A Visit to the Getty Center

On a recent visit to Los Angeles, I was craving a new experience and in particular I had a desire for botanical gardens. On the mainland you will see some of the most beautiful, brilliant and inspiring flowers. Here in Hawaii we have more tropical and unusual finds but on the west Coast I tend to find colors, breeds and flora not often found in the islands. I searched online for a nearby garden and one of the highest rated in the state was Getty Center. We (my longtime friend Randy and I) had just finished lunch at Villa Blanca, which was wonderful by the way, and wanted to walk off the delicious meal with a new adventure. 

Off to Getty Center we went... We literally had no idea where we were going and only knew that it was popular. So popular in fact that the parking took a good amount of time and the lines to get in were quite long. They offer a free tram to take you from the underground parking to the center/museum/gardens and that took the longest amount of time (waiting in line for the tram). 

The good news is everything here (except the parking) is FREE. You can peruse the museum, gardens, impressive architecture, rolling green hills and numerous water features. Currently on display in the air conditioned state of the art museum you'll find European, American and Medieval Art. 

Outside an abundance of foliage. The Central Garden is a living installation that is always changing, growing and adapting. They say it is "never twice the same." More than 500 plant varieties are utilized to create this oasis and the location is perched hillside with majestic views of the Santa Monica Mountains, Pacific Ocean and Los Angeles City. 

As part of the J. Paul Getty Trust, emphasis is on art, education, inspiring future leaders and visual arts. This philanthropic organization provides these experiences free of charge to perpetuate this mission. 

1200 Getty Center Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90049
Open everyday except Monday
http://www.getty.edu/visit/center/​