Getty Museum aka: The Getty

I just visited the Getty for the first time. Not being from the area, I didn’t know much about it. I just knew it was an L.A. museum I hadn’t visited yet and that they had a Bernini exhibit going on, so I wanted to go. I was just expecting an art museum. To my surprise, it had gorgeously landscaped gardens and great panoramic views of L.A. The tram ride from the parking garage wasn’t bad either! AND the $10 parking fee also covers admission. Go here if you can! You won’t regret it!

Where: Southern California, Los Angeles
1200 Getty Center Drive, directions on website
Cost: Free, parking is $10 per vehicle
Website: http://www.getty.edu/
Hours: Open all days except Monday (closed), 10AM to 5:30PM and 10AM to 9PM Saturday
How to get there: Car, bus possible
When visited: Summer 2008

An amazing collection of art in an amazing setting. I don’t know where to begin. The gardens? or the building? or the art? It’s all amazing here. Just don’t confuse this one with the Villa in Malibu. But you won’t be able to do that after you visit.

Children will love the tram that takes them from the parking area to the museum itself. The views are stunning, but there is a bit of a wait to get on the train. Families with children in strollers or wheelchairs seem to get priority boarding.

Since this is Southern California, the several buildings are arranged around a central courtyard. It’s very striking. One of the buildings stuck out of the mountain in a way that reminded me of a modern Alhambra. The gardens, which range from desert plants to more traditional sorts of plants are arranged throughout the grounds. There is some shade, but if you come unprepared the museum has umbrellas.

The art on display here ranges from medieval to modern. Since each building is fairly small and grouped by time period, the time needed to visit each one won’t vex the kids. See some art, play outside, repeat. It’s almost too easy to keep ‘em happy while visiting here. The gem, which really surprised me, was a room for children to play in where each play station took inspiration from one of the works in the gallery. Their website also has much in the way to prepare older children for their visit.

The staff was helpful and there was a cafe to get some food. Prices didn’t seem out of line at all. Bathrooms had changing tables for the very young.

Worth a visit if you are anywhere near it. Families with small children may last a half a day, but older children and budding artists may last longer.

Went here when I was in high school. Beautiful place. Want to take my kids here sometime.

if possible, go in the spring/summer when the gardens are in bloom.
its amazing how gorgeous the gardens are.
i’ve been in winter and there wasn’t as much to look at. but spring, the flowers are vibrant and its warm and the canals are flowing in the breeze.
one of my favorite places ever.

and also pack your own lunch, the food is rather pricey.

The last time i was at the Getty it was like a farewell since i was off to college across the country. The sun was shining, there was a little kid’s bad along the lines of th wiggles playing in the grassy area, children and couples and families everywhere. It should have been annoying, i mean it’s an ART museum, not an amusement park. But it didn’t affect the art viewing all. it’s just this constant happy atmosphere that made the art viewing more enjoyable. My mother and I spent the whole day there, looking at everything, and in between buildings sitting on the grass and looking at the fountain. Little kids kept jumping into the water, people ate their lunches in the sun. It was lovely.
And of course, the art. The art is always wonderful. Their permanent collection is magnificent,despite the controversy that required them to return questionably acquired artwork back to Europe. You can sit and draw from the works, or take a tour. The galleries are endless, and I always see my favorite photography exhibits here. Always worth going.