Best Flea Markets In The Los Angeles Area

It's summertime and that means flea market season is in full swing. Everyone wants his or her home to look like a magazine layout - beautifully displayed with antique furniture and knack-knacks discovered at a local flea market. Although shopping at your neighborhood flea market may not be as quaint as the magazine editors lead you to believe, you're still likely to unearth that one treasure that will transform a bedroom into a boudoir. The Los Angeles area offers many must-see flea markets, so what are you waiting for? Grab a friend, don your comfortable shoes and enter into the flea market hunting season.

Related: Best Flea Markets In Los Angeles

It may not be the most famous spot to shop in Los Angeles, but insiders are keen on Santee Alley, tucked behind Santee Street at E. 12th. A Foursquare tip says that you can get anything here — from prom dresses to fake designer sunglasses — for half as much as you would at other flea markets in the area. Plus, where else can you find a stall selling both live turtles and hot dog snacks? (Really!) Want to do some more shopping, all while avoiding the throngs and high prices Rodeo Drive? Check out this list of the best flea markets in the area.

Head to Foursquare to sort reviews by these tastes:

The Melrose Trading Post
7850 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 655-7679 ext.103
www.melrosetradingpost.org

Rain or shine, The Melrose Trading Post is a Sunday flea market dedicated to its vendors and those of us searching for just the right treasure to sit on an end table. Located at Fairfax High School, the antiques and collectibles flea market features more than 200 vendors and a food court when you need to re-fuel during your shopping excursion. In addition, every Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., market shoppers can enjoy live jazz music by The Paul Diblasi Trio. The Melrose Trading Post is affiliated with the Greenway Arts Alliance, a nonprofit organization that supports the arts in public schools and has constructed a 99-seat theater at Fairfax High School for performances by up and coming artists, students and industry professionals.

The Rose Bowl Flea Market
1001 Rose Bowl Drive
Pasadena, CA 91103
(626) 577-3100
www.rgcshows.com

The Rose Bowl Flea Market has been the most famous flea market in the world for more than 40 years. With over 2,500 vendors, flea market scavengers will find an extensive selection of antiques, collectibles, furniture and arts and crafts items on the second Sunday of every month. In addition, The Rose Bowl Flea Market offers an award-winning selection of vintage clothing and is the premier flea market to buy holiday gifts and décor. If you are Rose Bowl Flea Market VIP, you will receive preferred parking close to the entrance. The Rose Bowl Flea Market encourages you to stay all day as food vendors offer delicious breakfast options such as Danishes and Cinnabon rolls, protein-packed lunch items and afternoon pick-me-ups such as gourmet pretzels, coffee, frozen lemonade, smoothies and energy drinks, and, of course, cocktails with beer, wine and mixed drinks.

Related: LA's Best Flea Markets

The Roadium Open Air Market
2500 W. Redondo Beach Blvd.
Torrance, CA 90504
(800) 833-0304
www.roadium.com

Servicing the the So Cal area for more than 60 years, the Rodium Open Air Market has aisles upon aisles of treasures and trinkets. In the 150-acre facility, bargain hunters can find antiques and other collectibles as well as new, dramatically reduced merchandise such as bath mats, kitchen utensils and glassware. Stop by on Junk Mondays, Fashion Wednesdays and Leather Thursdays for a huge selection of this and that and vintage clothing items. Open seven days a week, the Rodium received 2 million visitors in 2011 and recently declared that they're open 365 days a year. Now that's how a shopping experience should be!

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Ventura Flea Market at the Ventura Country Fair Grounds
10 W. Harbor Blvd.
Ventura, CA 93001
(323) 560-7469
www.rgcshows.com

Located near the ocean and well worth the drive, shopping at the Ventura Flea Market on the second Sunday of the month is like a mini-vacation. The market highlights collectors' items, plants, glass, clocks, jewelry arts and crafts and other antiques from more than 500 vendors. Make your shopping day an adventure by taking the Amtrak Train, which stops at the market's front entrance. After spending the day at the flea market, enjoy lunch or dinner at one of the delicious restaurants located on Harbor Boulevard, including AQUA Beachfront Bar at the Crown Plaza, Eric Erisson's On The Pier and Meridian's Café.

Space 15 Twenty
1520 N Cahuenga Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
space15twenty.com

So named for its location on 1520 Cahuenga in Hollywood, this outdoor/indoor mini shopping center holds everything you'd care to find on your bargain hunt and many treasures you never expected to discover, all in one spot. Space 15 Twenty is a collaborative retail space in which the owners of the shop swap finds, exchange ideas and share the outdoor courtyard that connects all of their individual stores. The set of stores features an Urban Outfitters in addition to local boutiques, a salon, an art gallery, a bookstore and Umami Burger, a new concept from local chef Adam Fleischman. The outdoor space is frequently used to showcase musical performances and artwork from local artisans. As an added bonus, there's a farmers market just up the street, so you can stock up on local produce before heading home from your shopping excursion.