Devxen Studios

If you are willing to travel a bit out of the main LA area, be sure to add the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden to your destinations list. This gorgeous, 127-acre garden and outdoor oasis is nestled into the low-key San Gabriel town, near the mountains. The Arboretum houses luscious plant collections from all over the world, including many rare and endangered species.

Car aficionados won't want to skip the Petersen Automotive Museum. Founded by the creator of Hot Rod and Motor Trend magazines, this extensive automotive museum is one of the largest of its kind in the world. The museum owns over 200 vehicles and displays 100 to the public. Learn about the history of the automobile, visit the interactive exhibit to learn about the way a car works, or take a tour of the facility.

Learn about the Ice Age at the La Brea Tar Pits near the Page Museum. One of the world's most famous attractions for fossil localities, the La Brea Tar Pits provide a window into the past through plant and animal fossils. The Page Museum displays the collection of found specimens (including giant mammoths and saber-toothed cats), and offers the opportunity to watch bones being cleaned and repaired in the Laboratory.