Highest-rated free things to do in California, according to Tripadvisor
Highest-rated free things to do in California, according to Tripadvisor
It is incredibly expensive to be an American. While workers in the United States have seen an 80% increase in wages over the past 50 years, those gains haven't caught up with the ever-growing cost of living, according to a 2024 report from Consumer Affairs. Between 1970 and 2022, the national consumer price index increased by over 500%, while wages only grew by 80%.
That imbalance has put a huge strain on the average American. The number of cost-burdened households in the U.S. reached an 11-year record in 2022, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies. In June 2024, Redfin reported that the median U.S. home sale price hit an all-time high of $394,000.
It's no wonder that maintaining savings, paying down debts and mortgages, and regular expenses are taking precedence over vacations. But not everything that's enjoyable has to come at a high price. In fact, there's a roster of completely free things to do in California.
Think about the most common items on a vacation getaway itinerary: sightseeing, touring landmarks, or completing a nature walk. Or, maybe you're just aiming to relax and want some peace and quiet. Whether you're a history buff or aching to dip your toes in some cool water, you can find all this and more without swiping your credit card or crossing state lines.
To help you find your next free activity, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated free things to do in California using data from Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, an activity with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of June 12, 2024.
Read on to start planning a weekend of free fun near you!
#30. Old Town San Diego State Historic Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (5,689 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#29. Pacific Coast Highway
- Rating: 5/5 (1,677 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#28. Lands End
- Rating: 4.5/5 (2,877 reviews)
- Address: El Camino del Mar Point Lobos Ave. San Francisco, California
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#27. Cable Car Museum
- Rating: 4.5/5 (3,779 reviews)
- Address: 1201 Mason St. San Francisco, California
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#26. Santa Barbara County Courthouse
- Rating: 4.5/5 (3,008 reviews)
- Address: 1100 Anacapa St. Santa Barbara, California
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#25. Seaport Village
- Rating: 4/5 (4,753 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#24. The Grove
- Rating: 4.5/5 (2,556 reviews)
- Address: 189 The Grove Drive Los Angeles, California
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#23. Coronado Island
- Rating: 4.5/5 (3,056 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#22. Rodeo Drive
- Rating: 4/5 (5,592 reviews)
- Address: Santa Monica Blvd. at Wilshire Blvd. Beverly Hills, California
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#21. Griffith Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (3,211 reviews)
- Address: 4730 Crystal Springs Drive Los Angeles, California
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#20. San Francisco Bay
- Rating: 4.5/5 (7,355 reviews)
- Address: San Francisco, California
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#19. Coronado Bridge
- Rating: 4.5/5 (5,802 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#18. The Getty Villa
- Rating: 4.5/5 (2,575 reviews)
- Address: 17985 Pacific Coast Highway Pacific Palisades Malibu, California
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#17. Downtown Disney District
- Rating: 4.5/5 (8,828 reviews)
- Address: Disneyland Drive at Katella Ave. Anaheim, California
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#16. Santa Monica State Beach
- Rating: 4.5/5 (6,747 reviews)
- Address: Ocean Ave. at Colorado Ave. Santa Monica, California
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#15. Hollywood Sign
- Rating: 4/5 (7,738 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#14. Ferry Building Marketplace
- Rating: 4.5/5 (7,436 reviews)
- Address: 1 Ferry Building The Embarcadero at Market St. San Francisco, California
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#13. Glacier Point
- Rating: 5/5 (4,601 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#12. Palace of Fine Arts Theatre
- Rating: 4.5/5 (4,506 reviews)
- Address: 3301 Lyon St. San Francisco, California
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#11. Twin Peaks
- Rating: 4.5/5 (6,436 reviews)
- Address: 501 Twin Peaks Blvd. San Francisco, California
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#10. Golden Gate Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (9,635 reviews)
- Address: 501 Stanyan St. San Francisco, California
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#9. Fisherman's Wharf
- Rating: 4/5 (19,640 reviews)
- Address: Jefferson St. Between Hyde and Powell Streets San Francisco, California
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#8. Santa Monica Pier
- Rating: 4/5 (19,327 reviews)
- Address: 200 Santa Monica Pier Santa Monica, California
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#7. Lombard Street
- Rating: 4.5/5 (18,402 reviews)
- Address: Lombard St. The Presidio east to The Embarcadero San Francisco, California
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#6. Pier 39
- Rating: 4/5 (22,976 reviews)
- Address: Beach St. & The Embarcadero San Francisco, California
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#5. Balboa Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (13,105 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#4. La Jolla Cove
- Rating: 4.5/5 (13,770 reviews)
- Address: 1100 Coast Blvd. La Jolla, California
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#3. The Getty Center
- Rating: 5/5 (14,761 reviews)
- Address: 1200 Getty Center Drive North Sepulveda Blvd. & Getty Center Drive Los Angeles, California
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#2. Griffith Observatory
- Rating: 4.5/5 (20,688 reviews)
- Address: 2800 E. Observatory Rd. Los Angeles, California
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#1. Golden Gate Bridge
- Rating: 4.5/5 (49,843 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Zuri White-Gibson, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states and Washington D.C.
