Free Things to Do In Southern California: Low Cost Fun

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If the ever-rising cost of entertainment gets you down, discover fun and free things to do in Southern California. These inflation-fighting trip ideas are a great way to get outdoors and enjoy the fun with family and friends without denting your budget.

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Malibu Beach Point Dume Nature Preserve

Point Dume Nature Preserve is a beautiful place to visit anytime and is one of Southern California’s most scenic coastal destinations. Admission is free, with some free parking. Point Dume is 32 acres of pristine oceanfront land, which you can access from several hiking trails. Take the main route to the summit or descend the steps to a secluded beach called Pirates Cove. A viewing platform along the boardwalk trail is just below the summit, where you can sit and enjoy the million-dollar view.  Point Dume is 18 miles north of Santa Monica.

Downtown Los Angeles Chinatown

Chinatown is located about two blocks from Union Station in downtown Los Angeles. Chinatown’s 16 square blocks are filled with small mom-and-pop shops, restaurants, and food stores. You can find just about any item you want, plus a few things you might never have heard of. Old Chinatown Plaza is the oldest shopping mall and a must-see. The old Chinese architecture buildings are unique and date back to the early 1900s. The best way to experience Chinatown LA is on foot. Park the car, head up Broadway, and peek inside some stores. You can find everything from rugs, bamboo plants, umbrellas, water fountains, and turtles. Chinatown LA Website.

Leo Carrillo Ranch Carlsbad

Leo Carrillo Historic Ranch is located in Carlsbad, California, a few miles inland from Legoland. The ranch is tucked in a valley and surrounded by homes, but once you enter the wrought iron gate, you feel like you’re returning to early California. Stop by the visitors center and pick up a guide before exploring. If you visit on the weekend, there are free guided tours that are perfect for history buffs but may be too detailed for casual visitors. Leo Carrillo Historic Ranch has several miles of hiking trails, adobe buildings, windmills, and historic ranch buildings. Ranch Website.

Best Free Thing To Do Getty Museum

The Getty Museum Center is a fun and educational place to spend the day. With its scenic hillside location, beautiful gardens, and spectacular architecture, this free attraction won’t disappoint. When you arrive, you are directed toward the multi-level parking garage. After parking, you ride a monorail to the museum on the top hill overlooking Los Angeles.  The Getty Museum Center is one of the best free attractions in Southern California. Visit Website.

Orange County Nix Nature Center Free Admission

Nix Nature Center is located in the center of Laguna Canyon, just off Laguna Canyon Road. Admission to the center and the miles of hiking trails are accessible. Inside the center are displays and exhibits about Laguna Canyon and the animals that live in it. Restrooms with changing tables, drinking fountains, picnic tables, free maps, and nature-oriented merchandise are available on-site. One of the most popular hikes from the nature center is to Barbara’s Lake. This little lake next to Laguna Canyon Road is the only natural lake in Orange County. Visit Website.

Free Places To Go Old Town, San Diego

Old Town San Diego is considered the “birthplace” of California. 1968, the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation established Old Town Historic Park. The historic buildings preserve how San Diego looked in the 1800s. Historic buildings include La Casa de Estudillo, La Casa de Bandini, La Casa de Pedrorena, and the Mason Street School, San Diego’s first one-room schoolhouse. Heritage Park is up the hill from Old Town, where several of San Diego’s most notable Victorian homes have been relocated and authentically restored to their original condition—bottom Line, Fun, Free, and Educational. Old Town San Diego Website.

Oceanside Mission San Luis Rey

Mission San Luis Rey, “King of the Missions,” is located a few miles inland from Oceanside, California. Housing tracts and shopping malls are slowly surrounding the mission. However, the grounds are big enough to block most of its urban neighbors. The church was built in 1811 and is the third in this location. Mission San Luis is a National Historic Landmark for its pristine example of a Spanish Mission Church complex. Admission to the mission grounds is free, but there is a small charge to see the museum and mission cemetery. Visit the Website.

Citrus State Historic Park

California Citrus State Historic Park preserves what the Inland Empire and much of Southern California look like. Thousands of acres of orange groves were once planted across the Southland. The smell of orange blossoms filled the air. A sea of green-orange trees stretched into the horizon. Today, the orange trees have been replaced by housing tracts and shopping malls, and the remaining farmers are replacing oranges with more profitable crops. A visit to the California Citrus State Historical Park is a refreshing look at how it used to be in Southern California. Park Website.

San Pedro Fort MacArthur Museum

Fort MacArthur Museum preserves the former U.S. Army base in San Pedro, California. The museum is located at the site of the coastal defense battery Osgood-Farley. Inside, you will find displays and exhibits on the history of Fort MacArthur and its role in defending the port of Los Angeles. Nearby is the Korean Friendship Bell, a massive bronze bell housed in a stone pavilion. The Republic of Korea presented the bell to the American people to celebrate the bicentennial of the United States and honor American veterans of the Korean War.

Solvang Danish Village

Solvang Danish Village is in the Santa Ynez Valley inland from Santa Barbara, California. This quaint town was founded in 1911 by a group of Danish educators. Today, the city mainly caters to the tourists who arrive by car and bus. Many buildings are built in the Danish style, including a life-size windmill. Solvang means “Sunny Field” in Danish; however, these days, most of the fields in the Santa Ynez Valley are planted with grapevines. Solvang Website.

Griffith Park Observatory Free Admission

Griffith Park Observatory is one of Los Angeles’s most visited destinations. Admission and parking are free to this beautiful landmark. The views of Hollywood and Los Angeles are priceless ( on a clear day). Just behind the Observatory is the Hollywood sign. First-time visitors always take a family picture with the character in the background. Inside the restored building are three levels of state-of-the-art hands-on exhibits and displays. You and your kids will be amazed at how nice this place is; the best part is free.

Near Palm Springs Whitewater Preserve

Whitewater is a fantastic place to visit. You drive up a dusty desert canyon and arrive at a tree-lined oasis full of beautiful lakes adjacent to a massive rock cliff. There are several shady picnic areas along with miles of trails. Over the years, Whitewater Preserve has been a hunting lodge, trout farm, and hatchery. The trout are still there, but you can no longer fish for them, which explains why they are so big. The lakes at the preserve are kept full by the year-round Whitewater river that runs adjacent to the visitor’s center.

Best Free Place To Take Kids Goat Hill Junction

Goat Hill Junction is an excellent free attraction for children in Southern California. Every third weekend of the month, you can ride on the miniature trains with your kids at Fairview Park in Costa Mesa. Parents can enjoy the rides as much as their children. Although the train club accepts donations, rides on the trains are completely free. The track layout is impressive and has taken hundreds of hours, making it an enjoyable experience for everyone. Visit Website.

Explore Nature at Paramount Ranch

Paramount Ranch is in the Santa Monica Mountains and offers free admission and parking. Once you cross the bridge over Medea Creek and enter the park, you will immediately feel that you have arrived at a special place. If you visit during the week, you might even witness a film crew at work, shooting a commercial or a movie. The park boasts miles of trails to explore, leading you to where the Mash TV show was filmed. Ranch Website.

Bolsa Chica Wetlands Free Admission & Parking

The Bolsa Chica Wetlands are adjacent to the Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach, stretching from Warner Avenue to Seal Beach. The wetlands cover 1,200 acres of prime oceanfront land previously occupied by oil wells. Although active oil wells are still in the area, they will eventually be removed. Hiking at the Bolsa Chica Wetlands is divided into the upper mesa and the lower wetlands causeway. The Mesa trail provides breathtaking views of Bolsa Chica State Beach, and on a clear day, you can even see the Queen Mary in Long Beach. Wetlands Website.

Free Places to Go Little Saigon Westminster

Little Saigon is a vibrant community in Southern California that boasts the largest concentration of Vietnamese shopping outside of Vietnam. The central business district is located within the boundaries of Bolsa, Westminster, Magnolia, and Brookhurst Avenues. Most of the shops and restaurants can be found in this area. A great place to start exploring is the Asian Garden Mall, which is home to the most prominent jewelry market in Orange County. Little Saigon is known for its diverse range of Vietnamese shops, restaurants, and boutiques, so visitors can enjoy an authentic taste of Vietnam while in Southern California. Asian Garden Mall Website.

Laguna Beach Treasure Island Park

Treasure Island Park, located in Laguna Beach, is a true gem. It is considered to be one of California’s most stunning oceanfront parks. Even though locals would prefer to keep this place hidden, it is open to the public at no cost, which means anyone can visit. The park is across from the Montage Resort, one of the most luxurious hotels in Southern California. Although not everyone can afford to stay at the Montage, everyone can take a stroll around the park and appreciate the breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean, which is worth millions.

Hollywood Forever Cemetery

You might wonder why I ever want to visit a cemetery. Hollywood Forever is like no other and is the final resting place of many famous early Hollywood stars. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Sites. The cemetery is a popular tourist attraction and holds events throughout the year, including movie showings and the famous Dia de Los Muertos festival. You can take a guided tour (reservations required) for a fee or a self-guided tour and roam around on your own. Depending on what is going on that day, parking is free. Visit Website.

Sunnylands Estate Rancho Mirage Garden Tour

Sunnylands is situated in the desert community of Rancho Mirage, about a 30-minute drive from Palm Springs, California. The estate, which spans over 200 acres, used to be the retreat of world leaders and celebrities who were guests of billionaires Walter and Leonore Annenberg. Admission to the estate gardens, the 17,000-square-foot visitor center, and parking is free. However, you must book in advance to take a more detailed tour of the estate. Visit Website.

Southern California Railway Museum Perris

Admission to the Orange Empire Railway Museum grounds is free, except on special event days. Visitors can explore the vast museum and witness the rolling stock collection commemorating Southern California’s railroad history. If you’re on a tight budget, the Orange Empire Railway Museum is a perfect destination for families. However, if you wish to ride a train or trolley, you can purchase a modest ticket, allowing you to ride as many times as you like. Museum Website.

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium San Pedro

Admission to the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium is free, and houses a good collection of sea creatures. Though it is not as large as the Aquarium of the Pacific, it is worth a visit. The inner and outer Cabrillo beaches are also across the aquarium’s street. If you visit during low tide, explore the exciting tide pools at Cabrillo Beach Coastal Park, accessed through a walkway. Visit the Website.

Pacific Marine Mammal Center Laguna Beach

The Pacific Marine Mammal Center is situated in the stunning Laguna Canyon. Its primary mission is to assist injured California seals and sea lions stranded along the Orange County coastline by returning them to health and releasing them into the wild. The center has seen a rise in patients from March to July. Admission to the center is free of charge. Visit Website.

Great Park Balloon Irvine, California

The Great Park Balloon is the most well-known attraction of Great Park. It can ascend to a height of 400 feet above the surrounding landscape and serves as a public observation deck for Great Park and the surrounding area. On a clear day, the balloon provides a breathtaking 360° view that extends up to 40 miles. Parking and admission to the balloon are free of charge. Visit Website.

Niguel Botanical Preserve Laguna Niguel

The Niguel Botanical Preserve is a stunning garden about 4 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean along Crown Valley Parkway. The garden spans over 18 acres of Crown Valley Community Park and is on a hillside with several trails leading to the top. Visitors can enjoy breathtaking views of Saddleback Mountain from the summit. Admission and parking are free, so it’s worth a visit! Preserve Website.

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