ALWAYS FREE
Arlington Garden, Pasadena
This is the only free public garden in Pasadena, located on 3 acres originally slated to become part of a freeway extension that was never built. It’s open every day during daylight hours and features Mediterranean, desert and scrub oak landscaping. It started as a patch of dirt in 2005 and now is a haven for birds, bees, butterflies and people who enjoy nature. Wooden benches are scattered around the site for relaxation. 275 Arlington Drive. 626-578-5434, arlingtongardenpasadena.org.
The Broad, Los Angeles
Open Tuesdays through Sundays. Always free but get advance tickets. This museum features contemporary art from the collection of developer Eli Broad. It’s a piece of art in itself, although it doesn’t look like much from the outside. The general collection is always free to view, though you need reservations. Some same-day tickets are released daily, so check online early. There’s a parking garage that charges a few bucks. 221 S. Grand Ave. 213-232-6250, thebroad.org.
California Citrus State Historic Park, Riverside
Learn about the era when citrus was king in Southern California; visit 200 acres of groves that produce navel and Valencia oranges, grapefruits and lemons; and stop by the museum visitor center. Hiking and biking trails are available. Citrus tastings are sometimes available. Free guided tours. Learn more by calling 951780-6222. The visitors center and museum are open Fridays through Sundays. Parking is $7. 9400 Dufferin Ave. parks.ca.gov/?page_id=649.
California Science Center, Los Angeles
Open daily. This fascinating museum in Exposition Park is chock full of things to see. Kids love this place, but so do adults. All permanent exhibits are free, but there’s an extra charge for the IMAX theater shows and some attractions. Note that the space shuttle Endeavor is temporarily not exhibited. Parking at Exposition Park is $15, or you can ride the Metro. 700 Exposition Park Drive. californiasciencecenter.org.
Cave of Munits, West Hills
Always open. Ready to get outdoors? Why not hike to an interesting cave just a short drive from town? This trail in the Upper Las Virgenes Open Space Preserve begins as a nice stroll but results in some real rock scrambling into the cave, so watch the youngsters. This chimney cave was reportedly the home of a powerful Chumash Indian shaman. Wear sneakers or hiking boots. Head to El Escorpion Park and park there. There’s a short, steep hike or a longer, more leisurely one, depending on your druthers. 24501 W. Vanowen St., West Hills. modernhiker.com/hike/hike-to-the-cave-of-munits.
Centennial Farm, Costa Mesa
Open daily (but check the calendar). This place is fun. On the south side of the O.C. Fair & Event Center, this 3-acre working farm features favorite animals and fruit and vegetable gardens to teach kids about where our food comes from. Free parking. 88 Fair Drive. ocfair.com/centennialfarm.
Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale
Open daily. This cemetery built in 1906 — the first to call itself a “memorial park” — changed the way people have been buried ever since. Millions of people have visited its fountains, architecture and replicas of great world art such as Da Vinci’s “The Last Supper.” There’s even a museum open Tuesdays through Sundays. Celebrities such as Michael Jackson, Elizabeth Taylor and Walt Disney have been laid to rest here. British author Evelyn Waugh found it so fascinating he even set a novel here. Stop at the information kiosk at the entrance. (Note that other Forest Lawn locations also have artworks on display.) 1712 S. Glendale Ave. 888-204-3131, forestlawn.com/parks/glendale.
Fort MacArthur Museum San Pedro
Open Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. This interesting bit of military history allows visitors to take a look at underground bunkers and weaponry that were built to protect Los Angeles Harbor from enemy attacks. It was part of the Army coastal defense system from 1914 to 1974. Scenes from movies such as “Pearl Harbor,” “The Usual Suspects,” “Private Benjamin,” “Tora! Tora! Tora!” and more have been filmed here. Note that the Angels Gate Park, with its Korean Friendship Bell, is nearby. 3601 S. Gaffey St. 310-5482631, ftmac.org.
Getty Center Brentwood
Open Tuesdays through Sundays. Free, but order tickets online. Especially good on clear days when you can see all the way to Catalina Island. The world’s richest museum offers priceless art treasures, including Van Gogh’s “Irises,” which was the most expensive painting ever sold when the Getty bought it. Specializing in medieval to modern art and decorative arts, it’s also a center for scholarship. The billion-dollar white complex sits atop a hill in West Los Angeles. Kids enjoy riding the free tram to the top from the parking garage, so bring your lunch and nonalcoholic drinks. Admission to the Getty is free, but timed admission tickets must (temporarily) be ordered online. Parking costs $20, or $15 after 3 p.m. Active and veteran U.S. military personnel with ID park free. 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles. Getty.edu, 310-440-7300.
Getty Villa Museum, Pacific Palisades
Open Wednesdays through Mondays. On a spectacular site, this replica of a Roman country house contains the Getty’s collection of old and rare Greek and Roman antiquities. The villa itself is an attraction, with its mosaics, art, gardens and architecture. It’s modeled after the Villa dei Papiri, which was buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D., which destroyed Pompeii. Picnics are allowed, so bring your lunch and nonalcoholic drinks. Admission is free, but timed admission tickets must be ordered online. Parking costs $20, or $15 after 3 p.m. 17985 Pacific Coast Highway. getty. edu/visit/villa.
The Great Wall of Los Angeles, Valley Glen
Open every day. If you like murals, check out this halfmile-long example near Los Angeles Valley College that tells the history of California — warts and all. Artist and educator Judy Baca designed and spearheaded the project, using volunteer students to complete it. The mural runs along the Tujunga Wash flood control channel near Coldwater Canyon Avenue between Oxnard Street and Burbank Boulevard. The mural began in 1974 when Baca was contacted by the Army Corps of Engineers, which wanted to beautify the flood channel. The mural has been described as the longest in the world. There’s a walkway to view it. Start at Burbank Boulevard to view the panels in chronological order. Open daily. 12920 W. Oxnard St. sparcinla.org.
Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles
Open Tuesdays through Sundays. Located in scenic Griffith Park (also free) on top of Mount Hollywood in the Hollywood Hills, this observatory built in 1935 is well worth seeing. Inside the building are interesting displays, including an Egyptian sundial and a Foucault pendulum. The planetarium offers shows that cost a few bucks. Renovations in 2006 added several attractions. There’s a memorial monument to actor James Dean. He starred in the movie “Rebel Without a Cause,” which has a climactic scene at the observatory. If you’re lucky enough to be there on a clear day, you can see all the way to Catalina. Look for the Hollywood sign behind the building. Parking is expensive; park down at the Greek Theatre and walk up, or ride the bus for 50 cents. 2800 E. Observatory Road. 213-473-0800, griffithobservatory.org
Hilbert Museum of California Art, Orange
Open Tuesdays-Saturdays. Check out the new expansion of this museum in Old Towne Orange, near Chapman University. Parking is on the street or in the city lot in back. 216 E. Chapman Ave. 714-516-5880, hilbertmuseum.com.
Jurupa Mountains Discovery Center, Jurupa Valley
Open Saturdays and Sundays. Museum of Discoveries is free. Wander the botanical garden and past the turtle pond, and see the dinosaur statues. Parking is $10. 7621 Granite Hill Drive. jmdc.org
La Brea Tar Pits and Museum, Los Angeles
It’s always free to view the pits in Hancock Park where so many ice age animals became trapped and fossilized for our fascination. But if you live in Los Angeles County, you also get free admission to the museum from 3 to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Just go to the ticket booth and show your ID. Also, kindergarten through 12th grade teachers, military personnel, EBT cardholders and USC students and employees get free admission any day. The parking lot charges $18 (ouch). If you street park, read all the signage carefully. 5801 Wilshire Blvd. tarpits.org.
Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles
Open Tuesdays-Sundays. MOCA’s advance free tickets are available online. There are two facilities: One is a striking sandstone building across from Walt Disney Concert Hall that was designed by architect Arata Isozaki. It’s at 250 S. Grand Ave. moca.org/visit.
Mount Rubidoux Park, Riverside
Take a walk along the wide, paved trail in this landmark city park, which offers fabulous views and even a historic bridge and tower toward the top. It encompasses 161 acres and includes a giant cross dedicated to Spanish missionary Junipero Serra at the summit. It takes around 60-90 minutes to hike the hilly, 3.2 mile loop trail. Park at Boniminio Park nearby and use the restroom there. Bring water. 4706 Mount Rubidoux Drive. 951-351-6250, riversideca.gov (search “Mount Rubidoux”).
Museum of the San Fernando Valley, Northridge
Open Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Founded in 2005, this museum is at the historic Rancho Cordillera del Norte in Northridge. Exhibits have illuminated the lives of author Edgar Rice Burroughs, author of the Tarzan series and who founded the city of Tarzana; sculptor Henry Van Wolf; and “The Hollywood Shorties,” who were actors and stuntmen ranging in height from 3-foot-5 to 4-foot-9 who played baseball and basketball games for charity. 18904 Nordhoff St. 818-347-9665, themuseumsfvnow.org
Orange County Museum of Art, Costa Mesa
Open Tuesdays-Sundays. This museum’s newly built permanent home opened to the public in October. It’s at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts and was designed by award-winning architect Thom Mayne of Morphosis Studios. The collection includes some 4,500 pieces on rotating exhibit. No tickets or reservations required. Adjacent paid parking. 3333 Avenue of the Arts. 714-780-2130, ocma.art.
Natural History Museum of
Los Angeles County, Exposition Park
Do you live in Los Angeles County? If so, you get free admission from 3 to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Just go to the ticket booth and show your ID. Also, kindergarten through 12th grade teachers, military personnel, EBT cardholders and USC students and employees get free admission any day. Pay to park. 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles. nhm.org
Point Vicente Interpretive Center, Rancho Palos Verdes
Open every day, this small museum is not only interesting but is located on a gorgeous public point perfect for whale watching. Fine vistas reward the drive out there. It explores the human and natural history of the area. Also, at this time of year volunteers with telescopes are counting whales as they go past on their way to Baja California to breed and give birth. 31501 Palos Verdes Drive West. rpvca.gov (search “Point Vicente”).
Rancho Los Cerritos, Long Beach
Open Wednesdays-Sundays. The last remaining 4.74 acres of one of the ranchos that once covered California includes a historic adobe and allows visitors to imagine themselves as early Californios. The “Ranch of the Little Hills” once was part of a 300,000-acre Spanish land grant settled by Spanish soldier Juan Nieto. It eventually became a 27,000-acre working ranch that included two adobes and facilities for his descendants’ family and 12 children. In 1843, the property was sold to cattleman John Temple, who built the existing two-story adobe structure to use as his summer home. Later, the property would become a sheep ranch occupied by the Bixby family, who were founders of the city of Long Beach. The Virginia Country Club was built next door and eventually, the Bixby family sold the house and adjacent land to the city of Long Beach. It opened as a museum in 1955. Online reservations are requested but not mandatory. 4600 Virginia Road. 562-206-2040, rancholoscerritos.org.
San Bernardino History and Railroad Museum, San Bernardino
Open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. Free admission and parking. Interesting compendium of local history. It’s inside the historic Santa Fe Depot and Metrolink Rail Station. 1170 W. Third St. sbdepotmuseum.com.
San Pedro Red Trolley, San Pedro
This old-fashioned trolley line takes visitors on a loop route past the battleship Iowa and downtown San Pedro. It runs every half hour from noon to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays in the winter. sptrolley.com
Serra Chapel, Mission San Juan Capistrano
For those who would like to attend a worship service in this 200-year-old national shrine, there is no charge to attend Mass here (though there is a charge to tour the mission). 31520 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949-234-1360, missionparish.org.
Turtle Rock Nature Center, Irvine
Open Mondays through Saturdays. This 5-acre nature preserve offers a paved trail, garden, a walking labyrinth and interpretive center. 1 Sunnyhill Drive. 949-724-6738, cityofirvine.org (search “Turtle Rock”).