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With this economy, more and more people find it hard to have fun in the Los Angeles Area. The entrance fee for many attractions and activities has skyrocketed ever the last few years and if you add that to the price of gasoline, well, staying at home watching an old movie might seem more appealing.
However, having no money is no excuse to not having fun especially when I introduce you some amazing options that are completely FREE! The list of things you can do for free in the Los Angeles Area is very long, and if you want to check out the complete list I invite you to visit the discoverlosangeles.com website where you can find tons of activities and fun spots throughout the LA Area for free and for a fee. For now, let me start by introducing the most obvious things to do for free in Los Angeles.
Known as the Gold State for the gold rush of 1848, now that nickname may be more appropriate to describe the shade the skin acquires after long hours spent swimming and tanning in one of the many beaches in California. The list of beaches in the Los Angeles area is endless: Malibu, Santa Monica, Manhattan Beach, Cabrillo Beach, El Matador Beach… take you pick, pack your lunch, carpool with friends and voilá, you have a great free and fun getaway around the corner.
If you prefer the mountains over the beaches, then Los Angeles also has a great selection of hiking trails. Heart of Hollywood Park, Topanga State Park Trek, Griffith Park Trails, Will Rogers State Park Trek, and Santa Monica Mountains Waterfall Trek among many others, shape California’s landscape and believe me, these hiking trails will keep you fit without spending big bucks in indoor gyms. Aside from that, some trails, like the Griffith Park Trails, offer night-time hikes on certain days of the month where you can meet and socialize with people who share with you a passion for hiking.
Parks around LA are usually free and they offer a great getaway especially for families. Two parks stand out: Palisades Park and the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area. As one of the city’s oldest parks, Palisades Park offers spectacular views of the ocean; jogging and biking trails overlook the ocean while dozens of palm trees add up to the rest of the landscape providing a peaceful and restful setting. On the other hand, the Santa Fe Dam offers a five-acre chlorinated beach, a water-play area, bicycle, walking and equestrian trails, and large picnic areas making this park a jewel in a great city.
Farmers markets are famous throughout Los Angeles; you can find one usually near your town on any day of the week. Here in Monrovia, we have a beautiful Farmers market on Fridays. The Hollywood Hills have another market with spectacular views of the entire city on Thursdays. Pershing Square has its own farmers market on Wednesdays while the one at Americana at Brand in Glendale is classy yet fun. Perhaps the most famous farmers market is the Los Angeles Farmers Market on Third and Fairfax where you can find fresh food and original artifacts every single day of the year.
If you want a little piece of the world without leaving California, then there is no better city to be in than LA. Little Tokyo, China Town, even Little Ethiopia are all small communities nestled in the heart of LA. At Olvera Street you can find a piece of Mexico with Mariachis and traditional Mexican Food and most of these little towns are accessible by the Los Angeles Metro Gold Line which is even better since you can save a good amount of money in gas.
Getty Center and Getty Villa are two of my favorite museums IN THE WORLD! And the best part is that they are completely free. The Getty Center surrounds guests with breathtaking views of the city and its art collection contain pieces from around the world. Getty Villa is dedicated to the ancient European cultures, something that can be seen even in its beautiful Roman architecture. The California Science Center, on the other hand, is a great place where you can learn about human innovation and inventions through hands-on experience.
Some of the most amazing things you can do for free are sometimes things you might think cost hundreds of dollars. Sahaja Yoga Meditation Center offers weekly meditation classes in three languages for FREE in Sherman Oaks while Pasadena’s Roving Archers provides free instructional arching programs to people of all ages every Saturday morning from 8:30 through noon. Now, if you are inseparable from your dog, then you can visit one of nine dog parks in LA where your pet can run unleashed while you socialize with other dog lovers.
Finally, one more thing you might want to consider is being part of a television audience; LA is the entertainment capital of the world and its many studios attest to it. The Price is Right, AFV, American Idol, Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, The Tonight Show, and many other TV shows are all recorded here in LA with live audiences and producers need to keep the studios looking full which is why tickets for these shows are completely free!
As you can see there is no shortage of things to do for free in Los Angeles; as I told you before the list is long so research the 100 Free Things to Do list in the Discover Los Angeles website where you will find the complete information for the places I listed above. I am sure you will find something that will suit the entire family.