By Sabah Karimi
Los Angeles may be home to world-renowned theme parks, museums and other cultural attractions, but that does not mean you have to spend a fortune to make the most of your trip to this metropolitan city. Many budget travelers find a number of free and inexpensive things to do in LA, and these attractions and sites are easily accessible from most hotels throughout the city. If you're traveling to Los Angeles on a tight budget, you can look forward to a memorable trip with several low-cost attractions and activities.
Explore the Armand Hammer Museum of Art and Cultural Center
The Armand Hammer Museum of Art and Cultural Center is located in Westwood on the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) campus. It features an extensive collection of contemporary art and classic paintings, and visitors can explore the works of local college students on the top floor. Admission to the museum is $7 for adults and $5 for seniors and UCLA Alumni Association Members.
Armand Hammer Museum of Art and Cultural Center
10899 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90024
(310) 443-7000
Hollywood Walk of Fame
Take a self-guided walk down Hollywood and Vine to see hundreds of stars and fictional characters' names highlighted in the famous pink stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. You can stroll down these major streets on any sunny afternoon to take pictures of your favorite actor's name in gold lettering, and see some of the most famous spots around Hollywood and Vine firsthand.
Visit the Planetarium at Griffith Park
There is no admission fee to get into Griffith Park, and it is home to the Griffith Observatory and a planetarium. Admission to the Griffith Observatory is also free, but you will need to pay a small admission fee to watch a show in the planetarium. This is a fascinating place for science and astronomy enthusiasts to spend the evening learning about the stars and planets, and the Griffith Observatory will give you a chance to see Los Angeles from a fresh perspective. The Griffith Observatory is open every day except Monday each week.
Griffith Observatory
2800 East Observatory Road
Los Angeles, California 90027
(213) 473-0800
Visit the Getty Center
The Getty Center showcases an extensive collection of Western art that dates back to the Middle Ages, and is also home to landscaped gardens that are open for visitors to explore. You can take a self-guided tour of the Getty Center to see hundreds of manuscripts, sculptures, drawings and photographs from famous European and American artists, sculptors and photographers. The Getty Center also houses the Getty Research Library. Admission to the Getty Center is free, but parking is $15 per vehicle.
The Getty Center
1200 Getty Center Drive
Los Angeles, California 90049
(310) 440-7300
Watch a TV Show Taping at NBC Studios
NBC Studios in Burbank, California offers free audience tickets on the morning of talk shows, including the "Tonight Show with Conan O' Brien" and "The Ellen Degeneres Show." You will need to stand in line at the NBC Studios ticket booth or the Universal Studios Hollywood ticket booth to pick up your free tickets.
NBC Studios
3000 West Alameda Ave
Burbank, California 91505
(818) 840-3537
Resources
About the Author:
Sabah Karimi is a professional web and print copywriter with an educational background in Business Administration and Marketing from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. She writes in several niches including travel, fashion, beauty, health, fitness, lifestyle and small business. Karimi received a Top Content Creator Award from Demand Studios in 2009.
