A free museum! You can get timed entry to Yayoi Kusama's infinity mirrored room if you book an…read moreentry ticket online that includes the infinity room. The infinity room is a room of mirrors and lights that changes colors so it looks like an endless...infinity. If you're not able to get into the infinity room you can still see Kusama's mirrored box, Longing for Eternity. The Broad is a great way to spend a few hours enjoying art.

I would give it a 5/5, but it's very small, so I'm giving it a 4/5…read more That being said, the collection is absolutely outstanding; like, billions of dollars worth of art! There were so many incredible pieces, but the Murakami collection was my favorite. I also loved the Jeff Koons dog, and the huge table was such a fun piece to see! Outside, there are little ice cream and food vendors, which was a cute touch. They also had a fun little "wish on a tree" activity. The gift shop was pretty scarce, but honestly, that's understandable considering how many different artists they have to carry merchandise for. I did find some really cool Calder and Murakami merch, though! Overall, definitely worth visiting if you love art!

Jazz at LACMA is a weekly summer must!…read more There's nothing like enjoying the cool evening air with smooth jazz at LACMA. Every Friday from May through September, live jazz fills the Smidt Welcome Plaza, with a new performer each week (check the website for upcoming acts and food truck/vendor lineups). We felt lucky to visit when Betty "Cool Miss B" Brown received the L.A. Jazz Treasure Award from the Los Angeles Jazz Society. Performances start at 6pm, but I highly recommend arriving at least an hour early, Bring your own food and drinks for a perfect picnic. The earlier you get there, the better chance of snagging a seat in the plaza; otherwise, there's plenty of lawn space and additional tables nearby. Food trucks and vendors are set up just behind the plaza. It was so much fun to see everyone relaxing, dancing, and simply enjoying the music. My son and I were vibing the whole time. Seeing him feel the music was a special memory that took me back to when I first discovered jazz. Definitely core memories unlocked. We can't wait for next week's event! (Just be aware parking is $24, but otherwise, we loved every moment of Jazz at LACMA.)

This is a limited review...first visit to LACMA since the opening of Zumthor's building, 5 months…read moreafter opening. We were there for the Fashioning Chinese Women exhibit @ BCAM, so did not enter the Geffen galleries. But we did want to get a drink at Erewhon on this 100+ degree day, visit the store, and also use the restrooms, all on the ground floor. I will defer a more thoughtful judgement on the merits of Zumthor's design, but it appears to me that, sadly, someone or possibly more than someone has ignored the Miesian dictum "God is in the details." There are several specific shortcomings in the new LACMA design and resulting experience, in no particular order: 1. Inadequate wayfinding signage and legible cues. Firstly, the site orientation map handed out at the ticket booth looks like it was drawn by an 8-year old (my apologies to 8-year olds) and is lacking in scale and specificity to be able to find the most direct route to ground floor destinations. There is not enough directional signage, and what there is, is too subtle to be obvious and thus useful. Unlike the pre-Zumthor LACMA, there are several staff stationed around the building to help direct people (not very helpfully), as well as freestanding signs, that are clearly afterthoughts. 2. While the plazas facing Wilshire are better than I expected, the other outdoor spaces are utterly bleak and soulless. They need to hurry up and figure out how to humanize those spaces. 3. Someone was not paying attention to workmanship in the restroom construction. Poorly masked painting, peeling paint at the restroom sink, toilet grab bars coming off the walls, and wobbly coat hook on the door, only 5 months after opening do not bode well for longevity. Was someone cutting corners for budget and or schedule? I can foresee excessive maintenance costs to keep things in a condition that befits such an important civic institution. Does this portend a higher rate of membership fee increases to fund necessary upkeep? Who is accountable to the membership and the taxpayers for such lack of oversight?

This museum is a very neat experience! It is intended for adults, but our little ones had a great…read moretime here too! The whole place is decorated with art and it is very immersive! It's a bit difficult to find parking, but after that's settled, knock 3 times on the door and upon entry, you are greeted and signed in. We were greeted by Sabrina and Alyssa. They were friendly and welcoming and made sure that all of our questions were answered. The whole experience is neat because in such a small area, there are so many things to see, smell, and read! They have their own section of a gift shop as well. I can't wait until they expand their location and I'm so glad they our family had the opportunity to experience the Museum of Make Believe.

A hidden gem (quite literally) in Laguna Beach, the Museum of Make Believe truly lives up to the…read morewhimsy and magic it seeks to bestow upon its travelers. Highly recommend to anyone seeking a trip of puzzle-mystery with a nostalgic edge. Huge shoutout to Sabrina & Sylvan for guiding us along the way and their warm hospitality.

I went to MOCA a couple weeks ago for the first time in almost twenty years. I'd only been once or…read moretwice before, in my student days, when the museum would host free events with live music and late entry into the galleries. I remember going with my cool friend June K. and seeing a Rauschenberg, thinking, "What is that?" This only came back to me on my more recent visit, to catch the end of an exhibit with my (cool for a 41-year-old) friend Sergio P. before lunch at Grand Central Market. It was called "The Expanding Field: MOCA's Collection from the 1940s to 1970s," and I randomly read about it in a newsletter the night before we went. I always hear about stuff at the Broad and LACMA, but I almost missed this MOCA exhibit completely. I guess it's a smaller museum, with a lower marketing budget. I'm really glad we caught it, because the exhibit was fantastic, an impressive showcase of collection highlights from the mid-20th century. First of all, there were eight Rothkos, all on view in one room alongside a couple of Giacomettis. There were works by Miró and Mondrian, Jackson Pollock and Jasper Johns, a fantastic Warhol painting of a telephone. Multiple Rauschenbergs, which I appreciated more this time around. I also loved pieces by Joan Brown, Anne Truitt, and Nicolas de Staël, among many others. MOCA isn't big, and outside of this exhibit, the other gallery space seemed to be closed, possibly in preparation for another show. It took us less than half an hour, at a leisurely pace, to take in the exhibit. We stopped by the store after, which was great, full of art books and fun contemporary museum shop goodies. This was a wonderful way to spend an hour on a random Wednesday, and it cost nothing except for parking (the museum doesn't have its own lot, and I paid over $20 to park across the street at the Music Center; next time, transit). MOCA offers free admission, a bountiful gift to art enthusiasts in L.A. Reservations are recommended, but easy to get without much planning. Now that MOCA is back on my radar, I expect to go again soon, or at least in the next few years. It's a stellar museum with an interesting collection, worthy of regular visits.

What a gem. I can't believe this museum is free…read more Located in Downtown Los Angeles, it's easy to pair with other nearby attractions, making it a great stop if you're spending the day exploring the area. The exhibits were fantastic. MOCA focuses on contemporary art, so you'll find everything from bold abstract paintings and large-scale installations to sculptures, video art, and thought-provoking mixed-media pieces. I love that contemporary art invites you to interpret it for yourself. Some works made me stop and think, while others were simply fun to experience. It was a nice balance of playful, emotional, and thought-provoking. The museum itself is quiet and easy to explore. It never felt crowded, so I could actually spend time with the artwork instead of feeling rushed from room to room. I also really enjoyed the gift shop. They had a fantastic selection of art books and exhibition catalogs that were honestly hard to resist. They also carried plenty of fun collectibles, including lots of reasonably priced Smiskis, which made me smile. Overall, this is an amazing free museum and an easy recommendation if you're in Downtown LA. Whether you're already into contemporary art or just curious to try something different, it's well worth stopping by.

Always a beautiful space. I love coming here! So many different community events to enjoy on the…read moreweekend and the exhibits are always pristine. I love how you lounge on the lawn or one of their many seating areas to make a day out of it!

Went on a rainy day so we didn't get to see the gardens and some exhibits were closed. Without the…read moregardens to disperse people it felt very packed.. the few exhibits that were opened felt so cramped with people, not my favorite. The exhibits were lovely though, great art and design. Parking is also TIGHT good luck to any big cars! Grateful it's free minus $25 for parking, you do need a reservation though! Food though was crazy, $25 for a tiny salad. We did not stay for lunch and since the gardens and some exhibits were closed we stayed just for about 1.5 hours

I had did some research before I stepped into this creative expression of fun collections. This…read moremuseum is definitely an art experience worth visiting with iconic figures and street art that paints Mr. Brainwash's (Thierry Guetta) main mantra for the museum, "Life Is Beautiful" which is dedicated to honoring imagination, joy, creativity and inspiration. It's his own work that is displayed but he also references artists work such as the famous Banksy and other artists. A friend told me that the documentary, Exit through the Gift Shop, is connected to this museum. I have yet to watch but will do so to gain more understanding. Apparently, it was free museum day because there were hosts at the door greeting and letting visitors in. That was nice. It wasn't too busy but a good crowd to where I had to wait for my turn to take photos. It's three levels including the rooftop where more artwork is held and a view overlooking Beverly Hills. They also have a gift shop with unique items for purchase. I bought a cutesy pen with an engraved quote on it. To add, I was instantly moved by the creativity and effort they put into this museum. It brought a lot of inspiration. The art work gave me ideas of how I would want a part of my home to look like. It was a fun visit and would recommend for anyone wanting to dig into their imagination and enjoys art. I am also a sucker for anything that brings out the inner child in me and this place fed it well. Thank you, Mr. Brainwash and staff. Ps. The museum might be closed now. Unsure if it's temporary or permanently but still wanted to share my experience. I visited it in January of this year.

My friends and I had fun here. It's free and you get two hours free parking across the street…read morewhere Crate and Barrel is... Great place to visit. There are 3 floors and it's kind of like a maze inside. Unfortunately, this museum is closing January 6, 2026. Visit if you can! There is a lot to see and take pictures of... The art is like an Impressionist and pop culture fusion!

I finally got to visit our hidden local gem, the Wende Museum, which specializes in Cold War…read moreartifacts and history. What a fascinating place! The museum is housed in such beautiful architecture, and there are so many interesting artifacts and stories to explore. They also regularly host community events, which makes the museum feel like more than just a place to look at exhibits. We attended a big band concert there and had a blast. It was such a fun and unexpected way to experience the space. And what's even better? It's a free museum! You can learn more about Cold War history, explore fascinating artifacts, and attend community events without spending a dime. Definitely a hidden gem worth discovering, especially if you're looking for something educational, unique, and fun to do locally.

Wish it was possible to add 1/2 stars since I'd rate this museum 4 1/2 stars for the beauty of its…read morespace - especially the landscaped gardens-and the staff who are super friendly and helpful to visitors. On my first visit, the Culver City Book Fair was occupying the back garden space and it was a lot fun to walk through browsing through books and chatting to publishers. The museum itself was a hodge podge of Cold War artifacts (statues, Soviet books, assorted items like cameras and recording machines and mementoes) displayed along with art on the walls. Local California-artists are sometimes represented with their photographs and painting also taking up space during some of their special exhibits, as the curators try to align the theme of communism with left-wing ideas of social justice and racial discrimnation. Beyond the art on the walls, however, and far more interesting, are LOTS of special events and regular programs like (free) yoga, meditation, lectures/talks, amazing jazz music on certain evenings. The museum sends out a newsletter monthly listing all the upcoming events. All in all a fantastic (cost-free) resource for the Culver City community and for the Westside of LA in general.

The Hilbert Museum of California Art is the best museum in Orange County that you've never heard…read moreof. Even me, walking around recommending the place now, can barely remember its name. But still, since coming here for the first time only a couple of weeks ago I've recommended it multiple times. And now? Multiple + 1. Though you'll be asked, at entry, if you've made reservations, don't be daunted. Reservations are unnecessary and museum admittance is free of charge. Though the Hilbert had been on my radar earlier, I'd forgotten about it until noticing, at the Laguna Beach Festival of the Arts, that several artists had pieces acquired by the Hilbert, spurring me to visit. Housed in two separate buildings connected by a central plaza framed with an astounding Millard Sheets mosaic, the building you enter for check-in has a frequently changing (3 times annually) display. On this visit they featured the California Art Club's 115th Annual Gold Medal Exhibition. Outstanding in every respect, I couldn't help but notice how many artists were there touring the show and how many of the pieces were already sold. Yes, the works in this particular exhibit were for sale, much of it quite reasonably priced considering the astounding talent on display. The second building features exhibits from the Hilbert's permanent collection and there was nary a dud in this space either. In that this is a museum of California art, the collection includes a lot of Disney-adjacent artists but also, so much more. I particularly enjoyed the way they kept each of these exhibits relatively bite-sized, to enable a broad showing of their remarkable collection. Knowing that the Hilbert is free, excellent, and always mixing things up pretty much guarantees a return visit on every future trip to Southern California. If you like museums and are anywhere nearby this is a museum definitely worth making time for.

This was hands down one of the best out of nowhere experiences I had in a long time and it…read morecompletely blew my mind. Not just was it one of the coolest free things to do with a lot of content to be seen. I so glad I stopped in.

In a world increasingly dominated by sedentary virtual activities, the Los Angeles Natural History…read moreMuseum is the antidote to many of our problems, issues, and ailments. What I mean is, on about 200 acres in the heart of the city is a storied and exquisite tribute to earth's almost infinite wonders and the role of millions of species in making this planet a paradise in a somewhat sterile universe. A visit to the website as well as an in-person trip and tour of the grounds and the vaulted spaces inside can restore the soul. It does that for me each time I go. I have hundreds of photos taken during these visits, but I have selected a few from my Nikon full frame to illustrate the marvel and treasure that this museum represents. Among the best and most curated and cared for archives in the world, the Natural History Museum seeks to inspire and educate visitors, patrons, old and young alike, by showcasing the earth's cultural and natural beauty. These are troubling times all over the globe. This institution can revive our faith in civilization and our terrestrial mother in just a few brief hours. It is not be be missed.

We had a pretty fun experience at the Natural History Museum with our 3 year old toddlers! We only…read morewent through the lower ground and first floor because we didn't think the second floor would be as appealing for them. Overall, it was a fun experience and a nice place to explore with little ones. I'd definitely recommend it if you're looking for something different to do with young kids. I would avoid the dinosaur show at all cost. It was not worth it not one bit! I also don't think a membership is worth it. This was kind of like a one year kind of experience in my opinion.

There are 3 parking options: Tower Plaza Parking Structure (602 Anton Boulevard), Irvine Parking…read more(3201 Avenue of the Arts), and The MET Parking (535 Anton Boulevard). I chose the Tower Plaza Parking Structure (near the Westin Hotel), which was just a short walk to the museum, while the other options are a bit farther. Parking is paid, about $6 per hour. Once you arrive, check-in is quick and no reservation is needed. Admission is free, and they provide a sticker that you'll need to wear throughout your visit. The museum is two floors, featuring a variety of sections and artists. The architecture itself is beautiful and perfect for photos, and the artwork is unique and enjoyable to explore. Overall, it's a great experience, especially since it's free. Tip(s): - Park at Tower Plaza Parking Structure (near Westin Hotel) and just walk to the museum - Free entry - Restrooms available - No appointments needed

Well any museum with a Serra sculpture outside that you can just walk into is an automatic 4 stars…read more The museum itself is wonderful to walk thru. A small modern space, very museum. The two exhibits on the main floor were nicely spaced out. There was a large group of young people with energy and enthusiasm. I asked one of the docents if they were a student group and she said no, they just showed up. So props to the young people just showing up for art.