Looking for fun

November 6, 2006 9:27 PM

I am in the search of finding free and or cheap things to do in the LA area (Santa Monica, Venice, Culver City, Marina Del Rey Etc)...any ideas? Just something you have found that you really enjoy...
posted by matthelm to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (11 answers total)

The Griffith Park observatory just re-opened. I highly recommend that place--and the surrounding environs of the hills are great even apart from the observatory, so you can go any time of day and get a great chunk of nature, just minutes from the big city.

On a completely different note, there is a boardgame group that meets on Thursday nights in Culver City. And it is cool European designer board games, not lame old chestnuts like Yahtzee or Uno.
posted by markhu at 9:36 PM on November 6, 2006

Give the observatory some time to settle down again;
blogging.la

Do you have a bike ( L.A. may be a car city inland but it is a really a bike city at the coast ) .. go ride along the beach .. always great especially when the weather is in the 80's and 90'a and now when there are less people about.
posted by stuartmm at 10:06 PM on November 6, 2006

Time Out may have ideas for you. They have a print version too. I know this is a great way to find free events in NYC; may be for LA too.
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:11 PM on November 6, 2006

I highly recommend the Museum of Jurassic Technology in Culver City. It's quirky and fascinating, and I don't want to give too much away, but go in wearing your Skeptical Pants. It's a $5 donation, not too shabby for an afternoon of amazement, and if you don't have $5, they'll let you in anyhow.
posted by Bella Sebastian at 10:30 PM on November 6, 2006

It's free. It's killer. It's brought grown men and women to their knees. Prepare to meet your Dune.
Then reward yourself at Sloopy's (3416 Highland, 310-545-1373) with a bacon-guac-cheddarburger and a choc-banana milkshake.
posted by rob511 at 1:32 AM on November 7, 2006

Go to the Venice canals and feed the ducks/geese.

Also waterbirds hang out there and and know that fish like bread. Sometimes if you throw bread into the water, fish swarm to eat the bread and a big waterbird hangs around plucking fish out of the swarm.
posted by MonkeySaltedNuts at 6:52 AM on November 7, 2006

Check out Cheapskatin' LA. Also check out the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. Download their outdoor activities brochure for a list of guided hikes & other activities.
posted by mogget at 9:47 AM on November 7, 2006

Definitely Griffith Park Observatory -- not for the telescopes or planetarium so much as for the view of the city, around back. On a clear night, this is one of my favorite places in the world. Also fun for fans of "Rebel Without a Cause."

Note that the park gates close at 10PM.
posted by Rash at 9:53 AM on November 7, 2006

LACMA is free after 5:00 pm (not counting specially ticketed shows, like the upcoming Magritte exhibition). There's also free jazz on the plaza every Friday night (with a cash bar), and a great (and inexpensive) film series, too.
posted by scody at 10:32 AM on November 7, 2006

I thought the Huntington Gardens were really cool, although you are probably running low on days this year that would be pretty/enjoyable. If you like art there are also galleries on site, including a neat picture of a young George Washington.
posted by radioamy at 10:53 AM on November 7, 2006

Geocaching. But requires a GPS, which you can get for about 100$ - or borrow one from a friend, or, you might already have one in your cell phone.
posted by Monkey0nCrack at 11:40 AM on November 7, 2006