ESCAPE TO…. LOS ANGELES!!

 Free Things to Do in Los Angeles: LA on a Budget:  There are tons of free things to do in Los Angeles, giving visitors on a budget something to cheer about. If you’re looking to save some money on your next trip to LA, we’ve compiled a handy list of 20 free Los Angeles activities — all of them exciting, fun and uniquely LA. The best part: these are just a sampling of LA’s free attractions, so after you’re done checking them off the list, you can get out there and find some free stuff of your own!

1. Head for the beach. And we mean year-round. Walk or jog in the sand along LA’s 81 miles of coastline; explore the tidepools at Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro; marvel at the muscular bodies at Venice Beach; and admire the surfers at Surfrider Beach near Malibu Lagoon (that’s free to explore, too).

2. Explore unique museums. Some — like the California Science Center in Exposition Park, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro and the Getty Center in Brentwood — are free all day, everyday (except for parking). Other museums offer special free admission days.

3. Wander around Griffith Park. Griffith Park is the largest city park in the country — 4,107 acres — and provides a mix of free activities for the whole family. Picnic on one of the broad lawns or hike one of the park’s many free trails. One of the prettiest spots to walk is Fern Dell, a calm, shady hideaway with waterfalls and ferns.

4. Cruise Muholland Drive. One of the world’s most famous scenic drives, Mulholland winds from the Hollywood Hills across the spine of the Santa Monica Mountains west to the Pacific Ocean (almost). Viewing spots along the way allow you to see incredible vistas; some are of the city (all the way to Catalina) and others are of the broad San Fernando Valley. Other scenic drives in Los Angeles.

5. Tour the Los Angeles Central Public Library. The Downtown library at Fifth and Flower is one of the city’s most treasured buildings. The structure reflects the Egyptian mania that was sweeping the country in the 1920s, post-King Tut discovery. It was almost destroyed in a 1986 fire but has been magnificently restored with a modern wing added. This is the third largest library in the United States, and free, docent-led walking tours are the best way to enjoy it. Highlights include the rotunda and murals depicting the history of California.