You don't have to spend a fortune to have fun in Southern California. Take a stroll down State Street in Santa Barbara or take a houses-of-the-stars tour – from a helicopter.

Aerial Celebrity House Tours

Several helicopter and small plane operators offer tours of the Los Angeles area that include narrated tours of sites that include celebrity houses, Hollywood landmarks, beaches and coastline and the downtown skyline. The flights, roughly 30 minutes, are between $100 and $350 and some offer champagne.

Santa Barbara

The very name Santa Barbara might sound high-style – and high-priced – but the city that boasts the most beautiful downtown in America can be a fun town to explore without spending much money. The historic arts district offers galleries, museums, specialty shops and friendly eateries. Stroll famed State Street and the landscaped plaza and brick-lined sidewalks. Tour the city's Spanish architecture or simply hit one of Santa Barbara's clean beaches and bask in the sunny Pacific-coast climate.

Camping

California has some of the best camping in the nation, from secluded wooded spots to beach camping. A few favorites include the 800,000-acre Joshua Tree National Park, where visitors trek for spring desert wildflowers, the famed sprawling stands of Joshua trees and dark-night-sky star-gazing. Malibu State Park, just 25 miles from downtown Los Angeles, is a favorite of hikers, anglers and horseback riders who enjoy 15 miles of streamside creeks through sloping woodland. Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks are among the most topographically diverse you'll find, with mountains, caverns and canyons. The parks range in elevation from 1,300 feet to nearly 15,000.

Highway 1

Jump in your car – or rent a convertible – for a trip along the famed Pacific Coast Highway and take in the rocky shoreline views and sweeping ocean vistas. Be prepared for a few inconveniences on what is arguably America's most beautiful drive – specifically, traffic can be annoying depending on the season and time of day. But there are countless gems to discover along the way that make the trip well worth doing, from antique shops to quiet lakes and wood-fired oven pizza.

San Luis Obispo, Hearst Castle

"SLO," as the locals often call it, offers a taste of anything the California vacationer might want -- scenic lakes, beautiful beaches, picturesque back roads, eco tours and wineries. The city's beaches, biking and newly remodeled children's museum (for rainy days) make it a good family destination. The Hearst Castle, one of the biggest historic house museums in the country as former home to the William Hearst family, is a little more than an hour's drive away. The California State Parks system manages the 1947 mansion and offers five different tours of the estate, gardens and pools.

Shark Diving

It may not be exactly cheap, but it is a thrill. Submerge yourself in the ocean depths inside the protective confines of cages while one of the planet's most fascinating creatures menacingly plumbs the waters around you. A number of outfitters operate off the California coast.

Paso Robles, Wineries

Paso Robles, is a picturesque 30,000-population town near mountains, beaches and deserts that prides itself on a rich agricultural history and as a modern center of commerce and recreation. There are more than 180 wineries in the area, many of which offer tours; try the Zinfandel Festival in March. The town's lively farmer's markets boast the best produce in fertile Central California. Golfers enjoy the area's gorgeous courses. And the hot springs that once made the area famous offer visitors a relaxing soak at the end of long day.