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11 Must-Visit Museums in California (By a Local)

Updated February 29, 2024
McKenna Mobley
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The author McKenna Mobley looking at a big window showing the buddha in Norton Simon Museum

With so many museums in California, choosing which to visit can be overwhelming. There are endless options from art to natural history and science. I’ve lived in California my whole life and visiting museums is one of my favorite things to do in the Golden State. I've seen some of the greatest exhibits at California museums and I want to help you experience the best museums, too. In this guide, I’ve listed out the best museums in California, each one as great as the last. Think 18th-century pastels at the Getty Center, original Picasso pieces at Norton Simon, and some of the best past and contemporary art collections in the country. And that's just for starters...

11 Best Museums in California Los Angeles County Museum of Art One of ...

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McKenna Mobley is an avid adventurer, traveler, mountaineer, and writer from Southern California. Her goal is to climb some of the world's highest mountains and visit as many countries as she can. She loves Latin America and has been to almost every Latin country. She also has a thirst for solo adventuring and has hiked 400 consecutive miles by herself through the Arizona desert. She is the author of Budget Travel 101, Your Practical Handbook for Exploring the World on the Cheap.