How to Spend One Day in Los Angeles

Everyone is talking about the "staycation" these days. It is some cutesy word made up by a travel writer, obviously, referring to the new type of vacation in which one travels say, from the bedroom to the living room or from the living room to the backyard. The point is that no spending is required since you are not going anywhere.

With all of the depressing talk about the economy (are we in a recession or are we just in a down market?), everyone is trying to save money. But, when it comes to traveling, there's no need to shut yourself in considering there are so many great things to do in Southern California that do not require air fare or hotel lodging.

Day-long trips to somewhere like Los Angeles, for example, are cheap and serve the same purpose in our need to get out and explore.

Your journey to L.A. will most likely begin with the question of how to get around. If you are thinking green and want to take public transportation, your best bet is the train (since, for the purpose of this article, everything will be central to Union Station in downtown). Train tickets are around $60, if you are traveling from Orange County. Essentially, the cost is slightly more than what you would pay for gas if you have an economical car, so you decide what works best for you.

The advantage of driving is that you will be able to visit places that are farther out from Union Station. You decide.

In any case, from Union Station, your first stop should be Olvera Street, since it is essentially across the street from the train station. If you are driving, there is a parking lot on Alameda Street.

Olvera Street is basically a street filled with merchants, places to eat and historic buildings. It is a great place to shop for handmade items ranging from leather goods to candles. There are also souvenir shops and Mexican candy stores. If you are interested in finding out more about the history of the area, free tours are also offered.

Olvera Street is open every day from about 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. However, not all of the stores have those same hours.

Another cultural district in Los Angeles that offers walking tours is Chinatown. Self-guided tours are available and other tours are offered the first Saturday of every month. The area is relatively close to Olvera Street. However, you may want to take the bus (Dash) or the Metro Gold Line from Union Station (especially if you want to cover the most ground out of your trip to Los Angeles).

Chinatown is another shopping/eating destination where you can experience the Chinese culture. There are places to shop for Chinese books, crafts and other souvenirs.

And while it may be called Chinatown, the eateries range from Chinese to Mexican and Philippino, Thai and Vietnamese. So, the choices abound.

If you want dessert to take back with you, bakeries are everyone from Co Co Bakeries to Fun On Bakeries. Every Thursday, a Farmers Market is held where you can find a ton of fresh produce. The Market hours are from 2 to 6 p.m.

As you round out your trip to Los Angeles, going back toward Union Station you will hit Little Tokyo. Little Tokyo is about equidistant to Union Station as Olvera Street is to the station only it is in the opposite direction from Union Station. It is definitely within walking distance, so there is no need to take the bus.

Little Tokyo offers a taste of the Japanese culture. If you are into sushi and other types of Japanese food, stop by here. You can find a lot of good food for really cheap. Inside Japanese Village, there are some stores mainly with a lot of souvenir-type merchandise.

The Little Tokyo Shopping Center has more restaurants and places to shop, including a Japanese food supermarket and bakery.

There are obviously a lot of other places to visit in the city. However, these three present the most variety in terms of cultural experiences are all relatively close to one another. Plus, it requires the least amount of car or bus travel. So, happy exploring to you and make sure to check out the rest of what the city has to offer.