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24 2024-25 TRAVEL GUIDE TO CALIFORNIA STATE OF THE ARTS The Left Coast pays tribute to art, science and culture BY LAURIE WEED W hether you prefer to ogle modern art or antiquities, Ice Age fossils or space shuttles, the Golden State's wealth of world-class museums awaits. With more than 1,000 museums of all sizes across the state, there's a lifetime of fine art, science, history and culture to explore, as well as weird and wonderful collections for every imaginable niche-interest, from Star Wars memorabilia to the legends of Bigfoot. While it's impos- sible to do them all justice here, we've attempted to highlight the best of the best. The Arts Visiting LA? It's easy to spend hours in the West's largest art museum, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). Down- town, the Museum of Contemporary Art and Geffen Contemporary (MOCA Grand and MOCA Geffen, respectively) showcase the best in art created after 1940 in all media. The Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA LA) is housed downtown to great acclaim. The renowned Getty Center in the Brentwood district includes art from the Middle Ages to today set amid modern architecture and gardens. Getty Villa in Malibu focuses on Greek and Roman clas- sical art. Pasadena's Norton Simon displays European and Modern artists amid a serene sculpture garden. In nearby San Marino, The Huntington features an impressive library, art collections and 130 acres of themed botanical gardens. THE CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Located in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, this renowned scientific institution houses a world-class natural history museum, planetarium, and aquarium. Established in 1853, the academy serves as a hub for research, education, and conservation, fostering a deeper understanding of the natural world through its diverse exhibits and programs. KIT LEONG/SHUTTERSTOCK. OPPOSITE: VISIT PASADENA ; CITYPASS MUSEUMS & ART