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.

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.

Elegance, Beauty & Pure Serenity…read more The Huntington is truly an exquisite experience. The breathtaking gardens, tranquil pathways, cascading waterfalls, beautiful blooms, and lush landscapes create an atmosphere of timeless elegance and serenity. The Tea Room was equally delightful, with beautifully presented sandwiches, champagne, and impeccable ambiance, perfect for a special celebration or an elegant afternoon with friends and family. The staff was gracious, professional, and attentive throughout our visit. A wonderful destination for nature lovers, visitors, and anyone who appreciates beauty and sophistication. Absolutely worth experiencing!

I call it the Disneyland of botanical gardens. ;) I am a member of the Huntington, and have been…read morecoming for years. It is my absolute favorite Zen spot in the world. I no longer live in the state, but visit every few weeks and make sure to visit the gardens every time. I've painted these gardens over the years and will continue to do so. My favorite gardens are the Rose garden, the Japanese garden and the Chinese garden. This is the perfect date spot as well as a perfect place to walk in the morning amongst nature before the day gets too hot. The children's garden will entertain the littles and they even have a water feature on the hot days. The art pieces throughout the museums are not only beautiful but historical and should not be missed. There is a great coffee shop to grab a cup for your walk and a great gift shop at the exit. There are a couple of quick food options as well. Parking is plentiful- but make reservations! Verdict: perfection- everyone must visit this lovely land at least once in their lifetime.

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.

Loads of art to see, and general admission is free. Reserve tickets online and also make purchases…read morefor any rotating exhibitions. Lots of local venders and other businesses as well, so make a day of it

You know, I've worked at two different art museums, and I'm still not what you'd call an "art…read morebuff," ...I'm more of what's you'd call "a lot buff!" *rimshot* Thanks folks, I'll be here all week. Take my wife, please. Boy are my arms tired. I'm pretty sure Grand Central Art Center is my new fave part of downtown Santa Ana. It's part grad student studios/other exhibitions/sales galleries. And, let me tell you, this is one top notch art gallery. Coming from a non-art buff, that means a whole helluva lot, doesn't it? Well, it should - because if I, a person who thinks Damien Hirst is just complete bullshit, then it should mean something to you. I'd say 85% of the works in this gallery caught my attention - a much higher ratio that the rest of the galleries around here. They've got some cutting edge stuff, a lot of trendy stuff and a dash of traditional sorta stuff. The space is top notch too. I love the way the different galleries are setup. But wait...there's more. On this particular art walk night that I went, they had posters of their upcoming exhibitions. Don't you roll your eyes and say "so what." These posters were the best free posters I've ever seen. Printed on fine quality paper with awesome designs. Oh, and FREE. Duh. Thumbs Up: -Non boring art. -If you're lookin' to buy, there is art here you can actually afford. Well, not you, but you over there...you can afford it. -Next to just about everything cool in Downtown Santa Ana. -Free food and drink during art walk! Thumbs Down: -It may end up being my second favorite thing after I finally visit Lola Gaspar across the way.

During the OC Yelp Elite Event here in March, a fascinating piece of artwork caught my eye…read more And no, for those who were there, it was not the Hitler Head teapot. Yes, I agree. W.T.F. Anyways, the husband and I saw a really cool piece of art and inquired about it a few days after the event. The price was right but we had some difficulty actually buying it. Let's just say there was a lack of communication with the curator and it took both my husband and I multiple attempts to buy the piece...over a month later. Whatever. But I would like to add that Alyssa, the curatorial assistant, was very helpful once we were able to finally pick it up. The experience of buying the art was a headache, but I actually really like the gallery. They show very eclectic genres of art and a wide range of contemporary artists - from cult artist "Dark Vomit" (scary!) to Thomas Kinkade (even scarier!). But the stuff in between is really cool. Take an afternoon and go check it out. The Artists Village in Santa Ana is one of the cooler neighborhoods of OC and Grand Central Art Center is, by far, one of the better art centers.

We really liked the Langson Orange County museum. We came with young kids so our visit was a bit…read morerushed since our kids are too young to truly take their time and appreciate the art. The museum building is beautiful and they have a lovely cafe at the entrance where you can get coffee, pastries, or just get some work done. This is a great place for adults or older kids to visit but not so much for little ones. They did have a drawing activity for all ages while we were there that the kids enjoyed as well as a wall with magnets. We were told that the art exhibits also vary.

Visited the UC Irvine Langson OCMA at the Segerstrom Center campus today. Honestly, the current…read moreexhibits themselves didn't really impress me, but the facility itself is immaculate and very well-maintained. The front desk staff are also incredibly friendly and helpful, which made for a great welcome. They have useful amenities like lockers available on-site, and there's a huge outdoor patio and bar on the first floor that's perfect for hanging out.parking structure validates 2 hr parking i guess. Verify it though. Pro Tip: Don't bother with the local paid structures. Just park near South Coast Plaza for free and take the short walk over.

It had been years since I went to the Getty Center, so it was nice to visit…read more You reserve a spot ahead of time for free, which opened about two weeks ahead of when we wanted to go. Entry is free, but you pay for parking (about $25, though cheaper if you come later in the day). The parking lot is huge, and you take a tram up the hill to the museum. When we walked in, there is a huge information booth and lots of people asking if we needed help/directions, and also they have an app that you can tour on your own. The app actually was very detailed, and I could tell that you could visit this place frequently and still see cool stuff. We loved the visiting exhibits. I liked the one at the research center that was about the provenance of a particular picture, how it was stolen and then recovered. The views from the museum are also spectacular, and you can easily see the whole city from there. We ate at the cafe that was nice. They also have a restaurant, a bar, and a couple of coffee carts. It was a hot day - and they have umbrellas everywhere for sun shades. I think every exhibit was interesting and well-curated. Lots of fun stuff at the gift shops.

We absolutely loved it at The Getty Center. Parking was easy in the parking deck. Just an FYI. When…read moreyou get back to the parking deck after your visit, there are kiosks in the parking deck to pay for your parking. At first we were a bit confused where to pay. You use the kiosk BEFORE you drive out. It was fun to ride the monorail up to the center and got to see great views on the way up. They are doing a major renovation for about a year so definitely check to see if it is open. It is scheduled to close in March of 2027 and reopen in the Spring of 2028. I would definitely try to go before they close and then see what all they did when it reopens. In the interim check out The Getty Villa in Malibu. The Getty Center is truly is an American treasure. The vast amount of art work from all over the world with many iconic pieces is phenomenal. We are so lucky to have it here in LA. We had lunch at one of several dining spots. The one we chose is set up cafeteria style with many different food options that should surely satisfy all your family members. Of course, it's a bit pricey but the food was delicious. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes. The center is divided up into several buildings so there is a lot of walking plus they have extensive gardens. We did not have time to visit the gardens after spending a great deal of time reading about the art work, furnishings, etc. You could definitely do it all in one day if you arrive early and pace yourself but we decided to come back a second time to enjoy the gardens. A definite must see if you live here or are visiting.

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.

Love it here! There are two buildings. It's the building on the right…read more The computers were down on the Saturday I visited, so admission was free. Otherwise, general admission is $15 and admission for seniors is $10. I visited during the Robert Williams exhibit. Great, comprehensive collection of artwork, past and present. Paintings and sculpture, large and small. There's a small gift shop located immediately next to reception. The basement exhibit was artwork created by middle school, up and coming artists. The second floor was an exhibit surrounding paper and books. Although visitors are not allowed to go outdoors, awesome ocean view from the second floor window and patio. You can either take the stairs or elevator. Parking: I parked on the next block. Free, residential street parking.

This museum is in a really nice location. It's right next to the beach and you can't beat that. I…read morebought my tickets online and they had a special for 50% off. There's also free parking next to the museum which is a plus. It was my first time at this museum and it's a pretty small museum. When I went, the second floor was closed because there was an event that night. I went to see the Robert Williams exhibit which is on the main floor and there was a lot to see. There's also a lower level with an exhibit for local high school artist which is cool. Although the museum was small I was there for almost an hour. I thought the description of the pieces were very detailed and helped me understand what I was looking at.

Noguchi gardens is a gorgeous spot to just relax for a little, enjoy a break from the hustle and…read morebustle of the world. It's a small space but the artwork is nice and instills a sense of calm that is appreciated

Fun and interesting little place to visit if you are in the area by South Coast Plaza mall…read more Not the easiest place to find since you can't see it from the street. It is behind the Mastros restaurant. There is a parking structure nearby that is like $3 or $4 for 15 minutes and you can probably run through in 15 minutes, but 30 minutes to be safe. You can also walk from the mall parking lot, it is a little bit of a stroll but manageable. There are plenty of pictures so you can see what you are getting into before you make the drive, pay for parking, and walk over. When we went there on a Sunday morning, there were only 2 or 3 other people, so it was very quiet and zen. I enjoyed the write-ups and the exhibits. If I worked right there I would probably visit all the time.