Cheapest California Vacations

Southern California CityPass

• Southern California amusement parks top the lists of must-sees for many tourists, but unfortunately, the admission prices tend to top the list of most expensive activities. If you'd like to visit multiple parks, consider buying a Southern California CityPass. One payment of $269 gets you into Disneyland, Disney's California Adventure, Universal Studios, SeaWord and the San Diego Zoo. As of early 2010, this will save you $110 over buying the tickets a la carte.

  CityPass
  27 Arrow Root Lane
  Victor, ID 83455
  208-787-4300
  www.citypass.com/city/socal.html

San Francisco CityPass

• Planning to visit Northern California? Then pick up a San Francisco CityPass. As of early 2010, these cost a mere $64 a piece, and will get you a week's worth of activities and transportation. Admissions to the Exploratorium, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the California Academy of Sciences, Aquarium of the Bay, a bay cruise and unlimited MUNI bus and cable car rides are all included.

  CityPass
  27 Arrow Root Lane
  Victor, ID 83455
  208-787-4300
  citypass.com/city/sanfrancisco.html

Crystal Cove Beach Cottages

• Imagine you and your whole family have a vintage cottage on a prime strip of Southern California beach. By day, you play in the surf that's steps from your front door. By night, you cook dinners for each other and drink cocktails on your private deck. Your new digs cost less than $200 per night and sleep the whole gang. You're not dreaming. You're staying at Crystal Cove. These getaway cottages of the 1930's and 1940's are now a state park, 20 miles down the coast from San Clemente. As of early 2010, private cottages rent for $125 to $180 per night for up to four people; additional guests are $33 each.

  Crystal Cove Beach Cottages
  35 Crystal Cove
  Newport Coast, CA 92657
  800-444-7275
  crystalcovebeachcottages.com

Passport in Time Clearinghouse

• You can take part in an archaeological dig and get to camp for free in California. Volunteer to be a part of the USDA Forest Service's "Passport in Time" project. You'll need to be in good physical condition, and previous experience with archaeology, photography, orienteering, and the use of a metal detector are often helpful. Some digs have barracks nearby; others require you to bring a tent. Most projects run from two days to two weeks. You'll likely need to bring your own food, but other than that, this trip is free.

  Passport in Time Clearinghouse
  P.O. Box 15728
  Rio Rancho, NM 87174-5728
  800-281-9176
  passportintime.com

Pacific Crest Trail

• The PCT winds from the just inside the Canadian border to the Mexican border through some of the most picturesque wilderness in the West. Highlights of the California section of the trail include Yosemite National Park, Mount Whitney, the Sierra Nevada and the Mojave Desert. For trips of more than 500 miles, the Pacific Crest Trail Association will issue a permit that allows you to camp along the trail--for a suggested donation of $5. Camp stove permits are free, and may be obtained through the Forest Service. If you already own backpacking gear, this vacation will practically be yours for the price of the food.

  Pacific Crest Trail Association
  1331 Garden Highway
  Sacramento, CA 95833
  916-285-1846
  www.pcta.org