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Free Things to Do in Los Angeles
Actors / All Ages / All Types
Party Earth Review Named after a Depression-era coal tycoon who used the property for hunting and riding, Runyon Canyon is a popular Hollywood hiking spot and something of a pick-up scene for fit and attractive locals and dog lovers. As the paved lane of the strenuous 1.6-mile main trail gives way to dirt and dust higher up, hikers will be ... more
South entrances at the top of Fuller Avenue and Vista Street and north entrance off the 7300 block of Mulholland Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90046
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All Ages / All Types / Artists
Party Earth Review The largest stretch of nature in Los Angeles, Griffith Park’s 4,000 acres boast a plethora of attractions and activities, from horseback riding and swimming to the study of the cosmos, that draws visitors of every stripe. Mornings often see tourists wandering through the zoo, as weekend warriors take to the tennis and basketball ... more
4730 Crystal Springs Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90027
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All Ages / All Types / Beach / Free
Party Earth Review A nearly seamless continuation of the famed Venice Beach to the south, Santa Monica Beach offers a bevy of waterfront fun to suit almost any visitor’s tastes, from intense recreation to avid shopping to burning away the day on 245 acres of sand. The hundred-year-old Santa Monica Pier marks the beach’s southern edge, where ... more
Bordered by the Santa Monica Pier to the south and Will Rogers State Beach to the north
Santa Monica, CA 90291
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20s / 30s / Bar Food / Bars / Cafés
Party Earth Review Bookended by the Beverly Center to the west and The Grove to the east – two of LA’s most popular malls – Third Street offers one-of-a-kind boutiques, restaurants, and bars that are a welcome respite from the typical corporate chain stores. Although this mile-long stretch is less snooty than Rodeo ... more
West Third Street (between La Cienega Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue)
Los Angeles, CA 90048
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Affluent / All Ages / Beach / Chill
Party Earth Review The official name for this sandy expanse – located steps from the affluent mansions that line Malibu like (really, really fancy) weeds – is Malibu Lagoon State Beach, but most people know it as Surfrider Beach thanks to the preeminent importance it has played in California surfing history. Centered on Malibu Lagoon where ... more
23200 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, CA 90265
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All Ages / All Types / Bars / Beer
Party Earth Review Once the center of LA’s underground and counterculture scene, Melrose Avenue may have lost a bit of its edge in recent years, but it’s still a vibrant destination for an oddly mixed, hyper-eclectic crowd. Although the brightly-painted head shops, thrift shops, sex shops, comic book stores, and tattoo parlors still thrive ... more
Melrose Avenue between Fairfax Avenue and La Brea Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90046
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All Ages / All Types / Casual
Reviewed by Shannon D.
"This trail is easy with just a slight up hill climb through a neighborhood before actually hitting the trail. It is heavily populated...felt like I w ..." more
27200 Winding Way
Malibu, CA 90265
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All Ages / All Types / Casual
Party Earth Review Mostly obscured from view near the eastern edge of the Santa Monica Mountains, Franklin Canyon Park is a hidden gem for LA denizens looking to escape the crowds that so often invade the city’s better-known nature retreats. Unless they remember its cameo in the opening credits of the classic Andy Griffith Show, many longtime ... more
North Entrance: Mulholland Drive & Franklin Canyon Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90210
West Entrance: Franklin Canyon Drive & Moreland Drive West
Los Angeles, CA 90210
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All Ages / All Types / Bars / Cafés
Party Earth Review With its charming Main Street, European architecture, and rich local history, The Grove outdoor shopping center and Farmers Market draws a diverse and upbeat crowd of local shoppers and tourists of every kind. Organized as a city center complete with street lamps and a small park in the center, The Grove is usually ... more
189 The Grove Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90036
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Casual / Great View / Locals / Free
Info Located south of the tourist-packed Santa Monica Beach, Manhattan Beach draws local 20-somethings, families, and good-looking young professionals. While drinking is not allowed at this sandy haven, that’s not a problem for partiers, who can hit up a variety bars along nearby streets. This seaside spot features ... more
117 Manhattan Beach Boulevard
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
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All Ages / All Types / Artists
Party Earth Review A carnivalesque 1.4-mile pedestrian walkway bursting with frenetic weirdness, the Venice Boardwalk is one of LA’s prime gawker destinations. A whirlwind of activity keeps shutterbugs busy, while tourists crowd around storefronts to peruse the cheap knickknacks, postcards, handicrafts, t-shirts, and knock-off sunglasses ... more
Ocean Front Walk, between Navy Street to the north and Washington Boulevard to the south
Venice, CA 90291
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All Ages / Casual / Great View
Reviewed by Heather P.
"Hermosa Beach really does have it all. Lets start with the people, at Hermosa Beach you'll be surrounded by tanned, gorgeous locals and surfers. Hermo ..." more
1 Pier Avenue
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
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LA Free Things to Do Overview
Los Angeles is an expansive metropolis that stretches from the sandy beaches of the Pacific to the gritty streets of Downtown. From one end to the other and everywhere in between, there are plenty of free things to do in L.A.
From the South Bay to Malibu, Los Angeles beaches offer a slice of sun-kissed paradise that draws locals and tourists on any day with a clear sky and warm temps. While in-the-know Angelenos and surfers head to Zuma or Manhattan Beach, out-of-towners flock to the touristy shores of Santa Monica and Venice. Those who do choose Venice have an added treat in the Boardwalk, where street performers, hard bodies, oddballs, and the homeless are some of the interesting characters who wander on this shop-laden strip.
Of course, a visit to Hollywood Boulevard is one of the most popular free things to do in Los Angeles. Whether checking out the iconic cinema stars whose names grace the Walk of Fame, or eyeing the handprints at the TCL Chinese Theatre (formerly Grauman's Chinese Theatre), there’s always a gaggle of sightseers crowding the sidewalks in this neighborhood.
Anyone looking for a free educational experience in Los Angeles should check out the astronomy museum at the Griffith Observatory, the art collection at the Getty Center, or the California Science Center, which is home to Space Shuttle Endeavour. Admission to all these spots won’t cost a penny, though they make up for it with pricy parking.
Then there’s the outdoor Mexican marketplace at Olvera Street. The historical site features shops and authentic Mexican food in the oldest part of Los Angeles. Visitors can enjoy a free walking tour Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10am to noon.
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