Huntington Library, Art Museum & Botanical Gardens

One of the most stunning sights in the Los Angeles area is currently Henry E. Huntington's bequest. There is a lot to see between the art, the library collections, and the sprawled outdoor spaces, and most of it is better experienced at leisurely pace rather than as part of a frantic day-long rush. It's also not a place that can be readily explored in its entirety in a single day. After paying entrance, you'll be near to the main library, which has more than six million items—many of which are exclusively accessible to researchers—and holds them all (apply for credentials in advance of your visit). However, with regular themed temporary displays, some of its most important possessions, such as a Gutenberg Bible and the first copy of Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales, are always on display in the adjacent exhibition hall.

Nearly as noteworthy is the art collection as the library's. The main house, which was built in 1910, is where a highly significant collection of British art is kept. This collection includes Gainsborough's The Blue Boy with pieces by Blake, Reynolds, and Turner. Additionally, there is a collection of American works in the more recent Scott and Erburu Galleries. Despite all of these cultural splendors, the Huntington's outdoor highlights can be found in its enormous patchwork of botanical gardens, which are undoubtedly the most beautiful in the entire Los Angeles area. The 207 acres of gardens, 120 acres of which are open to the public, are divided into a number of themes: the Children's Garden is a delightful combination of educational features and entertaining diversions; the Japanese garden is quietly, unassumingly magical; the Desert Garden, which is now a century old, is packed with cacti and other succulents. The Garden of Flowing Fragrance, a delicate setting created in part by Chinese artists, is the most recent addition. It has a Chinese motif.

Google Rating: 4.8/5.0

Location: 1151 Oxford RdSan Marino
Contact:www.huntington.org

Phone: 626-405-2100
Price: Weekday: $25; seniors and students $21; children 4–11 $13, under-4s free. Weekend: $29; seniors and students $24; children 4–11 $13, under-4s free. Free to all 1st Thu of month (advance tickets required). Parking free.
Opening hours: Mon, Wed–Sun 10am–5pm; closed Tue