The Getty in Los Angeles: Possibly the Best Free Art Museum in the West

Whether it's architecture, gardens, sculptures or just plain art you're after, The J. Paul Getty center in Los Angeles, California satisfies just about every aesthetic need a person could have. Completed in 1997 with $1 billion of a $3 billion arts endowment, the Getty Center houses a little of just about everything from early Greek and Roman Antiquities to Irises by Vincent Van Gogh. Admission is free to the public, and, while there is an $8 parking fee to park on the premises, if you're willing to park a few blocks down and walk, you can experience the museum at absolutely no cost to you.

While the views of the city, architecture, and gardens are worth the trip themselves, I went for the art housed there. You take a short tram-ride to the top of the cliff the museum is perched atop. There are several building, but signs point to the information center and it is fairly easy to find. For a mere $5, visitors can obtain what is called "The Getty Guide", an electronic tour guide that takes you through each room and tells about the paintings and sculptures housed within. Since I fancy myself an art fanatic, I skipped the guide and went straight to the first building where the Antiquities are held. (If it's only Antiquities you're after, head on down to Malibu to the Getty Villa, which houses ONLY Antiquities...)

From there, I headed off to my own version of Heaven: The Paintings. All of their paintings are housed on the second floors of each of the four main buildings. I didn't have a lot of time, so I wanted to concentrate solely on the paintings. They start in the Renaissance and End with the Early 1900's and Impressionism. While I recognized about 85% of the artists showcased, if you didn't pay much attention in your college Art Appreciation class, I recommend renting the Getty Guide to help you better understand the art at which you will be gazing.