Best LA Museums for Travelers of All Types

Want to find a museum to visit while in LA that will appeal to all the travelers in your group? Here are six museums that have a little something for everyone.

1. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

Photo by RuggyBearLA

One great thing about natural history museums is that they offer a humongous array of exhibits touching on just about every topic in the world. Dinosaurs to today’s most popular mammals, history to nature gardens, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County has it all. The museum was the first dedicated museum building in the city, when it opened in 1913. You’ll find more than 35 million artifacts in the museum’s collection, with some dating back 4.5 million years. General admission for the museum is just $12.

2. Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens

Photo by Rictor Norton & David Allen

Just a short drive from downtown Los Angeles, in San Marino, you’ll find the Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens. Like art? Like books? Like beautifully landscaped green space? Then this museum has something for you. There are 120 acres of green space, rare books, rare art and more. Plus, many of the gardens are themed, to make them even more interesting to visit. Admission is $25.

3. The Broad

Photo by Joey Z1

The Broad is technically an art museum, but it offers so much more, so if you have members of your traveling group that aren’t quite down for looking at paintings for a few hours, no worries. The downtown museum (that’s free, by the way!) offers a host of exhibits that are unique enough to be social media worthy (think two of Yayoi Kusama’s infinity mirror rooms), as well as a world-class restaurant helmed by a French Laundry alum. So, whether you want to fine dine, gaze at art or just take some great photos for Instagram, you’ll find it at The Broad — and all on a budget!

4. California Science Center

Another free museum, the California Science Center is both kid- and adult-friendly. Any topic that science touches, you’ll find it here. Learn about space exploration, life sciences, the power of flight, engineering and everything in-between. Do note that you will have to pay extra (a mere $3) to see the Space Shuttle Endeavour on the weekends — and it’s recommended you get your reservation before you come on busy weekends and in the summer.  Go to https://californiasciencecenter.org/visit/admission/endeavour-reservations to get a timed reservation.

5. Japanese American National Museum

Photo by Smart Destinations

The Japanese American National Museum covers a range of topics related to Japanese American history, telling the story of Japanese immigrants and their experiences in this country over the decades. Beyond history, the museum also focuses on art and culture, so it’s the place to go whether you want to learn about Hello Kitty or Japanese internment camps.

6. GRAMMY Museum

Photo by Mario RM

The GRAMMY Museum will appeal to everyone — so long as they like music of any kind. From pop to classic rock, learn about famous music makers and see an array of artifacts, from wardrobe items to awards. See what it takes to create a GRAMMY-winning song and, if you’re lucky, maybe even catch a musical performance. The museum is $13 for adults, $11 for children.

See one or more of these museums on one of our 5-star rated private tours of Los Angeles, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica! Call or email us today to learn more!