Free Things to Do in Orange County

Are you looking for some adventure in the OC, but don't feel like spending an arm and a leg to visit pricey amusement parks and/or tourist attractions? Although Orange County isn't exactly known for its price friendliness, this trendy Southern California destination has plenty to offer in terms of entertainment that will fit everyone's budget.

If you are searching for a deal, look no further. Cheap is good, but free is always better. So, here are a few ideas that won't cost you a cent!

Outdoors

With perfect weather nearly all year round, why not explore some of Orange County's natural beauties on your next outing? From San Clemente to Seal Beach, Orange County has over forty miles of scenic coastline. Borrow some gear or bring your own for surfing, skim boarding, boogie boarding or some good old fashioned beach volleyball. If you would rather spend the day relaxing, pack some snacks, a good book and sunscreen to enjoy the day people watching. There is plenty of eye candy available on our local beaches. Once the sun goes down, why not build a bonfire? Just be sure to arrive early enough to grab a fire pit.

One thing to beware of is the cost state beaches and touristy areas often charge visitors in order to park their vehicles. My advice is to park offsite and walk to your destination. You can also research local hotels, many of which offer visitor parking with beach access for a smaller fee. My favorite hotel beach is Treasure Island at the Montage, Laguna Beach. Parking is free after 7:00 pm, and it's just a short walk from the parking garage to the sand. The beach is illuminated at night, making for a great date atmosphere with a breathtaking view.

If you would prefer to leave your fins at home, there are numerous hiking and bike trails throughout the county. The Santa Ana Mountains offer various trails that will provide solace from the hustle and bustle (aka traffic) of popular tourist destinations. For hikers, I recommend trying the Borrego Canyon trail to Red Rock Canyon in Lake Forest. Bikers seem to enjoy the nearby Harding Trucktrail in Modjeska Canyon. For more information on hiking, biking and other outdoor routes through the OC, visit www.trails.com. They have tons of information on path lengths, potential hazards and more.

For an extra special outdoor adventure, try the Great Park in Irvine. The park itself is still under construction-a major task converting the old El Toro Marine Corps Air Station into what the official website of the Great Park deems "the first great metropolitan park of the 21^st century". Perhaps one of the most exciting features of the park is the giant orange hot air balloon. Free rides are available to visitors so they can get a unique perspective of construction as the recreation areas are being created. This is fun and informative for children and adults alike.

Museums & Exhibits

If you are more of an indoor adventurer, you should consider taking advantage of the free admissions many Orange County museums and art exhibits are offering throughout the year. Target Stores are sponsoring free museum days at some of our most popular attractions. The Bowers Museum, for example, has Target Free First Sundays, with a waived admission free on the first Sunday of every month through the end of the year. Missed the first Sunday? Try the Target Free Second Sunday each month at the Orange County Museum of Art. Target's website has a complete schedule of offers.

Laguna Beach offers a free Art Walk on the first Thursday of every month. The First Thursdays Art Walk, as it is appropriately called, is a year round event. Free admission to the popular Sawdust Art Festival and Festival of the Arts are included on select dates. The event also includes free shuttle service and trams to take visitors to and from various galleries that are participating in the event(s).

If you're feeling more spontaneous and don't want to plan your activities around a free admission calendar, try the Irvine Museum or the Fullerton Arboretum, both are free to the public at all times!

Music & Movies

If pop culture is your thing, check with your town's Chamber of Commerce for city sponsored live music events. During the summer especially, most Orange County communities invite bands to perform free for the public. The cities of Orange, Fountain Valley, Buena Park and Garden Grove all have a regular "Concerts in the Park" series. Performances vary from original singer/songwriters to decade cover bands, rock and roll to ethnic tunes, and anything else in between.

Local businesses also have free music events on a regular basis. The International Surfing Museum in Huntington Beach hosts a Surfin' Sunday's Concert on designated Sunday's throughout the year. Not so surprisingly, this series features nothing but surf bands. Downtown Disney in Anaheim invites performers to share their sounds nightly. The first few hours of parking are free and additional time is provided with validation. So, check out these tunes as you window shop and people watch. Be careful taking the kiddies here though. With such a close proximity to Disneyland it may be difficult to keep kids entertained when they would rather be in the park.

Are you more of a movie buff than music hound? Newport Dunes offers free Movies on the Beach Friday and Saturday nights. Visit the Dunes' website for a complete schedule of what's playing. The Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa is hosting a similar event each Monday evening. Grab your lawn chairs and snacks for movie night with your entire family. As a special treat for the kids, take them to any Regal Cinema location throughout the summer. Tuesday and Wednesday mornings the theater chain offers free admission for the little ones, with special screenings of age appropriate G and PG films.

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Whether you live in Orange County or are just visiting, you don't have to break the bank to have a good time. The ideas here are just a small sampling of what this great area has to offer, so take advantage of these fantastic deals while they last!