Getty Villa and Getty Museum: Free Art Journey

Los Angeles County operates the Getty Villa in Malibu and the Getty Museum at Sepulveda Pass. Admission is free, but advance reservations are required, with parking fees of $20 at Getty Villa and $25 at Getty Museum.

The Getty Villa offers a space to appreciate ancient Greek and Roman art, featuring ancient architecture and sculptures alongside serene gardens with ocean breezes. The current special exhibition "The Pylos Kingdom: Warrior Princes of Ancient Greece," running until January 2026, presents the latest excavated artifacts from the Messenia region, a Bronze Age center of Mycenaean civilization, in their first display outside Europe.

At the Getty Museum, the exhibition "Lines of Connection: Drawing and Printmaking" runs through September. It examines how drawing and printmaking have evolved together since 15th-century Europe, featuring works by LA-based artist Toba Khedoori to demonstrate how the two mediums intersect in contemporary art.

Operating Hours

• Getty Villa: Daily 10 AM–5 PM (closed Tuesdays)
• Getty Museum: Tuesday–Friday and Saturday 10 AM–9 PM, Sunday 10 AM–6:30 PM (closed Mondays)

Huntington Library: A Picnic Spot in the Gardens

The Huntington Library, Museum, and Gardens in Pasadena is renowned for its meticulously maintained gardens. With diverse themed gardens including a Japanese garden with koi ponds, rock sculpture garden, English garden, and desert Southwest botanical garden, it serves as an ideal picnic location.

Open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM except Tuesdays, the address is 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. The main Huntington Library building is currently closed for renovations for the next two years.

Cabrillo Beach: Free Marine Life Encounters

Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro features an aquarium museum, touch pools, and tide pools, making it suitable for family visitors. Along with a beach for swimming and surfing, there are hiking trails offering views of the ocean and terrain.

Admission is free with $1 parking per vehicle. The address is 3800 Stephen M. White Dr., San Pedro.

San Pedro Harbor: Traces of an Old Port Village

San Pedro retains remnants of the former Ports O'Call Village. While most has been demolished for redevelopment, LA Waterfront Sportfishing, San Pedro Fish Market, and Crusty Crab remain in operation.

LA Waterfront Cruises offers harbor tours, whale watching, and sportfishing excursions, with restaurants serving fresh seafood located nearby.