An evening flight from LAX last Thursday provided me with a full day at leisure after two days of meetings and the GT Tested Awards gala at The Peninsula Beverly Hills. The forecast for that day predicted rain, so I decided an indoor pursuit was wisest. My sister and friends had raved about the Getty Museum; and since it was within a reasonable cab ride from my hotel, the Hotel Palomar in Westwood, that was my choice. Approaching up the freeway from the south, one spots its travertine-clad buildings draped gracefully over a hilltop from quite a distance away. Once the cab had deposited me at the base of the hill, a computer-operated tram transported me (and those who had arrived by car and parked at the underground garage) up the hill to the complex of buildings and gardens.

As it turned out, the weather was clear, if a bit breezy and cool, and the 360-degree views from the 800-plus-foot elevation were stunning. Sunlight glinted off the waters of the Pacific to the west, with Catalina Island clearly visible in the distance. The towers of Century City and Westwood stood nearer at hand, with those of downtown L.A. sprouting further south. The San Gabriel Mountains framed the eastern horizon, while to the north sprang the Santa Monica Hills, still green at this time of year.

I made good use of my time, joining some of the docent-led tours which explained the architectural design of the Getty Center and the unique features of the gardens and landscaping. The considerable legacy of oilman J. Paul Getty created the trust which developed this amazing complex (six years in planning, eight years in construction, $1.3 billion in the making) which houses not only art exhibits and collections but also administrative and educational offices for the trust and one of the finest conservation institutes in the world.

Two aspects of my hours spent at the Getty most stuck with me. The first was the special exhibit Florence at the Dawn of the Renaissance: Painting and Illumination, 1300–1350 (now through Feb. 10, 2013). I enjoyed a tour led by the young woman who curated the exhibit, and I drank in the beautiful images of altar pieces, paintings and illuminated texts while learning more about the era and the techniques employed by the artists featured here. As a gardener, I also marveled at how the Central Garden, designed by California artist Robert Irwin, appealed to all five senses and was visually stunning even in the winter.

I would enthusiastically encourage anyone with at least half a day to spare in the Los Angeles area to visit the Getty Center. The permanent collections and special exhibits offer something for everyone, and the expansive courtyards and gardens allow one to enjoy the usually pleasant Southern California climate at the same time. Best of all, perhaps, is that admission is free. That has to be the best entertainment bargain in the whole state!

— Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor