Culture

Antelope Valley Indian Museum Visit this museum full of early American folk art; explore artifacts collected from the Great Basin Indians and other local archaeological discoveries. Avenue M, LA County, CA; + 1 661 942 0662. Fee.

The Bay Area Discovery Museum Discover the unique features of the Bay Area at this museum especially well suited for youngsters; learn to use scientific instruments; see how the wildlife of the bay adapted to the building of the Golden Gate Bridge at the Wave Workshop; explore woodland, creek, and meadow environments at the outdoor Tot Spot. 557 McReynolds Rd., Sausalito, CA; +1 415 339 3900. Fee.

Bowers Museum of Cultural Art Explore this museum highlighting native art of the Americas; head to the Kidseum to create your own "Artyfact;" have your face painted in Native American designs. 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana, CA; +1 714 567 3600. Fee.

California African-American Museum Learn about the unique experience of African-Americans living in South Central Los Angeles; see sculpture from the African Diaspora and paintings from the emancipation period. 600 State Dr., Los Angeles, CA; +1 213 744 7432. Fee.

Carriage and Western Art Museum See carriages of every function and style, from Police "cars" to circus vehicles; view the saddles of famous figures like the Cisco Kid and Will Rogers. 129 Castillo St., Santa Barbara, CA; +1 805 962 2353.

Cartoon Art Museum Discover the history of famous cartoons; glimpse historic prints from Batman to Zippy the Pinhead; follow the history of comics in the United States featuring Krazy Kat and Charles Schultz's Peanuts. 655 Mission St., San Francisco, CA; +1 415 227 8666. Fee.

Children's Discovery Museum of the Desert Traverse the tricky rope maze; learn about gravity at the How Things Work exhibit; try rock climbing on the miniature rock wall; build your masterpiece on the magnetic sculpture exhibit. Well suited for children aged 2 through 10. 71-701 Gerald Ford Dr., Rancho Mirage, CA; +1 760 321 0602. Fee.

The Children's Museum at La Habra Blow a human-size bubble; take a spin on the carousel; pretend you're a bus driver when you get behind the wheel of Buster the Bus. 301 S. Euclid St., La Habra, CA; +1 562 905 9793. Fee.

Children's Museum of Stockton Practice being a postman, a bank teller, or a doctor in the museum's micro town; learn the history of Vietnam through fascinating dragon and fairy folktales. 402 W. Weber Ave., Stockton, CA; +1 209 465 4386. Fee.

Chinatown Enter the iconic Chinatown gate to visit the best-known Chinese community in the United States; visit an array of shops and restaurants; tour the Fortune Cookie factory to see how the treats are made. 56 Ross Alley, San Francisco, CA; +1 415 781 3956.

Crocker Art Museum Admire the works of European masters like Pieter Brueghel and or Philippe de Champaigne; explore the works of more contemporary Californian artists; tour the massive collection of East Asian ceramics. 216 O St., Sacramento, CA; +1 916 264 5423. Fee.

Fisherman's Wharf Watch the watermen and their fleets at work at this busy port attraction; gobble the freshest of seafood from street vendors; visit the Musee Mecanique's antique arcade amusements; take a tour of the USS Pampanito to see what life aboard a World War II submarine was like. Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco, CA; +1 415 674 7503. Fee.

Forestiere Underground Gardens Take a subterranean journey to the Mediterranean without leaving the San Joaquin Valley; explore citrus farmer Baldasare Forestiere's underground home; see a citrus tree bearing seven different kinds of fruit; marvel at the grottoes, Roman arches, and other architectural feats that adorn this underground engineering masterpiece. 5021 W. Shaw Ave., Fresno, CA; +1 559 271 0734. Fee.

Fresno Metropolitan Museum of Art and Science Admire the clever puzzle collection; make a pinhole camera; snap a shot of the Feathered Dinosaur exhibit. 933 Van Ness Ave., Fresno, CA; +1 559 441 1444. Fee.

The Getty Center Admire masterpieces from Rembrandt, Van Gogh, and Monet; stroll through the sculpture gardens and gaze out onto a panoramic view of the city framed by an underwater azalea maze. 1200 Getty Center Dr., Los Angeles, CA; +1 310 440 7300. Fee.

The Getty Villa Enjoy the collection of J. Paul Getty and the others who have expanded this gathering of ancient artifacts; see sculptures and friezes depicting the story of the Trojan war; admire statues of Dionysus and other gods. 17985 Pacific Coast Hwy., Pacific Palisades, CA; +1 310 440 7300. Fee.

Gull Wings Children's Museum Pretend to captain a ship in the shark-filled waters of California; play with a starfish in the ocean touch tank; explore the moon room of the Space exhibit; try cooking some of the local cuisine at Bud's Bistro. 418 W. Fourth St., Oxnard, CA; +1 805 483 3005. Fee.

Hollywood Walk of Fame Walk the path of stars; see the names and imprints of such greats as Greta Garbo, Charlie Chaplin, and Marilyn Monroe at this legendary Hollywood location. 7018 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA; +1 323 469 8311.

The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens See a Gutenberg Bible, a manuscript of the Canterbury Tales, the landscape paintings of John Constable, and George Washington's handwritten genealogy all in one place; enjoy a moment of relaxation at the Rose Garden Tea Room overlooking the Chinese garden. 1151 Oxford Rd., San Marino, CA; +1 626 405 2100. Fee.

Kern County Museum & Children's Discovery Center Take a simulated trip under the sea in a diving bell to learn how oil is formed; follow a costumed interpreter as he leads you along a simulation of Lewis and Clark's journey. 3801 Chester Ave., Bakersfield, CA; +1 661 852 5000. Fee.

Laguna Beach Explore this scenic and sleepy hillside town; visit the Pacific Marine Mammal Center to see seals and other creatures; catch a play at the Laguna Playhouse, the oldest continually running playhouse on the West Coast; spend a day dodging crabs and surfers while you relax on the sand at Woods Cove. Visitor Information Center: 252 Broadway, Laguna Beach, CA; +1 949 497 9229. Fee.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art Marvel at the surreal urban landscapes of Magritte; spend hours wandering though this encyclopedic collection that spans a multi-building campus; see works that span from Meso-America to ancient Islam that populate this impressive gathering of culture. 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA; +1 323 857 6000. Fee.

Maturango Museum Explore the cultural history of the northern Mojave desert; tour the Petroglyph Canyons; marvel at the incredible works of art. 100 E. Las Flores Ave., Ridgecrest, CA; + 1 760 375 6900 Fee.

Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Enjoy a broad sampling of American and European art from 1940 to the present; see the work of modern masters like Julian Schnabel, Willem de Kooning, and Jasper Johns. 250 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, CA; +1 213 626 6222. Fee.

North Beach Walk through this historic cultural center of San Francisco; see the City Lights bookstore that first published the poetry of Allen Ginsberg; climb the Filbert Steps to the top of Telegraph Hill for an unrivaled panorama of the city. North Beach, San Francisco, CA. City Lights Bookstore: +1 415 362 8193.

Olvera Street Experience the sights, sounds, and tastes of historic Los Angeles at this bustling pedestrian thoroughfare; grab a burrito from one of the street vendors; take home some of the unique folk art being hawked from every corner; enjoy a mariachi performance and roadside puppet show. 622 N. Main St., Los Angeles, CA.

Oroville Chinese Temple Watch a unique Chinese Shadow Puppet show at the Chinese Opera Theatre; see Taoist and Buddhist decorative hangings that line the walls of Tapestry Hall; take a moment for some Eastern reverence in the Chan Room, dedicated to Confucian ideals. 1500 Broderick St., Oroville, CA; +1 530 538 2496. Fee.

Palm Springs Art Museum See a vast collection of artwork from Western artists like William Darling; learn how to paint, dance, or sculpt at the family classes at Zone 101. 101 Museum Dr., Palm Springs, CA; +1 760 325 7186. Fee.

Petersen Automotive Museum Admire antique cars of every era in their lifelike environments; view the Packards and Cadillacs once driven by Hollywood's elite; learn how internal combustion works by examining the inner workings of an engine at the Family Discovery Center. 6060 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA; +1 323 930 2277. Fee.

Randall Museum Discover the complex world of honeybees by checking out the production hives on the roof; younger children can explore the Tree House Toddler Exploration Zone; create together at a family ceramics class. 199 Museum Way, San Francisco, CA; +1 415 554 9600. Fee.

Rodeo Drive Live like the rich and famous, or at least pretend to as you window shop at Tiffany's, Armani, and Harry Winston along this world famous strip; stop to eat at one of the outdoor cafés and keep a camera ready for a snap of the hordes of celebrities that live and shop in the area. Rodeo Dr., Los Angeles, CA; +1 800 345 2210. Stores Various Hrs.

San Diego Museum of Art Peruse masters like Goya and Rubens; tour the outdoor sculpture garden for an eclectic mix of an old and new. 1450 El Prado, San Diego, CA; +1 619 232 7931. Fee.

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Visit this pantheon to Modern art with works by Pablo Picasso, Georgia O' Keeffe, and Jackson Pollock; take a tour geared to teach children about the art or sign up for one of the monthly family studio classes. 151 3rd St., San Francisco, CA; +1 415 357 4000. Fee.

Santa Barbara Museum of Art Walk through rooms filled with Greek and Roman antiquities; admire the work of masters such as Monet, Matisse, and Picasso; visit the interactive children's space. 1130 State St., Santa Barbara, CA; +1 805 963 4364. Fee.

Solvang Admire the cross-timbered houses and windmills that dot the landscape of this town, settled by Danish educators in the early 20th century; grab an authentic Danish pastry from one of the many bakeries; explore the life of famed storyteller Hans Christian Andersen at his museum. Solvang, CA; +1 805 688 0701. Fee.

University of California Los Angeles Have a relaxing picnic on the campus green; visit the Fowler Museum for exhibits highlighting world peoples and cultures; glimpse works from Monet and Van Gogh at the Hammer Museum. Parking & Information 555 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA; +1 310 825 4321 Fee.

Venice Beach Visit this five-block section of Venice to gawk at the eclectic mass of humanity; watch the antics of the street performers on the Boardwalk; head over to Muscle Beach to see toned bodybuilders strutting their stuff at the outdoor gym. 1800 Ocean Front Walk, Los Angeles, CA.

Will Rogers State Historic Park Uncover the life of this Hollywood legend when you take a guided tour of his 31-room ranch house; explore the forested grounds by hiking the Backbone trail up to Point Mugu, nestled in the Santa Monica mountains. 1501 Will Rogers Park Road, Pacific Palisades, CA; +1 310 454 8212. Fee.

Zeum Produce and star in your own music video at this hands-on museum geared for children eight and older; create a story and bring it to life in the animators studio; discover what a Martian might look like in the Digital Workshop. 221 Fourth St., San Francisco, CA; +1 415 820 3320. Fee.