Perched over the Pacific, the 110-year-old Santa Monica Pier, featuring the world’s only solar-powered Ferris wheel, the century-old Looff Hippodrome and the aquarium, attracts families, couples and friends each reveling in a delectable slice of West Coast nostalgia.

Free-spirited Venice Boardwalk is the site of funky shops, street performers and colorful murals. There’s also a skate park and Muscle Beach outdoor gym. Abbot Kinney Boulevard features foodie hot spots, stylish boutiques and coffee bars. A picturesque enclave of canals is surrounded by modernist homes.

The Getty Museum at the Getty Center features works of art dating from the eighth through the twenty-first century, showcased against a backdrop of dramatic architecture, tranquil gardens, and breathtaking views of Los Angeles.