The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens in Hollywood

I honestly can’t think of a better experience in Pasadena than the Huntington Library, Art Museums, and Botanical Gardens. Worth every penny. We spent a few hours here, had a lovely time walking through all the gardens, especially loved the Japanese and Chinese gardens, and had a fabulous day. It’s well-paved and maintained, the staff are all very lovely and helpful, they have a great student price, and it’s just all around a fabulous place to spend the afternoon. The assortment of plants and flowers they have are absolutely incredible, too.

The Huntington Library is a place you simply have to visit. Like the Griffith Observatory. It has so many individual and unique beautiful bits about it that allow for locals to visit regularly and experience something new and memorable. But this specific post is dedicated to the children’s garden. My hats off to whom ever designed the child sized secret garden. Everything feels geared towards provoking curiosity. As you enter through a beautiful arched door to small for the likes of an adult, sets the tone and invites a feeling of alice in wonderland…or a crossing over of sorts. The well spaced haven allows for corralled exploring with musical sculptures activated by small hands releasing tiny stones down its center, elevated water mister set into. A circular pattern generating a blanket of lit rainbow reflections. Small shallow streams, meant to be hopped over and splashed about by tiny hands. I first took my son when he was 2, and watching him scurry about from section to section squealing with joy was enough to bring us back dozens of times over the years.PRO TIP: The first Thursday of every month is Free Day. Admission is free of charge with advance reservation. Free Day tickets are available the last Thursday of every month for admission the following week.Tickets for Oct. 6 Free Day will be available on Thursday, Sept. 29 at 9 a.m.Limit 5 tickets per household per year to ensure access for as many as possible. One email and one order permitted per household. All others subject to cancellation without notice.

Excellent place to visit. Historical buildings and variety of gardens including a Chinese Garden and Japanese Gaden. Bonsai trees with courtyard. Food and drinks were available. The shop with the variety of gift options was superb. Will need to visit again.

Beautiful place! The gardens are magnificent! Hang on to your tickets as they suddenly have gotten very weird about tickets, as if something created this. And as someone else mentioned, it would be helpful if they had more directional signs. But otherwise, fantastic place!

Amazing! Beautiful gardens! Super peaceful. A lot of people but mega spacious. Great opportunity to get you steps in, spent 5 hours here and was able to visit all gardens, although unfortunately because of this heat waive most galleries we’re closed. I will definitely return!

An absolutely beautiful spot to check out for locals and tourists alike. Ticket prices are a bit high, but totally worth it! You gain access to the library, art gallery, and the expansive grounds with many acres of different themed gardens. My personal favourite is the Chinese Garden. You could easily spend an entire day here exploring the grounds, and because they’re so expansive, it never feels crowded, even on a busy summer day. There are also a number of food, drink, and coffee options on-site should you feel hungry. All in all a great experience, highly recommend checking it out!

Super nice area! Plenty of places to walk around, enjoy art/nature, hang out with friends, and do work. The childrens garden seems fun and delightful for the little ones.Worth becoming a member and revisiting often if you are a local.

This was my first visit and it is such a beautiful place. Just what I needed. A place to revel in natures beauty and immediate slow mental health reset. What is cool is how man made and nature co-exist. , (check the cool concrete tree, and woven branches canopy path- you def have to look twice.The washing away thoughts pavilion is just that. We could all use a lil bit of natures treatment.A beautiful reminder of how we should honor and take care of mother earth as she takes care of us so deeply. A tribute to natural life. Wondrous.

Excellent. Need to purchase tickets but its very extensive. Broad collection of British artists. The restored house is also quite s sight. The adjacent museum and gardens are very nice. Three Chinese and Japanese gardens are very nice. Dont miss these two last ones.

Huntington Library, is a very nice centrally located attraction that is well worth a visit.It is very quiet and completely different from the hustle and bustle of the city. You can imagine the mood when Henry bought it more than 100 years ago.Looking at the hand-painted maps hanging on the wall in the exhibition hall, imagine the scene of the year for yourself. Its so beautiful. . It is a pity that the main building is not open due to rotating exhibits, which is a pity.I can only visit other small pavilions. I spent 45 minutes in Virginia Steele Scott Galleries, which is very worth seeing.The gardens and botanical gardens here are very beautiful. I like it here very much. There are many people on weekends. If you have time, it is best to go on weekdays, which is quieter.I can really visit here for a day. It is recommended to go early. I arrived around 1 pm, and I feel that 4 hours is definitely not enough.

Absolutely worth the trip. World class garden. Huge. The cactus garden was unbelievably beautiful as were the Japanese and Chinese gardens. The jungle section was pretty cool too. We didnt have time to see any of the museums because we were too busy with the gardens. Id go again in a heartbeat.

They’ll be checking your tickets twice! So don’t put it away after the first time. I went on a weekend 11 AM and it wasn’t too busy. Parking was packed though. Lots of flowers and life here! If you go right, then you’ll hit the museum first. Its chilly in there so if it’s hot, go to the museum to cool off. They do have a kids area where kids can play with water and mist! They also have a greenhouse you can explore. The entire place is beautiful! I think they can add a bit more directions on floor or around the gardens. We got lost since it’s so big. Their gift shop things are so cute too!

Diverse and elegant gardens which flow effortlessly from place to place. At a leisurely walking pace, one could spend over an hour in each individual region, and even longer if you regularly pause for pictures or sit down to rest and meditate on the view. There are drinking fountains and restroom spaced frequently throughout the gardens to stay hydrated, along with plenty of scenic seating benches in shaded and secluded spots. The Desert, Japanese, Chinese, and Jungle gardens are definite highlights of the day.

Its a beautiful museum. My favorite part of the botanical garden was the Japanese and Chinese garden. Its so relaxing. Its so beautiful that its a good place to de stress from a busy work schedule. No words can describe how outstanding the garden is. Gives you an idea if you are a writer. For a photographer enthusiast or travel enthusiasts. Its a real treat to explore and just enjoy the beauty of the nature.

Came here mainly for the Japanese and Chinese Garden.Last time I came here, these were under construction or not open to public, so this was one of the main attractions I wanted to visit.The "museum" portion of the location was alright, I cant really appreciate the historical aspects of the place, but the informational and educational value of the botanical gardens was something else.The garden is littered with information on what plants are what as well as being placed aesthetically pleasing. I would say either come in after lunch or leave before lunch, as food pricing in the garden is kinda high for what you can get.

Its sometimes hard to believe LA has such a lovely botanical and art site. Dont forget that undergraduate students can get the unique student pass which offers year-long admission for only 32 bucks. Make sure to purchase ticket or reserve your admission time online. Very nice place.

Absolutely gorgeous gardens. Varied regions like jungle, desert and lily ponds. The Japanese gardens were my favorite. Lunch in the café wasn’t overpriced like most museums can be. Highly recommend. Can easily spend a full day and not see it all.

Dont be fooled by the "library" in the name. While this place probably have a library somewhere, it also has a huge botanical garden! If you want to see everything, you can spend the entire day here! I was blown away by the desert garden, so many different cacti!🌵The Chinese garden was beautiful too!

Lush and beautiful park. So many different trails and areas to enjoy. Bring your picnic blanket or sit on one of many benches. No outside food is allowed, but 3 cafes are placed throughout the park with very tasty food and drinks.

Beautiful garden! Very nice and enjoyable to take a walk in and the exhibits and library were enjoyable as well. The Jade Court restaurant was wonderful as well. We spent around 4 hours there.

Must see !!!Tucked in the old rich neighborhood of San Marino but easily accessible by private vehicle, The Huntington has several buildings housing exquisite collections spread out in acres of land. Add to it well-manicured thematic cultural gardens and plenty of space to walk around and ample parking.The collections in the main library are impressively curated and there is a Gutenberg bible - one of the few remaining copies in the world.The botanical garden is also a must.The gift shop is impressive and right outside is a cafeteria and a relaxing courtyard.Highly recommended !!!

I have loved this place since the first time I visited back in 1977. Beautiful grounds, rose garden, Japanese garden, Chinese garden, bonsai trees, museums. Great place to get your steps in while taking in all the scenery.

The Huntington Library and Gardens are a beautiful respite from a busy day at work. Once you find parking, the rest of the experience is lovely. Entrance is usually a speedy process and the employees are kind and helpful.The rose garden is my favorite but I always make time to take in the Chinese Garden as well. It is the latest addition to the property and is simply stunning.The exhibits change regularly and are quite varied. The galleries are not huge so you don’t leave feeling like you didn’t have time to see the exhibits.Don’t miss the Statue Garden! The food on site has been consistently delicious so if you have time to grab lunch or a snack, take that opportunity.

SO PRETTY. you can easily spend your whole day here and not be bored! the gardens are pretty and the museums are incredibly interesting. i will say the food in the chinese garden was a little overpriced for what we got but it was still an enjoyable experience nonetheless and im considering going back again!

In my opinion this is one of the most beautiful gardens Ive ever been too. Absolutely worth the money. Its hard to see everything in one visit so pack the snacks and come caffeinated!

What a place. You have museums, library, shops, dining, and amazing gardens. This place has it all. Spend a day or a couple hours. Find one of many quick bite dining options and keep walking this beautiful botanical garden. Tons of places to sit and take in the scenery and relax those feet.Price: $25 per adultParking: Free and plentyNo lines to get in and plenty of staff working.Great for families or a date.This place needs a Boutique bed-and-breakfast. If one could take a stroll at night and sleep in this tranquil environment then wake up to a beautiful breakfast over looking a section of the park taking in that aroma of the flowers and the sounds of the birds that would be awesome.

This is a wonderful place to visit. Beautiful art, literature, and spectacular gardens. I would encourage anyone to visit! Just a word of caution, weekends are full of people and holiday weekends even worse. A weekday would offer a more peaceful visit.

Amazingly beautiful place.The gardens are very well maintained.Spent 3 hours there and only covered 50% would highly recommend a day trip.Great place to with parents and children for a family trip

This is my favorite place during my LA trip. Its a combination of library, botanical garden, art museum, Japanese garden, Chinese garden, etc... The staff/volunteers are super nice. They are willing to answer your questions. Bill, the staff/volunteer at the Rose Garden is very knowledgeable. Dont forget your student ID if youre a full time student. You get $4 off.

I went on free day and it was so beautiful and relaxing! To reserve up to 5 tickets on their monthly free day just check the website. You have to be fast! Bring water. It gets really hot and finding drinking water in the gardens is surprisingly challenging. Can’t wait to go back, see the gardens in different seasons and explore the museum.

The Huntington is a beautiful place for the whole family to go to. I was lucky that I got to come here on a field trip with my after school program. There is a beautiful botanical garden that has a Chinese and Japanese garden. The house that the Huntingtons lived in is beautiful and has nice paintings. For the kids, there is an interactive children’s garden where they can play with the water, but if they play with the water, please make sure to bring extra clothes for them and you, just in case they decide to splash you(lol). The bathrooms are also very clean and the ice cream at the front was not bad!

I highly recommend people visit this wonderful place. I would recommend 3-5 hours that youd spend here. We spent about 4 hours and didnt see everything. There are about 8+ gardens with the Japanese garden being my fave. Check the site on which exhibits are closed. They are doing construction. Its so peaceful... I love the sculptures. The food in the Jade Cafe is really good.

Truly breathtaking sights. A wonderfully curated arboretum. Definitely plan for 3-4 hours to fully take in everything. Going in late April is also great if you want to see the Rose Garden in full bloom.

Beautiful gardens and library! Make sure you buy the tickets in advance or reserve if you are a member. Usually it takes a while to park the car.The bonsai court, Japanese and Chinese gardens are awesome. The kids will definitely enjoy the children’s gardens and tropical gardens!

The Huntington Gardens & Library is absolutely amazing! The beauty of the trees, plants and flowers is beyond description. The quality of the artwork and manuscripts on display is awe-inspiring. We had the best tour with a docent named Nicholas on Sunday morning. He was incredibly well-informed about the history of the property, the different types of vegetation, and the history of the artwork. We loved it so much, we bought a membership because we plan to go back many times throughout the year!

Just a lovely lovely place to spend say three hours. Beautiful gardens and land. Don’t go on a real hot temperature day as you will suffer. We loved the Japanese garden!

A beautiful place to go! Its also the perfect date spot as well! So many gorgeous flowers and gardens set up and the library itself has historic paintings/sculptures to view as well. If you enjoy art galleries or floral gardens, this is the place to be!

What a beautiful property! We purchased tickets for a Saturday about a week and a half ahead of time. We purchased for 10AM, which is when they open to non-members. Parking is free, but can fill up quickly. Definitely bring water and snacks, this place is gigantic and can be a trek back to the coffee shop and restaurants. We enjoyed it so much, we became members.

So beautiful! They have a variety of different gardens but our favorite was the Japanese garden! So gorgeous! They also have the red car cafe which was so good! I recommend their tea and ice cream! The shop is beautiful as well.

The Boone Gallery is my favorite Gallery here! The gardens are wonderful. It definitely has a corporate feel now that it is not owned by the family. I love the succulent varieties here. The Japanese garden is getting a wonderful renovation to the tea house! I really cant wait!

The Huntington is a wonderful place. Ive been going there for 50 years, and its always a delight! Due to Covid, the upstairs and some of the rooms in the main house are shut, but the main gallery is open, as is the library and all of the grounds.

Always incredibly relaxing and calming to go here. Words cannot do the beauty of this place justice , just look at the many pictures already posted online. If you live close by, I highly recommend getting a yearly membership as it is worth it. This can be a place of healing especially to escape the chaos of Los Angeles.

Amazing and expansive. I honestly didn’t expect to spend as much time here as we did, but it’s plenty of walking ! The gardens are beautiful and we really enjoyed the print works exhibit. I just wish the map was more detailed? We (and a few other familieswere pretty mixed up as to where we were. The Suzhou style garden/architecture was a highlight for me!

Absolutely breathtaking. Even in the off season the gardens were beautiful and expansive. We were the from open to close and still didnt see it all. This place is a photographers dream. I will definitely be back!

This place is beautiful. Even on a day full of rain and cold weather we absolutely loved walking through and exploring everything this place has to offer. Plenty of plant scenery with a nice mixture of architecture, sculptures, and the galleries in between. The shop was fun to walk through and the coffee place had surprisingly delicious hot chocolate! Whether you have a few hours or a good chunk of the day to use you can definitely enjoy spending it here.

There is so much to see here! It’s like many different wonderful places rolled into one. The art museum is top notch but the gardens are really something extraordinary. Between the Rose garden, the Japanese garden, the newly expanded Chinese garden, and all the other botanical gardens available it feels like you were in a totally different part of the state. The grounds are huge so it never feels too crowded except for certain parts of the art museum. There are honestly so many options that there are plenty of places for everyone on site to explore. It’s hard for me to name my favorite part of it as each time I go I see something new and depending on my mood I have a different destination each time.The Gettys, Norton Simon, and this are my favorite museums in all of Los Angeles but this is my favorite botanical garden. Descanso Gardens is nice and so is the Los Angeles Arboretum but this is still my favorite. The LA Arboretum would probably be second for botanical garden. Highly recommend to anyone!

Come see this amazing place. There is so much to see and experience for people of all ages. The gardens in themselves are incredible. Whether you come for a little while or the whole day, you will not be disappointed.

Gorgeous all-around. Desert exhibit was truly magnificent and had every iteration of succulents imaginable. The Japanese and Chinese gardens were likewise well-tended to and simply thriving. If you are looking for a day of serenity and immersion into the natural wonders of the world, look no further!Only drawbacks were that the Japanese/Chinese gardens were closed off, unsure if they are doing some revival work or if they just wanted me to purchase the additional $20+ plus ticket for the 90-minute walking tour to see them. Either way, it is disappointing to only see them from the external pathway.In all, a pleasant experience and worth the trip.

You could spend easily spend two days here if youre a fast walker or three. The Australian and Japanese gardens were closed due to tree falls. We bought tickets in advance and it was worth it. Remember to get your student discount ticket! We didnt even go to any of the inside exhibits and most of the restaurants were closed except the one near the entrance.

Beautiful gardens and grounds and public artwork. The Japanese and Chinese gardens make you really like you’re in Japan and China as well as the Australian garden. Great gift shop with a great collection of merchandise. Would have loved to check out the library but didn’t have time. Recommend becoming a member and come for at least two or three days to explore.