If you live in Los Angeles and your parents come to visit, I have a great suggestion on where to go: the Huntington Library and Gardens. This proved a big hit with my mom and dad (“It’s like Disneyland for adults!”) and as a bonus, I truly enjoyed it too. The admission price is a little steep (around $20 per person) but well worth it for several hours of enjoyment. If you’re looking for a more affordable option, nearby Descanso Gardens (around $7 per person) is a good alternative. Descanso only offers the gardens — and not the library — but it is also a delightful place to spend an afternoon.
We begin our tour walking through the Huntington’s extensive gardens.
Say hello to the turtle in the photo on the left. And on the right is a curious bead-like plant that we saw in Hawaii at Acaca Falls several months earlier:
The Japanese Gardens are a sight to behold: it feels like we’d stepped in a portal to the other side of the world.
I am blown away by these bonsai trees. The one below looks like a miniature forest. I’ve never seen one up close before to admire the precise trimming that goes into sculpting such a creation.
Next we venture over to the Chinese gardens.
A highlight of our visit is the extensive greenhouse which features a variety botanical zones. As we pass through each room, we observe the climate and plant diversity in areas like a rainforest, bog, tundra, and beyond.
Next we continue to the Library. It’s an eclectic mix of sculpture, paintings, and historically preserved books.
Random fact: I currently own Edward Hopper U.S. postage stamps featuring this painting.
Among several impressive stand-outs of their collection, the Huntington boasts early copies of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales and the Gutenberg Bible.
As we walk by display cases featuring early prints of Shakespeare, John Milton, and John Donne, it occurs to me that my 11th grade British lit teacher would be way impressed.
After our day at the Huntington Library we stop in nearby South Pasadena for a quick stroll. Most of the stores are closed in observance of Labor Day, but Buster’s Coffee catches my eye (my caffeine addiction runs deep). I look forward to returning for espresso in the near future.
That wraps up our day at the Huntington Library. One part of the grounds I wish we had time to explore is the famous Huntington Library tea room. I poked my head inside as we grabbed lunch in the cafeteria and the little tea sandwiches and pastries looked to-die-for. I might even go back before my parents’ next LA visit to try it for myself!
This truly is a wonderful and diverse experience. The lovely gardens, climate variations, birds, and various art forms. Who would have thought one would see the original works of a favorite artist -Edward Hopper, several of the works of Roger Tory Peterson, Chaucer, Shakespeare, etc. amidst such lovely gardens. This is so worth the visit. I hope to go back again when in L.A. – yes, it is Disneyland for adults!
Yes, that Hopper painting was right up your alley!