• Organization
• The ability to think through an activity
• How to help with a budget
• How to read a newspaper, guidebook or web site

Feel free to send Shirlee your own suggestions for free or low cost family outings, and she'll list them here, and credit you!

Include time involved, appropriate ages and cost. Click here to Contact Us.


FREE
Local gardens, zoos and museums - all ages
Most have a monthly free day. call to find out if/when.
Preparation: Learning more about the exhibits, animals, plants, flowers in the garden or museum. Additional activities (depending on ages): Activities range from drawing pictures to writing a report worthy of using at school for an assignment.

College/University campus - all ages
Beautiful, spacious and well-kept grounds. This adventure offers youngsters the opportunity to see first hand where they are headed in the future. No telling what you might discover
Preparation: Activities include finding facts about the school, what famous people attended, sports teams etc.

Tour Your civic center - ages 4-11
Give your kids the chance to know more about the city or town where they live -
Pre-activity: Reading about what makes a city work. Learning how to make a route map and adding to it all the places you will see.

Take a walk - all ages
Walk and talk. Finding out what's around the corner in your neighborhood might be worth discovering.

Book Safari - ages 2 until they can go on their own
Libraries provide computers, internet access and more books than the kids can ever read.

Book store - ages 2 - 10
Bookstores have a wonderful children's section. You don't have to buy anything but can spend hours with the kids reading books in a great environment.

Pet store/animal shelter - ages 2-10

Ethnic festivals - ages 2-20 Learn about other cultures festivals offer music, costumed dancers, and information booths. Money can change hands on this one as there is food (you can always take your own picnic lunch), games and trinkets to buy

Los Angeles Times Tour - ages 10 and up
Schedule a tour of the printing or editorial facility and learn how the Los Angeles Times ends up on your doorstep each morning. Our kids loved their personal tour, complete with robots that transport reams of paper to a press that is four stories high. Reservations:(213)237-5757.

Central Public Library - all ages
Downtown's gorgeous main branch is one building every L.A. kid should know! Apply for a library card, check out the family programs and wander the halls looking at great art and architecture. 630 W. Fifth St., Los Angeles. (213)228-7000.

Bird Watching - all ages
It's nature calls time at the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Preserve as the birds are flying south for the winter. Bring binoculars and wander toward the park's lake to spy on migrating birds. Print out a chart of local species and try to spot them. Woodley Ave off Victory Blvd, Van Nuys. (818)765-9710.

Friday Flicks at Altadena Library
The library is more than a great place to get books. It is also a fun place to enjoy a film for FREE! Enjoy popcorn and a fun children's (G or PG) or teen(PG-13) movie one Friday a month. Visit Altadena library's website at www.altadenalibrary.org/events for current screening selection. Children under 13 years old must be accompanied to PG-13 movies by a parent or caregiver.

Make-it and Take-it Craft Days at Altadena Library - all ages
Fridays are make-it and take-it craft days! Stop by the Children's Room during regular business hours and make a fun craft. Each week features a different craft.

Places to visit Around Los Angeles
- California Science Center - 700 State Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90007 - (323) 724-3623
- China Town - 900 N. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012
- Chinese American Museum - 425 North Los Angeles St., Los Angeles, CA 90012 - (213) 485-8567
- Hollywood Bowl - 2301 North Highland Avenue, Hollywood, CA 90068 - (323) 850-2000
- Japanese American National Museum - 369 East First St., Los Angeles, California 90012 - (213) 625-0414
- Los Angeles Convention Center - 1201 South Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90015 - (213) 741-1151
- Los Angeles Times - 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90015 - (213) 237-5757
- Little Tokyo
- New Otani Hotel and Garden - 120 S Los Angeles St., Los Angeles, CA 90012
- Music Center - 135 North Grand Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90012 - (213) 972-7211
- Pershing Square - 532 South Olive St., Los Angeles, CA 90013 - (213) 847-4970
- Olvera Street - 845 N. Alameda St., Los Angeles, CA 90012 - (213) 680-2525
- Old Plaza Firehouse - 501 N Los Angeles St., Los Angeles, CA 90012
- Union Station - 800 N. Alameda St., Los Angeles, CA 90012

Low Cost

Take A Ride - ages 5-10
A ride in the car can take on new importance when the activity of routing the venture is given to the kids. A tour of the town looking for specific landmarks is an excellent no cost (well gasoline) experience. 5-10

Get on the bus - ages 4-7
If you regularly use public transportation this isn't for you. But for those holed up in their cars, a ride on Metrolink, bus or subway is a real thrill for youngsters. You don't necessarily have to have a destination, either.

The show must go on - ages 7 - up
Reduced ticket prices for major theatrical performances are often available. Call performing arts centers for information on when and how reduced tickets are available.

Movies - ages 5 - up (only G rated)
Some families still enjoy GOING to movies. You don't have to take all the children on the same movie day. This makes a special one on one outing. It reduces cost of activity. Only go to bargain matinees. AND most important DO NOT go to the snack bar. Get a treat somewhere after leaving theater!

Butterflies - all ages
(1) Visit the Smithsonian Butterfly Pavilion at the second floor of the National Museum of Natural History, 10th St and Constitution Ave, N.W., Washington D.C. Open: 10am-5:30pm daily. Admission: The museum is free; the butterfly habitat is $6 for adults; $5 for children ages 2-12; $5.50 seniors 60+. No charge on Tuesday. For info and ticket reservation, call (202)633-1000 or visit www.butterflies.si.edu/tickets/index.htm

(2) From late October to early March, Monarch Beach in Central California is the gathering site for millions of Monarch butterflies that swarm from Canada,the western United States and Mexico. Visit www.pacificgrove.org/dirpages/butterflywatching.htm

Straight to video - all ages Video rentals have something for the entire family. The main idea is to get them returned on time. Watch for the rental specials.

Grocery shopping - ages 5 - up
You're doing this anyway. Make it an activity where the kids can make a meaningful contribution instead of being whiners at the check out. Here's how: they assist in preparing list! each child has food category they are responsible for finding at the store (produce, dairy, coupon items, etc..) / predetermine how much each category might cost! talk about what you have to spend include payment options - cash, check, credit card, ATM!.