Budget-Friendly Museums in Orange County

As people in Los Angeles snicker or smirk about the so-called homogeneity of Orange County, consider yourself informed that there is a lot more character and spirit in the County than what is portrayed on TV. And you can start with the County's myriad of museums. While individual cities offer up local history and other sentiments, larger museums offer more extensive collections of art and other exhibits to attract a more regional audience.

Whatever your interest, rest assured that these Orange County museums are easy on the wallet and budget.

Bowers Museum of Cultural Art and Bowers Kidseum
While some exhibits constantly change, you can be assured that the more than 130,000 pieces of art the Bowers holds will always be there as part of its permanent collection that the museum has been collecting since 1935. This work spans from Native American to Asian to Orange County pieces. For the kids, there is a Kidseum where educational programs and things to do are available. The Bowers is only steps away from shopping at Mainplace Santa Ana and unique restaurants in downtown.

If you're into labels, the American Association of Museums accredited the Bowers - something the museum can definitely be honored by considering only a a slice (around 5 percent) of museums are accredited by the Association.

Cost: $12 for adults, $9 for children, children under 6 are free; if you are a resident of Santa Ana, admission is free; on the first Sunday of every month, admission is free for everyone
Location: 2002 N. Main Street, in Santa Ana; www.bowers.org

Heritage Museum of Orange County
The Heritage Museum is 12 acres devoted to the preservation of Orange County's history. Unlike the typical museum, this museum consists of several buildings - some of which date back to the 1890s - surrounded by beautiful gardens. Central to all of this is the Kellogg House in which three generations of the Kellogg family lived and today is being used as a display of the Victorian era.

Cost: $5 for adults, $4 for children and seniors, free parking; first Sunday of every month is free to Santa Ana residents
Location: 3101 W. Harvard Street, in Santa Ana; www.heritagemuseumoc.org

Orange County Center for Contemporary Art
Come support local artists at this museum in the heart of the city's Artists Village. A non-profit, the artist-run museum features the work of its members along with artists from different backgrounds and at different points in their career. As an added bonus, within walking distance is a plethora of restaurants (including Gypsy Den and Memphis) in addition to other art spaces (including Grand Central Art Center and the Santa Ana Artwalk).

Cost:Free; free parking on Sundays
Location: 117 N. Sycamore in Santa Ana; www.occca.org

Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace
This is a relatively new museum having only been opened since 1990. As the name suggests, it commemorates Richard Nixon given that he was born in Yorba Linda. The space includes galleries, theaters, a garden and memorial sites. Just wandering the museum and appreciating the design, is enough to make the trip worth it. Oftentimes, the museum holds special events and has many great speakers. Check the calendar often for updated information.

Cost: $10 for adults, $3 for children, free for children 6 and under
Location:8001 Yorba Linda Boulevard, in Yorba Linda; www.nixonlibraryfoundation.org

Children's Museum of La Habra
This is a weekend staple for kids. There are always lively changing exhibits, but permanent fixtures include a model train village, carousel room (there's a real carousel to ride again and again and agin), bus for the kids to play in (featuring a real OCTA bus) and science station among other features.The museum is as fun and bright and loud as anything else meant to be kid-friendly. Don't let the quiet street or almost industrial-zone locale, deter you from visiting.

Cost: $7 or $6 for La Habra residents
Location: 301 S. Euclid Street, in La Habra; www.lahabracity.com

International Surfing Museum
It would seem only fitting that this museum be in Huntington Beach, but you don't have to be a surfer to appreciate the history that is memorialized here. The museums collections are divided into memorabilia, music, surfboards, films and Duke Kahanamoku. If you are a surfing geek, this is the place for you and if you know nothing about the sport, this is also the place for you. It also doesn't hurt that this is near the beach!

Cost: Free
Location: 411 Olive Avenue, in Huntington Beach
www.surfingmuseum.org