Los Angeles & Southern California - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [77]
It’s all good educational fun but, we’re sad to say, in this fast-moving tech-age some of the exhibits that were cutting-edge only years ago already seem oddly dated. That may change once the World of Ecology exhibit opens, supposedly in 2009. Currently under construction, the new pavilion will let you explore the natural world by studying animals in recreated habitats and features 175 new hands-on exhibits.
Already in business is the IMAX, an ideal place for winding down after an action-filled day.
CALIFORNIA AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM
This engaging museum (Map; 213-744-7432; www.caamuseum.org; 600 State Dr; admission free; 10am-4pm Wed-Sat) does an excellent job of showcasing African-American contributions to art and history. Using paintings, crafts, photographs and memorabilia, the permanent exhibit traces an entire people’s journey from the African homeland into slavery and eventual freedom. An active lecture and performance schedule brings together the community and those wanting to gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be black in America.
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (USC)
George Lucas, John Wayne and Neil Armstrong are among the famous alumni of this well-respected private university (Map; 213-740-5371; www.usc.edu; 3535 S Figueroa St), founded in 1880 and just north of Exposition Park. Free 50-minute student-led tours ( 213-740-6605; tours@usc.edu; 10am-3pm Mon-Fri) touch on campus history, architecture and student life and leave on the hour from the Admissions Center. Reservations are strongly recommended.
Harris Hall is the home of USC Fisher Gallery (Map; 213-740-4561; www.fishergallery.org; 823 Exposition Blvd; admission free; noon-5pm Tue-Sat Sep-May), which presents changing selections from its ever-expanding collection of American landscapes, British portraits, French Barbizon School paintings and, perhaps surprisingly, Mexican modern masters such as Rufino Tamayo and Gronk (Glugio Nicandro).
Malibu
Malibu enjoys a near-mythical status as a ‘Shangri-La on the Pacific’ thanks to its large celebrity population, the incredible beauty of its shoreline and its legendary surfing beaches. Stretched out for 27 miles, it’s a place with no discernible center, inhabited by people richer than God, and yet is far less glamorous than the tabloids make it sound.
Malibu has been celebrity central since the 1930s when money troubles forced landowner May Rindge to lease out property to her famous Hollywood buds. Clara Bow and Barbara Stanwyck were the first to stake out their turf in what would become the Malibu Colony (Map). Privacy-seeking A-listers, including Leo, Britney, Jennifer and many others are or have been colonyites, owning or renting houses for as much as $25,000 per month. While it’s impossible to get past the gate without a personal invitation from a resident, you could always join the paparazzi on the beach – just stay below the high-tide mark. For photogenic birds-eye views of the colony, head a little up the coast to Malibu Bluffs Park.
Meanwhile, the chances of spotting Leo by the wine racks or Brangelina in the toy store are greatest at the Malibu Country Mart (Map; 3835 Cross Creek Rd), a villagelike outdoor mall, and the more utilitarian Malibu Colony Plaza (Map; 23841 W Malibu Rd).
Despite its wealth and star quotient, the best way to appreciate Malibu is through its natural assets, so grab your sunscreen and a towel and head to the beach. Point Dume and Zuma are especially nice and teem with tight-bods on summer weekends. You may strike gold and find free parking on the Pacific Coast Hwy (PCH; check signs for restrictions), but otherwise parking lots charge between $6 to $10, depending on the time of year. On summer weekends, they often fill up by midday.
During the cooler months, hitting the trails of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, including Malibu Creek State Park is a