Discover the Huntington Library: A Family Day Trip

Are you searching for the perfect blend of history, art, and nature? Here is an idea. It’s close enough to Los Angeles for a day trip. Yet, it’s far enough to feel like a scenic escape. The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino is your ideal destination. This hidden gem offers a mix of fascinating culture and peaceful gardens that makes it a top pick for a fun and educational family outing.

The Huntington Library has an impressive backstory. Henry E. Huntington, the man behind it all, didn’t just collect rare books—he built an entire world around them. His library holds treasures like a Gutenberg Bible and early Shakespeare works, so if your kids think libraries are boring, they’ll be wowed by the fact that these books helped shape history! And don’t forget the mansion-turned-art-museum, home to The Blue Boy, a painting so iconic it practically has its own fan club. (Rumor has it Mrs. Huntington even had a dress made to match it.)

But what really makes this place shine for families are the botanical gardens. With over a dozen themed gardens, there’s something for everyone. Imagine wandering through a peaceful Japanese Garden with koi ponds, crossing ornate bridges, or exploring the Chinese Garden, where you can take in serene views and colorful pavilions. The adventurous will love the Desert Garden, where giant cacti and alien-like plants make you feel like you’ve stepped onto another planet. Kids will get a kick out of running between the towering succulents and prickly pears.

And, get this—back in the day, scientific legends like Albert Einstein were invited to stroll these same gardens. If you want to subtly introduce your kids to the idea that nature and knowledge go hand-in-hand, this is the place to do it.

From “The Wedding Planner” (2001) to “Indecent Proposal” (1993), “The Nutty Professor” (1996), and action-filled “Charlie’s Angels” (2000), all the way to Chris Farley’s antics in “Beverly Hills Ninja” (1997), the Huntington Library’s stunning gardens have starred in some Hollywood favorites!

When planning your visit, expect to spend 3 to 5 hours to fully enjoy everything the Huntington has to offer, especially if you want to take breaks at the cafés or let the kids run around in the Children’s Garden. Pro tip: Book your tickets online in advance to skip the line!

Have you been to the Huntington before? What’s your favorite part? If you’re planning a visit soon, let us know in the comments! Share your stories or ask any questions—we’d love to hear from you!

Huntington Library

If you live in California or are visiting the “Golden State” then an absolute “must see” for you is the Huntington Library. A much underrated haven for art lovers that offers a lot more than a splendid collection of books and art. Spread over a vast expanse of 120 acres it has some of the finest gardens such as the Japanese, Chinese, Rose, Australian, Camellia and the Desert. Each offering a completely different theme and above all a monastically serene environment.

My favorite among them is the Japanese garden with its authentic Japanese house that offers a picturesque view to the pond with its arching wooden bridge. The garden is lush with a cascading waterfall on one side. The sight is so exquisite; I thought I was in a magical wonderland. Zen garden and the Bonsai display are close neighbors to the Japanese garden and characterized by their stoic beauty.

My second favorite however is the famous lily garden. You absolutely want to take your time here and just sit and relax; soaking in the wonders of nature and mankind.

The Rose garden not only attracts families with kids but also many beautiful birds, bees and bumble bees, the latter two not being my absolute favorite. I have visited the Huntington twice before and found the Chinese garden to be absolutely extraordinary. This time however, it was undergoing some renovation which unfortunately took away some of its charm.

The art exhibitions are absolutely amazing as well. And yes, Thomas Gainsborough’s “The Blue Boy” is to Huntington as “Mona Lisa” is to The Louvre Museum in Paris.

All the walking is sure to get one hungry and before you know it you are looking for food. Although the Rose Garden Tea Room looks absolutely enchanting with its cutesy decor and beautifully arranged sandwiches, cheeses, salads and desserts, we decided to go the cheaper route and visited their café instead. The regular cafeteria has sandwiches, desserts, hot dogs, burgers reasonably priced. I must admit I wasn’t crazy about the food, note to self; bring home-made sandwiches and snacks next time.

A word of advise. Be prepared to do some research, and plan which gardens and exhibitions you want to focus on. The reason being that the visitation hours are very little and the grounds to cover are expansive. Planning before hand, will make sure you can focus on all the items that you and your family care about the most, without running out of time. Also wear your best walking shoes since you will be doing a lot of walking. Carry some light snacks and sandwiches so you don’t have to shell out a lot of money on the food, since the entrance ticket is fairly expensive in itself. Enjoy!

Happiness Code

While for some happiness is a ubiquitous state of mind that exists between the two ears, for others its more elusive. The absence of stress is not happiness. To me happiness is just being in peace with oneself and one’s sourroundings. The hum drum of daily life with its share of stresses, work load and undue expectations can easily strip one of a peaceful state of mind. So is there a happiness code, or a formula to happiness?

Here is what works for me:

Exercise: Exercise keeps your body moving and blood flowing releasing feel good hormones. It activates and energises the body, mind and soul. I have noticed sparing an hour daily on exercise at least 6 days a week helps me not only stay in shape but also control my mood.
Law of gratefullness: Be grateful for all that you have versus what you don’t. More of the things that you are grateful for will appear.
Live in the moment: We either reminisce the past or plan for the future. Rarely do we truly enjoy the moment. Just be now and here.
Eat Healthy: Ideally majority of our food should consist of plants and fruits but if that’s not possible try having a bowl of salad with every meal.
Make attainable goals: Take time to set goals and each day do a little of what you can to achieve them.
Stay clutter free: Clean up; donate unnecessary things, empty out emotional baggage. Remember while organizing is a good habit, don’t start stressing over too much organization.
Sharing: It’s funny that joy grows and sorrow decreases with sharing. Share what you can, when you can; it brings good karma.
Remove Negativity: Live life on your own terms. This may mean making tough decisions such as removing toxic habits and people from your life. Don’t get caught in the vicious circle of negativity.
Monitor your speech and words: Speak what you mean and mean what you speak, but always think before you speak. Words can hurt like daggers and while people may forgive more than likely they will never forget.
Pray often: Pray with intention as often as possible. Prayers get answered.