Free Thinking: Larchmont050

Neighborly, centrally-located Larchmont is only a stone's throw from Hancock Park, Koreatown, and the Miracle Mile, offering several ways for families to seek out fun for free.

One of LA's oldest communities, Larchmont Village is not most people's idea of budget shopping. Browsing, however, is free, and window shopping in Larchmont is a real delight. Two spots definitely worth a stop are The Little Seed and Flicka, both of which which have fun, enclosed play areas for little ones. Local tots particularly enjoy bonding here on Sundays after the Farmers' Market.

Speaking of the Farmers' Market, Larchmont has a fine one, augmenting the fresh produce and flowers with live music for kids and weekly pet adoptions, featuring puppies and kittens ready and waiting for a passing cuddle.

Not far away is Saint Sophia Cathedral, a feast for the eyes and absolutely worth a (free) wander. The church holds periodic community events.

Local playgrounds range from the very popular Robert Burns Park to Harold A. Henry Park and the large and rolling Pan Pacific Park. The latter has an amphitheater with occasional free entertainment.

The Page Museum, also known as the La Brea Tar Pits, is a short hop from Larchmont and offers free admission on the first Tuesday of each month. The park around it is always free, of course, and includes the life-sized display of an ill-fated woolly mammoth family trying unsuccessfully to rescue one of its kind from the sticky depths. There is plenty of room to run around (though after a while the sulphur smell gets to most people), and during the summer there is a free viewing station open for watching the still-active excavation of the pits.

Next to the tar pits is LACMA, the LA County Museum of Art. LA's hub of art and culture invites the public to explore its collections for free on the second Tuesday of each month, and every night after 5pm visitors may pay what they wish. Even better, though, is the NexGen membership program, which gives kids under the age of 18 free admission with a parent at anytime. Applications are available at the box office. For more free stuff, Target Free Holiday Mondays at the museum offer family programs on Monday holidays like Veterans Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, etc...

Libraries are always a good source of free programs; storytimes, kids' clubs, bilingual programs, puppet shows, films, and homework help are all on hand at the Pio Pico - Koreatown Branch (The Wilshire Branch Library is nearby but closed for construction in 2008.) Free storytimes take place in the village every Saturday morning at Chevalier's Books, too.

A free outing to Larchmont Fire Station is great for younger kids, allowing an up close peek at the inner workings from ringing bells to sliding down poles.

Know of more free stuff, events, and activities for kids and families around Larchmont? Add a comment below, and we'll get right on it!