Doing LA on a Dime

Every year I take the family to Los Angeles for the Holidays to get away for a couple of weeks and relax next to the Ocean. Leaving NYC to head back West for a while allows the family to unwind, stretch our legs and spend time in one of the best places in the Country. Contrary to most East Coasters, I enjoy being in the City of Angels for a time each year. Like New York, there is plenty to do and see, great food and a laid back vibe that makes it all worth while and eventually makes me long to head back home.

During my travels I have found some great things to do and see in Los Angeles and wanted to share a few of them with you. We try to do and see as much as possible while not attempting to take in too much. As a family of four, it is important to find ways to stretch the ever-shrinking dollar to allow us to enjoy Los Angeles and still afford to get back home. We have found several local sites offering fantastic prices, usually 50% off the face value, for a variety of entertainment. This year I am happy to report that they have added a slew of events. Following is a sample of some of them.

Esotouric Bus Tours - While my family may not want to sit on a bus for several hours, they will enjoy the break of eating at Phillip`s the Original midway through one of Esotouric`s fantastic tours. From Bukowski to the Real Black Dahlia to sitting with Crimebo the Clown they are all very entertaining and we have found them to be affordable as well. There are many different tours, which separately focus on a specific neighborhood, architecture or food. All are worthwhile.

Los Angeles Clippers Basketball. Sure my wife gets enough of Sportscenter, but seeing a pro basketball team live is a great experience. A new addition to StubDog.com, half price tickets can now be purchased for games at the Staples Center. If you`re in over the Holidays you will be able to check out the Houston Rockets or the Dallas Mavericks. A cant-miss, even if you are not a clippers fan.

Leaving the kids at the hotel with a sitter works well for us for a day trip down to Long Beach to hit Morry`s of Naples. With the canal`s wandering through this hidden gem, we may choose to take a Gondola Ride Wine Tasting tour to work up an appetite at many of the top-notch restaurants nearby. Morry`s also has a beer tasting which sounds interesting as well, however I am not going to push my luck with my significant other.

The Skirball Cultural Center is another place to go and take the kids for a little culture. The listings change often but they always have a wide variety of entertainment and most is good for all ages.

Speaking of the kids, there are numerous things for them to do if we are able to drag them out of the Ocean. LACMA offers tour specifically geared for the whole family. A Museum Tour in which they state, "Sometimes an art museum visit can seem boring to a child, but not with Quick Culture. We transform the overwhelming museum experience into an entertaining artistic journey. We engage children in interactive conversations about how to look at and what to look for directly from a variety of artworks. This one-hour museum tour is designed for kids ages 6-12." Nice one. Especially if they can engage my kids for longer than 5 minutes.

So as not to forget to eat, try El Cid in Silverlake for Spanish cuisine and a bit of authentic Flamenco style dancing. The food has gotten much better in recent years and the place still has the same unique charm that it had 30 years ago when I went there for the first time. Keith and Margo in Beverly Hills offer a Murder mystery dinner experience for a few quid more. One I have not been too but reviews of Keith and Margo put it as one of the best.

There are many more things to do listed at StubDog, but not enough time for them all. So the next time you visit Los Angeles, make sure you know where to find out what`s going on, and how to save a few bucks enjoying them.