One of the best parts of living in a large city like Los Angeles is the opportunity to visit so many museums, not necessarily all free but definitely easily accessible. On my last visit to The Broad, I totally did not realize that the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) was right across the street (if you can believe it)! But I did intend on visiting and glad I finally found the time. Here are a few things to know before you go...

Located on Wilshire Blvd, if you live in Los Angeles you’ve probably driven past it at some point and not known the Marciano Art Foundation museum was housed in here because from the outside it looks like a masonic building. The museum officially has been in this space only since May 2017 and you can find more information about the building here. It was originally built as a Scottish Rite Masonic Temple in the 60s. Most of the art here is from the 1990s onward. 

Visits to Pasadena are few and far between given the expanse of Los Angeles but I made my way to this gem on a weekday and the drive wasn’t as unforgiving. In fact, the quality of the art despite the small space was a pleasant surprise. They don’t waste any time here – the folks at Pasadena Museum of California Art. The artwork begins from the parking garage! You might mistake it for graffiti but it is the work of native Kenny Scharf and the pop aesthetic he is known for is immediately recognizable. The Kosmic Krylon Garage is a permanent exhibit since he first showed here.

Stopped by the California Science Center to check out a limited engagement exhibit and decided to make a day out of it!

An amazing educational experience and an exhibit you will not forget easily, the Body Worlds Pulse is a traveling show and created by Gunther von Hagen who is also the inventor of plastination, the process using which many of the human bodies on display have been preserved. These are real human bodies, by the way, that have been donated to the cause of science and research.

Not many know of this gem of a museum located just ten minutes right behind the busy Los Angeles Airport. If you are visiting, live here or are simply out for a long transit or layover, this is certainly a worthy stop if you don’t want to venture too far out from LAX. I am surprised the airport itself isn’t doing much to promote this space, which is truly a treasure trove of aviation and space history and general knowledge.
 
The building is pretty unassuming and resembles nothing close to any of the museums the city is known for. In fact, it is situated in an industrial complex where other flight service businesses are located so if you are looking for a big model plane or some other signage outside then you will definitely get lost. Follow the directions on your map and you will find the spot. 

Located conveniently across the street when you get off at Little Tokyo station on the Gold Line, this museum’s permanent exhibit offers a much-needed introduction to the role of the Japanese community in the US. While this occupies prime square footage, there are other visiting or rotating exhibits as well. The museum is open to the public all week long but offers free entry every Thursday 5pm-8pm and full day free entry on the third Thursday of the month. They do have a donation box out to pay what you can/want at the entrance. 

My introduction to Autry happened almost more than a year or two ago I believe when I first attended a press event there and made a mental note to return but never did until yesterday. Unfortunately they didn’t have free entry on Tuesdays anymore as mentioned on their website but luckily the fee was only $14 so I didn’t have to turn back after having driven over to spend the day there. This isn’t a very large space to cover in a day but if your interests are in western history then you might spend a lot of time in just that area. Thankfully that’s their permanent exhibit so you can head back often if you live in the vicinity. 

​Located in Pasadena, Norton Simon Museum is one of those hidden gems many don’t know about. I didn’t until a few years ago and though I live quite a distance away, I do try to visit when I can. The museum held a special preview for a new exhibit titled All Consuming: Art and the Essence of Food which I attended but the permanent collections here are fascinating too so I hope you do visit the premises anyway. 

I always maintain that living in Los Angeles where so many world-class educational institutions exist means that we are lucky to have amidst us some fabulous opportunities for learning and leisure. That includes venues like the USC Pacific Asia Museum, part of the USC campus in Pasadena and a fantastic museum to visit if you are in the area. Please check dates and times when it is open before you go. Sometimes they have free entry days, special events, and other happenings so you might want to plan to be there then. Read on for my recommendations! 

Heard only great things about The Broad since it opened doors late 2015 and had a tough time getting tickets initially but made it today just after they celebrated their first anniversary so here’s the scoop!

Firstly, the Getty Center and the Getty Villa are two different venues so get directions for the right place please! Not that I made that mistake, but I heard of plenty others who did. Also, if you arrive too early, then you will be turned away and asked to return closer to opening time. This I know because I did do it – I am known for over-planning so was at the front gate to the parking deck 15 minutes ahead of opening at 9.30am on a Sunday and was promptly turned away by the security staff. They did smilingly welcome us back again at 9.30 on the dot though like we were old friends!

Once we spring forward and that time change gives us the extra evening light, all the outdoor movie screenings are announced around Los Angeles, and it truly is one of the best things about living here. All the fun outdoors activities you can participate in and mostly for free. This post is on movie screenings, ones I’ve experienced and others I plan to but feel free to let me know if I am missing any. 

The Inspiration Issue of Traveler and Tourist magazine is here - and we have three teaser videos to entice! Read our destination stories to plan your travels to Barbados, if you are seeking an island getaway, or Cleveland in Ohio and Denver in Colorado for U.S. options. As always, we have a great themed playlist for you to listen to on Spotify as you read through this edition and enjoy some of our regular departments covering new and unique products, experiences, activities, travel locations and gear, and more, for you to indulge in. Grab your favorite beverage and nestle into your cozy reading spot for this one - Enjoy! Need to subscribe to the mag? Head here!

The Los Angeles Travel and Adventure Show is an annual event that is highly anticipated by travel enthusiasts looking for inspiration and great deals. Part of the excitement includes the access to travel celebrities but also presentations and panels hosted by different countries. This year, fresh off the closing of the recent Olympic and Paralympic Games, The Government of Japan exhibited at the show and showcased the legacy of TOKYO 2020 by organizing a large booths pace up front and center on the show floor and hosting a stage talk with two gold medalists: Jessica Long, U.S. Paralympics Swimming, and Yuto Horigome, Japanese Olympics Skateboard Team. 

The Nature Issue of Traveler and Tourist magazine is here - and we have three teaser videos to entice! Read our destination stories to plan your travels to Huntington Beach in California, Lake Charles in Louisiana and Stockholm in Sweden. As always, we have a great themed playlist for you to listen to on Spotify as you read through this edition and enjoy some of our regular departments covering new and unique products, experiences, activities, travel locations and gear, and more, for you to indulge in. Grab your favorite beverage and nestle into your cozy reading spot for this one - Enjoy! Need to subscribe to the mag? Head here!

Germany has always been on my list of places to visit, and I could not resist this invitation from Visit Berlin to learn more about what’s happening in the city this year and onward. Here’s to scheming my trip over! The lovely luncheon was hosted at the Drawing Room at the Kimpton La Peer West Hollywood – a fitting venue for a city so closely associated with art and décor and design and architecture…I could go on. 

Read the Spring edition for what to see and do, where to dine, and which activities we recommend in three beautiful destinations: La Paz in Mexico, Mesa in Arizona and Highland Lakes in Texas. Check out the three teaser videos and click on the Spotify playlist for music to accompany your reading! Our regular columns such as recipes for food and drink, reading recommendations and other products and services that are travel and lifestyle-related are available as usual. Grab a drink and enjoy flipping through this month's issue!

Happy holidays! To celebrate, we have The Holiday Issue of Traveler and Tourist magazine out now - 'Sea' where were cruising as the year came to a close and everything we enjoyed on our cruise ship experience. We also had a little road trip to Carlsbad in California - see what's in store there. As always, plenty to read from travel gear and books to read to holiday drinks and baking to enjoy. Check out the teaser video and the global hits playlist to as you read. Enjoy reading and let us know what you'd like us to cover in future editions...Anddd, remember to subscribe here to get the next edition straight to your inbox so you can read the magazine comfortably, at your own leisure, any where, any time, on any device. Share this edition with others looking for travel inspiration and ideas. Stay well, stay safe and stay inspired - see you in the new year!

The highly anticipated “Nights of the Jack” Halloween event will return for its fourth year to King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas from October 1 – October 31. This season, the interactive walking trail filled with thousands of hand-carved, illuminated pumpkins is back and brighter than ever, now spanning two-thirds of a mile to provide a safe and festive fall outing. Tickets for the once-in-a-lifetime production are on sale now at https://nightsofthejack.com/. I've visited in previous years and enjoyed the experience where you can easily spend a few hours walking around the installations, taking pictures and then indulging in some libations too. 

The Fall Issue of Traveler and Tourist magazine is here - explore locations in Door County, Wisconsin; San Luis Obispo, California and Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. Learn more about our recommendations for fun experiences, wellness apps, culinary treats, heathy snacking options and more. This time we have a surprise video thrown in, a free download of globally inspired recipes, and a global hits playlist too so remember to turn that volume up! Enjoy reading and let us know what you'd like us to cover in future editions...As always, remember to subscribe here to get the next edition straight to your inbox so you can read the magazine comfortably, at your own leisure, any where, any time, on any device. Share this edition with other looking for travel inspiration and ideas. Stay well, stay safe and stay inspired!

Select invited Los Angeles media members were in attendance at the recently held Andaz West Hollywood dinner spotlighting the brand’s Andaz Mayakoba Resort Riviera Maya with a ‘From Mexico to Andaz’-themed media dinner. The seated dinner showcased creative culinary and immersive cultural experiences from Mexico and Andaz Mayakoba, sharing more about the luxury Mexican resort and its sister property, Andaz West Hollywood. 

​Stay One Degree, a community which allows luxury travelers to experience the finest vacation homes around the world directly from like-minded homeowners, offers a brand-new Coast to Desert: Relax & Rejuvenate California Style experience. Spend four nights overlooking the stunning Pacific Ocean in a breathtaking home in Malibu followed by a private helicopter experience to the incredible contrasting desert scenes of Palm Springs where you spend three nights in an architectural masterpiece. 

Changing the world is delicious! Vegan Sunday Supper (VSS), L.A.’s newest plant-based consumer packaged food company, introduced their new gourmet ready-to-bake 100% Plant-Based Lasagna featuring Pulled Oats® now available for home delivery while donating 25% of all profits to directly benefit Support + Feed and help fight climate change one meal at a time! This lasagna is a completely new take on the traditional sausage recipe, with sweet peppers and vegan cheeses, but there is a very special secret ingredient, Pulled Oats®, which makes this just as satisfying and delicious as a traditional meat lasagna, without the meat.

In an exclusive virtual event, JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery hosted a Facebook Live “Be a Winemaker For A Night,” tasting, hosted by Founder Justin Baldwin and Winemaker Scott Shirley as they took guests on a journey through how they blend their flagship wine, ISOSCELES. During the virtual tasting, both were available to guide guests through a behind-the-scenes look into the blending methods used to create JUSTIN’s ISOSCELES wine. Each winemaking selection included one bottle of 2018 ISOSCELES and three half-bottle barrel samples of the individual component wines: 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2019 Merlot, and 2019 Cabernet Franc. This was the first time that JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery has made barrel samples available to sip. You can also view the tasting notes here.