10 Free Things To Do in Los Angeles (that are really fun)
Greystone Mansion & Gardens
Location: Beverly Hills
An estate with as much grandeur and drama in its history as Downton Abbey, Greystone Mansion & Gardens is now public property! Channel your inner Dowager Countess Crawley for a visit to explore the gardens - admission and parking are free. Bear in mind that the gardens are too prim and proper to host your pets or picnics.
Hobbit House & CLUI
Location: Culver City
Lord of the Ring enthusiasts: Take your next quest to the shire (downtown Culver City) to discover the Hobbit House. Park at one of the city’s downtown structures (free for the first hour), then walk over to the Hobbit House to see a unique architectural marvel - just be respectful to the hobbits (humans) who live there! Afterward, pivot from hobbits to history with free admission to the Center for Land Use Interpretation to learn about the human relationship to land (which may make you long for the shire).
Link to website (CLUI)
Hsi Lai Temple
Location: Hacienda Heights
Nurture inner peace at the Buddhist Hsi Lai Temple, which features stunning Chinese imperial-style architecture quite rare in the US. Park for free in the lot and pick up a brochure at the bookshelves in either breezeway of the first hall for a self-guided tour. Guide yourself around the pavilion and garden for free, and if you’ve got $1 burning a hole in your pocket, you’ve got just enough for admission to the art galley. Nurture outer peace as well - please be respectful and check the dress code before you choose your fit.
Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve
Location: Sherman Oaks
It’s a scientific fact* that 50% of people become interested in bird watching after their 30th birthday. Spread your wings at Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Preserve. Park for free in the lot and take a stroll through one of the basin’s wildlife trails. If you’re looking for ornithology pals, join the San Fernando Audubon Society for a group bird watching walk the first Sunday of every month. *It’s not
Barnsdall Art Park
Location: East Hollywood
Did you know that there’s a UNESCO World Heritage site right in the heart of Los Angeles? Go see for yourself - park in the free lot at Barnsdall Art Park and head up the hill to admire the Hollyhock House, designed by famous architect, Frank Lloyd Wright. Although admission to the interior costs $7, you can head next door instead for free admission to the LA Municipal Art Gallery (Thu-Sun 11-4). Stay for a picnic or a few chapters of a good book before watching the sun set behind the LA skyline.
Bergamot Station Art Center
Location: Santa Monica
Nurture your creative spirit with a visit to Bergamot Station Art Center for free admission to as many galleries as colors on a palette. You’ll find art in every medium to pique your interest almost as much as the free parking lot on site.
Forest Lawn Museum & Memorial Park
Location: Glendale
Forest Lawn takes being a cemetery to another level. At the top of the hill of their Glendale location, you’ll find a free art museum (with an equally free parking lot). Admire the stunning stained glass recreation of The Last Supper, two of the world’s largest paintings, exact replications of Michaelangelo’s statues, and other beautiful pieces. The curious visitor can also see the 105-year-old mausoleum on site and pay their respects at the resting places of some of Hollywood’s most famous celebrities.
Venice Canals
Location: Venice
There’s nothing quite like seeing how the other half lives, and you can do so up close and personal at the Venice Canals. You may have to put in some leg work to find street parking, but the wait is with the free spot! The neighborhood includes a wild variety of architectural styles that makes for great conversation (if I had $5 million…). If that’s not your thing, then enjoy strolling along the water and catch the sunset before you head out.
Beverly Cañon Gardens
Location: Beverly Hills
Be the biggest baddie in Beverly Hills without spending a cent! Pick up a friend and head over to Beverly Cañon Gardens, a stunning open space connecting Beverly and Cañon Drives. Park for free (first 2 hours) at the designated lot and meander arm in arm down the gardens admiring the landscaped gardens, outdoor dining areas, and water features. If you’re lucky you may catch a free event (like live music on Thursday nights from June-August). Continue your stroll along either drive for top notch window shopping.
Libraries with free Tool Rentals
Location: Compton, Malibu, San Fernando
How’s that DIY project going? The one that you keep meaning to start but you don’t have the right tool on hand. The LA County libraries have a solution! Select branches - including the Compton, Malibu, and San Fernando - have handy dandy tools available to rent for free, from power drills to sewing machines. Drop by and park for free to check out the collection and check that DIY project off your to do list!
Geocaching
Location: Anywhere
Remember the cultural moment of geocaching - “the world’s largest treasure hunt?” The hunt still beckons! Download the free app, do the quick sign up, and check out the map to see what secrets are hiding nearby in plain sight. Check the app notes for tips to find the hidden container that holds tiny treasures inside! Once you find it, add your name to the finders list and move on to the next one. Bring your wits, a pen, and your own tiny treasures to share if you have them.
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