The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens

"The Huntington gardens in San Marino, California, are paradise. It is so beautiful, meticulously maintained and the volunteers who worked there are kind, smiling and ready to answer all your questions. This was my 2nd visit last November and I enjoyed it even more. I took tons of pictures, relaxed and meditated. The weather was gorgeous and I spent half a day. The roses garden is my favorite, but I enjoy the Japanese garden, the Chinese garden as well. “Jamais deux sans trois“, as we say in French. I certainly will go back to the Huntington Gardens!"

"This is an amazing family place to visit. It's a very big garden we dont finish it in one day because there is so much beauty to appreciate. Highly recommend. We got the annual pass and so happy we did. We can enjoy the beauty all year round. Parking is free i really appreciate that."

"The Huntington, has a history rooted in the personal passions of railroad magnate Henry E. Huntington. Although commonly associated with Pasadena, it is technically located in the adjacent city of San Marino. My boyfriend and his family have an annual tradition of visiting during the holidays, and I was so glad I finally got to join them this time. Let me tell you, “impressive” doesn’t even begin to cover it. The property is absolutely stunning, but I quickly realized it’s impossible to experience everything in a single day. The Chinese and Japanese Gardens were easily the most serene and zen areas on the property. We also passed through parts of the Desert Garden, which was completely different in atmosphere, very dramatic, expansive, and filled with towering cacti and succulents from around the world. Even with just a brief walk-through, it was clear how thoughtfully curated and visually striking it is, and it’s easy to see why it’s one of The Huntington’s most iconic areas. Even after several hours of walking, there were still entire sections I didn’t even step foot in. Because of the sheer size of the property, plan to wear comfortable shoes. We didn’t get to explore a lot of areas and still walked about 8 miles total by the end of the day. We also had a reservation at the Rose Garden Tea Room, which naturally limited our time further but it was a lovely experience and a nice break during a long day of exploring. A quick heads-up: having a tea room reservation does not include general admission to the property. Since our visit fell on a holiday weekend, admission was $34 per person. That said, admission is free on the first Thursday of every month but tickets must be reserved in advance. They’re released on the last Thursday of the preceding month at 9am and reportedly sell out almost instantly, so it’s definitely something to plan ahead for if you’re flexible. If you are a first-time visitor, my best advice is to pick two or three must-see areas rather than trying to see it all. It’s a huge property with so much hidden detail that you really can’t rush it. I’m already planning my next trip back to see the parts I missed!"

"This was a really nice visit for the family to spend a few hours exploring. The two teenagers and my husband were not big fans of the plan to go but once we started exploring, they really enjoyed the gardens. We did not go into the art museums as we were there to enjoy the outdoors. My kids enjoyed seeing the different environments and took lots of interesting photos. Definitely need 2-3 hours to enjoy it all including some time at the cafe. We spent less than 2 because it started raining near the end of our explorations of the gardens; otherwise I think my family would have stayed longer to enjoy the environment."

"This is a very beautiful garden complex and multiple museums to visit, the gift shop is next level as well. Tons to see and plenty of benches around to sit and ponder. It was super busy on a Monday so plan accordingly especially with parking. There is also a tram that rotates around the perimeter to move people from place to place which is nice for older folks or kids. I’d totally recommend a visit."