1. Huntington Library, Los Angeles
Apparently this place has some famous art, like Thomas Gainsborough's The Blue Boy, and lots of important documents, such as a Gutenberg Bible, a copy of The Canterbury Tales and two quartos of Hamlet. But no one goes inside.
The Huntington's 120 acres of botanical gardens are endless and amazing — and I don't even like plants. It's not just rose gardens or herb gardens — they've got full-on ecosystems: a Japanese garden, Chinese garden, jungle, desert, lily ponds, a subtropical garden. It's crazy in there. And if you call ahead, you can have high tea.
Or, since you're right near Pasadena, you can have lunch at Pie 'n Burger instead. L.A. may not have the best high-end dining in the country, but we have the best burgers: Try Father's Office, 25 Degrees or The Counter.