Best Museums in Venice Beach

"We could see the observatory when we did the Hollywood Sign hike and I was disappointed we didn’t make it there. Would have loved to go at night and to see the Samuel Oschin Planetarium. There is also the beautiful Griffith Park that you can explore and you won’t want to miss Travel Town!"

"Standing exquisitely in the 160 acres Exposition Park of Los Angeles, California Science Centre is a paradise for all the curious minds. With the mission to stimulate curiosity and inspire science learning, the museum remains one of the most visited sites in the park attracting the groups of kids and adults. This very famous museum has found numerous references in pop culture because of its ability to provide visitors with advanced engagement with the world of science."

"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."

"You could easily spend an entire day at the Natural History Museum. They have dinosaur skeletons (including the world's only Tyrannosaurus rex growth series), dioramas with animals from around the world, a spectacular collection of gems and minerals, and we can keep going but we’ll run out of room. You can stroll through their Nature Gardens, and learn more about plants and animals in their Nature Lab."

"Established in 1913, The Natural History Museum is the largest history museum in the western United States. Welcoming over 1,000,000 visitors every year, the museum is home to nearly 35 million original natural samples, illustrations, and artifacts that cover 4.5 billion years of history. Prepare to be amazed by state-of-the-art multimedia stations making information fun and interactive."

"The ninth of its kind in the world, Madame Tussauds is a wax museum and popular tourist attraction on Hollywood Boulevard. Established by sculptor Marie Tussaud, the museum features life-like wax models of favorite celebrities, film and music stars and other famous people. The museum features 115 wax figures of a variety of stars, the first of which to grace the museum halls were those of Beyoncé Knowles and Jamie Foxx, followed by other notable people, such as Marilyn Monroe, Johnny Depp, Michael Jackson and Clint Eastwood."

"Madame Tussauds Hollywood is home to a huge collection of wax figures of famous celebrities from all different eras. One of the city’s top tourist attractions, it lies along Hollywood Boulevard and has rooms full of movie stars and pop icons, plus exciting VR experiences. Only opened in 2009, it now contains over a hundred remarkably life-like wax models with replicas of Barack Obama and Leonardo DiCaprio appearing next to Taylor Swift, Snoop Dogg and Spider-Man, among others."

"My thoughts are either to spend the day at Universal Studios Hollywood (and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Hollywood) or visit a couple of spots like the Chinese Theater, Madame Tussauds Hollywood, or the Hop-On Hop-Off Double Decker Bus. Consider a GO City Card for Los Angeles, and these fun things to do in downtown LA and what to do with kids in LA."

"Founded by the Santa Monica Historical Society in 1988, the Santa Monica History Museum first opened its doors to the public in 1988. With a mission to bring the interesting history of the city to all residents, the museum has gone from strength to strength, benefitting from numerous donations of artifacts, photos and much more. As you make your way through the permanent exhibition hall you will learn all about the early days in Santa Monica."

"Malibu Wines is comprised of acres of vineyards, picnic tables and a store. Open seven days a week, it holds wine tastings and serves wines by the bottle and mimosas by the glass, often to live music. If a large group is heading in its direction, the company is more than happy to organise catering, too."

"Malibu Wines has found a new home – same wines, same big outdoor space with tons of seating, same fun atmosphere, just the now added bonus of more food/beer options."

"Similar to The Groundlings but a little edgier, weirder, and generally friendlier to the pocketbook is The Upright Citizens Brigade. What began in a tiny theater on Franklin Ave, the small size, affordable tickets, and legendary improv shows featuring well-known actors ensure that every show ends up being standing room only. In an effort not only to expand, but allow more space for students, fans, and comedians to socialize before and after shows and classes, UCB recently opened a new, larger “compound” in Hollywood that is intended to feel less like the average comedy club in Los Angeles and more like a “college dorm” where you can hang out with the next Donald Glover, Rob Corddry, Ed Helms, or Aubrey Plaza, all of whom got their start at UCB."

"This 1,269-acre park in northern Orange Country features numerous biker, equestrian and hiker trails, all of which meander across foothills and provide views of distant mountains. With an orange grove, a creek, and a mature forest with dozens of tree species, we like these trails for their quickly changing scenery."

"Just a short walk away from its neighbour, the Marina Vista Park, Colorado Lagoon is a fascinating space in its own right. Giving guests an opportunity to explore some of the area’s extensive wetlands, the park has an overabundance of flora and fauna to discover. The park has a few activities available, although keep in mind that swimming is prohibited when the water is in poor condition."

"Colorado Lagoon is a true hidden gem of Long Beach with a little secret lagoon in the city. This park was recently restored which has drawn additional visitors to its sceneries. Its lagoon is pretty clean with tons of small silver fishes and moon jellyfish."