Inner Peristyle garden at Getty Villa museum
in Pacific Palisades, California

Getty Villa

17985 PCH/Surfview Dr., 1 mi. N of Sunset Blvd., in Pacific Palisades, (310) 440-7300. W-M 11-5. Free; reservations necessary. Parking $25; no neighborhood parking. No pets.

Located a few miles west of the larger Getty Center museum, the hilltop Getty Villa museum is modeled after the Villa dei Papiri--a 1st-century luxury Roman country house in Herculaneum, near Pompeii, that was buried by an eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD79. It houses the Getty collection of ancient Greek, Roman, and Etruscan art. A large variety of polished marble adorns floors and walls throughout. My favorite display holds a mummified ibis that is inside an intact human mummy whose head covering bears a painted portrait of the deceased.

Gardens and fountains are a particular delight, and performances are sometimes scheduled in a semi-circular amphitheater. Kids gain insight in a hands-on Family Forum space and with a free Art Detective card that guides them to specific art pieces. Informal tours run throughout the day, and a free app guide can be downloaded.

The Cafe serves casual Mediterranean fare at fair prices and offers spacious indoor and sheltered outdoor seating. An espresso cart is also an option, and afternoon tea is sometimes scheduled.