Petersen Automotive Museum in VS .NET

Create ECC200 in VS .NET Petersen Automotive Museum

Los Angeles This quintessential Southern California museum is dedicated to what else car culture Four floors creatively display more than 200 sets of

wheels, from the first Ford Model Ts to groovy hot rods, one-of-a-kind movie rides, and cars of the future This terrific museum is a real blast and so mythically, marvelously LA It is well worth a couple of hours; put it high on your sightseeing list See maps p 358 and p 362 6060 Wilshire Blvd (at Fairfax Avenue) % 323-930-2277 wwwpetersenorg Admission: $10 adults, $3 children 5 12, $5 seniors and students with valid ID, children under 5 free Open: Tues Sun 10 am 6 pm, closed Mon (but open regular hours on Mon holiday-observance days, such as Martin Luther King Day, Labor Day, and Memorial Day), closed on other major holidays

Downtown This highly enjoyable institution, a long-term LA staple, formerly known as the Museum of Science and Industry, got a complete makeover, which helped bring it as up to date as a museum that focuses on the wonders of science and industry ought to be (it s so hard to keep pace, isn t it ) Learn about the human body thanks to Tess, the 50-foot woman (she s like a giant version of that fabled model toy), build miniature structures and find out how earthquake-proof they are (and sample some quake-shaking yourself), learn about physical development (from how a single cell turns into that complex system known as a human being to the timeless fun of watching chicks hatch), or ride a bike on a cable three stories above ground (it s safe, but it costs extra) There is plenty of hands-on, interactive fun, again of the sort that probably thrills adults for its cleverness more than kids, who are often more interested in the bright lights and loud noises than learning But that s okay, you re on vacation, and a little education is bound to sink in anyway, even by accident Naturally, it s hugely popular with school field trips, so take that into consideration when you plan your own visit An IMAX theater generally shows features tied to either permanent or traveling exhibits 700 State Dr (in Exposition Park) % 323-724-3623 wwwcasciencectrorg Admission: Free Open: Daily 10 am 5 pm; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year s Day

Brentwood If you re not the Universal Studios type, chances are good that you re visiting LA to see this high-profile arts center, which opened to great acclaim in late 1997 and houses 20th-century millionaire (sounds so quaint now, doesn t it ) J Paul Getty s enormous collection of art The collection includes not only the antiquities that were at the old Getty Museum, but also early Renaissance and Impressionist paintings (including van Gogh s Irises), French decorative arts, illuminated manuscripts, and contemporary photography and graphic arts The galleries are state of the art and the collections extensive, but, as a whole, not nearly as impressive as what

you can see at LACMA (which also mounts the best traveling exhibitions) or, even better, the Norton Simon (detailed later in this section) In fact, if it weren t for fear of art majors everywhere gunning for us, we d say it s a bit underwhelming Then again, recent high-profile scandals over forged or looted art have made everyone a bit wary Ultimately, Richard Meier s ultramodern complex is the real draw It presides over the landscape with appropriate grandeur, and the views are stunning The alfresco spaces are as impressive as the interior ones, particularly the circular gardens Don t bother coming unless you have at least three or four hours to spare A great way to avoid the crowds is to visit later in the afternoon, especially on Fridays, when the center is open until 9 pm The sunset and after-dark panoramic views are lovely, and the Westside and Santa Monica are convenient for a late dinner You can also make your way up PCH to the Getty s original home, built in the manner of a classical Roman villa, which currently houses the institute s ancient Greek, Roman, and Etruscan collections Beautifully renovated in a process that took years, and already in a striking setting overlooking the Pacific, it is a charming and special museum visit unlike anything else in Los Angeles Though the scandals touch here, too, this collection is certainly superb You may want to pair your visit to the main Getty Center with a stop at the relatively new (and also strikingly modern) Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N Sepulveda Blvd, at Mulholland Drive (% 310-440-4500; www skirballorg), whose galleries focus on the marriage of Jewish life and the American Dream It s quickly establishing a reputation for top-flight temporary exhibits, too Admission is $8 adults, $6 seniors and students, and free for kids younger than 12 Open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday noon to 5 pm, Thursday noon to 9 pm, and Sunday 11 am to 5 pm See map p 358 1200 Getty Center Dr % 310-440-7330 (Villa: 17985 Pacific Coast Hwy) wwwgettyedu Admission: Free for Center and Villa, but latter requires advance, timed tickets Open: Center Tues Thurs and Sun 10 am 6 pm, Fri Sat 10 am 9 pm; Villa Thurs Mon 10 am 5 pm Closed major holidays