Los Angeles County Museum of Art

LACMA — the Los Angeles County Museum of Art — is the largest art museum in the western United States, and for families it delivers more than a typical museum visit. The building complex sprawls across several linked pavilions on Wilshire Boulevard's Miracle Mile, and the variety of collections means that no two family visits need to cover the same ground.

For kids, LACMA works on multiple levels. Before you even enter, the Urban Light installation by Chris Burden — 202 restored antique streetlamps arranged in a dramatic grid on the south side of the campus — is genuinely magical and endlessly photographable. Young kids run between the lamp posts while older kids and teens work out the best angles for photos. It's free and accessible 24 hours.

Inside, family-relevant highlights include the Latin American art galleries (vibrant, colorful, immediately engaging), the Japanese pavilion and garden (peaceful counterpoint to the more overwhelming sections), the costume and textile wing, and whatever rotating special exhibition is running. LACMA programs targeted at children include art-making workshops and guided family tours — check their website calendar before your visit.

For LA County families, the admission math is remarkable: children under 17 with an LA County resident parent or guardian are free. Adults pay approximately $25. A family of 4 might spend $50 on admission and $15-20 on parking — genuinely accessible for a world-class museum. The second Sunday of the month is free for LA residents.

The Miracle Mile location puts LACMA directly next to La Brea Tar Pits and Museum, making a combined visit a natural full-day plan.