Balboa Park in San Diego. Free Tuesdays in the Park. Official site
As a public service Park organizations offer free admission on a rotating basis throughout the month.
First Tuesday
- San Diego Model Railroad Museum
- San Diego Natural History Museum
- Reuben H. Fleet Science Center
- Centro Cultural de la Raza
Second Tuesday
- Museum of Photographic Arts
- Museum of San Diego History
- Veteran's Museum and Memorial Center
Third Tuesday
- San Diego Art Institute
- San Diego Museum of Art
- San Diego Museum of Man
- Japanese Friendship Garden
- Mingei International Museum
Fourth Tuesday
- San Diego Aerospace Museum
- San Diego Automotive Museum
- San Diego Hall of Champions
- House of Pacific Relations International Cottages
Fifth Tuesday
- Normal museum prices in effect.
- The Timken Museum of Art is always free.
- Veterans Memorial Center is free, donation requested.
ART MUSEUMS
Recently relocated from its Malibu home to a mountaintop in Brentwood, the multi-billion dollar endowed Getty is drawing rave reviews for its collection of priceless artwork. It's also packing 'em in with turn-away crowds. It easily eclipses the other area art museums such as the Norton Simon in Pasadena; the L.A. County Museum of Art on Wilshire; and the Gene Autry Museum in Griffith Park...all of which charge a hefty admission.
Admission is free but you need a parking reservation. Parking is $5. You can also arrive without a reservation via bus or taxi (or any other mode of transport) but you are not guaranteed admission if the crowds are heavy. Call (310) 440-7300 for parking reservations.
SCIENCE MUSEUMS
The brand-new California Science Center in Exposition Park is another smashing success story. Replacing the aging Museum of Science and Industry, the Science Center is sparkling new with great interactive exhibits to keep kids & their parents busy for hours.
Admission is free but their is a separate charge for the IMAX theater, the Museum of Natural History, and parking. Check out the very historic L.A. Colosseum right next door while you're here used in the 1928 and 1984 Olympic Games.
AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUMS
The premiere auto museum in L.A. is the Petersen Museum on Wilshire
Bl. at Fairfax. A great place and well worth the visit & admission
charge but there are two other, little known, auto museums in the area
that are also extraordinarily significant in the field and absolutely
free.
The Penske (as in Roger) Racing Team Museum is located in the basement of Longo Toyota in El Monte and open Monday through Saturday. Dedicated to the racing legacy of Team Penske, this small museum hold many of the team's Indy winning cars, pace cars, and other momentos of the team's history that includes such drivers as Al Unser, Al Unser, Jr., Rick Mears, Emmerson Fittipaldi, Paul Tracy, Rusty Wallace, and more. This is a must-see stop for any racing fans...especially Indy fans! Located off the 10 (San Bernadino) Freeway at Peck Road North.
The Justice Brothers Racing Museum in Duarte is a magnificent showcase of local and national racing lore as seen through the eyes of Ed Justice, owner of the Justice Brothers Automotive Additives Company and the Justice Brothers Racing Team.
Ed has used a considerable portion of his fortune in assembling this collection that will just blow your socks off. Open Monday through Friday, 9:00-5:00. Take the 210 Freeway east to Irwindale Ave. Go north on Irwindale to Huntington Dr. and turn left to Las Lomas. Make a u-turn at Las Lomas and park in the Justice Brothers parking lot..
AMUSEMENT PARKS
with free admission
Yes, there are still some amusement parks around that don't charge you to walk in the gate...you still have to pay for the rides though.
Balboa
Fun Zone, Newport Beach
Castle
Park, Riverside
And these parks that charges a $1 admission:
STUDIO TOURS
Why pay big bucks to tour a studio when KCET, the local PBS affiliate,
offers free tours of their studios located on Sunset Bl. This is worthy
because before it was KCET it was site of the first movie made in Hollywood.
