Whale Watching

If you're burned out on theme parks and tired of traffic during your vacation, consider whale watching. It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience to see massive gray whales on their annual migration south to Mexico during the spring. Boats leave from Marina del Rey, L.A. Harbor, Long Beach and Newport Beach. Expect to pay $15-$30 for a two to three-hour excursion.

Free Queen Mary!

Well, not free her from the dock in Long Beach where she's been sitting for 40-something years, but free admission to the HMS Queen Mary. California residents can hop on board and take the self-guided tour for free from March 1 through the 15th. (Tickets are normally $25 for adults; $22 for seniors and military and $13 for kids 5-11.) There's also a special rate of $109 to spend the night on the ship for Californians, good from now until March 31. You have to call the ship (800-437-2934) to find out about availability. This is a good hotel deal if you can get it. The Queen Mary is often overlooked by visitors but it's a good location, you're relatively between L.A. and O.C. The other best deal we could find for the Queen is on their website: for two adults with a AAA card, Friday March 27, checking out Sunday the 29th is $129. If you stay at the hotel the self-guided tour is complimentary. Self-parking for hotel guests is $15.

See the Stars--While They're Cheap

When you come to L.A., be aware that virtually every waiter, waitress, store clerk and pizza delivery guy has got a song to sing, a monologue to deliver or a script to write. Out of 9 million people, it seems like about half are trying to make it in "the business." What's fun is many of these stars-in-the-making hone their skills at venues around town where you can see them work--for a song:

The Groundlings--Alumni of The Groundlings have gone on to fame on Saturday Night Live, Hollywood sitcoms and the movies. They do regular shows of improv and stage comedy at their theater (7307 Melrose, Hollywood). Tickets range from $12.50 to $21.50 depending the show and the day of the week.

Max 10 Performance Lab--You can see the latest in choreography and dance at this Venice event, held the first Monday of each month through July 5. Tickets are $10, and after the performance you're invited to stay and meet the artists.

Sundays Live--If you plan a visit to the L.A. County Museum of Art on a Sunday Afternoon, be sure to stick around for the free chamber music concerts held in the Bing Theater at 6:00. Many of the performers are world-class musicians simply keeping sharp before their next symphony.

Opera Buffs--Los Angeles may not be known as an opera town, but that hasn't stopped some lovers of the genre to support young opera singers who are looking for bigger stages. If you're in L.A. on March 22, this organization will be hosting a showcase downtown focusing on nine singers. This night of arias is available for a $15 donation, or $5 for students.

L.A. Smaller Theater--The pages of L.A. Weekly are filled with listings from L.A.'s small theaters where you'll find some great actors and interesting plays. Expect to pay $10 and up for a seat.

Fat Tuesday Plans

If you're in town this weekend, be sure to check out the Mardi Gras celebration at Farmers Market. But if you want to do it on the real fat Tuesday, head over to Amoeba Music at 6400 Sunset in Hollywood on the 24th starting at 4:00 for a Mardi Gras celebration with DJ Flash Gordon, lots of beads and other treats. Afterwards, think about spending the evening at the House of Blues at 8430 Sunset. The honky-tonk Pat Travers Band will be getting the crowd going before Lent begins and tickets are no more than $13.50 to $15.50.

And What NOT to do When it Rains...

When it's cold and rainy, like today, don't go here:

The Getty Museum and Getty Villa--The museum is stunning and a must-see, but part of its attraction is the incredible views of Los Angeles it provides. When it's raining and visibility is down, you'll lose part of the experience. At the Villa near Malibu, the ocean view is part of the attraction and it's best to wait till right after a storm passes to get a look at the collection there.

Magic Mountain--Yes, it's got some of the best roller coasters in the world, but it's no fun cheating death when you're being pelted by water...unless you're 13.

Catalina Island--A choppy boat trip coupled with cold wind and rain equal a miserable time at a location best seen in good weather.

What to do in L.A....

...when it rains. If you're coming during the winter or early spring you've got to be ready for the possibility that there will be some showers or a storm passing through. If there's a rainy day on one of your vacation days, here are some great, cheap indoor ways to spend the afternoon:

Peterson Automotive Museum--California's the heart of the car culture and this edifice, with 300,000 square-feet of rare and classic cars, trucks and motorcycles is a tribute to our love for motors. There's an interactive center for young children and dioramas explaining how cars work. Admission is $10 for anyone over 12, $3 for children 5-12.

Discover Science Center--If you're in the OC while the water's coming down and you've got antsy kids, consider taking them to this place, which is close to Anaheim in Santa Ana. They've got a 4-D theater, air and space exhibits and an area where you can dig for fossils. Admission is $13 for adults and $10 for kids 3-17. Get 10% off with your AAA card.

Reagan Presidential Library--No matter what your political views, a visit to a presidential library is special since there are so few of them around the U.S. This one is in Simi Valley, which is about a 45-minute drive from the Westside depending on traffic. They've got a Gallery of Presidents, which has memorabilia and clothing from several eras of the White House; a replica of the Oval Office and one of the retired Air Force One jets that you can walk through. Admission is $12 for adults 17-61, $9 for seniors 62 and over and $3 for kids 3-11.

Disneyland Package Deal?

You've got to give it to Disney for creating probably the most user-friendly interface in the world to find package deals that include park admission, hotels, etc. We checked out one of their current deals, Everyone Gets in for the Kid's Price package. It's very simple to find what you want and they clearly point out what you're getting in the package.

We looked at a family of four, two adults and kids 5 and 9, arriving just at the start of most Spring Breaks, Friday March 27, and checking out on Sunday the 29th. They would be staying at an economy hotel near the park, the Anaheim Quality Inn, and they'd be getting four 3-day Park Hopper tickets for Disneyland and California Adventure. To save money we declined the character breakfasts, meal options, transportation, etc. The total came out to $961.

Switching over to hotels.com, we found the same hotel for $96/night and the park tickets at the Disney site for $447. A total of $639 or a difference of $322. Quite a difference doing it yourself!

Booking with Disney though, you do get special add-ons like a one-hour scavenger hunt at Disneyland's Toontown before it opens up to the public, access to Fantasyland before the park opens, preferred seating at some California Adventure attractions, as well as commemoritive pins and baubles. You'll have to weigh whether the extras are worth the cost for your brood.