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! 

​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. 

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 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. 

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

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...

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!