Kristin’s Kickbacks: Free and Inexpensive Summer Ideas

Concerts

● LACMA has several free concerts throughout the summer. Check their website for more details. http://www.lacma.org/

● Free Concerts in the Park in Santa Clarita at Central Park. Saturday nights at 7 p.m. from July 9^th to August 27^th. http://www.santa-clarita.com/arts/concerts/ 27150 Bouquet Canyon Rd., Santa Clarita.

● Free Concerts in Park at Warner Center Park on Sundays from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 5800 Topanga Canyon Blvd, Woodland Hills.

● Jazz at Descanso Gardens. Enjoy live jazz on Thursday evenings from 5:30 to 7 p.m. from June 23-August 25. Concerts are free with admission to the Gardens and free for members. 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge, 91011. (818) 949-4200.

● Thursday night summer concerts at the Autry Museum from 6-9 p.m. July 7-September 1 (across from L.A. Zoo). The taco bar opens at 6 p.m., and the museum and museum store close at 8 p.m. Complimentary dance lessons and a separate dance floor for kids guarantee fun for all! Free for Autry members / $10 for nonmembers. 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles, 90027.

● The Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts-Pasadena is proud to present its 9th annual 50 summer concert series. All concerts are FREE to the public beginning June 22 to August 28, Wednesday through Sunday. Enjoy an evening under the stars at Memorial Park in Old Pasadena while listening to quality entertainment ranging from Grammy winners and nominees, to international touring artists, and local favorites! 323-667-2000. http://www.levittpavilionpasadena.org/

Gardens

● Admission to The Huntington is free to all visitors on the first Thursday of every month with advanced tickets. Get tickets June 1^st for July free day at 9 a.m. Call 800-838-3006 or get tickets online at http://www.huntington.org/default.aspx. 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, 91108. 626-405-2100.

● Los Angeles Arboretum. Free parking. Admission free on the third Tuesday of the month. 301 North Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia, 91007. (626) 821-3222.

● Descanso Gardens in La Canada. Open daily from 9 to 5. Adults $8, Children 5 to 12 $3, under 5 free. Parking is free. They also have musical events, some of which are free with admission. 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge, 91011. (818) 949-4200.

Museums

● Kidspace Museum in Pasadena—free admission on first Tuesday of the month from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. 480 N. Arroyo Boulevard, Pasadena, 91103. (626) 449-9144.

● Noah’s Ark at the Skirball Museum. Free on Thursdays. Advance tickets required. 2701 North Sepulveda Boulevard, Los Angeles, 90049. (310) 440-4500.

● California Science Center. Free admission. Open from 10 to 5. Parking is $8. 700 Exposition Park Drive, Los Angeles, 90037. (323) 724-3623.

● Getty Museum in Brentwood and Getty Villa near Malibu. Admission is free. Villa requires reservations. Parking is $15. Getty Center is at 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles. (310) 440-7300. Getty Villa is at 17985 Pacific Coast Highway, Pacific Palisades. (310) 440-7300.

● Natural History Museum in Exposition Park is free on the first Tuesday of the month. Parking is $8. 900 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles. (213) 763-3466.

● La Brea Tar Pits is also free on the first Tuesday of the month. Parking is $6.00 with Page Museum validation (Page Museum parking lot only), $8.00 without Page Museum validation. Be sure to bring your parking ticket into the museum to receive your validation. 5801 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles. (323) 934-7243.

● LACMA is free on the second Tuesday of the month, as well as Holiday Mondays. Parking is now available in the new 6th Street parking garage, located just east of Fairfax Avenue. The charge is $7 and may be prepaid at all Welcome Centers, with credit cards now accepted. 5905 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles. (323) 857-6000.

● Did you know your children can get a free membership to LACMA? NexGen offers free general admission to anyone 17 and under as well as one accompanying adult. To join, visit the LACMA box office or print the enrollment form and mail it in. Here’s the link for the enrollment form: http://www.lacma.org/programs/pdfs/NewEnglishNexGenForm.pdf

Water Fun

● New pool and aquatic center at Northridge Park. 10058 Reseda Blvd. Northridge, CA 91324. 818-709-7475.

● Aquatic center in Santa Clarita. $4 for adults, $3 for kids, 2 and under free. Family Movie Nights at Aquatic center-- $7 a person, various dates. 20850 Centre Pointe Parkway, Santa Clarita. 661-250-3766.

● Rancho Tapo Community Park—Water & Climbing Playground. 3700 Avenida Simi, Simi Valley (Also known as Lemon Park)

● Beach day! Pack a lunch and spend a day at a local beach.

Other Discounts

● $1 movies on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m. at the Regal Theatres in Simi Valley, Calabasas and Santa Clarita. Older G and PG movies. Check their website for schedule.

● Miniature golfing at Castle Park in Sherman Oaks. Weekend Early Birds $3 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Kids 4 and under free with paid adult.

● Griffith Observatory. Open Tues.-Friday 12 noon to 10, Sat. and Sun. 10-10. Free admission.

Additional Ideas

● L.A. Zoo

● Bowling