California State Railroad Museum (Sacramento): Old Sacramento's biggest attraction, the 100,000-square-foot museum was once the terminus of the Transcontinental and Sacramento Valley railways. It displays 21 locomotives and railroad cars, among other attractions. One sleeping car simulates travel, with all the swaying and flashing lights of lonely towns passed in the night.
J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Center (Los Angeles): Since its opening in 1997, the Getty has been deluged by visitors eager to see whether this ambitiously conceived complex fulfills its promise as the cultural cornerstone of L.A. Besides boasting a permanent art collection and notable visiting exhibits, the center is a striking -- and starkly futuristic -- architectural landmark. From its picturesque vantage point, the Getty offers panoramic city and ocean views.
Autry Museum of Western Heritage (Los Angeles): Relive California's historic cowboy past and see how the period has been depicted by Hollywood, from Disney cartoon re-creations to founder Gene Autry's "singing cowboy" films to popular 1960s TV series. Highlights include a life-size woolly mammoth and a glimmering vault of ornate frontier firearms.
Petersen Automotive Museum (Los Angeles): This museum is a natural for Los Angeles, a city whose personality is so entwined with the popularity of the car. Impeccably restored vintage autos are displayed in life-size dioramas accurate to the last period detail (including an authentic 1930s-era service station). Upstairs galleries house movie star and motion-picture vehicles, car-related artwork, and exhibits.
The Museums of Balboa Park (San Diego): In a relaxed, verdant setting, these venues offer a variety of experiences. My favorites are the Aerospace Museum, the Museum of Photographic Arts, the Model Railroad Museum, the Botanical Building, the Timken Museum of Art, and the Mingei International Museum of Folk Art -- that's just half of what's here. Check in at the House of Hospitality for a map and "Passport to Balboa Park," a low-cost pass to a combination of the museums.
