The best thing about the holidays is that you get to spend time with your family and loved ones to close out another year. But what if your family lives across the country and you just don’t have the money this year for those spiked airline prices? While we aren’t saying skip out on your beloved family, we know many choose to stay local to save money.
One of the biggest benefits of a staycation is getting a chance to save, but there are also other great reasons to keep things local. If you already have family in Los Angeles you’ll get to prioritize some quality time with them. You can also get familiarized with your city if you’re a newcomer, or fall back in love with being home and find some new local favorites.
Glamping
Frida by Caravan Outpost – CC BY
Ojai
Ojai’s Caravan Outpost is the premier location for glamour camping. The outpost has 2-5 day trips for couples or groups that include activities like wine tasting, biking, mountain climbing, massage, hot springs, and meditation packages. What makes this experience special is guests stay in a swanky caravan with a mini-kitchen, lounge area, bed, and outside hammocks for star gazing.
Santa Paula
Further South of Ojai is Ventura Ranch Koa, with traditional cabins, glamour tents, and non-traditional tipi’s. Rooms and tents include kitchens or refrigerators and microwaves, beds, and lounge areas.
This family-friendly campground has multiple activities like gem mining, rock climbing, swimming, and even a playground area for kids. There’s even on-site wifi!
Resort retreat
Malibu
The city of Malibu is well known for having some of the most beautiful resorts in Southern California. Calamigos Guest Ranch offers breathtaking views of the beach and mountains. Nestled in Malibu Wine Country, the ranch includes intimate private cottages, bungalows, and large estate rooms. Guests can enjoy paddleboarding, surfing, private wine tasting, or horseback riding.
Bungalows by Pelican Hill – CC BY
Newport Beach
Inspired by the Italian countryside, you’ll feel whisked away at The Resort at Pelican Hill. This 5-star luxury hotel is a gem in itself with panoramic ocean views of the Pacific. Whether going to the beautiful Crystal Cove beach, playing golf on one of their two courses, swimming in their coliseum pool or enjoying one of their 22 treatment spa experiences, you’re bound to find a reason to come back after your stay.
Park explorations
Huntington Gardens
The Huntington Botanical Gardens prestigiously boast 16 themed gardens stretched over 120-acres of land. Visitors can enjoy the garden for free which includes a free garden tour and self-guided botanical tour. Their botanical living collection includes beautiful rare plants for visitors to learn about. The themed gardens offer a variety of exploration that can easily span over a two-period, featuring a jungle garden, Shakespeare garden, ranch garden, and subtropical garden.
Will Rodgers State Historic Park
In 1944, the home of mid-1930s actor Will Rogers became a historic state park. The 359-acre ranch houses 31-rooms including stables, a polo field, and a golf course. Not only can you learn Los Angeles history by visiting the park, but you can tour the movie stars home, go horseback riding, hiking, play polo, or experience a movie in the park.
Discover art
Melrose
Melrose is known for its eclectic vibe full of boutiques and restaurants, but the art scene is what gives the area its unique flair. The street art that fills corners, walls, and sidewalks of the neighborhood is so popular now that they even have a dedicated web page. It’s not enough to spend one day taking it all in when you can spend the weekend creating your own “art walk” route and stopping at a local restaurant along the way.
West Hollywood
Another area not far from Melrose — and just as eclectic — is the historic neighborhood of West Hollywood. One of the first major LGBT communities in LA, this city is welcoming and full of love. Galleries like Moran Bondaroff, Gallery 1988, Merry Karnowsky Gallery, and Louis Stern Fine Arts are just a few of the many options WeHo offers. Spend a day scoping out the galleries or make it a weekend excursion.
Whatever activity you pick for your staycation, just remember your end goal is to have fun. You can apologize to your family in Idaho and promise to see them next holiday season.
