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Cheap fun things to do with visitors
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Published: July 8, 2011 Updated: March 27, 2013 10:48 a.m.
Isn't it nice living in a place that people want to visit from all over the world?
We're both blessed and cursed with out-of-town visitors all year long, and it can get really pricey really fast.
Here's a list of cheap or free fun things you can do with your guests!
If you have any suggestions that I didn't list, post them at the bottom.
Orange County and everywhere
- OC: Hiking and biking program schedule in Orange County
- OC: Ride your bike on a beach bike path
- OC: Ride your mountain bike on easy or hard trails
- OC: Take your dog to one of the 14 dog parks in O.C.
- OC: Events listing at all OC regional parks
- OC: Deals and discounts at Chuck E. Cheese
- OC: Kids eat free at participating Marie Callendars on Tuesdays and Saturdays
- OC: Have a scavenger hunt at the mall
- Everywhere: Museums on Us program lets you in free with a Bank of America card
ALISO VIEJO:
- Free concerts and movies in the park this summer
- $1 summer family film festival Tuesdays and Wednesdays
ANAHEIM
- See the Disneyland fireworks free from Downtown Disney
- Tour Angel Stadium for $3 adults, $2 for kids
- $1 summer family film festival Tuesdays and Wednesdays
- Play 9-hole disc golf or horseshoes at Twila Reid Park free
- Use the playground and see the permanent U.S. Navy Cougar jet fighter plane installed at Boysen Park
- Test your fitness level at the fitness course at Maxwell Park
- Anaheim Hills: Hike the trails at 103-acre Deer Canyon Park Preserve
- Stroll a nature trail at Pelanconi Park
- G-rated movies for $2.50 at GardenWalk UltraStar Theater
- Kids summer movie series at UltraStar Theater GardenWalk $5 for 5 movies
BUENA PARK
- Buena Park: Free parks and playground program for kids
- Swim for $1 at municipal pool and the Larwin Spray Pool is free
- Take the pooch to the dog park at George Bellis Park
- Enjoy the Peak Skate Park but bring your helmet and pads
BREA
- Visit Historic Olinda Museum and Park
- Swim at the Municipal Plunge for $2
- Free scuba diving lesson every third Saturday at Sport Chalet
- $1 summer family film festival Tuesdays and Wednesdays
CORONA DEL MAR
COSTA MESA
- Orange County Market Place get in free coupon
- Free miniature train rides every third weekend of the month
- Free performing arts tours in Costa Mesa
- Put the kids in the free playland while you shop at IKEA
- Free Movie Mondays this summer at the performing arts center
- $1 summer family film festival Tuesdays and Wednesdays
CYPRESS
DANA POINT
- Free kids fishing clinic Sundays at Dana Wharf
- Free Baby Beach swimming, picnicking and parking at Dana Harbor
FULLERTON
- Hike the easy Bud Turner trail to Laguna Lake Park
- Picnic or hike in the Laguna Lake Park
- Walk that dog at the Fullerton Pooch Park
- Visit the free Fullerton Arboretum gardens
GARDEN GROVE
- Free tours of the Crystal Cathedral and grounds
- $1 summer family film festival Tuesdays and Wednesdays
HUNTINGTON BEACH:
- Visit the Huntington Beach Pier for free
- Free art walks on the third Wednesday of the month
- Free Surf City shuttle bus Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays in the summer
- Free outdoor concerts in the park on Sundays through 9/4
- Take your pooch to the Huntington Dog Beach
- Visit the free 18-acre Shipley Nature Center
- Play disc golf for $1-$2
- Saturday Sunrise Car Cruisers
- Central Park Adventure Playground $3 per kid, adults free
- Go for a stroll on the boardwalk at the Bolsa Chica wetlands
- Visit the dog park (the park, not the beach)
- Visit Huntington and Talbert lakes
- Visit the Central Park batting cages ($1 per token)
- See a $3 movie in Huntington Beach (and the hot dogs are only a buck!) And only $1 on Tuesdays.
- Visit the Newland House Museum historic site $2 adults, kids $1
- Swim at the City Gym
- Free scuba diving lesson every third Saturday at Sport Chalet
IRVINE
- Take your kids to the free Turtle Rock Nature Center
- See the free gardens at the UCI Arboretum Tuesday through Saturday
- See a movie for two bucks ($1 on Tuesdays)
- Go up in the free balloon at the Great Park
- Free scuba diving lesson every third Saturday at Sport Chalet
LA HABRA
LA MIRADA
LAGUNA BEACH
- Fabulous Main Beach is a treat (free street parking but you have to hunt for it)
- Beautiful Crescent Beach is hidden from view (free street parking if you hunt for it)
- Visit rescued seals and sea lions at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center
- Swim at Laguna High School public pool for $2
LAKE FOREST
- Etnies free public skatepark (first time visitors pay $5 for license)
- Lake Forest: Take a walk through the scenic Nature Park
- Tour Heritage Hill Historical Park free
- Free scuba diving lesson every third Saturday at Sport Chalet
- $1 summer family film festival Tuesdays and Wednesdays
LONG BEACH
- Long Beach Visit historic Rancho Los Alamitos for free
- How to get a free aquarium ticket
- Long Beach: Play free disc golf on 18-hole course at El Dorado Park
- Long Beach: Free movies on the beach in July and August
- Long Beach: Take an Aqualink boat ride for $5
- Long Beach: Take the Aquabus around the harbor for only $1
- Long Beach: Museum of Latin American Art is free on third Sundays of the month
- Swimming at Millikan High School pool $2.50 adults, $1.50 kids
- Free swimming at Will J. Reid Scout Park until Aug. 27
LOS ALAMITOS
- Los Alamitos: Play tennis for free at Laurel Park
- Los Alamitos: Free swimming for kids adults pay $4
LOS ANGELES
- La Brea Tar Pits is free every first Tuesday of the month
- Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) Kids are always free and can bring one adult if you join the free kids club
- Los Angeles beautiful Arboretum botanical gardens is free on the third Tuesday each month
- World-famous Getty Museum is free every day ($15 parking)
- Free drawing lessons every other Sunday at the Getty ($15 pkg)
- California Science Center museum is always free ($8 parking or look for a meter)
- California African American Museum free Sundays events
- Free Let's Make A Deal TV show tapings
MISSION VIEJO
- Mission Viejo: Get buff on free outdoor workout equipment in Oso Viejo Park
- Mission Viejo: Stroll or bike 5.5 miles of the Oso Creek Trail (PDF downloads slowly)
- Montenoso and Sierra pool, gym and water park $8 adults, $4 kids day rate
NEWPORT BEACH
- Visit the Muth Interpretive Center for free at the Newport Back Bay
- Beachfront playground with metered parking at Balboa Beach, bring quarters
- Newport Beach: Stroll this walking trail in Bonita Canyon
- Newport Beach: Free movies at the beach at Newport Dunes (parking fee)
- Ride the historic Balboa Island Ferry for $1
- Free admission on second Sundays to Orange County Museum of Art
OCEANSIDE
ORANGE
- Go to the Orange County Zoo at Irvine Park ($2 admission, $3 weekdays, $5 weekends to drive into the park
- Swim at Hart Park Pool $2.50 until Labor Day
PLACENTIA
- Go biking or fishing at the free Tri-City Park shared by Placentia, Brea and Fullerton
- Free movies in the park on Friday nights until Aug. 26
- Free concerts in the park until Aug. 18
PORTOLA HILLS
RANCHO PALOS VERDES
SAN CLEMENTE
- Take a hike! Here's a trails and bikeways map of the city
- Visit North Beach Trail in San Clemente
- Swim at the Ole Hansen Beach Club pool, under 6 free, others $2-$5.
- Island Nights at the Ole Hansen Beach Club pool $4 kids, $5 adults
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO:
- Take a guided tour of the city's sights, $3 to $5 per person
- Map of the hiking, biking and horse trails in the city
SAN PEDRO
- Visit the Los Angeles Maritime Museum for free
- Visit the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium for free
- Ride a restored Pacific Red Car trolley ($1 adults, 6 and under free)
- Visit the Marine Mammal Care Center in San Pedro for free
SANTA ANA
- Santa Ana: See a flick at MainPlace for $2.50 ($1 on Tuesdays)
- Old Orange County Courthouse is free to visit
- Bowers Museum is free the first Sunday of every month
- Visit the Santa Ana Artists Village
SEAL BEACH
- Wednesday free concerts at the pier until Aug. 31
- Visit the beach and pier (free street parking but don't go overtime)
TUSTIN
WESTMINSTER
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