Museums, galleries & zoos

Museums, art galleries, zoos and aquariums, with admission, hours and what is on now.

All Museums (11)Art galleries (5)Zoos & aquariums (11)

Any subject Art (11)History (5)Science & nature (12)Children's (13)Culture & heritage (3)Specialty collections (1)Free admission

Orange County

Anaheim

Muzeo Museum and Cultural CenterMuseum · History, ArtA museum and cultural center in downtown Anaheim with rotating exhibitions on history, art and culture.

Brea

Brea GalleryArt gallery · ArtThe city gallery at the Brea Civic & Cultural Center, presenting rotating exhibitions.

Costa Mesa

Orange County Museum of ArtMuseum · ArtModern and contemporary art museum in Costa Mesa with a focus on California artists.

Dana Point

Ocean InstituteZoo or aquarium · Science & nature, Children'sA marine education center in Dana Point Harbor with aquariums, tall ship programs and ocean science.

Fullerton

Fullerton Museum CenterMuseum · History, ArtA downtown Fullerton museum with rotating exhibitions on art and local history.

Huntington Beach

Huntington Beach Art CenterArt gallery · ArtA city-run contemporary art center with rotating exhibitions and classes.International Surfing MuseumMuseum · Specialty collections, Culture & heritageA small museum celebrating surf history and culture in Surf City.

Irvine

Irvine Fine Arts CenterArt gallery · ArtA city arts center with gallery exhibitions, classes and workshops.Pretend City Children's MuseumMuseum · Children'sAn interactive children's museum where young kids play in a pretend town.

Laguna Beach

Laguna Art MuseumMuseum · ArtA museum devoted to American art, with a focus on California artists from historic to contemporary.

Orange

Hilbert Museum of California ArtMuseum · ArtA Chapman University museum devoted to California art, with rotating exhibitions.Orange County ZooZoo or aquarium · Science & nature, Children'sA small zoo inside Irvine Regional Park, focused on animals native to Southern California.

San Clemente

Casa Romantica Cultural Center and GardensArt gallery · Art, HistoryA historic seaside estate in San Clemente with art exhibitions, gardens and cultural programs.

Santa Ana

Bowers MuseumMuseum · Art, Culture & heritageA Santa Ana museum known for changing exhibitions and collections of art and artifacts from cultures around the world, including Native American, Pacific and African art.Discovery Cube Orange CountyMuseum · Science & nature, Children'sA hands-on science museum with interactive exhibits for kids and families.Grand Central Art CenterArt gallery · ArtCal State Fullerton's contemporary art center in downtown Santa Ana's Artists Village, with rotating exhibitions.Heritage Museum of Orange CountyMuseum · HistoryA history museum in Santa Ana with historic buildings and gardens.Santa Ana ZooZoo or aquarium · Science & nature, Children'sA family-sized zoo in Prentice Park, known for its monkeys and hands-on animal encounters.

Yorba Linda

Richard Nixon Presidential Library & MuseumMuseum · HistoryPresidential library and museum with exhibits on the life and presidency of Richard Nixon, plus his birthplace and gardens.

Los Angeles County

Long Beach

Aquarium of the PacificZoo or aquarium · Science & nature, Children'sA large public aquarium on the Long Beach waterfront with Pacific Ocean animals and cultural festivals.

Los Angeles

Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical GardensZoo or aquarium · Science & nature, Children'sThe city's zoo in Griffith Park, with animals from around the world and botanical gardens.

San Pedro

Cabrillo Marine AquariumZoo or aquarium · Science & nature, Children'sA local marine aquarium in San Pedro with tide pool and Southern California sea life exhibits.

San Diego County

Escondido

San Diego Zoo Safari ParkZoo or aquarium · Science & nature, Children'sA large wildlife park in the Escondido hills, with open habitats for African and Asian animals.

La Jolla

Birch Aquarium at ScrippsZoo or aquarium · Science & nature, Children'sThe public aquarium of Scripps Institution of Oceanography, overlooking La Jolla's coast.

San Diego

San Diego ZooZoo or aquarium · Science & nature, Children'sThe famous Balboa Park zoo, home to thousands of animals from around the world.

Riverside County

Palm Desert

The Living Desert Zoo and GardensZoo or aquarium · Science & nature, Children'sA desert zoo and botanical garden in Palm Desert focused on desert animals and plants.

Santa Barbara County

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara ZooZoo or aquarium · Science & nature, Children'sA hillside zoo overlooking the Pacific, with animals from around the world.

Admission and hours change. Confirm before you go. Know one we missed? Tell us.

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