Disneyland Dad

What else is there to do in California besides Disneyland!!!?

Okay, so I’m taking a trip to Los Angeles pretty soon, and i was wondering what there is to do nearby that is not expensive and fun!! We dont have Disneyland kind of money, but are there anymore other fun themeparks or waterparks nearby the LA area?? ((That are less expensive, of course)).

i really want this trip to be memorable, so please give me some good ideas. by the way im 16 and going with my mother and step dad. So some things that would be fun for them too like cool museums or something i guess

You have some great answers already, but this is what we usually take out of towners to do that should be fun for the whole family: as an amusement park, the quintessential LA movie-town experience is Universal, good discounts to AAA members, and its much easier to get around than Disneyland. You will also find a free tickets booth where you can get tickets to game shows/tv shows whatever is taping in town that needs an audience.

I think a visit to Hollywood and Highland mall with its baroque architecture and great view of the Hollywood sign, then a walk thru of the tourist thronged but fun walk of the stars and Graumman’s hand prints is always fun for an out of towner even if LA natives dont usually go there.

The Grove is an outdoor upscale mall with nice fountains and celeb clients. If you don’t have a pinkberry at home, stop in the pinkberry there and get some excellent frozen yogurt. browse the food stalls and get inexpensive and fun foods in the actual farmers market adjacent to the Grove. Speaking of food: check out Canter’s deli – authentic, funky, inexpensive, great potato pancakes on Fairfax. Walk around the shops/galleries, fun funky stores of Melrose between Fairfax and La Brea or its more upscale gallery end west of La Cienega.

Go to Hipster Heaven otherwise known as Silver Lake and have an inexpensive lunch at Cafe Stella (eggs, burgers, nice salads) and people watch. Iced tea and coffee at Intellegentsia.

Go to the beach – I live in and am partial to the beach cities, south of LAX. Hermosa Beach has a plaza with bars and restaurants and great wide beaches; surfing and boogie boarding without the shops/restaurants are great at 26th street beach in Manhattan Beach while Manhattan Beach pier area gives you the best of both worlds.

While you are ‘south’ drive to Palos Verdes for great scenic views and views of mansions and take a rocky, pristine beach trail at Trump National Golf Course – trails and parking are free, great iced tea.
Check out the Korean Peace Bell in San Pedro and the Wayfarers Chapel designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Both free as well, interesting for all, unique to LA and off the beaten path. And only about half hour from LAX.

Don’t be a “Disneyland Dad”