he mission of the A+D Architecture and Design Museum in Los Angeles is to expose the general public to the importance of architecture and design in the community, to encourage innovative thinking in these disciplines, to stimulate an awareness of contemporary issues in architecture and design, whether to the general public, school children or the educated professional.

America's Favorite Singing Cowboy had a dream. He wanted to preserve the heritage of the American West for future generations. The Autry Museum of Western Heritage opened in 1988. It became the Autry National Center in 2003 when it merged with the Southwest Museum and the Women of the West Museum. The result of that merger is a remarkable institution dedicated to a unique part of American culture. The days of the singing cowboys may be over. But the spirit of the West lives on.

Situated on a grassy knoll by Cabrillo Beach, the aquarium introduces you to many of the sea creatures that live in the ocean just a scant few hundred yards away. The exhibit hall focuses on three major Pacific Ocean environments: the beaches and mudflats, rocky shores and open ocean. Tanks contain crustaceans, sharks and bizarre light-producing creatures that inhabit the deepest and darkest corners of the sea. What the exhibit hall lacks in space, it makes up for with numerous educational exhibits and audiovisual aides. The tidepool touch tank is open every hour on the half-hour. Cabrillo Coastal Park Trail leads to the water's edge in Point Fermin Marine Life Refuge, otherwise known as the "outdoor museum."

The California Science Center offers fun and informative permanent exhibits presented in interactive worlds. Through hands-on experiences in the galleries, you'll learn about human inventions and innovations, the life processes of living things and more. The Science Center also features fantastic special exhibits that change all the time, so visit often to find out what's new!

The best times to visit are on weekends or on weekday afternoons after 1:30 p.m. Weekday mornings from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. are often busy.

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County has a wide ranging collection from the natural world that's sure to entertain kids and adults alike. The oldest and largest natural history museum in the western United States, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles has more than 33 million items ranging from actual, full-size dinosaur skeletons and meteorites from planet Mars to the live insect zoo and the largest collection of gold in the United States.

This museum features art and artifacts of African American culture both past and present. The permanent collection ranges from African art to 19th-century landscape, paintings to contemporary artwork. Frequent temporary exhibitions are held in the sculpture court at the entrance to the building. Admission is free.

See your favorite stars immortalized in wax in scenes from their films at this wonderful wax museum that is the only wax museum dedicated to showcasing Hollywood celebrities.

This museum is the first in Southern California to document the experience of the Chinese in America. It is housed within the oldest surviving Chinese building, called the Garnier Building. The first exhibition was held in 1992 and featured the works of James Wong Howe, the Oscar-winning cinematographer. The museum's main aim is to eventually become an educational resource for other ethnic communities.

The Los Angeles Maritime Museum creates an awareness and appreciation of the maritime history of coastal California, with an emphasis on the people and institutions of the port city of Los Angeles.