The Central Coast is brimming with culture. For homeschoolers, there are plenty of opportunities to take advantage of these cultural riches at very affordable prices.

Chamber Music Monterey Bay (www.chambermusicmontereybay.org) has a wonderful program designed for students in grades 4-12 called "Kids Up Front and Free." Purchase a full-price adult ticket ($29) and receive a children's ticket for free. They reserve the first three rows of the center section for the children and their paid adult companions, so you get a great view of the musicians! Reservations are taken one month prior to the concert date by calling (831) 625-2212. For more information on Chamber Music Monterey Bay’s upcoming concerts at the Sunset Center in Carmel, click here.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium (www.mbayaq.org) offers five free "Homeschool Days" each fall. This opportunity is open to all homeschoolers, whether independent or part of a private ISP or charter. (Monterey County Home Charter School took a group of students in October.) Even if you're a member of the Aquarium and visit regularly, there are additional activities and behind-the-scenes labs offered during Homeschool Days. To learn more, visit www.mbayaq.org and click on “Teachers” and then “School Programs” to find a link to their application. Space fills up quickly, so sign up early.

The Seymour Marine Discovery Center (seymourcenter.ucsc.edu) at Long Marine Laboratory in Santa Cruz is a wonderful little working marine laboratory with several hands-on exhibits and demon- strations throughout the day. A tour of the grounds includes an up-close view of a full-size skeleton of a Blue Whale named “Ms. Blue.” Because of the smaller crowds, volunteers are really able to interact one on one with the children and answer questions. Admission is a bargain at anytime: $6 for adults and $4 for children (ages 4-16), seniors, and students with ID. They also offer free admission the first Tuesday of every month.

The Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History (www.pgmuseum.org) offers free admission all the time but you can make a small donation to help support the museum, if you choose. With our rainy season approaching, this would be a great place to take the kids for the morning! There are permanent displays of native plants, animals, geology and aboriginal populations of Monterey County. There are also special temporary exhibits throughout the year. Last month, we attended a special showing of live big cats that was offered at Chautauqua Hall in conjunction with their current “Wild Cats of the World” exhibit.

The National Steinbeck Center in Salinas (www.steinbeck.org) is a Central Coast treasure for lessons in literature, local history, agriculture and art. Homeschooled families can take advantage of the center’s free field trip policy for Monterey County schools by simply calling their education department (775-4739) and booking a self-guided tour. With many interactive exhibits, the National Steinbeck Center provides age appropriate activities for students in elementary through high school.

If you're studying California History, you truly can't beat our own backyard! Many of the historic sites in Monterey offer free tours. Monetery donations and the sale of items in their gift shops support children's educational programs. The Pacific House Museum and the Maritime Museum (www.montereyhistory.org/maritime_museum.htm), both located near Monterey’s Custom House Plaza, are two of our favorites. For a list of historic buildings in downtown Monterey, visit www.historicmonterey.org.

Many other museums, zoos, and other areas of interest offer a free or discounted admission day once a month or more. Some local and Bay Area locations are MY Museum (Monterey), Monterey Museum of Art (Monterey), Happy Hollow (San Jose), The Tech Museum of Innovation (San Jose), San Francisco Zoo, de Young Museum (San Francisco), and many more. Check out MontereyBayHomeschoolResource in Yahoo! Groups - (you will need to create a user ID and join the group if you're not yet a member) to view the monthly calendar for all of the free or discounted dates and locations.

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