100 Cheap Things to Do in LA: Outdoors

Explore the Santa Monica and Venice beachfront and get some exercise by renting rollerblades or a mountain bike (starting at $10/hour) from Perry's Café & Rentals.

Mingle with amphibians, invertebrates and reptiles at the LAIR at Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens. Zoo admission is $20 for adults, and parking is free.

Visit Runyon Canyon for a star-studded hike and yoga in the park. Although yoga classes are free, donations are recommended. Classes are offered three to four times daily.

Catch a movie during the Cinespia screenings at Hollywood Forever Cemetery during the summer. Don't forget a picnic, wine and blankets. Tickets are $16.

Make way to Dodger Stadium to root for the home team. You can't get the full game day experience without ordering a Dodger Dog, one of L.A.'s food icons. Individual game tickets for Top Deck seating start at just $12.

Cap off a day at the beach by riding the world's only solar-powered Ferris wheel, the Pacific Wheel at Pacific Park, on the historic Santa Monica Pier. Take in panoramic views of the Southern California coastline for $8 per ride. 

The whole family will enjoy the fun challenges of miniature golf in the lush surroundings of Sherman Oaks Castle Park. An 18-hole round of mini golf is $6.50 for adults ages 13 to 64, $5.50 for children (5-12) and seniors (64+). Children age 4 and under are free with a paid adult.

Stroll through Grand Park on Tuesdays for their weekly farmers market. Vendors offer produce, flowers and prepared foods. No need to leave Fido at home - Grand Park offers complimentary pet valet in their dog run, located at Spring Street between First and Temple.

Indulge your love of all things astronomical at the Griffith Observatory. Take a hike through Griffith Park, then catch a show for $3-$7 at the Samuel Oschin Planetarium (rate varies depending on whether you are an adult, senior, student, child, or Friends Of The Observatory member.)

Warm up on a chilly night with a bonfire at Dockweiler Beach. Although beach admission is free, parking costs between $3 and $13 during the summer.

Along with its sister property, the Beverly Hills Hotel, the Hotel Bel-Air offers its guests and the local community outdoor yoga on the front lawn every Saturday from 10-11:15 a.m. Non-hotel guests are requested to give a $15 donation that will benefit a local charity.

Get a workout while people-watching at Venice Beach. Afterward, relax with a cocktail at High, the Hotel Erwin's rooftop lounge.

Visit the pool at the Mondrian for panoramic views of L.A. and a see-and-be-seen crowd.

Take your clubs to Chester Washington Golf Course during twilight hours on weekdays for rates as low as $14.99, depending on tee time.

If you're a novice golfer, the Los Feliz Golf Course is for you. Green fees are only $8 on the weekend, perfect for those learning the basics. In the 1996 film, Swingers, Ron Livingston asks Jon Favreau whether he should play Goofy in a scene that was filmed at Los Feliz Golf Course.

Get in touch with nature during a stroll through picturesque Descanso Gardens. General Admission is $9, seniors and students $6, and parking is free.

Outdoor fun isn't limited to the summer months. During the winter, grab your skates for Downtown on Ice at Pershing Square.

Catch an outdoor movie during Street Food Cinema in Exposition Park. Take your pick from a variety of food trucks, and enjoy music curated by the Viper Room. Tickets are $10.