Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County opened in Exposition Park on 6 November 1913, originally as the Los Angeles County Museum of History, Science and Art. Its domed 1913 building is still the heart of the museum, and the collection now covers fossils, minerals, animals, insects and the history of Los Angeles itself.

The Dinosaur Hall, added to the renovated 1913 Building in 2011, is the main draw for most visitors, with mounted skeletons arranged so you can walk around and beneath them. Mineralogy is another strength, and the museum's gem and mineral collection includes specimens of kyawthuite, often described as the rarest gemstone in the world. Wildlife halls, a nature garden outside and changing exhibitions round out the visit.

The museum is open daily from 9.30am to 5pm, but it closes on the first Tuesday of every month and on some holidays, so check before planning a Tuesday trip. Los Angeles County residents can visit free on weekday afternoons from 3pm to 5pm, on site only, and members are admitted free.

This is one of the best options in the city for families with children of almost any age, and dinosaur fans of all ages will happily spend half a day here. Allow at least two to three hours. The museum is usually quieter on weekday mornings outside school holidays, when school groups have moved on.

Its sister museum, La Brea Tar Pits on Wilshire Boulevard, is temporarily closed for a two-year transformation, so the Exposition Park building is currently the place to see the organisation's fossil displays indoors. Look out for special exhibitions and seasonal events, which are listed on the museum's website and can carry a separate charge. If you are travelling with small children, plan the visit around the Dinosaur Hall and the nature gardens, and take breaks outdoors in Exposition Park, which has space to rest between galleries. Food options are available on site and around the park.

Exposition Park is easy to reach on the Metro E Line, with the Expo Park/USC station close to the museum. The California Science Center, the Rose Garden and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum share the park, and the University of Southern California campus is across the road, so there is plenty to combine in one day.