What should you do when you're broke in Los Angeles? The universal question asked by...well...almost everyone in Los Angeles, at least from time to time. My new favorite thing to do when I want to get out of my house is to go visit famous houses that were used in movies and television shows. This is by far one of the coolest, least stressful things that I've found to do in LA that makes everyone back home in the south at least semi-jealous. And it's freakin' free. The E.T. House was one of my adventures this past week. Located out in the valley, it's a little bit of a journey, but the drive was actually a nice one with minimal traffic if you go during a weekday, or a weekend afternoon. You get a little bit of a country feel, which is a great change of pace if you're coming in from town. The house itself looks exactly the same as it did in the movie. The yard is a little different with a lot more landscaping than back then, but you'll recognize the driveway immediately. It's on a quiet little cul-de-sac, and, like most of these movie locations, I was literally the only one there, which is a HUGE plus if you've every tried to do anything touristy in Los Angeles. It is a private residence, so you can't go walking up the driveway or up to the house, but you can definitely stand on the sidewalk and snap a few pictures while taking in the sweeping views of the mountains around you. For friends and family visiting from out of town, this is a great "off the beaten path" place to take them. FOR FREE. read more