Built in 1818, the Avila Adobe at 10 Olvera Street in downtown Los Angeles is the city's oldest standing residence, and a must-see for history buffs. It has been restored and furnished to look as it did when the family of long-ago L.A. Mayor Francisco Avila lived there in the 1840s.
Best and worst time to go to Avila Adobe
The best times to visit are afternoons during the fall and spring. The worst times are during August, when it's hot and crowded with tourists, and weekday mornings during the school year, when it's popular with students on field trips.
Must see/do at Avila Adobe
Visitors will find it easy to imagine they have taken a trip back in time over 200 years, thanks to period furnishings such as the unique 1881 Steinway square grand piano in the living room.
The house is small, but visitors should take their time and read the information provided about each room.
Check out the replica "carreta" wood cart in the courtyard, which was used for transportation in L.A. centuries before freeways existed.
Admission to Avila Adobe
Admission to Avila Adobe is free. Donations are accepted.
Parking and public transportation to Avila Adobe
The Avila Adobe is located in the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument, which has five parking lots. Lots 4 and 5 are the least expensive, with flat rates ranging from about $5 to $8.
It is also easily accessible via light rail; visitors can take the Metro Gold Line to Union Station, just a five-minute walk away.
Food at Avila Adobe
Food is not served at the adobe, but there are several Mexican restaurants nearby on Olvera Street.
Insider tip for visitors to Avila Adobe
The friendly docents are happy to give visitors a free guided tour of the adobe.
Author's bio: Laura Goldman is a freelance writer and lifelong Angeleno. Follow her on Twitter and visit her blog, i Still Love Dogs.
The Hollywood Museum sits in the beautiful Max Factor Building, a landmark of Hollywood for 75 years. The outside looks a bit like a castle, and the inside is standard old-Hollywood Art Deco style. More than 35,000 square feet in size, the exhibit space is adorned in gold trim, marble and chandeliers. The museum features Hollywood memorabilia from all eras of film, including silent pieces as well as props from modern blockbusters. The building is split into four levels, with rooms containing cars, posters, props and even one with more than 1,000 black and white photos. There's an additional top floor available for special-event rental. Tickets to the museum are $15.
The Autry National Center of the American West wants to show you the common characteristics that our modern society has with the bygone peoples of the American West. With its various exhibits, films, and theater plays, its programs highlight the convergence of indigenous cultures with others, resulting in the melting pot that the American West is today.
Best and worst time to go to The Autry
The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and closed on Mondays.
It is free of charge on the second Tuesday of every month and on New Year`s Day, Martin Luther King Jr.`s Day, and President`s Day.
The Autry is closed on Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.
Must see/do at The Autry
The Autry holds family activities weekly, as well as film screenings, theater performances, lectures, and workshops. Check their calendar to see what is available during your visit.
Admission to The Autry
Admission prices range up to $10. Active military personnel, veterans, and children under three years old enter free of charge. Admission is free for all on the second Tuesday of every month and on New Year`s Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.
Parking and public transportation to The Autry
The parking lot at the museum is large and free of charge.
There is public transportation to the museum. You can plan your trip at metro.net.
Food at The Autry
The Crossroads West Café has plenty of food options. This page includes weekday and weekend menus.
You are allowed to bring in your own food. There is a limited number of tables and chairs available, and a big lawn where you can set up a picnic.
Insider tip for visitors to The Autry
If you visit during the summer months, visit on a Thursday and stay until the evening to enjoy a "Sizzling Summer Night," when local salsa bands are scheduled to play from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. A large number of Salsa dancers attend this event and it is quite entertaining to watch them twirl about.
Author's bio: Dena Burroughs has lived in Los Angeles for almost 30 years. She loves Shakespeare, Vincent van Gogh, and dancing Salsa. VidaSalsera.com is her own website.
The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (NHM) does an extraordinary job in giving visitors of all ages a "big picture" of our planet. The museum houses one of the world's top collections of natural and cultural history. NHM protects more than 35 million objects, some dating back 4.5 billion years. Many are displayed within the Dinosaur, Mammal, Bird, and Insect Halls, as well as in the Discovery Center, interactive Nature Lab, Gem and Mineral Rooms, and Nature Gardens.
Best and worst time to go to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles
Not surprisingly, the museum is crowded on weekends, holidays, and during the summer. Weekdays can be crowded, too, with school field trips. The best times to visit NHM are weekday afternoons, after 1:30 p.m., and weekend mornings at 9:30 a.m.
Must See/Do at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles
The Natural History Museum has a wealth of "must-sees" starting with the Halls of North American and African Mammals, with dioramas of animals in their "realistic" settings. The 14,000 square foot Dinosaur Hall is stunning. Be sure not to miss the Nature Lab on Level G with live animals, including frogs, turtles, snakes and rats.
Admission to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles
The museum is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (except New Year's Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas). Admission ranges from $5 to mid-teens; children 2 and under are free. Specialty combo tickets, which include the seasonal Butterfly and Spider Pavilions, are higher.
How to get to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles
The Natural History Museum is located in Exposition Park at 900 Exposition Boulevard between Vermont Avenue and Figueroa Street. Paid parking is available (cash only) at the Museum's Car Park (Exposition Blvd. and Bill Robertson Lane). The Expo Rail Line stops right at the museum (exit at the Expo/Vermont stop).
Food at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles
The NHM Grill on Level G of the museum serves burgers and grilled sandwiches, salads, wraps, soups and pre-packaged snacks and drinks. You can dine inside or on the outside patio.
Insider tips for visitors to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles
Free admission is offered on the first Tuesday of each month, except in July and August. If you take Metro to the Natural History Museum, show your ticket or pass and receive $1.25 off an adult admission. The daily "Hidden in Plain Sight" tours offer fun hidden factoids that you might miss-like the predatory wolves hidden in the plains bison diorama.
Author's bio: Lori Huck works in television development as well as writes on entertainment and the arts. She's a fan of the vibrant arts scene in Los Angeles and is a member of many museums and arts organizations.
The Los Angeles Fire Department Historical Society is a museum dedicated to Los Angeles firefighters. The historic site was established in 1960 and was rebuilt in 2001 after suffering earthquake damage. The museum contains artifacts dating as far back as the 1800s, including an old fireboat No. 2, helmets, gear and water pumps. A fallen firefighter memorial is located in the courtyard in front of the museum. The museum is run by volunteers and is only open on Saturdays between 10am and 4pm.
As part of the Autry National Center, the Southwest Museum of the Native American is located just off Museum Drive on Mount Washington in the community of Highland Park. Displaying rotating exhibits of art and artifacts from native American tribes from Alaska to South America, the Southwest Museum was established by the Southwest Society in 1914. Please call The Southwest for hours of operation, as the museum has been closed since 2009 for renovations.