Best Free or Cheap Things to Do in Los Angeles

Other posts by MudslideMama

Los Angeles is a popular travel destination all year round; there are plenty of things to do and the weather’s never too cruddy (air quality be damned). With the ever-growing list of fantastic restaurants and cultural experiences, LA is no longer just a place to see famous people getting into bar fights, either. The fun child-friendly activities make LA great for a centrally-located family vacation too: Disneyland to the south, Knott’s Berry Farm and Malibu to the north, plus plenty to do right here too. But it’s the best cheap or free activities that help stretch our vacation budgets. What to do when your travel budget is smaller than you’d like? Go cheap, but still have fun. Here are my top five cheap and free things to do in Los Angeles, California.

See the Santa Monica Pier Durng Your Los Angeles Vacation

See the Santa Monica Pier During Your Los Angeles Vacation

Top 5 Best Free or Cheap Activities in LA, California

The Santa Monica Pier has a fun, old-timey carousel and small amusement park, making it a great spot for families to take their young kids. An all-day wristband for the Pacific Park on the pier is available there or cheaper online, though you can walk around the amusement park without going on any rides (yeah, right!) for free. Under the Santa Monica Pier is a no-frills touch tank style aquarium, run by the nonprofit Heal the Bay. Local marine life are featured here, and donations are appreciated.

The beach is, needless to say, really crowed in the summer right around the pier, but walk a little bit north or south of it, and the crowds thin out quickly. Parking is free on some streets, and there’s a fee (varies, but around 10 bucks) for beach lot parking. Venice Beach is a healthy walk south, and the best for people-watching. The Will Rogers State Beach is just a couple miles north of Santa Monica, and a lot less crowded. Drive north a few more miles, and you’re in Malibu. Goggling at surfers is free, though the beach equipment rentals will cost you a few bucks.

Iconic Hollywood Star

He's Sure an Iconic Hollywood Star

Hollywood Walk of Fame is free to walk around, and plenty of those stores have cheap touristy stuff for sale too. There are over 2,300 stars’ names inlaid along the walk here, and all sorts of characters strolling around for photo ops. (If you pose with one of them, it’s nice to give a tip.) The Walk of Fame is along Hollywood and Vine, itself an iconic intersection. There are fictional stars with stars on the Walk of Fame too; my kids got a kick out of finding The Simpsons’ star.

Grauman’s Chinese Theater is a landmark that tourists like to see; it’s right on the Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard. The large red pagoda, Chinese dragon across the front, makes this an unmistakable spot: The footprints and handprints in front of Grauman’s are a fun place to take photos too. The oldest handprints include Mary Pickford’s in 1927, and more recent ones include Will Smith and Hugh Jackman. Anyone who wants to see a movie while on a Southern California vacation can see one here, though many grouse that ticket prices aren’t so cheap!

Television show tapings often need people to fill up the seats, especially talk shows and game shows. Grauman’s Theater is a good place to get free tickets to TV shows; other places to score free tickets to TV shows are the Glendale Galleria and Universal Studios Hollywood. Where else, besides New York City, can people on vacation have a chance to see some of their favorite TV personalities live at work? If you’re planning a trip to LA and really don’t want to leave this to chance, call Paramount Television Audience Show Guest Relations (323) 956-1777, Audience Associates (323) 467-4697, or Fox Television’s Audience Unlimited (818) 506-0043.

Griffith Observatory

Griffith Observatory

Griffith Park is the biggest city park in the United States. It’s probably most famous for the Griffith Observatory, and admission to the Observatory is free. There’s a fee to get into the planetarium, but this is also pretty cheap. Griffith Park as a whole is over 4,000 acres of trails and parkland, so obviously there’s lots to do. There are hiking paths and bridle trails, picnic areas and canyons. It’s a great place to take kids during a family vacation; the LA Zoo is here, as well as the Autry Center (for cowboy lovin’ kids), pony rides and “Travel Town.” The Greek Theater is also right in Griffith Park – this outdoor theater hosts year-round concerts.

Needless to say, these are just my picks for the top 5 free or cheap things to do in Los Angeles, California. What’s best for one vacationing couple or family may not be the top activity chosen by another. Have your own favorite cheap or free Los Angeles activities? I’d love to hear them – leave your comments below.

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May 11, 2009 | Filed Under Budget Travel, Destinations, Family Travel, Girlfriend Getaways 

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18 Responses to “Best Free or Cheap Things to Do in Los Angeles”

  1. Angie (Losing It and Loving It) says:
    May 11, 2009 at

    Looks like there is a lot to do in LA. Hubby and I spent some time in Hollywood for our ‘honeymoon’ and I absolutely LOVED it. I could so live there LOL

    Especially enjoyed the Hollywood Walk of Fame, seeing Grauman’s and just all the awesome stuff that was there. We then went to San Diego to visit friends and went to some beaches and more. What a great time! Would love to go back one day.

  2. pligg.com says:
    May 11, 2009 at

    Best Free or Cheap THings to do in Los Angeles, CA…

    Help stretch your travel budget with these Top 5 free or cheap activities in Los Angeles, California. All are child-friendly, but not just about the kids!…

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    May 11, 2009 at

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  4. Sharlene says:
    May 11, 2009 at

    I have lived near LA 2/3 of my life and I finally saw some of those world famous stars a few months ago. I am such an LA slacker. My parents never wanted to go into LA so I will hae to take my kids and we can experience LA for the first time together.

  5. Sharlene says:
    May 11, 2009 at

    This is in response to your post on my blog. I couldn’t find your email address so I thought I would just respond to you here. Hope you don’t mind:

    Mudslide Mamma- I am totally lame when it comes to html so while I think my link is working, it is possible that it isn’t. Go directly to http://fundraiserblog.blogspot.com/ and click the icon in the post that says “click her to donate”. Once you donate feel free to peruse the different sites and pick where you want to “spend” your dollars by letting the blogs know how many entrie syou want for each contest in the comments section. Hope this makes sense!

  6. Kim says:
    May 11, 2009 at

    There are terrific story hours on weekdays (check out Stories in Echo Park on Weds.) or weekends (look at Children’s Book World on Sat.) in great children’s bookstores around town. Plus, you can sit and relax while someone else enchants your child.

  7. Janna says:
    May 11, 2009 at

    Love the free and/or cheap kid-friendly adventures! The Natural History Museum and/or the California Science Museum (donation only) with lunch in the Exposition Park Rose Garden, (slow) hike in Runyon Canyon, watch ducks and, in the summer run through the fountains, at SM’s Douglas Park, play board games on a blanket at the La Brea Tar Pits (bring clothes pins for your nose), visit The Boone Children’s Museum at LACMA, and pet puppies or look at fish in the tanks at any pet store in LA. Or buy some cans of cheap shaving cream, stick your kids in their bathing suits and goggles and let them go to town in your backyard (then, hose them down)! They’ll smell really good and the pix you’ll get will be priceless (trust me).

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    May 12, 2009 at

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  9. Erin @ What A Trip says:
    May 13, 2009 at

    Great post! I live in L.A. and we’re always looking for fun, inexpensive things to do with our kiddo. We go to the Farmer’s Market/ The Grove a lot. They have free concerts for children on the lawn there sometimes, and kiddo likes to ride on the trolley. Also, the Farmer’s Market is a great sensory experience for a child.

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    May 14, 2009 at

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  11. Carrie Robertson says:
    May 15, 2009 at

    What a great post…yes, there are so many free,/ cheap yet top-notch adventures to be had in L.A.!
    A couple big ones not on this list are “The Gettys”, the Getty Center and the Getty Villa. The only cost to visit both is parking (fees going up to $15 in July…pack the car! lol!), so these are VERY cost effective destinations for families and groups. They Getty Villa is gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous, you will feel like you are on the coast of Italy! The Getty Center has outstanding family concerts and great date night events all summer long… http://www.getty.edu/

    In fact, there are MANY L.A. museums that are always free or host regular free days, so these are always at the top of my list.
    Here’s our article on free museum days:
    http://www.mommyadventureclub.com/articles/free-museum-days

    Happy L.A. Adventuring!
    Carrie, Founder, Mommy Adventure Club

  12. Patrice says:
    May 16, 2009 at

    Great post. I want Hollywood Walk of Fame to see the Star of my Favorite celebrities.

  13. Travel Resource says:
    May 17, 2009 at

    All of these five great free or cheap activities are musts if you are visiting Los Angeles. Universal Studios is a personal favorite and often they are taping live shows that you can attend. If you go to Santa Monica you might also want to check out Malibu Beach, our favorite beach next door!

  14. Bridget Smith says:
    May 18, 2009 at

    Most LA Museums including the Gene Autrey Museum of the American West and The Huntington library have “free days” (for the Huntington you need to pre order tickets. The LA Museum of Art has a program where your kid can get a free membership that let’s them go free anytime and bring one grown up free. I think we’ll be heading north to check it out this summer.

  15. Katie says:
    June 20, 2009 at

    Just a note – anybody heading to L.A. should look for Knotts Berry Farm in Orange County (south not north of L.A.) North is (or maybe, was, since I heard 6 Flags has filed for bankruptcy) is Six Flags Magic Mountain near the Grapevine.

  16. The Travelers Zone says:
    July 14, 2009 at

    thanks for sharing this useful information.Los Angeles is one of the popular travel destinations all year round.rent a car and take a drive through Beverly Hills, Hollywood and ride up the gorgeous coast for some terrific views. Take advantage of the free admission to the Getty Museum which is a place that is amazing.nice article!

    thetravelerszone

  17. Janine says:
    September 16, 2009 at

    I used to put my son in his stroller and walk up and down the Venice canals. When he was older, we switched to a harness and he still loved it. Lots of ducks and a cute little park too. The houses are amazing eye candy for grownups and it’s very peaceful and pretty. Two warnings – park your car carefully, there are lots of restrictions in the area AND watch out for duck poop on the walkways. Otherwise, ENJOY!

  18. Louis Hernandez says:
    October 20, 2009 at

    Yes, there are many things to do in Los Angeles. But I like skating most.
    Next month i’ll go skating at Woodland Hills Ice. It is located at 6100 Topanga Canyon Boulevard–at the corner of Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Erwin Streets–in the parking lot of the Westfield Promenade.
    The ice rink will be open daily from 10AM – 10PM from October 30 through January 18, 2010 for recreational ice skating, special events and party rentals.

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