lots are located nearby Belmont Amusement Park.

Location: 1710 W Mission Bay Dr, San Diego, CA 92109