Serene and worthwhile family experience
As the name implies, The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens offers three impressive art galleries; a library that showcases a collection of rare books, manuscripts, and decorative arts; and a botanical collection with some 14,000 different species of plants. It's an ideal place to take the family. Older kids will enjoy the exhibits while younger children will typically enjoy the stroll (or stroller ride) across the attractive grounds.
Highlights of the Huntington collection include an actual Gutenberg Bible, Thomas Gainsborough's The Blue Boy, Sir Thomas Lawrence's Pinkie, early editions of Shakespeare's plays, and the Ellesmere manuscript of Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales.
Gardens include a 12-acre desert garden, camellia gardens and more. Most interesting to the kids will be the Japanese garden that features bonsai, ponds with koi fish, and a traditional Japanese house. There's also the intriguing Shakespeare Garden, and if you happen to attend at the right time of the year, a stunning rose garden.
Be prepared for lots of walking. But there are plenty of areas to sit and rest. If you're so inclined, The Rose Garden Tea Room serves marvelous English tea (reservations highly recommended), which can be a highlight of the day. Special events and workshops offer more family learning experiences.
If you're looking for a relatively quiet, introspective and fun day with the family, the Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens is well worth the visit.
Ages: five and up
www.daytrum.com Editorial Staff
