FREE and ALMOST FREE stuff to do.
Chol HaMoed Sukkos Family Outings
By Rochel Chana Shenker
One of the many nice things about Chol HaMoed Sukkos landing later in October is the greater possibility of seeing autumn foliage in Southern California. The following are some day trip suggestions for places where you might see the leaves turning orange, red and yellow as well as an opportunity to be outside enjoying the cooler air and the beautiful world that Hashem created for us.
- Number one is always Oak Glen. If you have never been, you are in for a treat. It’s about 1 ½ hrs. away and easy to get to (10 East to ex. 85 Oak Glen Rd.). Basically, it’s a small town on a hill above Yucaipa. Once you’re up in the hills you’ll see apple orchard shops and farms. Stop at Snowline Orchards for apples, and then go to Los Rios Rancho for more apples and pears. There is also a petting zoo and horse drawn wagon ride at the ranch. Next to Los Rios is a The Wildlands Conservancy where you only need a hat, sneakers, and water to hike through pine and oak forests, chaparrals, around a pond and along a creek observing the birds and other wildlife, and hopefully seeing some fall color. Across the street Los Rios has a corn maze which is actually a giant maze that you can walk through and search for pictures or numbers hidden in the maze. Los Rios does have apple picking (permitted on Chol HaMoed if you are only picking what you will use for the chag) but the good apples are for sale in the store.
- Santa Barbara Botanic Gardens. Showcasing eleven different ecosystems, this is one of the nicest overall gardens in Southern California (San Diego Botanic Garden is probably the best). Highlights include the redwood forest, wooded dell, and meadow flowers. Reservations are apparently required. (If you are thinking of also visiting the zoo, find out about purchasing tickets in advance for earlier in the day because the zoo closes for special seasonal programming.) On your way home from SB, you can stop at Herzog’s Tierra Sur in Oxnard for dinner in their sukkah (make reservations now.)https://santabarbaraca.com/businesses/santa-barbara-botanic-garden/
- Huntington Library and Gardens. You may want to try to go in November, when the ginkgo, sweetgum, and Japanese maple are at their peak autumn colors. But ifthe chag is your only time off, certainly Huntington is beautiful and worth the visit. The Japanese Shoya House, built around 1700, is open for touring. The Huntington is closed on Tuesday.https://huntington.org/japanese-garden/shoya-house
- Eaton Canyon (Falls).Up in Pasadena, Eaton Canyon is a very popular hiking area, and a fancy nature center with living creatures, historical exhibits, and a discovery center for children. Opportunities to learn about nature indoors and on the trails. Closed on Mondays.https://www.ecnca.org/nature-center/
- The LA Arboretum.Self-guided fall color walks with a map of the gardens’ autumn foliage can offer you a glimpse of what happens all over New England at this time of year. While the best time to see full fall color is in November, if your only days off are Chol HaMoed, this huge garden is a delight, and you are bound to see some leaves turning the fiery hues of the season.In Arcadia, CA (next to Pasadenahttps://arboretum.org/fall-color-self-guided-walks/).
By Rochel Chana Shenker 4/18/24
Here are a few suggestions for the big day trip, followed by several close-to-home ideas if you want to get out and do something early in the day on Friday and Sunday…
Road Trip:
Regarding food: Our standard Pesach picnic (usually in the car) lunch is egg salad, tuna salad, potato crackers, snacks, water (and juice boxes). I get a couple plastic food containers and make the tuna salad and egg salad to eat with the potato crackers. Bring lots of napkins, and even a plastic tablecloth if there’s a table wherever you are.
Destinations:
If you haven’t been to Sea World in a while, they have a lot of rides, and many different sea creatures and animals to observe including beluga whales and penguins. Sea World is currently offering discount tickets if you purchase in advance, but there is also a AAA discount online if you have membership.
Legoland is $79/tickets if you buy online in advance, apparently. Be on the look-out for group rate tickets within the community.
Aquarium of the Pacific Discount tickets may available at Ralphs markets and if you purchase online through AAA. $45 Children 3 to 11 $30
Vasquez Rocks is a perennial favorite and it’s free! Bring your picnic and good outdoor shoes! Check out the small displays at the nature center, open 8:30am to 4:30pm.
El Dorado Nature Center in Long Beach is a nice springtime excursion with easy trails through the woods, including a short, paved path for strollers/wheelchairs. The pond is great for birdwatching and turtle watching.
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HILLYGRAM FREE AND ALMOS FREE LISTINGS
“Leonardo daVinci: Inventor. Artist. Dreamer.” At the Science Center. Over a dozen full scale models of daVinci’s inventions on display. It looks like it would be a good idea to buy tickets in advance and reserve a time, just so you know you’ll be able to see the exhibit when you plan to. This exhibit is not free, but the rest of the Science Center is.
In Griffith Park:
LA Zoo and Botanical Gardens: A nice day outside with regularly scheduled programs including the World of Birds Show at 12pm.
Autry Museum of the West: has a special deal in April, children under 13 get in free. If you haven’t been to this museum before, it has an amazing collection of art featuring the American West, a noteworthy collection of famous and vintage firearms, and a wonderful current exhibit called California Road Trip showcasing beautiful photographs from around the state.
Merry-go-round and Griffith Park &Southern (miniature) Railroad—both fun rides in the park. The merry-go-round is closed on weekdays in the spring (so, open Sunday.)
Travel Townat the far end of Griffith Park is free and fun to explore if you like old traincars.
Griffith Observatory: is off Los Feliz Blvd, so please look up directions to get there if you haven’t been before. Open 12pm T-Fri, 10am Sunday. Parking can be a challenge. Admission is free.
Chag Kosher v’Somayach!
Rochel Chana Shenker
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LA BREA TAR PITS
5801 Wilshire Blvd.,
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(213) 763-3499
Website
OPENING HOURS
9:30 am–5 pm
OPEN DAYS
FREE DAYS FOR LA RESIDENCE
Monday through Friday 3pm to 5pm
NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM AT USC next to the LA COLOSSEUM
Advanced, online tickets are highly recommended to ensure entry into the Museum and for special ticketed experiences.
- Admission tickets require a date selection.
- L.A. County Residents get free Museum Admission from 3–5 pm Monday through Friday. Learn more about Museum Free Hours and Admission here. Tickets are available onsite only at the Natural History Museum ticket windows.
- Members, click on the button below to be taken to your Member Portal where you can select your tickets.
- Tickets are currently available through May 30, 2023
Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach is celebrating their 25th anniversary this year
Discount tickets are available at Ralphs markets and if you purchase online through AAA.
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CALIFORNIA SCIENCE CENTER
California Science Center | The California Science Center
Welcome to the California Science Center! Our permanent galleries, including space shuttle Endeavour, are FREE and do not require a reservation.*
To visit our IMAX Theater we recommend you purchase tickets online before your visit. Weekdays after 2:00 PM are typically quieter times to visit. September, October, January, and February are often less busy times of the year.
* Reservations are required for groups of 15 or more. Please call (213) 744-2019.
700 Exposition Park Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90037
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Autry Museum of the American West
4700 Western Heritage Way
Los Angeles, CA 90027
CONTACT
(323) 667-2000
Website
OPENING HOURS
Tue–Fri 10 am–4 pm
Sat, Sun 10 am–5 pm
Closed Mon
FREE THE SECOND TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH
OPEN DAYS
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
The Autry is a museum dedicated to exploring and sharing the stories, experiences, and perceptions of the diverse peoples of the American West, connecting the past to the present to inspire our shared future. The museum presents a wide range of exhibitions and public programs—including lectures, film, theatre, festivals, family events, and music—and performs scholarship, research, and educational outreach. The Autry’s collection of more than 500,000 pieces of art and artifacts includes the Southwest Museum of the American Indian Collection, one of the largest and most significant of Native American materials in the United States.
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Cayton Children’s Museum
NOTE: ONLY OPEN SUNDAYS UNTIL 2PM!!! ClOSED TUE AND WED CHOL HAMOED
THIS MUSEUM IS NO LONGER FREE but it is a great time for YOUNGER CHILDREN
ages 3 to 10 years old.
395 Santa Monica Place, #374
Santa Monica, CA 90401
LOCATED ON LEVEL 3
PARKING IS IN A PUBLICK PARKING GARAGE EASY TO PARK AND GET INTO THE MUSEUM.
GENERAL PUBLIC
Wed–Sun 10AM–5PM
https://www.caytonmuseum.org/visit
MALIBU PIER (DUE TO PALISADES FIRES PCH FROM SANTA MONICA IS CLOSED)
Take an iconic drive up the California Coast to the world-famous Malibu beaches.
The Malibu pier is a great place to walk out over the ocean and get a great view of malibu coast line.
The pier is also a great place to see the world-famous Malibu Surfrider beach.
TIP: the PITA BU is directly across the street from the Malibu pier so you can have lunch while in Malibu.
Chabad of Malibu is next to the PITA BU but if you want to stay for Mincha you may want to call first to check if there
will be a minyan. 11am to 8pm and Fridays 11AM to 2pm NOTE: WEEK OF OCT 2nd to 10 IS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
OF SURFING IT COULD BE A BIT CROWDED IN THE AREA. GREAT CHANCE TO SEE WOLD CLASS SURFING AND IT IS FREE TO
GO ON BEACH AND WATCH.
Weekdays is a great time to take this trip as traffic is not bad.
NOTE: MALIBU HILLS HAVE GREAT HIKING TRAILS.
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See spacecraft that has literally been to the moon and back. The California Science Center has spacecraft on display that have
flown with the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo missions.
The free permanent and hands-on exhibits tell of life
sciences and human innovation. The newest,
Ecosystems Experience, cost $165 million to make and
dedicates 11 galleries of immersive environments to the
topic. In one gallery, stand eye-to-eye with horn sharks,
sea bass, and wolf eels in a 24-foot-long transparent
tunnel to see a replicated coastal kelp forest. Download
the free Ecosystems application on iTunes beforehand.
Discovery rooms designed for children seven and
younger will let youngsters romp around in the name of
science. Admission to the science center is free
(some traveling exhibitions and the IMAX Theater charge a fee).
California Science Center: Through hands-on experiences in the galleries
at the California Science Center, you’ll learn about human inventions and
innovations, the processes of living things and more. Opening October 30, 2012, the Space Shuttle Endeavor exhibit is also free, but advance, timed tickets are required, and a $2 per ticket service fee applies.
Reserve your tickets online to see
Space Shuttle Endeavour – on display in the Science Center’s Samuel Oschin Pavilion. Free general admission includes over 100 hands-on science exhibits in immersive environments. Don’t forget to experience a film in the IMAX Theater, featuring LA’s largest screen. (IMAX is a paid attraction.)
Free
Hours of Operation
Mon – Sun: 10 am – 5 pm
Griffith Park Observatory-
Overlooking the scenic Hollywood Hills this beautiful museum offers many exhibits on the universe and our solar system they also have a couple exciting shows in the planetarium. Southern California’s gateway to the cosmos! Visitors can look through
telescopes, explore exhibits, see live shows in the Samuel Oschin Planetarium, and
enjoy spectacular views of Los Angeles and the Hollywood Sign.
2800 E Observatory Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90027 (213) 473-0800
Admission to the building, grounds, and parking is always FREE.
Tuesday – Friday, 12:00 Noon – 10:00 p.m.
Saturday – Sunday, 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Nighttime at Griffith Observatory will show you what’s beyond L.A.’s
smoggy chokehold. Use a telescope to glimpse the stars, the
moons of Jupiter, and the craters of the moon. The sweeping
view you’ll get of Los Angeles from the observatory’s hilly perch
is an added bonus. Admission is free except for the $3-7 planetarium show.
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Art
Admission to the J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Center in Los Angeles and the Getty Villa in Malibu is always free. View pre-20th century European paintings, sculpture,
drawings, and manuscripts, and walk among contemporary sculpture throughout the Getty Center.
At the Getty Villa galleries are arranged by themes and portray the Trojan War and gods and goddesses, with Greek, Roman, and Etruscan artifacts dating to 6500 B.C. Parking costs $15 per car but is free after 5 p.m.
Get close to the Hollywood sign: Feeling uninspired? Try changing your
perspective on a familiar sight. While the Hollywood sign’s grounds are
barred from public access, you can walk or drive near it to get great angles for photos. From Franklin Avenue in Hollywood, go north on Beachwood Drive; turn left at Ledgewood Drive and twist and wind uphill. Then go right at the three-way intersection onto Deronda Drive.
The Griffith Observatory is a facility in Los Angeles, California, sitting on the south-facing slope of Mount Hollywood in Los Angeles’ Griffith Park. It commands a view of the Los Angeles Basin, including Downtown Los Angeles to the southeast, Hollywood to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest. Wikipedia
| Wednesday | 12–10PM |
| Thursday | 12–10PM |
| Friday | 12–10PM |
| Saturday | 10AM–10PM |
| Sunday | 10AM–10PM |
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 12–10PM |
Fowler Museum at UCLA: Exhibitions from Africa, Asia, the Pacific and the Americas, past and present, lend a unique and intriguing atmosphere to Fowler Museum events.
The Fowler Museum at UCLA explores art and culture from Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and the Americas, past and present. Visit www.fowler.ucla.edu for a calendar of events and information on holding events at the museum.
Free
Hours of Operation
Wed, Fri – Sun: 12 pm – 5 pm
Thu: 12 pm – 8 pm
Address:
North Campus, UCLA
Los Angeles, CA90095
Phone:
1 (310) 825-4361
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Getty Villa: This magnificent Malibu property includes an educational center and museum dedicated to the study of the arts and cultures of ancient Greece, Rome and Etruria.
The Annenberg Space for Photography is a cultural destination dedicated to the exhibition of both digital and print photography in an intimate environment.
Free
Hours of Operation
Wed-Fri, Sun: 11 am – 6 pm
Address:
2000 Avenue of the Stars
Los Angeles, CA90067
Phone:
1 (213) 403-3000
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The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising
Collection of more than 10,000 costumes, accessories and textiles from the 18th century
through the present day, includes film and theater costumes. Annually, costumes from
previous year’s best films and sampling of Academy Award nominated costumes are featured.
Free
Hours of Operation
Mon – Sat: 10 am – 4 pm
Address:
919 S. Grand Ave.
Los Angeles, CA90015
Phone:
1 (213) 624-1200
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Runyon Canyon
Monday – Friday: Dawn to Dusk
Saturday – Sunday: Dawn to Dusk
Great place to do Tashlich. Huge duck pond. Japanese garden. Many play areas and picnic areas.
Travel Town Museum
Travel Town Museum will now be open 10am-5pm six days a week (closed Wednesdays). Face coverings required for unvaccinated visitors.
No Reservations to visit are needed.
The Gallery and Depot will remain closed until further notice.
We are currently taking reservations for picnic areas, however our party cars remain closed.
Feel free to give us a call at (323) 662-5874 if you have any questions.
ADMISSION AND PARKING
Travel Town Museum gladly accepts donations for admission. Sufficient parking is available on the Museum premises during operational hours.
EDITORS NOTE: This is a great FREE destination with kids. 1 1/2 years old to young at heart adults. 2 – 6-year-olds really love this place.
Very interactive hands-on. Kids and adults can climb atop a nice collection of real locomotives. In addition for a small fee there is a small (to scale) train with passenger cars that will take you and your kids around the park.
Train Ride Fares
- Adults – $3.50
- Children (17 and under) – $3.00
- Seniors (over 60) – $2.75
- Group (20+ tickets) – $2.75 each (min $55.00)
- T-6 Simulator Ride at Southern Railroad (all ages) – $4.00
VISIT OUR BEACHES
The Santa Monica Pier
From I-10 West
exit 1-A to 4th & 5th streets, stay in the right lane to make a right on 4th Street at the light. Make the first left on Colorado Boulevard and drive straight until you hit Ocean Ave. Turn left onto Ocean Ave. Make a right on Seaside Terrace – this is a small side street after the traffic light onto Pacific Coast Highway. Take the next right on Appian Way – this will take you to Lot 1 North on the other side of the Pier.
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Annenberg Beach House
Annenberg Community Beach House
415 Pacific Coast Highway *
Santa Monica, CA, 90402
*Important: In some navigational systems the address may appear as 415 Palisades Beach Road, Santa Monica, CA. Questions? Call 310-458-4904
PARKING
Parking Rates| April through October | $12/day or $3/hour |
| November through March | $8/day or $3/hour |
- Parking is available year-round on a first come, first served basis.
- When you arrive, note the number of your space and pay at the Park & Pay machines located in each section of the lot.
- The Beach House lot has 14 preferred parking spaces for fuel efficient vehicles and 12 disabled parking spaces.
- Guests displaying a valid Disabled Person placard or license plate, or Senior Beach permit issued by the City of Santa Monica, may park in the Beach House lot at no charge.
- If the Beach House lot is full, additional parking lots 8 & 9 (south) and Will Rogers State Beach (north) are within walking distance. The bike path connects these lots to the Beach House on the ocean side.
Check Santa Monica’s City-Wide Parking Map for updated information about the Beach House parking lot and lots Pacific Coast Highway.
| December – February | 7am – 7pm |
| March – April | 7am – 8pm |
| May – September | 7am – 9pm |
| October – November | 7am – 8 pm |
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WILL ROGERS STATE BEACH
This beach site is located further north of the Pier and Annenberg Beach house.
This is a more “secluded” beach area. Nice area because the shoreline is very close the parking lot.
YOU WILL NOT HAVE WALK MORE THAN 30 FEET to the shoreline from the parking lot.
Decent public restrooms and showers are available.
PCH to Temescal Canyon
TYPE WILL ROGERS STATE BEACH INTO WAZE.
As you approach the intersection at Temescal Canyon get int left lane.
You must pay to enter. Cost depends on the day and time of day.
Handicap cards park for free during the week.
Cost range is $7 to $11 per day.
TIP: When you pay and enter at the gate. turn left, making a U-TURN around the pay station. Drive to the very end of the PARKING LOT.
The parking goes way back and at the end is a large parking area with a large building (lifeguard tower) this area is usually less crowded
than any other section of the beach during the week. If you bring bikes you can catch the bike path here.
