Los Angeles County Museum of Art

The Los Angeles Museum of Art (LACMA) is one of the country's leading art museums and caters to all art lovers. With a collection of over 120,000 art objects dating from antiquity to present, LACMA holds leading works of Asian, Latin American, pre-Columbian, and Islamic art, as well as masterpieces by classical, modern and contemporary artists. Film and music programs can also be found at LACMA's 600-seat Bing Theater.

Best and worst time to go to LACMA
Not surprisingly, weekends tend to be crowded; however Thursdays are best for lighter attendance. Note: if you don't mind the crowds, fans of Jazz should visit LACMA on Fridays when Jazz musicians play for free in the BP Pavilion at 6 p.m. (Fridays, end of April through late summer).

Must see/do at LACMA
LACMA has many "must-sees" displayed over the six-building campus, including: Richard Serra's "Band" (Broad Contemporary Art Museum); Pablo Picasso's "Weeping Woman With Handkerchief" (Ahmanson Building); David Hockney's "Mulholland Drive: The Road to the Studio" (Art of the Americas Building); the 6 Century A.D. sculpted "Haniwa Horse" (Pavilion for Japanese Art); and the photo-worthy "Urban Lights" by Chris Burden (BP Pavilion).

Admission to LACMA
Admission ranges from $10 to mid-$20s (for special ticketed exhibits). Children under 17 are free. The museum is open Monday-Tuesday, Thursday -Sunday. Closed Wednesdays, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

How to get to LACMA
For bus service take Metro 20 and 720 buses (along Wilshire), or Metro 217, 218, and 780 (along Fairfax)—all stop within a half block of the museum. Paid parking is available at LACMA's Pritzker Parking Garage on Sixth Street, parking lots along Wilshire Blvd. or metered parking on Sixth Street (prices vary).

Food at LACMA
There are four food options at LACMA: LACMA Café which serves sandwiches, salads, desserts; the high-end Ray's which has a Mediterranean-inspired menu; C&M (Coffee and Milk) for artisanal coffees, daily baked goods, and milk sorbet; and Stark Bar for handcrafted cocktails and small plates. Gourmet food trucks also park along Wilshire Blvd. across from LACMA.

Insider tips for visitors to LACMA
Free admission is offered on the second Tuesday of each month. Great views of the Hollywood Hills can be found on the outside stairs of Broad Contemporary Art Museum.

Author's bio: Lori Huck works in television development as well as writes on entertainment and the arts. She's a fan of the vibrant arts scene in Los Angeles and has been a member of LACMA for over a decade.