FREE or CHEAP things to do in Los Angeles

Purely by accident, I seem to have dedicated the next 1 year of my life to a year of fun, new experiences and adventure. There are many things we say we want to do but just don’t have the time for.  This year, I’m making time for ALL of it.  You should too.

I’ve become aware of how grateful I am for my day job. Yes, my day job.  I work in a restaurant and it’s flexible schedule allows me to take time off on a whim.  While I may not be rich in a monetary sense, I am rich in having plenty of time to live a small but adventurous life.  For this, I am grateful. (Most of what I do is free or very inexpensive. You don’t have to be rich to have fun!)

HIKING:

I discovered all that is the AMAZING Los Angeles National Forest! It’s a 30 minute drive from Hollywood.  It has over 100 miles of trails throughout the San Gabriel Mountains.  Once a year a group of people get together and they do a 100 mile hike through these mountains.  While I’m not that hardcore yet, this is definitely something I would like to do.  In the meantime, I hike the 3-5 mile trails to the various waterfalls.  This particular hike was to see Sturtevant Falls.  For directions, click here  

me atop one of the many little dams along the creek:

Audition for a GAME SHOW:

Recently I auditioned for a reality TV/game show.  I mean, it doesn’t get much more shallow than that, right?  ”soooo LA” . . . well, WRONG. It was actually a fun and humbling experience.  To be surrounded by so many people (also auditioning) who fit perfectly into the terrible stereotype of all that is “LA” and to leave there having seen each of them as just another amazing human being trying to find their way in the world despite our outwardly differences.  <3

my auditioning parter Larena (right) and I: 

HIKING IN MALIBU, CA

Yes, Malibu is full of beautiful ocean scenery but did you know that tucked back in the Malibu mountains are waterfalls and hiking trails and shades of green that you didn’t even know existed so close to the city of LA?

(for directions: click here )

GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY

Check this place out. It’s free except for the $7 planetarium shows which I highly recommend attending.  I’m a bit of a nerd at heart and the $10million dollar planetarium in this $90 million dollar facility is totally awesome.  At night you can head up there and line up to look at the stars through the massive telescope.  Bring a picnic for the lawn at sunset. They even teach yoga classes in the early AM.  

PALM SPRINGS

I returned yesterday from 2 days in Palm Springs.  I’d never been to the desert before and I certainly never expected to fall in love with it.  It’s dry, brown and hot so what’s there to like? Apparently everything.  My friends and I hopped onto Priceline.com and bid insanely low for a hotel room.  We ended up staying at the Hyatt in a room (2 queen beds) worth $400 per night for only $90!!  Split 3 ways that came to $38 for each of us.  Not only do I now have a passionate love affair with the desert but I also have one with Priceline.  

pool days:

blair, left – me, right

free bike rentals:

breakfast in the bathtub (Phoebe)….so there it is.  Just a few of the recent adventures and new experiences I’ve had recently.  

stay inspired. xx

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