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That was probably my longest title ever on here.
So, last week, I mentioned a small list of free and cheap things to do with your kid this summer. This week, I’m going to tailor it to be more L.A.-inclusive. While a lot of these items mentioned are only in L.A., check your local surroundings to see if there are equivalents in your area.
Ready? Let’s go!
First things first, let’s start with the FREE list:
Grand Park.
Talk about your local watering hole, this is it. Located in Downtown L.A. (DTLA), Grand Park has a watering hole for the kids to play in and also a small playground on the other side. And because this is so L.A., Grand Park also has a Starbucks located inside the park.
Local Parks.
There are a ton of local parks in the area. My personal favorites are Sycamore Grove Park, Brookside Park, Garfield Park, and Central Park for their amazing playgrounds. Some parks you will have to pay for parking so bring some quarters or cards with you.
The California African-American Museum.
You don’t even have to be black to attend this. I know, crazy, right? Come get your culture on and learn about black history in a month that’s not February. They do ask for a small donation but it’s optional. More information is located here.
The California Science Center
Located in the same complex as the CAAM, this is also free (donations are optional). They have a ton of exhibitions and are super dope to experience. Plus, it’s a fun way to have your child learn about science. More information is located here.
Summer Reading Programs.
Every local library offers one and there are some pretty cool prizes at the end of it. It’s also good for the child to read and be prepared for the upcoming school year. Win-win for everyone.
Travel Town.
This is a small museum dedicated to everything trains. If you have a child who loves train (or better yet, you just want to get out of the house for an hour), go here. They have picinic areas to bring snacks. Plus, admission is FREE. If you want to ride on the train, it’ll cost you less than $5 per ride and that’s for two people. More information is located here.
Now we saw the free, let’s go with the CHEAP:
Beaches.
While this might be considered as a ‘Well, duh’ for many, the actuality of it is that it’s cheap to go considering you might have to pay for parking. However, if you want to eat nearby, that will cost you some fundage.
Farmer’s Markets.
L.A. offers a plethora of farmer’s markets and some are pretty dope. Check out the Farmer’s Market in South Pasadena every Thursday evening or the Original Farmer’s Market in my old stomping grounds, Highland Park.
Rose Bowl Flea Market
This is the premier flea market in seemingly all of Southern California. Over 2,000 vendors from all over attend this and they offer a variety of items like food, toys, and knick knacks. Tickets are $9. More information located here.
Kidspace Children’s Museum.
This is a cool indoor/outdoor museum located in the heart of Pasadena. You can bring your own lunch and snacks. Admission is relatively cheap and if you have a AAA card, it’s discounted by a couple of bucks. Your child can get their science on with a ton of fun activities. More information is located here.
The L.A. Zoo.
I was actually surprised to see how cheap it was going to the zoo and had I known, I probably would’ve gone to it more often. It’s pretty big and you can easily spend the entire day here. I even got to feed a giraffe for my birthday! More information is located here.
Indoor playgrounds.
We’re a big fan of indoor playgrounds because sometimes Mommy needs to rest and work while Bear has at it. I’ll break the list down my favorites:
Giggles N’ Hugs.
This is located inside the Glendale Galleria. Kids are free, but adults pay $15 admission. Now, I have to say, although I have never experienced this, it’s rumored you’re expected to buy something to eat or drink while you’re there. I’ve always had something to eat and drink, so I never had that issue. And their menu is pretty bomb-ass. More information is located here.
The Awesome Playground.
We’ve been coming here for years and it’s one of our favorites. During the summertime, they have a water slide for kids on certain Fridays. They also have a really good deal where you can purchase a bundle of visits for a small price. More information is located here.
Underwood Family Farms.
Located in Moorpark, this farm is a drive from anywhere in L.A. However, with admission being relatively inexpensive ($5 during the weekday, $8 during the weekend for all), it’s super fun to enjoy. Plus, you have the option to pick your own fruit and veggies (you pay what you pick). If you’re able to do that, they have a small farmer’s market set up where you can just pick up a few items. More information is located here.
