The Santa Monica Art Museum is located on the Third Street Promenade…read more I was surprised to discover this museum existed and while on a stroll along the walkway. Current exhibition on window display is the Elephant Parade art where various celebrities/personalities design an Elephant and express a statement. The museum website hasn't been updated to provide more insight on this exhibit, but I am speculating it is a fund raising effort as well, which makes Art appreciation more meaningful. Worth a visit!

This place was cool as they hosted the Pop up Fan museum for Star Wars. The layout was great and it…read morewas pretty decent size to see a lot of amazing figurines and statues from the movie. The staff were super nice and courteous during our visit. Plus the location is great - right down the promenade which offers stores and great little views too.

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!

Basically, it's a little museum spoofing on small, specialized (and pompous) museums, including the…read moresensory experience: designing it to be stale, musty, hot, dark and some of the signage and displays deteriorating. Some of the content is even made up. Unless snark is really your thing, it's best to make reservations on a low-traffic day, in cool weather, enjoy the joke, and cross it off your bucket list.

Before I visited The Museum of Jurassic Technology last week, I had almost no idea what to expect…read more Friends who had visited it said that it was quirky and hard to describe. They were right on both counts, but I'll try to do better for you. It's very dark inside, with small, maze-like rooms. In fact, it's so dark that some of the exhibit descriptions are hard to read. I wish I'd taken the guy at the front desk up on his offer to borrow a penlight. Some of the audio exhibits didn't work, but that didn't matter a lot, since most of the exhibits were meant to be read. Here are some of the exhibits that stood out to me: - I loved learning about the geometry of Islamic architecture. - The dioramas depicting trailers and RV's were pretty cool, as were the historical description. - Those poor but heroic Soviet space dogs! - Historical superstitions. Perhaps that's why I have a picture of my grandfather as a toddler in a dress! - The bell wheel. Wow. I told my husband we need to make one. - Too bad no photos are allowed in the museum. I would have loved to take some pics of the doves in the tea room so I could paint them at home. - Look through the microscopes and try to figure out how they did that! It's a unique place and I look forward to taking some of my nerdier relatives there sometime.

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

California Heritage Museum was built in 1894, the building that houses different museum exhibits…read more It is a multicultural facility that promote the history and cultures of the people that comprise the California community. This museum is located on Main street in Ocean Park, Santa Monica. I accidentally strolled by Main street and saw this museum. It's a very small museum whereby you can see the entire museum in 5 minutes! And I'm not being facetious. You'll find some interesting artifacts. Today, the admission was free. They have a permanent collection and rotating exhibit. Overall, this museum is a bonafide golden gem of the community. I recommend you visit if you have 5 minutes to spare.

The house itself is interesting, and the rotating exhibits offer a reason to come back…read more Sadly the atmosphere isn't always welcoming. I've been a couple times now, the first time I don't recall any issues, but recently I found the docents oddly unfriendly. As I waited for a friend to use the restroom, they kept peering out of their office to check on me as though I was looking for trouble. Their problem was that you're not supposed to explore the bottom level without guidance. It's a stupid rule. The museum is small enough to explore in less than 30 minutes, so being forced to have someone guide you makes it feel very stuffy. It'd be much nicer to simply offer a guide, that's the point of a docent, I thought. Maybe just go in and ignore them, it'll be more entertaining that way.

We were there last night for a private performance of Antigone. The performance was amazing. I…read morehadn't been to Malibu since before the fires of January 2025, so we were due a visit. The Cafe had a special event menu for the show. The Hearts of Palm Ceviche with Yuca was delicious. We also had a Citrus Grilled Flank Steak wrap, and the Chorizo Molotes with Tomatillo Avocado Sauce (vegan). I enjoyed a special cocktail for the event, El Cosmico, which was Agave Wine, Pineapple Juice, Fresh Orange Juice, Mint, Cucumber, Tajin Rim (also Available without alcohol), and a nice cold beer. My hunny had some Rose'. We finished off with some fresh Mexican Wedding cookies! Again, this was a special event menu for the performance, however, you can't go wrong with the Villa Salad with chicken and the lemon yogurt dressing which is on the regular daily menu and is my go to meal at the Villa. You can't go wrong with Art, performance, and good eats! We love the Getty Villa and parking was free for the event, which was a nice surprise. We had a great evening!

The Getty Villa is one of the two Getty Museums in Los Angeles County and this location is the…read moreoriginal Getty Museum. The museum started as a small museum gallery in 1954. Later the museum went through new construction with an architectural design inspired by the Villa of the Papyri at Herculaneum and opened to the public in 1974. The Getty Villa moved a portion of its collection to the Getty Center when the center opened in 1997 and the villa focused only on Greek, Roman, and Etruscan art thereafter. The villa underwent a major renovation from 1997 to 2006 and eventually reopened to the public in 2006 as what you see now. The villa was shut down for 6 months to clean up the aftermath of the Palisades Fire in January 2025. [Admission]: Free admission, but visitors are required to purchase tickets online, pick time slots on the website, and show their online tickets upon driving into the villa. [Parking]: Parking is $25 per car or motorcycle and $15 after 3 PM. For evening events, parking is $10 after 6 PM. [What to see - outdoor]: The Outer Peristyle is the main attraction that everyone comes to see with a 220-foot-long reflecting pool. There is also the Herb Garden, the East Garden, and the Inner Peristyle with a small reflecting pool and laurel trees. [What to see - indoor]: The art collection is only two floors and it is all in one building. Greek Art / Etruscan Art are located on the 1st floor and Roman Art is located on the 2nd floor. Some of the highlights include The Lansdowne Hercules (Gallery 108), Victorious Athlete / Youth (Gallery 111), Caeretan Hydria (not currently on display), Mummy Portrait of Isidora (Gallery 210), Sarcophagus with Scenes from the Life of Achilles (Gallery 213), etc. [Guided tour]: The villa offers various free guided tours and the staff recommended that visitors arrive 15 minutes before the tour time. All tours start right across from the gift shop and they are first come first served (capped at 20 people for our tours). The staff gave us one portable Bluetooth audio device per person so everyone was able to hear the guide clearly even from a distance. Our party did the "Exploring the Villa's Architecture & Gardens Tour" at 11:15 AM and the "Art & Site Tour" at 1:30 PM. Unfortunately, I didn't realize there was some overlap between the two tours and our party ended up seeing the Herb Garden twice during our visit. [Cafe]: Can't exactly say I was impressed with the selection. Our party got chickpea hummus & pita for $11.60 and it tasted alright. [Garden Tea Service]: Reservations required - Thursday and Saturday only. Inquire at the information desk. Visitors can book a reservation on OpenTable and the price is $66.95 per person (not including sales tax and an 18% service charge). [Conclusion]: In the end, our party stayed for approximately 5 hours. Overall the Getty Villa is not as good as the Getty Center due to (1) its smaller footprint, (2) its focus only on Greek, Roman, and Etruscan art which I am not as interested in, and (3) too much redundancy in the guided tours. This is a great museum to visit for any first time visitors, but it is hard to see myself revisiting the villa unless there are new exhibits in the future that fit my interests. P.S. - There is a small pamphlet with a self-guided tour highlighting scenes from the Odyssey through various artworks.

Cute little museum located next to the Library…read more I never heard of the Santa Monica History Museum till late last year and I figured it might be interested to visit it and learn more about the area. And we did, SM was part of Tongva land, and Tujunga, Cahuenga, etc major streets have their names originated form their tribal language. The museum is small, but the permanent collection is very interesting. It focuses on Santa Monica's history, its development, there are many fascinating stories on display along with great photos and older objects. There's a chapter dedicated to the Muscle Beach, history and highlights, another one to Pacific Park with great memorabilia on view and another one dedicated to the Entertainment Industry and some local members like Sherley Temple, and they have some of her costumes on display. I wasn't that taken with their exhibits, a tad on the depressing side. Also, there was noise coming from the library, lots of banging, so it was hard to concentrate in one room in particular. Otherwise, nice staff and clean restrooms. $5 regular admission, Free 1st Sunday of the month! Free for kids and seniors. Opened Thu. 2pm-5pm. Friday - Sunday 11am-5pm. Worth a visit for sure, it could be a nice way to spend an hour or so. Great activity if you visit Santa Monica or if you are like me, sometimes a tourist in your own town!

I was able to visit this museum and it was fun and informative. It has something for everyone for…read moreany age. The unhoused exhibit was very informative and it was interesting to see how much Santa Monica has changed over time. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone. Parked in the parking structure.

Consistently one of the most impressive museums in the city, with engaging exhibitions coming…read moreseemingly every 3 months. This one's a favorite of mine, so it's tough not to be biased. My most recent visit was in early June, and I loved the several eternities in a day exhibit. How tactile and fascinating! This place has a killer permanent exhibition and even the exhibitions I haven't been as in love with have something interesting to say, so I will keep coming back. The service is always helpful, and there are some nice spots to sit and enjoy the vibe (including the fun top-shaped chairs). I miss the ping pong tables they used to have...but no complaints found here! Go visit asap.

Honestly, I wasn't sure what to expect when I walked into the Hammer Museum, but I ended up…read moreabsolutely loving it. The museum is beautiful, peaceful, and incredibly well organized. I also loved that there are a few dining options inside, making it easy to spend a couple of hours exploring without feeling rushed. One of the best things about the Hammer Museum is that admission is free, and they offer generous hours, which makes it a great activity whether you're a local or just visiting Los Angeles. The exhibitions were stunning. I loved the mix of contemporary and modern art, along with works from iconic artists such as Van Gogh and Monet. Every gallery felt thoughtfully curated, and there was always something interesting to discover around the next corner. And the museum store? Absolutely beautiful. I honestly wanted to buy everything. From art books to unique gifts and home items, it's worth visiting on its own. If you're in Los Angeles and looking for a relaxing and inspiring way to spend an afternoon, I highly recommend the Hammer Museum. I'll definitely be back! Note: While the museum has featured works by artists such as Van Gogh and Monet in certain exhibitions or collections, the exhibits rotate, so what's on display may vary during your visit.

My daughter had a blast at Cayton Children's museum!!! We have been here many times and each time…read moreis better than the last. We will definitely be back in the future.

I rarely leave reviews, but this experience left our family extremely disappointed…read more We were visiting the children's museum, when my husband, who is a Santa Monica police officer and assigned to the area, stopped by to say hello while actively on duty and in full uniform. He entered the museum without issue, and staff allowed him inside. At no point was any "no weapons" policy explained to him. While there, the interaction between my husband and the children was honestly so heartwarming. Kids flocked to him, excited to meet a real police officer. He handed out stickers, took photos with children who asked, and created such a positive, sweet moment for families and kids. It was one of those genuinely special interactions that helps children feel safe and build positive relationships with law enforcement. Unfortunately, that moment was completely ruined when a manager approached and told him he had to leave because he was carrying his service weapon, despite being an on-duty officer in full uniform. Had this policy been clearly communicated at entry, that would have been one thing. Instead, he was allowed in, warmly engaging with families and children, only to be asked to leave afterward in a way that felt unnecessary and upsetting. I respect that businesses can have policies, but the inconsistency and lack of communication were disappointing. More than anything, it was sad to see such a positive interaction for children abruptly cut short. Experiences like these matter because children benefit from positive relationships with the people who serve their communities, whether that's police officers, firefighters, mail carriers, or other public servants. Those everyday interactions help kids feel connected, safe, and familiar with the people they see in their neighborhoods. What should have been a lovely memory and a meaningful community moment for my kids turned into an uncomfortable and disappointing experience for our family.

Museum of Flying (est 1974) is a 22,000 sq ft aerospace museum in Santa Monica, CA. This museum…read moreexhibits aviation history, a dozen aircrafts including a replica of the Wright bros and a Max FS 3000 simulator. MOF is basically a large hanger with a mezzanine. I have been to every aerospace museums in LA/OC except this one. It's very organized and well maintained; you can go through the entire exhibits within 90 minutes. Staff were cordial. Admission ticket is affordable. Souvenir shop is very small with very limited merch and stuff. Overall, it's a nice lil museum good for family and kids to visit.

If you love aircraft this the place for you. It's kind of small but they have so many exhibits to…read moresee. My favorite was the motto of the Wright brothers aircraft. They also have a flight simulator that is awesome and amazing, the price is a little steep for eight dollars you get one trip, but you can buy a pack for $24. All in all a great excursion for airplane lovers.