Taking A Staycation in Los Angeles

By Katherine Lewin

Got some time off work, but don't want to spend your entire year's salary on a vacation? Luckily, Los Angeles is a city that lends itself to the perfect stay-cation. With tons of to see and do in locales far away from the usual tourist traps, it's easy to make Los Angeles vacation-friendly without breaking the bank, even for the longtime local.

Olympic Spa

3915 W Olympic Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90019
(323) 857-066
Hours: Mon to Sun 9am-10pm
Website & Reviews

Looking for some rest and relaxation at a price that won't make you panic? Check out the spa that has beauty experts like the writers of Allure magazine raving. This traditional Asian spa, nestled inconspicuously in the heart of Koreatown, is one of the best-kept secrets of the Los Angeles beauty scene. The spa offers relaxing, invigorating, and cleansing spa treatments, from facials to massages, for very reasonable prices. Wanting a real bang-for-your buck beauty day? For just $15 you will receive all-day access to the spa's facilities, which include a variety of mineral and herb-treated pools and detoxifying saunas for the express purpose of relaxation, rejuvenation, and restoration.

Escondido Falls

27200 Winding Way
Malibu, CA 90265
(310) 589-3200

Are you more the adventurous type than the spa diva? Check out Escondido Falls, a gorgeous hiking location located in the hills of Malibu. Escondido Falls is like a treasure hunt: the hike gradually reveals three different of waterfalls—the higher you trek, the more rewarding the sights. Highlights include an Indiana Jones-esque contraption used to scale a rock wall, and the highest point of the hike, where you can take a dip in a large, natural pool of below the waterfall.

Beauty Culture at the Annenberg Space for Photography

2000 Avenue Of The Stars # 10
(Constellation Boulevard)
Los Angeles, CA 90067
(213) 403-3000
Exhibit runs through November 27, 2011
Website & Reviews

One basic element of the vacation is cultural exposure. Los Angeles is home to many museums—LACMA and The Getty are heavily trafficked by locals and tourists alike. But one exhibit you may not have yet checked out is one extremely pertinent to the celebrity culture and worship that is so ubiquitous in our city. Beauty Culture, an exhibit on display at the Annenberg Space for Photography, explores photography's role in defining female beauty. Highlighting a variety of beauty icons, supermodels, and sex symbols, this exhibit is a provocative and culturally relevant sight that all L.A. residents should most definitely take advantage of.

Cinespia Cemetery Screenings

Hollywood Forever Cemetery
6000 Santa Monica Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90038
Neighborhood: Hollywood
(323) 469-1181
Website & Reviews

In our city of cinema, it's always a joy to stumble across something novel in the film-screening experience. That's why checking out a movie at the Hollywood Forever cemetery is a perfect choice for any staycation. Not only does the venue choose iconic and cult-favorite films like recent picks Edward Scissorhands and This Is Spinal Tap, but the cemetery is also an iconic Los Angeles spot, hosting the graves of many old Hollywood greats. Whether you come for the price (only $10 for entry!), the movies, the venue, or the uber-cool crowd, attending a Cinespia screening is a perfect reminder of the beautifully quirky side of Los Angeles.

Annenberg Community Beach House

415 Pacific Coast Hwy
Santa Monica, CA 90402
(310) 458-4904
Website & Reviews

The majority of Los Angeles locals would never consider the beach as part of a perfect staycation, mostly because the hoards of tourists result in terrible traffic and over-crowded sand and surf. In short, sometimes making the trek to the beach just isn't worth it—until now. The Annenberg Beach House has recently opened its doors to the public, allowing beach-goers in the know to use its beautiful facilities (including a pool, sand courts, and canopies) for only $10 a day. Found: the recipe for a perfectly tranquil, stress-free beach day.