I've been going to the main museum and didn't know about the architecture building that they…read moreacquired in 2015. They currently exhibit early women entrepreneurs and developers. The building is mid century with terrazzo floors and detailed outside shutters. The gift shop includes the original bank vault. I saw some items that I didn't see in the main museum shop. In January 2026, they'll have an exhibit about fashion design and runways.

Very expensive will wait to explore the place another time. The person that answered the phone was…read morenot very cordial. Still I would love to visit here. Looks great from the outside but not much to do inside. I asked questions over the phone but the nasty man put me at bay and I said not today!

I ended up here on a Thursday night before Village Fest and I loved to see all the artwork, and the…read morepeople enjoying the art museum. I was so grateful that Thursday nights are free because museums can be unacceptable for people sometimes. They have many exhibits and art pieces. There were multiple stories and stairs across the museum! They also have elevators if you're unable to access the stairs. I definitely would recommend and invite others to go if you're in the area. Just be mindful on Thursday nights arrive early for parking or you might have to park a few blocks away and walk!

It's $25 per person but if you have an account with Bank of America, the entrance fee is waived. At…read moreleast that was the case when we were there. Our friend was lucky enough to be able to take advantage of that. Love going to the art museums! This is a small museum but enough to see to spend a couple of hours here out of the heat. Wish we had the foresight to come at the right time to join their docent led tours. The museum was not crowded or busy when we were there on a Saturday. There were many cool contemporary art pieces. We forgot about the sculpture garden until after we had left and we were walking to our car. It can be seen from outside looking down into the garden. We'll have to remember to do that next time we're there again. Lots of free parking spaces in the lot next to and across from the museum.

Outdoor museum, dedicated to showing the work of Noah Purifoy, a late 20th century LA artist who…read morespent the last years of his life on this property, making sculptures out of recycled everyday materials. His workshop and living trailer are still there, surrounded by his artwork. The grounds are unfenced, and there is a dedicated parking area on both side of the dirt ride, towards the West part of the exhibit (coming from the East, important to keep going until you see a small parking area on the south part of the road...otherwise, you will be parking on private property.) You can get up close and personal, and touch whatever you like (since it's part of how the exhibit's age). But it can also be dangerous, with many pokey and sharp things, so need to watch out while wandering. Art is a subjective thing, and I would not have guessed that I would have enjoyed his exhibit as much as I did (especiallyl the exhibits involving bowling balls and/or toilets as the main materials). But as I continued to look at his pieces, kept wondering 'What was he thinking?....How did he envision this would look 20 years after creation, as the desert enveloped?', both from an overall macro level, but also from a detailed, day-to-day accomplishment perspective. The setting of the desert is as integral as the recycled material itself. And I couldn't help but think...'is this what a end-of-the-world scenario would look like?'. And as certain parts of the exhibit degrades, will the foundation fix it...or is that the natural progression of his art? There is a handout near the entrance that tells the fascinating story of the artist's life. It's well worth reading.

This place is awesome! It's an outdoor art gallery of large sculptures and installations out in…read morethe middle of the desert. You have to drive out a little, but it's located in a neighborhood with a couple houses so close by, there are signs telling you it's private property. You can spend quite some time out here, immersing yourself in the artwork. My favorite is the toilet temple. It's built out of toilets, and you can walk through the archway made out of toilets. There are multiple structures built that you can walk through and feel as though you are walking through a place that is forbidden, including a shack, complete with bed and clothes hanging on a line. The artwork spans decades. He's a prolific artist. The majority of the sculptures have cables holding them down, so you have to be careful not to trip on them accidentally when walking up close, I'd you're not paying attention. I highly recommend visiting this place. Admission is free! Parking: Plenty of free designated parking.

I've been to the RAM many times and it's a small art museum in Downtown Riverside. The Cheech…read moreMuseum is one stop light up and a larger museum. If you purchase a ticket to the Cheech, the RAM is included in your ticket price, or if you start at the RAM, the Cheech will be included that day. I came to the RAM this time around, specifically, for the 60 Miles East exhibit. This exhibit ends on 4/12, so make sure to swing by before then if you want to catch it. The exhibit contained many flyers, pictures, art, and even ticket stubs that brought me back to my childhood. It was in a clean and open space that made the experience enjoyable. This exhibit takes up only one room and there are other spaces to check out for additional art exhibits. I did notice less art, this time around, than in previous visits and many open spaces/walls were not taken up. Overall, I'm glad I got to enjoy this exhibit, before it ends, and it really highlights the Inland Empire's music scene as an important piece of diverse culture. Enjoy!

Located on the corner of Mission and Lime, I'd passed the Riverside Art Museum so many times but…read morenever actually went inside. I was usually heading next door to the RMA for a concert. But when they announced the 60 Miles East Punk Rock in Riverside exhibition, I knew I wasn't going to miss it. The Riverside Art Museum was originally built in 1929 as a YWCA before being bought and turned into what it is now. You walk in and admission is right there. I went on Veterans Day so I got in free. Otherwise combo tickets that get you into the Cheech the same day cost $15.95. A good deal! The 60 Miles East exhibition is in a giant room filled with flyers, posters and clothing from bands and places all over the Inland Empire. It was super cool but made me a bit sad inside because I'd been to the Showcase Theatre on many occasions and still miss it. They also have art in another part of the gallery including a Shepard Fairley original. I wasn't expecting that! Overall the Riverside Art Museum is a place I'd for sure recommend. It's not real big but since you can go to the Cheech on the same day with your ticket, it's worth the admission cost. 60 Miles East runs to mid April so don't miss it! Support the arts!

A hidden gem (quite literally) in Laguna Beach, the Museum of Make Believe truly lives up to the…read morewhimsy and magic it seeks to bestow upon its travelers. Highly recommend to anyone seeking a trip of puzzle-mystery with a nostalgic edge. Huge shoutout to Sabrina & Sylvan for guiding us along the way and their warm hospitality.

Super cute, whimsical and magical experience at the Museum of Make Believe…read more After seeing some Instagram posts and reels about the cute space, my friend and I decided to stop by to visit for a day trip. You do choose a time slot to enter, but due to traffic we were going to be a little bit late. We called and let the staff know and it was no biggie. Parking is a bit confusing since it's near a very busy road and residential area, so just make sure you're not parking where you can get fined or towed. After some confusion, we parked in the structure (unclear if allowed or not, but subsequently nothing happened. Phew!). The museum is located at the business plaza building and immediately stands out with it's beautiful storefront and the door that looks like it's out of a fairytale. Immediately we were welcomed by Sabrina, who was not only super informative (but in an easy to understand, not overwhelming way), but super friendly and made our visit that much more amazing. She knows the lore, knew the key and critical points to swoop in to enhance the magic (like when we went to ask the wise wizard some questions), and was very accommodating overall. The people really do make the magic. During your visit, you can opt to do the scavenger hunts and answer the riddles for some prizes and it varies in difficulty from easy to hard, but everything is open to interpretation based on YOUR IMAGINATION. It's the Museum of Make Believe for a reason. The attention to detail is immaculate, from the miniatures and dioramas, the foliage on the ceiling to the ground, and even in the water closet, there's so much to see and you can easily spend a long time just taking everything in. I won't include spoilers but I love that there's not just a lot to see, but to experience through sound and even smell! Lots of thought went into this museum and I'm glad it's getting expanded as well! Can't wait to see what the future holds for such a magical place!

Pretty items made by local artists. Some of the items for sale are related to the current…read moreexhibition, but a lot of the items are related to previous exhibits or none at all...just local artists the CCAE wants to help promote. They have hats, jewelry, books, lamps, throws, scarves, post cards, soaps, and more! I bought a hat and 2 books for $80, which is cheaper than most museums!

I love the Center's Museum Store! It supports local artists AND it is affordable so I can still buy…read morelocal. I got 3 books and a bucket hat for $60! They have super cute and fun items such as stickers, home decor, apparel and more. The staff is always super friendly and helpful.

Such a great way to spend a couple hours checking out California inspired artwork. There's so much…read moreto experience when viewing some subjective art. I also appreciate the historical value portrayed with it. There are two buildings- the north and south. The north side has the permanent exhibits- Disney, stone and scene, radio museum, Maynard Dixon and the Oregon trail, and contemporary paintings. The south has the Emigdio Vasquez art work, Route 66, and Ralph Massey exhibits. I appreciate local museums so much and hope to see so much more of it!

Spent a couple hours at the Hilbert and thought it was a lovely experience. The staff are so warm…read moreand welcoming, and very knowledgeable about the artists and the collection. Tip: for kids (or anyone) ask for the scavenger hunt and get a little prize so fun!

There are 3 parking options: Tower Plaza Parking Structure (602 Anton Boulevard), Irvine Parking…read more(3201 Avenue of the Arts), and The MET Parking (535 Anton Boulevard). I chose the Tower Plaza Parking Structure (near the Westin Hotel), which was just a short walk to the museum, while the other options are a bit farther. Parking is paid, about $6 per hour. Once you arrive, check-in is quick and no reservation is needed. Admission is free, and they provide a sticker that you'll need to wear throughout your visit. The museum is two floors, featuring a variety of sections and artists. The architecture itself is beautiful and perfect for photos, and the artwork is unique and enjoyable to explore. Overall, it's a great experience, especially since it's free. Tip(s): - Park at Tower Plaza Parking Structure (near Westin Hotel) and just walk to the museum - Free entry - Restrooms available - No appointments needed

To be honest, it was mildly surprising to learn that Orange County has its own museum of art, if…read moreonly because not many of the counties in the Bay Area do, other than SF. Yet, at the same time, given the size and population of OC, it also makes perfect sense. Either way, I can't say I ever would've guessed it would be this nice, though! Just a shame that their exhibits didn't really blow us away... Located in the burgeoning arts and theater district of Costa Mesa, just down the road from South Coast Plaza, OCMA is such a gorgeous looking building. Sure, it helps that it's only a few years old, but the look of this place is no less impressive. Right out in front, there's a 65-foot art piece in the middle of the plaza that helps connect all of the neighboring buildings. Inside, there's a fairly large gallery space on the ground level with rotating exhibits, an upper level that appears to hold their more permanent collection of pieces, a coffee shop right next to the gift shop, and a rooftop restaurant with a large open area/garden. Sadly, though, as nice as the museum's design and amenities may be, though, much of the artwork was just okay. While the artwork upstairs was fine, the featured exhibits didn't really speak to us. Obviously, art is subjective, but one included pieces that appear to have just been drawn with a spirograph. The other consisted of several photographic series, whose commentary on social media I can appreciate, but felt exceedingly voyeuristic in nature - one following/semi-stalking a fellow after a chance encounter, another of strangers invited to sleep in the artist's bed so they could be photographed/documented, and a third showing the belongings of guests at the hotel she worked at. Artwork aside, the thing that I like most about OCMA is how admission is entirely free. So, in that sense, it's impossible to be too disappointed with the experience and/or what we saw. However, one thing to note is that you do have to pay if you park at any of the nearby garages, which are all unaffiliated with OCMA. For example, at the one on the other side of the Segerstrom Center, it cost us about $10 for two hours or so. Alternatively, South Coast Plaza is just a few blocks over and parking there is free, but I don't know how aggressive they are with towing and it feels like a big gamble just to save a few bucks. All in all, even though none of the exhibits were really our flavor, we still had a good time checking out OCMA. Oddly, there weren't many other visitors here when we arrived, but it did seem to get busier as the day wore on (there was a big group walking in as we were walking out) and we certainly didn't mind not having to deal with a bunch of crowds around. Plus, as nice as the museum looks, it's actually fairly small compared to others I've been to elsewhere. Since the featured exhibits have so much influence on the experience, I absolutely wouldn't mind coming back to see whatever they happen to have featured down the line. The ones they had when we were here may not have interested us, but the next ones might! Plus, it doesn't hurt that admission is free! All in all, THREE AND A HALF STARS rounded down.

The Oceanside Museum of Art (OMA) is all about bringing people together to explore the art and…read morestories of Southern California artists. OMA has everything this art lover is looking for and more. Their staff are super friendly and helpful contributing to the welcoming atmosphere of my museum experience. The exhibitions are always intriguing...current ones like The Art of Autism, Fabulous Fiber, Space Between, Stories that Connect Us, and Ventana Huichola are captivating. I love "The Touch This" experience. It's a fantastic opportunity to touch the art! My inner child enjoys this connection. The educational workshops for all ages are usually hands-on and engaging. There's FREE Art For All on the 1st Sundays from 12pm-2pm to join the fun art-making experience led by artists and cultural partners from the community. If you want to conversate with local artists, there's a FREE Coffee & Conversation also happening at the same time and of course other events with artists/educators to register for. All in all, OMA is by far the BEST museum I've been to. It definitely stimulates my mind and senses. Highly recommended!

This is such a cute museum, the staff are very friendly and helpful at answering any questions. I…read morelove how they offer free visits the 1st Sunday of the month. They also offer discounts to students and seniors. I really like how open it is, which allows you view at your own pace and not feel rushed or crowded by others. I'll definitely be back

We decided to do a quick stop by the dinosaurs on our way to the Cabazon outlets. They are painted…read moreaccording to the season and it was spring so we had flowers. We checked out the gift shop and took photos in front of the dinosaurs. All free. You can go up the to the top of the T-Rex for Small fee but we didn't opt to do it.

My childhood involved Pee Wee and The Wiz so the Cabazon Dinosaurs hold a soft spot in my heart so…read morepassing by required a stop! We did not see all the dinosaurs, we just visited the 2 jumbo free dino's. Worth a quick stop to take it in and reminisce. We did go into the gift shop located inside the pink one. I can share, they have nothing about The Wiz! Such a missed opportunity. And only a magnet and pin that day 'Large Marge Sent Me' plus a knit sized dinosaur dressed like pee wee but priced around $60! I feel.like whomever works their marketing could do a hotter job of using what they got better! (Plus no billboards promoting them, another missed opportunity!)