Ho ho ho. It’s time for the relatives to descend on you for the holidays. Exciting, right? Yes, and you love them all to death for at least 15 minutes, until you remember that Uncle Fred argues about politics, and Aunt Betty keeps wanting to clean your house that you just cleaned.
So, guess what? We live in Southern California, where the weather is usually beautiful. So get those annoying people out of your house, and into the wide world where they will seem less, well, annoying.
But, wait, you say. You’re broke. Well, not to worry. For the price of a little cheap gas (that was a joke) you can all go and have a pleasant experience. Maybe they’ll get tired and take a long winter’s nap when you get home.
Here are 20 places you can take them for free:
Abhi Arora, CEO of Healing Gardens, visits Arlington Garden in Pasadena on Friday, April 16, 2021. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Arlington Garden. Pasadena. This is the only free public garden in Pasadena, located on three acres originally slated to become part of a freeway extension that was never built. It’s open every day during daylight hours and features Mediterranean, desert and scrub oak landscaping. It started as a patch of dirt in 2005, and now is a haven for birds, bees, butterflies and people who enjoy nature. Wooden benches are scattered around the site for relaxation. Location: 275 Arlington Drive, Pasadena. 626-578-5434 or arlingtongardenpasadena.org
A pedestrian walking past the Broad Museum in downtown Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)
The Broad. Los Angeles. This art museum in downtown L.A. features contemporary art from the collection of developer Eli Broad. It’s a piece of art in itself, although it doesn’t look like much from the outside. The general collection is always free to view, though you need reservations in advance. They release some same-day tickets daily, so check online early. There’s a parking garage that charges a few bucks. Closed Mondays. Location: 221 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles. 213-232-6250 or thebroad.org
A visitor walks through the orange groves at the California Citrus State Historic Park in Riverside. (File photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
California Citrus State Historical Park, Riverside. Learn about the era when citrus was king in Southern California, visit the 200 acres of groves that produce navel and Valencia oranges, grapefruits, and lemons and stop by the museum visitor center. Hiking and biking trails are available. Citrus tastings are often available. Free guided tours of the groves are available to learn about the industry and how a citrus grove operates Fridays-Sundays at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Preregister by calling 951-780-6222. The park is open Fridays through Sundays. Parking is $5. 9400 Dufferin Ave., Riverside. parks.ca.gov/?page_id=649
Cave of Munits. West Hills. If you want to get some exercise after all that holiday eating, how about an adventurous 2-mile loop trail that includes a visit to a real cave? The trail in the Upper Las Virgenes Open Space Preserve starts out as a nice stroll and ends up with some serious rock scrambling into the cave, so watch the youngsters. This chimney cave was reportedly the home of a powerful Chumash Indian shaman. Wear sneakers or hiking boots. Head to El Escorpion Park and park there. There’s a short, steep hike or a longer more leisurely one. 24501 West Vanowen Street, West Hills. modernhiker.com/hike/hike-to-the-cave-of-munits/
Sally, the cow, seems to enjoy the music and spending time in a grassy outdoor pen for Cow Chip Bingo during the 30th birthday bash for the Centennial Farm at OC Fair & Event Center on Saturday, October 5, 2019, in Costa Mesa. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Centennial Farm. Costa Mesa. Located on the south side of the Orange County Fairgrounds, this 3-acre working farm features favorite farm animals and fruit and vegetable gardens to teach kids about where our food comes from. Free parking. Open every day (but check the online calendar for closures) 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa ocfair.com/centennialfarm
A 1937 Nativity stained glass window that was displayed at Forest Lawn-Glendale. (File photo by Tina Burch/Los Angeles Daily News)
Forest Lawn Memorial Park. Glendale. The 1906 cemetery that changed all cemeteries has attracted millions of visitors and even spawned a fictional book by Evelyn Waugh with its open layout, fountains, architecture and replicas of great world art such as Da Vinci’s “The Last Supper.” Celebrities such as Michael Jackson, Elizabeth Taylor and Walt Disney have been laid to rest here. There’s even an art museum. Stop at the information kiosk at the entrance. (Note that other Forest Lawn locations also have artworks on display) Open daily. 1712 S. Glendale Ave. 888-204-3131 or forestlawn.com/parks/glendale/
Fort MacArthur Museum San Pedro. This interesting bit of military history allows visitors to take a look at underground bunkers and weaponry that were built to protect Los Angeles Harbor from enemy attacks. It was part of the Army coastal defense system from 1914 to 1974. Movies such as “Pearl Harbor,” “The Usual Suspects,” “Private Benjamin,” “Tora! Tora! Tora!” and more have been filmed here. It’s open noon to 5 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursday, Saturdays and Sundays. Note that the Angels Gate Park with its Korean Friendship Bell is nearby. 3601 S. Gaffey St. San Pedro. 310-548-2631 or ftmac.org
A view across the Getty Center’s central garden. ( Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Getty Center Brentwood. The world’s richest museum offers priceless art treasures, including Van Gogh’s Irises, which was the most expensive painting ever sold when the Getty bought it. Specializing in medieval to modern art and decorative arts, it’s also a center for scholarship. The billion-dollar white complex sits atop a hill in West Los Angeles. Kids enjoy riding the free tram to the top from the parking garage. On a clear day, visitors can see for miles from the rooftop gardens. Picnics are allowed, so bring your lunch and non-alcoholic drinks. Admission to the Getty is free, but timed admission tickets must (temporarily) be ordered online. Parking costs $20, or $15 after 3 p.m. Active and veteran U.S. military with ID park free. Open daily except Mondays. Getty.edu or call 310-440-7300.
The Getty Villa Museum in Pacific Palisades reopened on Wednesday, April 21, 2021. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Getty Villa Museum. Pacific Palisades. On a spectacular site, this replica of a Roman country house contains the Getty’s collection of old and rare Greek and Roman antiquities. The villa itself is an attraction, with its mosaics, art, gardens and architecture. It’s modeled after the Villa dei Papiri that was buried by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. 79, which destroyed Pompeii. Picnics are allowed, so bring your lunch and nonalcoholic drinks. Admission is free, but timed admission tickets must be ordered online. Parking costs $20, or $15 after 3 p.m. Open daily except Tuesdays.17985 Pacific Coast Highway, Pacific Palisades getty.edu/visit/villa/
Artist Judy Baca at The Great Wall of Los Angeles, the longest mural in the world, during its 2011 restoration in Valley Glen. (File photo by Michael Owen Baker, LA Daily News/SCNG)
The Great Wall of Los Angeles, Valley Glen. Most people have never heard of this half-mile-long mural near Los Angeles Valley College that tells the history of California — warts and all — but it’s worth viewing. Artist and educator Judy Baca designed and spearheaded the project, using volunteer students to complete it. The mural runs along the Tujunga Wash flood control channel near Coldwater Canyon Avenue between Oxnard Street and Burbank Boulevard. The mural began in 1974 when Baca was contacted by the Army Corps. of Engineers who wanted to beautify the flood channel, and it launched what has been described as the longest mural in the world. There’s a walkway to view the mural. Start at Burbank Blvd. to view the mural in chronological order. Open daily. 12920 W. Oxnard St., Valley Glen. sparcinla.org
The Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles. The observatory makes for a good day trip from Laguna Woods.(Photo by Penny E. Schwartz)
Griffith Observatory. Los Angeles. Located in scenic Griffith Park (also free) on top of Mt. Hollywood in the Hollywood Hills, this observatory built in 1935 is always free and well worth seeing. Inside the building are several interesting displays, including an Egyptian sundial and a Foucault pendulum. The planetarium on site offers shows that cost a few bucks. Renovations in 2006 added several new attractions. There’s a memorial monument to actor James Dean. He starred in the movie “Rebel Without a Cause,” which has a climactic scene at the observatory. If you’re lucky enough to be there on a clear day, you can see all the way to Santa Catalina Island. Look for the Hollywood Sign behind the building. Closed on Mondays. Parking is expensive; park down at the Greek Theatre and walk up, or ride the bus for 50 cents. 2800 East Observatory Road Los Angeles. 213-473-0800 or griffithobservatory.org
Stevan Dohanos, “First Day of School,” Saturday Evening Post illustration, 1944, oil on board. (Courtesy of the Hilbert Museum of California Art)
Hilbert Museum of California Art., Orange. If you are an art-lover, or just a lover of free museums, head on over to this one in Old Town Orange, near Chapman University. It’s in temporary digs right now while undergoing a major expansion, but it always has lots of lovely paintings to see and sometimes special Disney collections, too. The exhibit scheduled to open Dec. 10 is “All Aboard: The Romance of California’s Railroads” with paintings of trains and train stations. The Hilbert Temporary will be open starting Saturday, Dec. 10 at 216 E. Chapman Ave. Orange, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays. Parking on the street or in the city lot in back. 714-516-5880 or hilbertmuseum.com
Vintage cars rolled through the drive-thru during the unveiling of a replica of the first In-N-Out hamburger stand in Baldwin Park in 2014. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda/ San Gabriel Valley Tribune)
In-N-Out Burger Replica, Baldwin Park. If someone in your house loves In-N-Out Burger, then this is a no-brainer. You can visit an exact replica of the first stand, built in 1948. The store was moved several times and the original location was demolished, but the company rebuilt it in 2014, including examples of original kitchen equipment and even the drive-through cigarette machine. (Sorry it doesn’t work anymore) This is only a museum, the new store is across the I-10 freeway, and also has a gift shop. Open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays-Sundays and free tours are offered. 13752 Francisquito Ave, Baldwin Park. 800-786-1000
The Museum of Contemporary Art was founded in Los Angeles in 1979.
MOCA, Los Angeles. The Museum of Contemporary Art is free to visit, with advance tickets available online. There are two facilities: A striking sandstone building across from Walt Disney Concert Hall that was designed by a famed architect Arata Isozaki. It’s at 250 S. Grand Ave. Also the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, which is a former police car warehouse in Little Tokyo renovated by Frank Gehry. 152 N. Central. Parking is $9 or get lucky and find street parking. moca.org/visit
A couple walk their dog on the wide, paved path at Mount Rubidoux Park in Riverside. (Photo by Kurt Miller, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Mount Rubidoux Park. Riverside. Take a walk along the wide paved trail in this landmark city park, which offers fabulous views and even a historic bridge and tower toward the top. It encompasses 161 acres and includes a giant cross dedicated to Father Serra for those who make it to the summit. On average, it takes around 60-90 minutes to hike the hilly 3.2 mile loop trail. Park at Boniminio Park nearby and use the restroom there. Bring water. 4706 Mount Rubidoux Dr Riverside, 951-351-6250 or riversideca.gov/park_rec/facilities-parks/mt-rubidoux
People look at displays in the Museum of the San Fernando Valley. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker)
Museum of the San Fernando Valley, Northridge. Founded in 2005, this museum is now located at the historic Rancho Cordillera del Norte in Northridge. Exhibits have included the history of author Edgar Rice Burroughs, author of the Tarzan series, who founded the city of Tarzana, sculptor Henry Van Wolf, the history of “The Hollywood Shorties,” who were actors and stuntmen little people ranging in height from 3-foot-5 to 4-foot-9 who played baseball and basketball games for charity. The museum is open Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. 18904 Nordhoff St., Northridge. 818-347-9665 or themuseumsfvnow.org
The Orange County Museum of Art at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA, on Thursday, October 6, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Orange County Museum of Art, Costa Mesa. Take a look at this museum’s newly built permanent home, which opened to the public in October. It’s located at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts and was designed by award-winning architect Thom Mayne of Morphosis Studios. The collection includes some 4,500 pieces on rotating exhibit. Closed Mondays. No tickets or reservations required. 3333 Avenue of the Arts, Costa Mesa. Adjacent paid parking. 714-780-2130 or ocma.art
A flower blooms in the garden at the historic Rancho Los Cerritos adobe in Long Beach on Thursday, Jun 14, 2018. (File photo by Scott Varley)
Rancho Los Cerritos, Long Beach. This remaining 4.74 acres of one of the ranchos that once covered California includes a historic adobe and allows visitors to imagine themselves as early Californios. The “Ranch of the Little Hills” once was part of a 300,000-acre Spanish land grant settled by Spanish soldier Juan Nieto. It eventually became a 27,000-acre working ranch that included two adobes and facilities for his descendants’ family and 12 children. In 1843, the property was sold to cattleman John Temple, who built the existing two-story adobe structure to use as his summer home. Later, the property would become a sheep ranch occupied by the Bixby family, who were important founders of the city of Long Beach. The Virginia Country Club was built next door and eventually the Bixby family sold the house and adjacent land to the city of Long Beach. It opened as a museum in 1955. Open Wednesdays-Sundays. Online reservations are requested but not mandatory. 4600 Virginia Road, Long Beach. 562-206-2040 or rancholoscerritos.org
A visitor walks through the Serra Chapel during the reopening of Mission San Juan Capistrano in 2021. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Serra Chapel, Mission San Juan Capistrano. For those who would like to experience a worship service in this 200-year-old national shrine, there is no charge to attend mass here (though there is a charge to tour the mission). 31520 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949-234-1360 or missionparish.org
Turtle Rock Nature Center, Irvine This five-acre nature preserve offers a paved trail, garden, a walking labyrinth and interpretive center. Open Mon-Sat, closed Sundays. Location: 1 Sunnyhill Drive, Irvine. 949-724-6738 or cityofirvine.org/parks-facilities/turtle-rock-nature-center
And happy holidays to you and your annoying relatives!
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