Under $100: Hollywood

Los Angeles is an expansive city that can’t be seen in a single day. No trip to the City of Angels is complete without a visit to Hollywood. Here’s how to experience it with less than $100 in your pocket.

For brunch, skip The Coffee Bean and head to one of the city’s many donut shops, a niche Southeast Asian immigrants carved out for themselves in L.A. food culture. If you’re visiting from New York and are a fan of Dominique Ansel’s cronuts, stop by Kettle Glazed Doughnuts, one of the earliest bakeries to copy the croissant/donut combination on the West Coast. Breakfast here will run you about $10.

Graumans Chinese Theatre © F11photo | Dreamstime

Next, make your way to Grauman’s Chinese Theater, perhaps the most famous movie theater in the world and the former venue for the Oscars. You can still catch a flick for $10, or take a half-hour walking tour for $5.

Nearby is Madam Tussauds Hollywood wax museum, which would be considered a tourist trap in most cities, but, in Los Angeles, it fits in with the celebrity culture. Tickets are $31, but if you show up after 4 p.m., it’s half off. If that doesn’t interest you, you can also find the star of your favorite entertainer on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for that Instagram shot.

Hollywood Boulevard © Mirko Vitali | Dreamstime

For dinner, splurge on the overpriced-but-still-awesome Roscoe’s Chicken & Waffles, a Los Angeles institution cosigned by the likes of Snoop Dogg, Kobe Bryant, Barack Obama and more. A meal here will run about $30.

At night, there’s nothing better than getting a view of LA’s skyline. There are many different spots to do this, but Griffith Observatory is by far a favorite. Take in the lights before heading inside the observatory. Admission is free, and there are plenty of night events for gazing at the stars.