6 Cheap and Inexpensive Things to Do in Southern California

If one pays attention, one will find that there is more to do in California than theme parks and wishful window shopping and all it takes is access to the Internet and a little bit of imagination to figure out what those things are. Here are six fun things to do in Southern California this summer without breaking the bank.

One: The beach. Take a trip to the beach, and bring a picnic lunch in the fashion of cold, fried chicken, chips and salsa, and water. Soda might sound like a better bet as far as your picky taste buds go, but remember: Salt water draws the moisture out of you and will leave you dehydrated and tired. Water will do more to bring you back to your normal self than soda could ever pretend to do.

Two: Check the local listings for concerts and symphonies at the Greek Theatre in Griffith Park. Sometimes the concerts are free and sometimes they're not, but chances are that if they're not free, they're very, very inexpensive. The venue is beautiful (and it's outside, thank goodness) so you can plan on bringing your own lunch to that as well. While you're in the Griffith Park area, you may as well think about planning a trip to the observatory. Admission is reasonably inexpensive (actually, admission is free, but their new "park and ride" requirements cost money) and one can visit with a family of four (two adults and two little ones) for about $20.

Three: The Hollywood Bowl. This is more for adults than it is for kids, so plan on a babysitter the evening you decide to visit the Hollywood Bowl. Tickets are extremely reasonable (about $18 for bench seats), and you'll find some of the best jazz and blues musicians in the world hanging out here on a nightly basis. There are rock bands that have a tendency to play here as well, so the Bowl has something for everybody's tastes. Bring a few extra dollars, in case you decide to buy Jello Shots (yes, there really is a guy trotting around the stadium selling Jello Shots) or a t-shirt from the Bowl's gift shop.

Four: Huntington Park. Admission is $15 for adults and $10 for students and it's worth every penny. Once upon a time, it was established by entrepreneur genius Henry Huntington in the very early 1900s. There are art shows, a huge garden which your kids will absolutely love exploring and even beautiful music, if you plan your trip on a day when a choir or ensemble is scheduled to play.

Five: And speaking of gardens, don't forget to check out the Los Angeles Arboretum. Admission is $7 for adults and free for the little ones. Peacocks run gracefully all over this park, and they love (LOVE) to eat Cheeto's right out of your hand. Your children will appreciate the snack too, so bring your kids, and plan several hours here, because between the barns, houses and acres upon glorious acres of places to explore, picnic and just sit down to read a book, you will appreciate the day off as much as your kids will appreciate the rolling fields in which to run and play.

Six: The horse races. Again, this venue isn't particularly appropriate for your kids, so you may want to hire a babysitter for the time that you and your significant other run to this venue. Horse race tracks freckle southern California and going to one can be just as much fun as going to a casino, especially if the races are a new thing to you. In most places, you'll pay a total of about $10 to get in (including parking) and if you choose to bet, then of course it will cost a bit more. The races are a big part of southern California culture, so come on down and have a blast!

There are many, many other events and attractions you can attend, so please - explore Southern California without breaking the bank. It's worth it and you will have fun.

Sources:

The Huntington Library URL: (http://www.huntington.org/Information/EventsCal.html#ongoing)

Griffith Park Observatory URL: (http://www.griffithobs.org/)

Southern California Best Beaches URL: (http://www.boomersint.com/pchwy/scalbch.htm)

The Los Angeles Arboretum URL: (http://www.arboretum.org/)

The Hollywood Bowl URL: (http://www.hollywoodbowl.com/)

The California Horse Racing Board URL: (http://www.chrb.ca.gov/)

The Greek Theatre URL: (http://www.greektheatrela.com/)