The weather is warming up, pandemic restrictions are lifting, and a lot of people are craving a vacation! Unfortunately the economy is garbage and gas is astronomical. Even though most of us are trying to stretch our dollars, we’ve been through a lot these past couple years and deserve a vacation. So I wrote this post with budgets in mind! Get to the beach and I’ll guide you from there. Follow along for a budget-friendly weekend in Laguna Beach.
Where To Stay For The Weekend
My favorite budget-friendly place to stay is the Laguna Beach Lodge. This cute hotel was once a 50’s motor lodge and you can still feel the retro vibes beneath the renovated boutique appearance. The decent room rates aren’t the only appeal to this hotel. They provide you with a beach umbrella, chairs, and towels to take to the beach, they have an alkaline water fountain to keep you hydrated, and the pool is heated all year around.
Friday:
Today is going to be a mellow day. Check into the hotel and then enjoy the heated pool while the sun sets over the ocean. For dinner you can grab Z Pizza to bring back to your room and relax. Or walk over to La Sirena for Mexican food and perhaps a margarita! If you have family with you, Ruby’s Diner is a fun option.
After dinner it’s time to prepare for tomorrow. You’re going to spend the day at the beach AND have a bonfire! Head to Gelson’s (in the same center as the hotel) to pick up snacks, lunch, hot dogs, and s’mores to pack into a cooler. Alcohol is not permitted on the beach but shhh, I won’t tell if you grab a bottle of bubbles to bring as well! Don’t forget fire wood. Then get a good night’s sleep because you’re waking up early tomorrow.
Saturday:
Rise with the sun because you’re going to snag a fire pit at Aliso State Beach and they go FAST! (If it’s peak summer months you really want to get there at 6am when they open). Pack everything you’ll need for the entire day; and keep in mind this beach has a playground, a cafe, and bathrooms.
Set up around your fire pit, turn on some tunes, lay out with a book, have a picnic, cool off in the ocean waves, play frisbee or kickball, grab a snack at the cafe, or explore the tide pools. As soon as the sun starts to set, get your bonfire lit and roast some s’more’s! Tell me I’m not the only one who loves the nostalgic smell of a bonfire? 🔥
Sunday:
Take your time getting up today. Make some fresh coffee with the neat pour-over kettle in your room. There are chairs outside almost every room at Laguna Beach Lodge so take your coffee outside and relax under the palm trees. When you check out of the hotel, go visit some art galleries! Some of my favorites are The Grace Galleries, Kush Fine Art, National Geographic, and Woods Cove Studio.
Laguna Beach is famous for being home to hundreds of art galleries and it's a great way to spend time without costing you money.
When you’re hungry, here are a couple affordable options for lunch or dinner in Laguna Beach. Penguin Cafe is a great choice for casual American fare. They have limited indoor seating but you can always take your food to go and walk around the corner to eat on the beach. Adolfo’s Restaurant is an excellent bet if you’re craving flavorful Mexican food. They have indoor seating and a pretty outdoor patio.
A few more budget-friendly ideas if you’re not ready to end your weekend:
- Catch a free trolley ride and take in the sights
- Visit the Pacific Marine Mammal Center to see seals and sea lions
- Explore the tide pools at Rockpile Beach
- Walk the boardwalk and view the historic lifeguard tower at Main Beach
- Visit Alta Laguna Park to walk the hiking trails and see epic views of the ocean
- Grab a map from the Visitors Center and take a self-guided tour of Laguna Beach’s public art
- Find the cave at 1,000 Steps Beach
- Watch the sunset at Heisler Park
- Grab a beer at Hennessey’s Tavern
There's so much gorgeous scenery here and plenty to do without spending a fortune.
I hope this guide helped give you an idea of how to spend a budget-friendly weekend in Laguna Beach. If you enjoyed this guide, also check out The Ultimate Girls Day in Laguna Beach!
