Best Arts and Culture Places in Venice Beach

"Head to the coast and take a drive along the world-famous Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). With your convertible top down and your eyes trained on the ocean, it’s easy to miss the entrance to the Getty Villa entrance tucked in the mountainside. This replica of an ancient Roman country house has gardens to meander, galleries of Greek and Roman antiquities to peruse, and expansive views of the Pacific."

"We have mostly looked at the beaches in Malibu, but if you have time, you shouldn’t stop there. There’s much more to discover starting from the Getty Villa (located in the Pacific Palisades District), which resembles an ancient Roman villa displaying about 45,000 pieces of Greek, Roman, and Etruscan art dating back to the period from 6500 B.C."

"When the Getty Villa was opened, it was subject to a fair bit of controversy, especially from art experts. The museum was opened in a faux Malibu villa that was designed based on the famous Villa dei Papiri ruins of Herculaneum. It was established by J Pau Getty, an oil magnate, and earned much derision when it began operation in 1974."

"The west coast gallery hosts pertinent benefits, exhibitions and auctions. Blum & Poe utilizes its space as a launchpad to amplify the voices of the artists and causes represented in their displays and events. The current exhibition is a new series of work by Los Angeles-based artist Matt Johnson, that depicts configurations of raw industrial materials from cinder block, brick, rebar, to traffic cones—permutations of information composed according to gravity, balance, and primitive instinct."

"Make sure you allow a little time for cultural appreciation in Long Beach. Since its founding in 1996, the Museum of Latin American Art has existed as the go-to site for world-class Latin American artistic contributions in Long Beach. At the museum, you’re exposed to well-arranged, dynamic displays and exhibits which is arranged professionally and characterized by a tasteful, educational atmosphere."

"Only museum in the Western United States to exclusively feature contemporary art from Latin America. Gift store, VIVA (a Latin American Cuisine restaurant), and a neighboring Oceanic Art Museum. Open Tuesday through Sunday."

"On the other side of Brookside and over the 134 is the Desiderio Neighborhood Park. From all the parks in Pasadena, I consider this one a gem. It’s beside the Colorado Street Bridge."

"Oaxacan-born brothers Felipe and Ignacio Santiago spent years working in local Lebanese kitchens, and they bring that experience to their baby-blue storefront in Boyle Heights, where they cook Oaxacan-inflected, Lebanese-inspired dishes. The menu at X’tiosu (pronounced “sh-tee-oh-sue,” it means “thank you” in Zapotec) yields various marvels: ruddy, delicately spiced house-made chorizo kebabs; black bean hummus punched up with cayenne pepper; crisp falafel that eschews chickpeas and fava beans in favor of black beans, garlic and cilantro. The high point of the mezze offerings is the herb-intensive nopales tabbouleh salad, which swaps out bulgur in favor of cactus."

"You can totally find other things in the SGV aside from Chinese food!. And it’s hard to argue with unlimited hummus, especially when the hummus is as good as it is at Wahib’s. Party hardy with the buffet lunch for a glorious $10.95 (or $15.95 for dinner), and don’t forget to eat a thousand pounds of the house pickles (or kebabs, if that’s more your thing)."

"There are numerous excellent restaurants and cafes spread throughout the city of Santa Monica – so many you could be forgiven for spending your time simply café and restaurant hopping!. Here are a couple of our family restaurant favourites…"

"Listed as one of the best hikes in Los Angeles, Runyon Canyon is a great option for families with tweens and teens. On this hike, you have a great vantage point for celebrity sightings, as well as views of the Hollywood Sign and the Los Angeles basin. On a clear day, you can see all the way to the Santa Monica Mountains."