15 cheap rainy day things to do in Southern California

Yes, rain is in the forecast this week. Again. You can sit home and stare at the tube. Or you can find your umbrella, get out anyway, and do something.

Here are our tips for things to do that won’t break the bank.

The Brand Library and Art Center

You’ve possibly never heard of this Moorish-inspired 1904 historic building and its collections of arts and music, but it’s well worth a visit. Check out the calendar of free films and concerts. Admission and parking are free. Closed Sundays and Mondays. 1601 West Mountain St., Glendale brandlibrary.org/

The Broad

This fun contemporary art museum in downtown L.A., pronounced “The Brode,” showcases the collection of the late developer Eli Broad, and includes unique exhibits, including Yayoi Kusama’s “ Infinity Mirrored Room — The Souls of Millions of Light Years Away.” The general collection is free every day, but it’s strongly suggested that you get advance tickets to avoid standing in line for walk-ins. The museum releases some same-day tickets daily, so check online early. Some changing exhibits charge fees, Paid parking unless you can nab street parking. 221 S Grand Ave., Los Angeles. thebroad.org

California Science Center

Ostensibly a kids’ museum, this place is fascinating to adults, too. It’s free to visit, though parking costs $15. An exhibit on Leonardo da Vinci’s inventions opens March 2. Some attractions here cost extra, including the IMAX theater. 700 Exposition Park Drive, Los Angeles. ]californiasciencecenter.org

The Cerritos Library

It’s hard to even describe this amazing space, with its 15,000-gallon saltwater aquarium at the entrance. Kids are enthralled by their special section, which includes a 40-foot-high replica Tyrannosaurus Rex fossil, a walk-in lighthouse, rainforest and more. The entire place is like an ode to books and learning. There’s even a 2,500-square-foot Teen Studio just for teens. No adults allowed. Entry and parking are free, but you must have a Cerritoslibrary card to get free Wi-Fi. Anyone can visit the library, but only Cerritos residents or people who work or go to school there can get a free borrowing card. Open every day except holidays. 18025 Bloomfield Ave.,Cerritos, cerritoslibrary.us

Getty Center

You will need an umbrella to get around the campus of the world’s richest art museum when it’s raining, but parking is underground and there’s a covered tram to the top. The museum is free, but parking costs $15-20. This white complex sits atop a hill and offers sweeping views, ahem, when it’s not raining. In a storm, you’ll be stuck with viewing some of the world’s most famous works of art, including Van Gogh’s Irises. Picnics are allowed, so bring your lunch and nonalcoholic drinks. Admission to the Getty is free, but timed admission tickets must (temporarily) be ordered online. Active and veteran U.S. military with ID park free. Closed Mondays. 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles Getty.edu

Getty Villa Museum

Just a stone’s throw from the ocean, this replica of a Vesuvius country house is gorgeous, with mosaic floors, art and architecture. It houses the Getty museum’s collection of old and rare Greek and Roman antiquities. It’s modeled after the Villa dei Papiri that was buried by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. 79, which destroyed Pompeii. Admission is free, but timed admission tickets must be ordered online. Parking costs $20, or $15 after 3 p.m.Note that you can visit both the Getty Villa and the main Getty complex in Brentwood with one parking fee on the same day. Open daily except Tuesdays. 17985 Pacific Coast Highway, Pacific Palisades. getty.edu/visit/villa

Griffith Park Observatory

This landmark building from 1935 is free to visit, and has exhibits such as an Egyptian sundial and a Foucault pendulum.It’s worth spend $10 on a planetarium show. The observatory has been a location for many movies. On clear days, there’s hiking and great views. Closed on Mondays. Note that parking is expensive. 2800 East Observatory Road, Los Angeles. griffithobservatory.org

Hilbert Museum of California Art

This newly expanded museum is reopening to the public on Feb. 23. With free admission, it’s located in Old Town Orange, near Chapman University, with which it’s affiliated. There’s a nice collection of California art, emphasizing scene painting and occasional Disney ties. Open Tuesdays-Saturdays. (online reservations are recommended.) Parking on the street or in the city lot in back. 167 N Atchison St, Orange hilbertmuseum.com

Los Angeles County Museum of Art

The largest art museum complex on the West Coast, located on the Miracle Mile of Wilshire Boulevard, LACMA has something for everyone. Want to get in for free? Los Angeles County residents get in free every day after 3 p.m. and everyone is free on the second Tuesday of the month. Also, note that children 17 and under can sign up for the NexGen program, enabling them to get in free and bring one person with them. Paid parking is nearby. 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles lacma.org

Museum of Contemporary Art

MOCA is free to visit, with advance tickets available online. Perhaps the highlight is the striking sandstone building across from Walt Disney Concert Hall that was designed by famed architect Arata Isozaki.(Also the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, which is a former police car warehouseat 152 N. Central Ave. in Little Tokyo that was renovated by Frank Gehry. Parking is $9 or get lucky and find street parking. Paid parking available. 250 Grand Ave.Los Angeles. moca.org/visit

Museum of the San Fernando Valley

On Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, pay a visit to this museum at the historic Rancho Cordillera del Norte in Northridge. Admission and parking are free. The museum has rotating exhibits and events. Previous exhibits have included the history of author Edgar Rice Burroughs, author of the Tarzan series, who founded the city of Tarzana and the history of “The Hollywood Shorties,” who were actors and stuntmen little people ranging in height from 3-foot-5 to 4-foot-9 who played baseball for charity. 18904 Nordhoff St., Northridge. 818-347-9665. themuseumsfvnow.org

The Nethercutt Museum

How about a unique car museum in the San Fernando Valley dedicated to fine automobiles? See 130 classic cars in the main museum. The Nethercutt is open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. It’s free to visit the museum, or you can pay $10 for a guided tour of the special collection building with even more cars, plus rare musical instruments and antique furniture (but you must reserve in advance.) Parking is free. 15151 Bledsoe St., Sylmar, nethercuttcollection.org

Orange County Museum of Art

Orange County’s newest art museum opened in October 2022 after a long construction period, and it’s worth taking a look — especially because it’s free. Find it at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, near the concert halls. The building was designed by noted architect Thom Mayne of Morphosis Studios. The collection includes some 4,500 pieces on rotating exhibit. Closed Mondays. No tickets or reservations required. Lots of free kids events. 3333 Avenue of the Arts, Costa Mesa. Paid parking nearby. ocma.art

Point Vicente Interpretive Center

Open every day, this small museum is not only interesting but also located on a gorgeous public point perfect for whale watching. It explores the human and natural history of the area. 31501 Palos Verdes Drive West, Rancho Palos Verdes. rpvca.gov/1204/Visit-Point-Vicente-Interpretive-Center

See an early movie

Get out of the house and into a theater for a cheap matinee showing. Daytime shows are nearly always cheaper, especially on Tuesdays, when many chains offer deals. At this writing, AMC Theatres are offering $5 tickets for all regular showings on Tuesdays, if you’re a Stubs loyalty member (free to join). And Regency Theatres offers $7.50 tickets on Tuesdays. The Starlight Theatres Lakewood Center offers $5 movies on Tuesdays and Thursdays all day, plus on Sundays before 6 p.m, It also shows $5 vintage classics like “Bonnie and Clyde” and “Gone With the Wind.” The Terra Vista in Rancho Cucamonga offers the same deal. The Dos Lagos Luxury Theatre in Coronaoffers the same classics for $7. Oh, and did I mention that some Regal theaters offer $2 kids movies on Saturday mornings? No, you don’t have to be a kid to see them. Hey, I like “Shrek” and “Harry Potter” too.