Photo courtesy of Mariko Johnson (Mariko@LA), Flickr (
California Science Center's newest exhibition wing focuses on the natural world and the diverse ecology found around the globe. “Ecosystems” features eight different zones, including an Island Zone, a Rot Room, the Extreme Zone and an LA Zone, give visitors an up-close experience of basic ecological principles.Admire the fragile pink cherry blossoms at Lake Balboa in Van Nuys, where a mile-long footpath begs for a springtime stroll. At The Huntington Botanical Gardens, 14 beautifully maintained themed gardens cover 120 acres of rolling hillsides. Look for bluebells, dogwood, Chinese snowbells and Chinese tulip trees to be in bloom this spring. And about a 20-minute drive from Downtown in La Cañada Flintridge, Descanso Gardens revels in the wonders of spring with special tours, Easter and Earth Day events, and blooms of irises, lilacs, cherry trees, daffodils, azaleas and tulips.
The Central Garden at the Getty Center features a natural ravine and a walkway that traverses a stream, arbors and a floating maze of azaleas. Not to mention, the gardens at Malibu’s Getty Villa are breathtaking in spring.More than a just place to buy seasonal fruits and vegetables, the Hollywood Farmer's Market is a quintessential Southern California street fair. The amazing variety of fresh fruits and vegetables inspires chefs and home cooks, and it’s not unusual to see celebrities picking through the produce. The vibrant market hosts street musicians, chef demos, cookbook signings, children's craft workshops, prepared gourmet foods, baked goods, clothing, jewelry and more. Click here to take a virtual around-the-world tasting tour of The Original Farmers Market at Third and Fairfax.
Beautiful year-round, the ocean views at Malibu Lagoon State Beach are unmatched in spring, and excellent bird (and celebrity) sightings this time of year make it a prime springtime spot. Just south is the Adamson House, a national historic site that showcases historical artifacts from the area. Stop by for a visit and then head to the nearby Malibu Country Mart, which features world-class shopping and dining as well as a children’s play area.Explore the streets of Little Tokyo for shops filled with traditional and pop-culture imports, and grab a taste of Tokyo at one of the noodle or sushi houses. The Cherry Blossom Festival (April 2-3) features fashion shows, martial arts and traditional Japanese dancing, food, crafts and more. And, don’t forget to visit the Japanese American National Museum for a collection of traditional and contemporary Japanese art and a fantastic museum gift shop.
Each day, Dakota, Buster, Rio, Dixie and the other horses at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center get tacked up for trail rides in the beautiful urban wilderness of Griffith Park. On Fridays and Saturdays, Griffith Park Horse Rentals offers sunset dinner rides, the perfect end to a springtime day in Los Angeles.On the north side of the UCLA campus, the gorgeous Murphy Sculpture Garden includes sculptures by Auguste Rodin Jean Arp, Deborah Butterfield, Alexander Calder, Robert Graham, Barbara Hepworth, Jacques Lipchitz, Henry Moore, Isamu Noguchi, David Smith and more. The garden’s Jacaranda trees bloom in April and May, turning it into a lacy purple wonderland. Click here to find other highly-acclaimed sculpture gardens in Los Angeles.
Here's a spring trip tip sheet for folks looking for the biggest family blast for the buck (less than $50 for a family of four): CLICK HERE
