Each year, more than 50 million visitors flock to what is arguably the entertainment capital of the world; Los Angeles, California. Combined, they pump more than $30 billion into the L.A. economy each year. That is a lot of money! As a result, it would be easy to assume that family activities in Los Angeles are anything but cheap. But that is not necessarily true.
Tourists are typically lured by some combination of Hollywood razzle dazzle, iconic landmarks, and sandy beaches – not to mention the balmy Mediterranean climate. Of course, for families, the big draw of Los Angeles is quite often attached to nearby theme parks. As you can expect, all of these attractions come with a wide variety of price tags.
Disneyland, the second most visited theme park in the world, entices about 18 million visitors a year, and Universal Studios brings in nearly 10 million visitors per year. However, both are costly. A family of four, with kids over the age of 10, can expect to pay about $600 on tickets. And that is just for a single day. When you factor in accommodation and meals, the vacation can get very expensive, very fast.
Fortunately for my family, we have an “in” when it comes to Los Angeles. Having married a So Cal boy a decade and a half ago, we make regular pilgrimages to L.A. to spend time with the G’s, as well as aunts, uncles, and cousins. And, over the years, we have been fortunate to visit many local attractions, in addition to theme parks.
What I’ve learned from these excursions may surprise you. Put simply, a visit to L.A. doesn’t have to break the bank for families. Here is a list of some of our favorite, cheap, family-approved, Los Angeles activities.
Whale Watching
You would think that a whale watching excursion would cost an arm and a leg, right? Nope. These days, with the rise of Groupon and other companies in the online coupon space, it is possible to snag a whale watching trip for as little as $15-30 per person.
Even better, unlike whale watching in other parts of the U.S., whale watching in Southern California can be experienced year-round. December through May is a great time to see gray whales, as they move between Mexico and Alaska. Moreover, in the spring months, sightings of baby gray whales, with their mothers, are not uncommon.
The summer months (June, July, and August) are perfect for witnessing the sheer size of the majestic blue whale. Although it will often require traveling a little further out to sea. Then, in the fall, the focus switches to humpback whales as they migrate south. You may even get lucky and see a killer whale.
One other thing you are practically guaranteed to see, on any given month, is dolphins.
You can find whale watching outfits operating out of Long Beach, and San Pedro. Or you can go further south, outside of L.A. County, and hook up with a company in Newport Beach or Dana Point.
If boats aren’t your thing, consider taking your kids out to the whale watching station at Malibu Bluffs Park. This Los Angeles family activity isn’t just cheap; its free!
Descanso Gardens
The Descanso botanical gardens may not seem like an obvious choice for a Los Angeles family adventure. However, I can attest that both my boys love this place. I think it is because there are so many trails and hidden spots to explore. My kids love finding their way through the oak trees, and climbing up above the Sturt Haaga Gallery. Along the way they like discovering new things to see and experience.
Aside from trail exploration, on their last visit, my minis enjoyed seeing the Japanese garden, hanging a message on a wishing tree, and hopping around a spiral formation made from wooden blocks. There is even a 1/8th-scale replica of a diesel train that will delight littles. And the gardens themselves are beautiful, no matter what time of year you visit.
Best of all, at just $15 per adult and $5 for children 12 and under, the price can’t be beat. Especially when you consider that it is easy to make a half-day out of your visit. You may even want to bring a picnic – although it can only be eaten inside the picnic area.
Griffith Park
Aside from being home to the iconic Hollywood sign, Greek Theatre and L.A. Zoo, Griffith Park offers up lots of attractions for kids. In the south east corner, is the Pony Rides and Petting Zoo. Designed for children aged 1 to 14, this was where my kids enjoyed their first pony rides. You can opt for the Pony-go-Round, which is basically a merry-go-round with real horses, or do what we did and bypass this in favor of laps in an arena. Depending on your child’s age, they will either be given a slow, medium, or big pony. All rides, regardless of age of kid, or size of pony, are just $5.
Another gem for kids is the Travel Town Transportation Museum. Located in the north part of Griffith Park, Travel Town is mostly free. Little kids will get a kick out of riding on a miniature train ($3.50 for adults and $3 for kids 11 and under). And, for the bigger kids, there are literally dozens of old-time railroad locomotives and cars to explore at no charge.
There are also hundreds of trails in Griffith Park. For adventurous kids, you could try taking them on a hike to view the Hollywood sign. The Mt. Hollywood Trail offers a side view of the sign and is good for families. The most popular route is via the Charlie Turner Trailhead which starts at the Griffith Observatory and is about 3 miles total. Or perhaps your child is into superheroes? If so, take the Bronson Cave Trail from Bronson Canyon Park. This cave is the actual cave that the Batmobile would come in and out of in the live-action 1960’s Batman TV series. It has also been used in many other TV shows and films.
Griffith Observatory
While Griffith Observatory is also located inside Griffith Park, near the south border, I feel it deserves its own separate callout. Completely free, unless you want to see one of its amazing planetarium shows ($7 for people over the age of 13), Griffith Observatory is one of those places where you know you are experiencing something special.
Open to the public since 1935, the art deco exterior is immediately recognizable as you pull up to the parking lot. However, inside, thanks to a 2002 renovation and expansion, it is a smorgasbord of discovery. Each of the Observatory’s exhibits focuses on “a unique aspect of human observation of the sky and space.” And, outside, the views of the Los Angeles Basin are breathtaking. If your family wasn’t interested in the universe before their visit, they will be a lot more interested after experiencing this iconic and cheap Los Angeles activity!
Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach
These three adjacent beach cities, located in the South Bay of Los Angeles, epitomize California beach living. In fact, I fell in love with laid-back Redondo Beach shortly after meeting my husband. This was where he had a small apartment.
For kids, these cities offer up plenty of opportunity for fun. Consider renting a beach cruiser and taking your family along The Strand. This 22-mile bike path not only goes along the ocean front of Redondo, Hermosa and Manhattan, but will take you all the way up to the top of Santa Monica if you let it. Just pay attention to the light signals that tell you when you need to walk your bike. If the red light is on, you need to get off your bike, or face getting a ticket!
In Redondo Beach, you will find a great pier that you can walk out on, as well as an arcade and boardwalk. Next to the marina you can rent kayaks, pedal boats, and paddle boards. And, at the Redondo Coffee & Bait Shop, you can rent fishing poles and bait.
At Hermosa Beach, you will find surf that is good for most surfing levels. A surf board rental from Drive N’ Surf will set you back just $15 per hour. However, if you are new to surfing, please consider having your child take a private lesson first.
Last, but not least, is Manhattan Beach. Here you will find the Roundhouse Aquarium, which is home to more than 100 marine animals from Southern California waters. Completely free to visitors, your child can see everything from sharks and octopus, to eels and lobsters. There is even an interactive tank where they can touch sea stars, sea cucumbers, sea urchins and sea snails.
Hollywood Walk of Fame & the TCL Chinese Theatre
I’d be remiss to talk about Los Angeles, without giving a nod to Hollywood. While it is unlikely that your child will want to do any kitschy star tours, they might be interested in seeing the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre – otherwise know as TCL Chinese Theatre. Located on Hollywood Boulevard, the TCL is meant to resemble a giant red Chinese pagoda and, as such, is kind of hard to miss.
The theatre has been the setting for many movie premieres, as well as three Academy Awards ceremonies. Inside, you can take a Theatres Tour, which costs $10 and shares the history of the cinema palace. However, it is also possible to take your child to see a movie for about $15 a pop, depending on the type of films that have been released at the time of your visit.
Alternatively, just take pictures outside – it’s free. And take a look at some of the handprints and footprints in the forecourt. My kids got a kick out of seeing imprints from the cast of Star Wars, as well as the wand imprints from Harry Potter.
Right in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, in the sidewalk of Hollywood Boulevard, you will also find some stars that are part of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Now 1.3 miles and counting, these stars are equally spaced along Hollywood Boulevard, as well as along three blocks of Vine Street. If you have a movie-loving child, I would suggest looking up their favorite stars in advance, so you know exactly where they are located.
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles
I’ve loved natural history museums ever since my parents took me to the London Natural History Museum for my birthday when I was a young child. It goes without saying that I want my kids to have similar experiences; which is why I jumped at the chance to take my boys to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles.
Like its counterpart in London, there are plenty of dinosaur bones to marvel at. In fact, you can even watch paleontologists work on new fossil discoveries in the Dinosaur Lab. Best of all it is a cheap Los Angeles family activity. While tickets are only free for members, the cost is nominal ($7 for children and $15 for adults).
The L.A. museum has a number of permanent exhibits, aside from the Dinosaur Hall. The animals in the hall dedicated to Africa and North America dioramas fascinated my kids when they were young, as did the Nature Lab. And, if you visit in the spring, you can walk among butterflies in the Butterfly Pavilion.
Malibu
Malibu, referred to as “The Bu” by some locals, is located in the western part of Los Angeles County. Known primarily for its sandy beaches and famous residents, this part of L.A. literally ooze’s exclusivity. However, while real estate has at least six zeros added to the price tag, there are plenty of outdoor recreational activities that won’t cost you a dime.
For instance, just behind the city, you’ll find more than 500 hiking trails in the 150-acre Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. Point Mugu (listed as Sandy Dune, 9000 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu in Google Maps) also offers up an amazing sand dune for sandboarding and sand sledding. And, even though the sand dune ends close to the PCH, your child’s ride will slow down well before they get to the highway.
Santa Monica Pier
The Santa Monica Pier (the official western end point of Route 66) is another iconic Los Angeles landmark, and for good reason. Instantly recognizable because of its large Ferris Wheel, the Santa Monica pier was the first concrete pier to be built on the West Coast. However, for kids its all about the pier’s cool little amusement park. After all, let’s face it, what kid doesn’t enjoy rides and concession stands?
While the public pier and amusement park is technically free, you will need to purchase tickets for individual rides and attractions. These range in price between $5 and $10. That said, if you set a budget and maintain your willpower, it is possible for your kids to enjoy the pier without dipping into their college fund. On the weekends, you can even join a free historical walking tour that will show you some of the pier’s hidden nooks and crannies.
For older kids, expect to be begged for a ride on the West Coaster – a 55-foot roller coaster. And for littles, consider treating them to a ride on the famous Looff Hippodrome Carousel. This carousel is located adjacent to Sana Monica Pier and is itself a National Historic Landmark.
Kidspace Children’s Museum
This one is for truly pint-sized travelers. Designed for kids aged 10 and under, the Kidspace Children’s Museum in Pasadena is devoted to hands-on learning and used to be a favorite destination when my children were young. Given that it is easy to spend half a day at this Los Angeles destination, the $14 admission is (in my opinion) very good value, and a visit certainly counts as a cheap family activity.
Like other interactive children’s museums, kids can climb, explore, touch and learn about a variety of subjects. Although, at Kidspace, activities seem to be directed around everything from physics, biology, geology, and architectural science, to road safety and more.
If you choose to visit in the summer, be sure to bring a change of clothes as kids love to get wet in the stream and small lagoon outside.
In addition, like the National History Museum of Los Angeles, Kidspace has an annual butterfly celebration each spring. During this time, you can adopt your own Painted Lady caterpillar and take it home to witness its metamorphosis. Once it has turned into a butterfly, you can then release it into your own garden. Growing their own caterpillars was seriously one of the coolest experiences my boys have had.
Happy Travels!
Really interesting post!