Los Angeles can overwhelm visitors, who can experience mountains, the beach and the desert in a single day. The city boasts many luxurious activities for movie stars and celebrities, but it also offers a number of activities that are cheap and do not require a movie star budget.
There is a song called "It Never Rains in Southern California," and the title has some validity to it. Los Angeles rarely experiences rain, which means there are plenty of things to do outdoors year-round. Going to the beach is one of the cheapest and most popular things to do. Grab a towel and head to Santa Monica or Laguna Beach for swimming or soaking in the sun.
Take a stroll on the Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard. Wander outside Mann's Chinese Theater, where characters like Spider-Man, Homer Simpson and Harry Potter can sometimes be found lurking around. Or take a hike up Runyon Canyon for breathtaking views of Los Angeles.
There are just as many, if not more, cheap things to do indoors in Los Angeles. The Getty Museum is a fantastic place to visit. Admission is free, though you do pay for parking. The Getty is positioned on top of a hill overlooking Los Angeles, and its view of the city is as astounding as its artwork and marble architecture. The Griffith Observatory is an astronomy center that offers visitors a chance to look at the stars and yet another opportunity to look out over the city.
Consider seeing a movie in Los Angeles, where theaters like the ArcLight and Cinema de Lux display memorabilia from the films that may be playing, making the movie experience even more robust. If you enjoy live theater, you can find many plays with tickets less than $15. See the LA Stage Alliance website for more information.
