5 of the Best Free Things To Do In Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles has historically been a place where people go to try to make it big, much similar to New York City. It is a city of glamour and glitz and I just had to see what all the hub-bub was about. Traveling to Los Angeles can be done on a budget and doesn’t really have to cost you an arm and a leg. There are so many things to do in the Los Angeles area that won’t cost you a dime. That way, you can save your dollars to pay for parking since there doesn’t seem to be a lot of places to park for free.

I’ve compiled a short list of the best things to do in L.A. and they are in no particular order. Make sure you click on the images for larger versions so you can really scope out the scene. All the headings are linked to the official websites to help you plan you visit.

1. Griffith Observatory

I’ve been to the Griffith Observatory in the evening and during the day. The observatory is one of many places open pretty late into the evening. It’s kind of a hangout point for people as well since you can get a great view of the city (unless it’s smoggy like it was when I went).

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Here are some shots of the exterior grounds at night.

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Be sure to check out the working Tesla coil inside that goes off every hour. So, if you hang around, you can see the power of electricity and quite possibly have a “shocking” experience you’ll never forget.

There is a huge telescope that you can also view and use for free, so check to see if there are any wait times when you get there or before you go. The telescope does close at a certain time as well, so you can call or check the website for any special events or closing times.  They also have planetarium which is not free but the fee is nominal so it’s worth every penny.

I also caught this funny little cow hiding out in the air vents of one of the domes of the observatory. There are so many things to seek out and find within and outside the observatory so take your time while you explore.

When you leave the observatory, you can turn and see the HOLLYWOOD sign just up in the hills if the skies are somewhat clear, so it’s kind of hitting two birds with one stone.

2. “Urban Lights” outdoor art installation at the LACMA

There is actually a lot of free art and murals to see around the downtown Los Angeles area. While I highly suggest that you pay to check out the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), you can also save money by just walking around the outside grounds and taking in the “Urban Lights” art installation right in front of the entrance. It’s an amazing sight to see during the day but apparently when night falls that’s when everyone and their mom comes out to see the whole installation light up. If you can weave in and out of the people trying to basically do fashion photo shoots or the “Instagrammers” just trying to get that one artistic shot to post to social media, it really can be a great overall experience.

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I really liked how uniform in number and size the entire installation is, yet within the installation there is a lot of variety. Some of the lantern cornices and upper motifs are spiked and like crowns and others are bare and without any metal. Some of the glass lanterns have stemmed finials pointing upward toward the sky and others are just rounded and smooth. Take you time to take in all the small differences within the installation but also look at the big picture before coming to your final conclusion of your experience.

The La Brea Tar Pits and Museum are very close to the LACMA so if you’re trying to make the most of your time in the area, just hop, skip, or jump over to the tar pits if you’re interested in fossils, dinosaurs, and geological mysteries that date back to well before our time.

3. Space Shuttle Endeavor at the California Science Center

Even if you’re not a kid, I still think you will have a lot of fun at the California Science Center. It seems like a place that school field trips are made too as I did see a lot of school buses dropping off loads of kids at chaperones at the entrance. So if you are going as a family or have kids, you’ll fit right in. The place is so big though that even if you have an aversion to children, you’ll still be able to find a sense of peace within as well as learn a little bit about earth science, technology, and innovation.

There are IMAX exhibits and other things that you can pay for but you really don’t have to pay a dime to just generally browse the several floors of museum space. I would say one of the highlights for me is the aquarium. They do live feedings with scuba divers, so you can watch the fish swim up to grab a bite to eat.

You can walk underneath a plexiglass tunnel and watch the fish swim by or sit down in the  amphitheater and listen to an informational demonstration by a guide regarding conservation and the types of fish within the aquarium.

My main reason for coming here was to see the Space Shuttle Endeavor. It’s not a replica. It’s the real deal! After you watch a short video about how they trucked the super huge Endeavor through the streets to get it to the museum, you head out to the hangar where the Endeavor is held. Holy crap! There isn’t much that can really prepare you for how huge this thing is. It’s not every day that you get that close to something that has traveled far into the realms of space and then is right in front of your eyes. Let me say it again though…this…thing….is…..SOOOOO HUGE!!

They have video cameras that show the inside of the cabin of the Endeavor, so you can’t actually walk around inside it. Whomp whomp!!

I thought that the displays that were around the walls regarding almost all the NASA missions made into space were very interesting. It is sad to see the grayed out placards of missions that failed like the Space Shuttle Challenger and Space Shuttle Columbia though. Always remembered, never forgotten.

I am a big fan of getting as much done as possible in one area so that I don’t have to back track or waste gas or time when I’m traveling. Plus, with how bad the traffic seems to be at almost every time of day in L.A, you definitely want to conserve your energy and minimize stress. There are two other free things to do over by the California Science Center. There is the California African-American Museum (CAAM) and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The coliseum has a lot of history behind it. The Coliseum has seen it’s fair share of Super Bowls,  religious and sporting events, and the Olympics. They do offer self guided and also guided tours of the grounds for an extra fee.

I didn’t get a chance to go into either which is why I did not include them in the list. Maybe the next time I visit L.A. I’ll get a chance to go in and may include it in a list in the future.

4. Santa Monica Beach and Pier

Growing up on the east coast, there is something about the pull of the ocean and being near water that I really love. There is something so relaxing and comforting about the sound, smell, and sight of the ocean. So, I had to visit a beach while in L.A. I really don’t know which beach is the best, as if there really is a best, but this one has a lot to offer.

If you’re wanting to be active on the beach, there are biking and rollerblading trails. There are gymnastic rings and fitness equipment and I believe Muscle Beach was a little further down the trail, so you can pump some iron.

I believe most people were there to swim or relax though, which I love that there is a lot of room to stretch out and not be cramped by other people. You can just throw down a blanket, pull down your shades, crack open a book and just listen to the sounds of the waves.

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There are several food vendors and restaurants there too if you want to grab a bite to eat and then lay out on the beach or watch the street performers on the pier.

If you’re looking to play some games and get some cheap knick-knacks in exchange for tickets, there is a whole arcade type area below the iconic Ferris wheel. You can get cheap keepsakes from the sellers on the pier as well.

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5. Los Angeles City Hall

As your day winds to a close, one place to go to get a great 360 degree view of the city and watch the sunset is the L.A City Hall. Check hours before you go because they are not open late and usually close around 5 pm. Also, if you’re in L.A during the fall/winter months, the sun will be setting earlier.

As with most government buildings, you will need to go through a security checkpoint and show your identification to go up in the elevators. There are two series of elevators to go up in to take you to the top.

You can spend as much time as you want up there so if you paid for parking, you can kind of get more bang for your buck. It’s also really cool to see the people and buses and commotion moving about below. It’s almost like you’re looking down from your throne on high upon the peasants. I’m only kidding, but it’s oddly refreshing to be up there where the air is clear (unless it’s smoggy or wildfires are burning).

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After you’ve made it around the perimeter of the outside deck, pick a good spot and then… the sun sets on the glorious City of Angels……

and until next time, see you later Los Angeles.

Can you think of any other best things to do in L.A that don’t cost anything? Leave me a comment so I can check them out the next time I’m in Los Angeles. Thanks!

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