By Thomas K. Arnold
Old Hollywood is a fun attraction in L.A. for kids.
, the country's second-largest city and home to both Hollywood and Disneyland, is known as one of the most expensive places to live. It has near-perfect weather all year and is home to some of America's richest, and most famous, people. And yet there are plenty of things to do in the City of Angels that don't cost a dime, and as luck would have it they're also some of the greatest things to do in L.A., period. Here are some of the free sights that are especially suited for kids.
Hit the Beach
beaches are the top attraction for Southern California tourists, and L.A. has 75 miles of scenic coastline, all of it free to the public (provided, of course, that you can find parking). Mingle with the rich and the beautiful at Malibu; take a stroll down the boardwalk in funky Venice; watch the bodybuilders at famed Muscle beach, just south of the Santa Monica Pier. Go bodysurfing in the Pacific Ocean; it doesn't cost a dime, and it's a great way to either start your day or refresh yourself just before the sun goes down.
Go Hollywood
Old Hollywood is a great place to take the kids, and except for the souvenir shops and cheesy attractions like the Hollywood Wax Museum, doing the town right won't cost you a penny. Take a stroll down the Walk of Fame, centered around Hollywood and Vine, and see whether you can find your favorite star. Check out the autographs, footprints and handprints in the concrete outside the old Grauman's Chinese Theater. Walk over to legendary rock 'n' roll club The Whiskey a Go Go, and risk a chance encounter with your favorite hard rocker at the Rainbow. It costs you nothing to go inside and look around.
Go to the Getty
Admission to the Getty Center, one of the country's most celebrated museums, is absolutely free, at any time --- no reservations required. Take the kids and check out one of the world's most amazing collections of European paintings, drawings, manuscripts and sculptures. And don't forget to take them on a walk through the colorful, neatly manicured gardens, a treasure all to themselves.
Seeing Stars
Who needs a guided tour of stars' homes? Check out the former homes of legendary stars such as Fred Astaire and John Wayne, as well as the current homes of living stars, at the Seeing Stars Web site. Jot down the addresses of the ones you want to see and then go tooling around Beverly Hills on your own, admiring the massive mansions and elegant estates that are clustered on the hillside like designer mushrooms.
Action on the Set
Leave the official studio tours for others. Take the kids on a tour of locations around Los Angeles where famous movies were filmed, including the Griffith Observatory in Griffith Park (site of the final shootout in "Rebel Without a Cause"), the Baldwin Hills oil fields off La Cienega Boulevard (site of the final shootout in "L.A. Confidential"), the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History (where Peter Parker got his spider bite in the first "Spider-Man"), and the Millenium Biltmore in downtown Los Angeles (the fictional Beverly Palms Hotel from Eddie Murphy's "Beverly Hills Cop").
Griffith Park
At more than 4,000 acres, Griffith Park is the largest city park in the country. There are all sorts of kid-friendly things to do, from a picnic or game of catch in one of the many meadow areas to a hike along one of the myriad trails. It's great for biking as well.
It's the Pits
Yes, the famous La Brea Tar Pits, which everyone learned about in school, are located right in Los Angeles, on the "Miracle Mile" on Wilshire Boulevard east of La Cienega Boulevard. The most impressive discovery of Ice Age fossils in the world happened right here, and the actual pits are still oozing tar. The nearby George C. Page Museum of La Brea Discoveries offers free admission, but only on Tuesdays.
Santa Monica
This beachfront community is fun to wander around in, particularly in the summer. Walk down the rickety old Santa Monica Pier and check out what the fishermen are hauling in; take in the smell of cotton candy mixed with tangy salt air at the little amusement park that's located right there on the pier (be sure to check out the historic carousel); take a walk along the clifftop walkway overlooking the ocean; and then do some window-shopping, and people-watching, at the Third Street Promenade, where the street has been shut down and replaced with a pedestrian mall brimming with street artists of all kinds.
Resources
About the Author:
Thomas K. Arnold is the publisher and editorial director of "Home Media Magazine" and a regular entertainment contributor to various publications including "USA Today," "The Hollywood Reporter" and "San Diego Magazine." He has written travel stories for "San Diego Magazine," the "San Diego Union" and the Copley News Service. Arnold attended San Diego State University.
Photo Credits:
Hollywood Sign image by crossgolfing from
Fotolia.com
