More fun things to do during the holiday break that are free or cheap!

Hooray !!! It looks like rain will be leaving us tonight/tomorrow and a little sunshine will be heading our way! ! I can’t wait to take the kids somewhere. They have been going stir crazy and are ready for some exploring. Here are a couple of suggestions that will entertain your kiddos and are either free or not very expensive.I posted this list last year for winter break. It’s an oldie but goodie!
1. The California Science Center. I can’t rave enough about this wonderful place. It is at the top of the list in my book for something to do in So Cal that is fun, different and oh did I mention that it is absolutely FREE!(all you have to do is pay for parking). Pack a lunch or splurge a little and enjoy Mcdonald’s on the first floor of the museum.
2. The Cabrillo Marine Aquarium- While it is is not the Aquarium of the Pacific or Scripps, it is a great little aquarium that has the most amazing staff and some fun exhibits.The Aquarium is absolutely FREE and parking is a $1 an hour
3. The Getty Museum and Getty Villa- These two beautiful jewels sit perched on a hill with a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean. Both are FREE to the public and while many of you may be thinking- no way- my kiddos would be bored out of their mind, think again! My kiddos had a blast on our last visit and they have a fun kids area that your kiddos will never want to leave!
4. Enviromental Nature Center– pack a good pair of shoes and enjoy a fun hike on the center’s trail. Also stay a bit to explore the Center. It’s a fun little place your kiddos will enjoy. Did I mention it’s FREE?
5. Zimmer’s Children’s Museum– In my opinion one of the best children’s museums in the area. The theming is out of this world and not very crowded. While the museum is not free, admission prices are reasonable($5 for kids and $8 for adults) It’s a great alternative to the movies.
6. Hit your local dollar theater. We love the dollar theatre. It’s fun, cheap and the kids have a great time. The best part is that our entire family can catch a flick and get some treats for less than $10! You can’t beat that!
7. Travel Town Museum– a family favorite. This little train museum is pretty darn cool and admission is absolutely free. Make a day at Griffith Park by bringing some toys and have some good old fashioned fun playing in one of the many playgrounds or by taking a little hike.

8. Natural History Museum– Los Angeles. Love Night of the Museum? well you will definitely love the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles. Your family will fall in love with this amazing museum and the best part is that although it does not offer free admission- admission prices are pretty darn reasonable. Children under 5 are free, kids 6-12 are $2 and adults are $9. For less than 20 bucks you can treat your family to an incredible day and learn a thing or two. I love it!
9. Santa Ana Zoo in the afternoon. Did you know the Santa Ana Zoo offers half price off after 2pm? We love the Santa Ana Zoo and it has one of the best play areas. It’s shaded, there is a snack bar and a play area for the tiny tots and another for the older ones. We love sitting in the aviary and having a few moments of peace and quiet. It’s a fun little place that my family loves!

10. La Habra Children’s Museum– This great little museum is a perfect place to let your kiddos romp around. There are hands on exhibits, a preschool playroom, a train car to explore and much much more. Admission is $7 a person and children 2 and under are free of charge.

Snow Days at Kidspace Museum

I love the rain but after tonight, I think I’m ready for some sunshine. I’m already planning on some fun things to do with my family and this is one event that I am adding to my list

We love the Kidspace Museum in Pasadena. It is a great place for kiddos to explore and have a great time. On Sunday, December 26th and Monday December 27th, The Kidspace Children’s Museum will hold Snow Days.Grab your mittens, jacket, and hat and ready to play in real snow at Kidspace. Let the kiddos make snowmen, snowballs, and even snow angels! Learn how snow is formed in nature and enjoy traditional winter crafts including snowflake making, cookie decorating and pine cone ornaments.

Snow day is included with admission to the museum. It would be a perfect after Christmas treat for the entire family!

For additional info head over here.

Guest Post- Free and Not so Free Stuff to do in LA

Christmas and the New Year are pretty much right around the corner and that means winter break for the kiddos! My kiddos have been going batty being locked inside and I can’t wait to play once the skies clear up.

Tonight we have a guest post from the very talented Yvonne, who blogs at YvonneinLA . If you are looking for something to do with the kiddos in the next few days, she has some great ideas.

Free and Not-So-Free Stuff for Kids in LA

It’s raining. It’s pouring. My kids are so bored all they’re doing is whining. We can’t wait to get out of the house and do something fun. I keep thinking of all of the entertaining things to do around LA that are not only fun, but free.

My kids love Travel Town in Griffith Park. There are amazing vintage trains for them to climb and explore and a little train to ride. After a couple of hours at Travel Town, which offers free admission, there are so many options. The LA Zoo is close by and the Autry Museum is next to that (and it’s free on Tuesdays). There’s also the option of hanging around and riding bikes.

Speaking of bikes, there’s mile after mile of bike trails along the California coast that stretches from Torrance to Malibu. When I ride by myself, I start in Santa Monica and ride to Manhattan Beach. It’s beautiful and quiet. If I’m with the kids we go to Will Rogers State Beach and play in the sand and ride some of the trail there.

After that we like to stop at Back on The Beach in Santa Monica. It’s right next to the Annenberg Community Beach House, the historic estate, that William Randolph Hearst built for Marion Davies in the 1920s. Tours are free, but there’s a fee for parking.

One of my favorite free events in LA is The Grove Kids club on Thursdays. Every week from 11 am to 1 pm the Grove, an over the top outdoor mall, puts on either a concert or an activity. I dragged my kids to listen to The Bare Naked Ladies there once and it was fantastic. The Grove is next to the Original Farmers Market where you can find enough food for even the pickiest eaters. And for me, there’s the sale rack at Anthropologie.

I have all of these grand plans do something fun outside when my kids are off, but we’ll probably end up going to the movies or hitting a museum.

The Hammer Museum in Westwood is free on Thursdays and The Getty in Brentwood is free every day. El Capitan theatre in Hollywood is showing Tron for the next couple of weeks. Admission to the movies is not free, but they sure look fun.

I’m not sure what I’ll do with the kids on these long vacations days (my 1st grader also has 3 weeks off for winter break!), but we have a lot of choices.

*When Yvonne isn’t driving her kids around she’s blogging at www.yvonneinla.com, www.yvonnesgfgoodies.com and the soon to be launched www.whitemexicanblog.com