This last article about free and affordable Los Angeles County activities and sites reveals that any visitor going to Los Angeles can have inexpensive fun and be further educated. The Roze Team enjoyed visiting free and affordable L.A. County places, especially those mentioned in parts 1, 2, and 3, such as Olvera Street, lots of beaches, Griffith Park Observatory, and the Disney Hall.
World-Class Art Featured at The Getty Center
The Getty Center, a new hilltop castle in Brentwood known simply as The Getty, has one of the world’s finest art collections, with manicured gardens and breathtaking vistas of the city below. Even if you aren’t interested in the artwork inside, the building’s architecture and panoramic views of the city are worth a visit. Parking is not cheap, although admission to the museum is free. If you’re coming from Downtown L.A., the city bus stops at the gate.
Go for a Walk
There are 4,000 acres of mountains and canyons in the city and more surrounding the Greater Los Angeles area, there are many hiking opportunities and hiking levels of difficulty in Los Angeles County. If you don’t have much time, Runyon Canyon’s trails are just a short walk from Hollywood Boulevard, and Griffith Park’s trails, including the hike to the Hollywood Sign, are just a short drive from Hollywood or Downtown L.A. (and parking is free). The Santa Monica Mountains and the Angeles National Forest offer numerous hiking paths outside of the city limits, however, parking in the national forests and recreation areas is not free.
Go Discover L.A. Hiking Trails
Discover the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument
At Olvera Street, visit the Mexican market and the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument. While the entire block of old buildings transports you to a Mexican hamlet, the street market down the alleyway of Olvera Street is the main magnet for travelers and locals alike.
Pick up crafts and gifts from all across Mexico at the outdoor street vendors, and come hungry since the fragrance of grilled carne asada, Mexican-style corn on the cob or freshly fried churros coated with cinnamon sugar is nearly impossible to ignore. The Roze Team enjoyed the cultural experience and eating the food along Olvera Street. To learn more about Olvera Street and Mexican culture, and the history in Los Angeles take a free walking tour in Downtown Los Angeles.
Visit the Getty Villa
The J. Paul Getty Museum is a vast museum with different exhibits. The Greek and Roman art collections are permanently housed at the Getty Villa, located along the Pacific Coast Highway north of Sunset Boulevard, in an exquisite Malibu villa patterned after the partially excavated Villa dei Papiri in Italy. While admission to the museum is free, timed tickets must be reserved in advance, and parking costs $20 per vehicle.
Take a trip to the California Science Center
The California Science Center, located within Exposition Park, is a pleasant and instructive facility for all ages. However, its interactive displays are especially oriented toward younger visitors. Instead of just wandering along or reading information cards, kids may touch, play with, and interact with the things in the Science Center. Space fans will be delighted to see the Space Shuttle Endeavor on display.
While basic museum admission is free, admittance to the IMAX theater and select special exhibitions is charged. Weekday mornings are congested with school groups, so visit in the afternoons or on weekends.
Go to the California Science Center
Discover Disney’s Fantastic Concert Hall
The Walt Disney Concert Hall may be costly, but the gorgeous façade of the structure is equally as impressive as the events taking place within. The famous Frank Gehry metallic architectural structure, allows visitors to take free self-guided audio tours allow visitors to walk the whole venue, including all of the nooks and crannies meant by the artist to be explored. Don’t forget to take the stairwells outside the building for an above-ground view.
Go to the Walt Disney Concert Hall
See Art on an Art Walk or in an Old Trolley Station by Visiting an Art Gallery
Even though there are numerous free art museums in Los Angeles, there is something special about art galleries. They are not just more intimate, but the artists themselves are sometimes present to discuss their work. Visit the Bergamot Station Arts Center in Santa Monica, which is housed inside a former trolley turnaround station. Parking and admission to the galleries are always free. If you’re taking public transportation, the galleries are located near 26th Street / Bergamot Station.
While there are many free galleries and art districts in Los Angeles, during monthly and quarterly art walks, all of them host receptions at the same time, usually with music and food for everyone to enjoy. Laguna Beach conducts an art walk on the first Thursday of each month, while others, such as Abbot Kinney’s in Venice, take place on the first Friday.
Go to the Bergamot Station Arts Center and Go to Los Angeles Art Galleries
Tour Los Angeles City Hall
Los Angeles City Hall, one of the few classically Art Deco structures on the West Coast, is free to view during regular office hours, although tours must be requested in advance by email. In addition to the dome visible from the third and fourth floors, the 27th-floor observation deck is free to enter and is one of the greatest sites in town for a panoramic view of the city. City Hall’s Henry P. Rio Bridge Gallery features art created in several city-run programs and exhibits relating to L.A.’s many Heritage Month Celebrations.
Experience Going to a Free Comedy Show
If you are unable to attend a taping for a sitcom, game, reality, or talk program, as mentioned in article 2, then go to a comedy show. Many comedy clubs in Los Angeles host free comedy shows. While some venues, such as The Comedy Store, require a minimum drink purchase for free shows, others, such as the Upright Citizens Brigade or Westside Comedy Theater, do not. To remain up to date on free show announcements, sign up for their email lists or follow them on social media. Some venues provide free tickets in advance, while many operate on a first-come, first-served basis or through a random lottery drawing.
Even entrance to comedy clubs that do charge admission is usually around $5 unless you’re seeing a celebrity comedian. Visit the Goldstar website for free comedy tickets, there is a processing fee that can occasionally exceed the $5 admission price.
Go to The Comedy Store, Upright Citizens Brigade, and Westside Comedy Theater
Discover the Public Gardens in Los Angeles
While many of the most gorgeous gardens in Los Angeles require admission, there are a few that are free to explore. The Rose Garden at Exposition Park, near Downtown Los Angeles, is always free, as are the lovely Greystone Mansion Gardens, which are owned by the City of Beverly Hills and open to the public on a daily basis.
UCLA’s Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden is probably the only free botanical garden in Los Angeles. It is a teaching garden that offers free docent-led one-hour tours on the first Saturday of each month at 1 p.m., as well as occasional events like plant sketching classes.
Little Tokyo has the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center (JACCC) which contains a free James Irvine Japanese Garden. To complement your visit to the gardens, there are free displays honoring Japanese and Japanese-American artists.
Go to the Exposition Park Rose Garden and Go to the UCLA’s Botanical Garden
Enjoy your trip to these great locations in Los Angeles County from the beaches, to the gardens and everything in between! The Roze Team enjoyed visiting many free venues in Los Angeles County. Remember to see the other free and affordable sites in L.A. in parts 2 and 3.