Tripping About

City of Angels it may be, but affordable Southern California is not. It’s a special place, and while I could go on about that (and have in other posts), here are a few things to do on a budgeted day in Los Angeles.

1. See An Improv Show

The Hollywood Improv has hosted comedy shows for so many of the greats over the years, and regardless of the time of year you’re sure to get a great mix of comedians. Most tickets are about $15 USD before taxes for general admission, with the option to buy both food and drinks throughout the show.

Even if one comedian isn’t your cup of tea, “Tonight at the Improv” showcases about eight comedians with their own comedy style per show, so you’re sure to double over with laughter at least once throughout the show.

2. Griffith Observatory

Whether you’re simply walking around the grounds of Griffith Park and admiring the view overlooking L.A., or inside watching the Foucault Pendulum, listening to one of the free programs, the observatory has hours of entertainment.

Griffith Park sits just below the observatory so the drive up to the building is pretty (though prepare yourself for a walk after parking as the road up to the observatory gets crowded), and if you feel like a stroll through the park to recreate a favorite ‘La La Land’ scene, you’ll have the perfect opportunity.

And the best part? No admission fee! Though talks can cost up to $8 USD, you can easily stroll on a budget.

3. The Farmer’s Market

The Grove is in the center of downtown L.A., right down the block from the CBS lot and home to an array of stores, but the best part is the farmer’s market on the outskirts of the mall. Fresh food, fresh produce, and unique gifts, this market has enough to entertain you for plenty of time without spending a dime, so long as you’re happy window shopping!

That being said, it might not be a bad idea to go in willing to spend some money, in my experience the food there is as good as it looks.

4. Santa Monica Pier

If you’re willing to, it’s a 2.7 mile walk between Santa Monica and Venice Beach, so you can easily walk between the two, taking your time on the beach, enjoying muscle beach and the colorful characters in between.

5. LACMA

Photo by Logan Sakai via Flickr

Admission is $15 USD ($10 for students) which allows access to seventeen art exhibits (at least as of this post). With the La Brea Tar Pits right behind the museum (admission here is another $15 USD) and the classic “Urban Light” exhibit out front, you’ll have plenty to Instagram. Reenact scenes from movies like “No Strings Attached.”

Keep in mind that every first Tuesday of the month at La Brea is free (July and August aside), so if you have an extra vacation day lying around, this might be the perfect day to use it.

BONUS: The Last Bookstore

For any other book lovers out there, The Last Bookstore is California’s largest new and used book and record store, with two floors of materials, local art installations and the iconic book tunnel. Grand Central Market is only a few blocks away so walk over for a quick and cheap bite to eat as you wander!

What are some things you guys want to try when you’re in L.A.? Personally, I’m dying to go to Little Tokyo.