Free or Almost Free Activities in Los Angeles
PAWS & PAGES at Annenberg PetSpace Anneberg PetSpace
Saturdays and Sundays at 12:00pm
Help your young reader build communication skills and self-confidence by reading with adoptable pets or listening to a story. This in-space experience includes a book reading, opportunity to meet an adoptable pet or critter ambassador, and craft demonstration with materials to take home and complete.
Advance registration required. Find more information and sign up HERE.
GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY
Griffith Observatory sits on the south face of Mount Hollywood and overlooks the Los Angeles basin. Its location gives visitors impressive views of the surrounding area, which many rave about. But there’s more than just a pretty photo-op here. The observatory hosts fascinating exhibitions and features a top-notch planetarium.
There is free entry however, you will have to pay between $3 and $7 to see the planetarium shows. Griffith Observatory is open from noon to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, with extended hours on weekends. Free but limited parking is available along the winding roads leading up to the property, or visitors can park in the small lot by the observatory for $10 per hour. More information HERE.
There is free entry however, you will have to pay between $3 and $7 to see the planetarium shows. Griffith Observatory is open from noon to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, with extended hours on weekends. Free but limited parking is available along the winding roads leading up to the property, or visitors can park in the small lot by the observatory for $10 per hour. More information HERE.
THE GETTY CENTER
The Getty Center is one of the most impressive architectural achievements in the United States and it also contains some of the finest works of art in the world. Here you’ll find Renaissance paintings, 20th-century American photography, Baroque sculptures, historic manuscripts and more, all housed inside a sprawling, modern campus amid the Santa Monica Mountains. The museum also offers spectacular views of Los Angeles on clear days. More information HERE
THE BROAD
The eye-catching, honeycomb building is home to an expansive collection of contemporary art dating from the 1950s to the present. The collection includes works by Jean Michel Basquiat, Jeff Koons, Cindy Sherman, Kara Walker and Andy Warhol. In addition to the permanent collection, temporary exhibits showcase new and emerging artists.
Admission to the museum is free (though some special exhibits may have a fee). For guaranteed entry, you can book timed tickets in advance. The museum is open Tuesday and Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Parking costs $15 for three hours with museum validation, and $5 for each additional 15 minutes, with a $25 daily maximum. It is $15 after 5 p.m. on weeknights and all day on weekends. The closest Metro line stop is the Civic Center/Grand Park Station. Visit the museum’s website for more information.
Admission to the museum is free (though some special exhibits may have a fee). For guaranteed entry, you can book timed tickets in advance. The museum is open Tuesday and Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Parking costs $15 for three hours with museum validation, and $5 for each additional 15 minutes, with a $25 daily maximum. It is $15 after 5 p.m. on weeknights and all day on weekends. The closest Metro line stop is the Civic Center/Grand Park Station. Visit the museum’s website for more information.
RUNYON CANYON PARK
Just two blocks from Hollywood Boulevard, Runyon Canyon Park is an often-overlooked urban park that offers some great views. The park boasts several hiking trails and is a popular spot for celebrities to exercise. Atop the canyon, you’ll be treated to sweeping views of the San Fernando Valley. More information HERE.
CALIFORNIA SCIENCE CENTER
In the permanent “Ecosystems” exhibit, museumgoers will learn about everything from islands to rivers to forests across eight different zones via interactive displays. In “Creative World,” technology takes center stage and explores the innovation in transportation and architecture.
The center is free to visit, though special exhibits and IMAX screenings incur a fee. Access to the Endeavor is included with an IMAX or special exhibit ticket. On weekends and holidays, a timed ticket is required to visit Endeavor. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Parking costs $12. You can also take the Metro Expo Line to Expo Park/USC Station and walk five minutes to the center. Visit the center’s website for more information.
The center is free to visit, though special exhibits and IMAX screenings incur a fee. Access to the Endeavor is included with an IMAX or special exhibit ticket. On weekends and holidays, a timed ticket is required to visit Endeavor. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Parking costs $12. You can also take the Metro Expo Line to Expo Park/USC Station and walk five minutes to the center. Visit the center’s website for more information.
THE PEACE AWARENESS LABYRINTH & GARDEN
Visit one of the most peaceful tucked away spots in the entire Los Angeles. Filled with beautiful fountains and meditation gardens, this place is perfect for a midday retreat.
The grounds are open to the public every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with extended hours in the summer. There is no admission fee, and free on-site parking is available. For more information, visit the labyrinth website.
The grounds are open to the public every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with extended hours in the summer. There is no admission fee, and free on-site parking is available. For more information, visit the labyrinth website.
KIDSPACE CHILDREN MUSEUM
Kidspace is a nonprofit museum designed to delight and engage children emotionally, intellectually, and physically through joyful, kid-driven experiences.
The first Friday of every month, admission is FREE for everyone from 4:00–7:00 pm. Reserved tickets are required. The museum is located in Pasadena. More information HERE.
CALIFORNIA AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM
The first African American museum of art, history, and culture fully supported by a state. Free year round. The Museum’s permanent collection houses 4,000 objects that span landscape painting and portraiture, modern and contemporary art, historical objects and print materials, and mixed-media artworks. More information HERE.
