Frugal Los Angeles?

[threebeansalad]

"Frugal Los Angeles" sounds like a misnomer, right?

My husband and I are spending a week in Santa Monica next month. He's going for work, so our hotel and air is already set. I'm looking to make this a frugal, but still memorable trip. Some days we'll be together, other days I will be on my own while he's at work.

I've never been surfing, but I'd like to give it a try. I've been researching surf school and am thinking about dropping ~$75-100 on a 2-hour group lesson (includes the board and wet suit).

On the flip side, I'm thinking about NOT renting a car. My husband's work will pay for a taxi to and from the airport--> hotel. I'm thinking about taking one of the sight seeing bus tours that leave from Santa Monica (~$40 pp for a 2 hour tour) to get my fill of the LA tourist sites. I'm also hoping that some friends who live in the area might be up for showing us around, hence lessening the need for our own wheels (it's not just the expense of a car that I'm trying to avoid, but the thought of driving and navigating ourselves in a car in LA sounds like the antithesis of a vacation).

I've been skimming some LA travel books, but it's hard to get a sense of it all. He have requested tickets to see some shows, so if they come through that might change the car rental plans.

Any other LA travel tips? Disney and other theme parks are not something were interested in.

Thanks!