Places To Go

PLACES TO GO

Have you ever woken up in the morning with a craving for a thrilling drive in your beloved Corvette? If so, California is a treasure trove of automotive wonders waiting to be explored. Below, you'll find a curated list of Car Collections, Museums, and places to visit that will ignite your passion for cars. And if you happen to spot a Corvette on the road, don't miss the opportunity to join the iconic Corvette Wave. Be sure to check out the book by Tom Pinard. 

Car Collections
Blackhawk Museum 15151 Bledsoe St. Danville, CA 94506 (925) 736-2277	The Classic Car Collection at the Blackhawk Museum features an array of priceless and one-of-a-kind automobiles from luxury performance vehicles to historically significant vehicles from around the world. Blackhawk Museum web site
Nethercutt Collection 15151 Bledsoe St. Sylmar, CA 91342 (818) 364-6464	One of the most amazing collection of cars (and other things) on the planet. All the cars are licensed and driveable. They have a Christmas concert series on one of the largest pipe organs in the world. One part of the collection is open to the public. Reservations must be made in advance for the private tours of the other part. Nethercuttt Collection web site
Petersen Automotive Museum 6060 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90036 (323) 930-2277	A permanent collection of interesting cars. They also have car and automotive related displays that vary. Check the web site to see what is currently on display and what is scheduled for the future. Petersen Museum web site
Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum 1101 W. McKinley Ave. Bldg 3A Pomona, CA 91768 (909) 622-2133	They have sold the collection to the Petersen Automotive Museum and it will be moved there some time in the future. NHRA Museum web site

                                                                                                   

Museums
Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum 2040 N. Santa Fe Ave. Vista, CA 92083 (800) 587-2286	Large collection of mechanical history. Many interesting ingenious devices. The tractor races are fun, where the slowest tractor wins. Check their web site for the dates of special events. Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum web site
The Huntington Library, Art Collection & Botanical Gardens 1151 Oxford Rd. San Marino, CA 91108 (626) 405-2100	The library contains some of the oldest and rarest books in the world, including a Gutenberg Bible. The art collection includes both Gainsborough's "Blue Boy" and Lawrence's "Pinky". The botanical gardens have rare plants from all over the world and authentic themed gardens, including the Desert Garden, Japanese Garden, Rose Garden and Chinese Garden. Huntington Library web site
J. Paul Getty Museum 1200 Getty Center Dr. Los Angeles, CA 90049 (310) 440-7300	The Getty Center with modern architecture and gardens showcases "European paintings, drawings, manuscripts, sculpture and decorative arts, and European and American photographs. A selection from the special collections of the Research Library at the Getty Research Institute". Getty Museum web site
J. Paul Getty Museum 17985 Pacific Coast Highway Pacific Palisades, CA 90272 (310) 440-7300	The Getty Villa in Malibu with Roman-inspired architecture and gardens contains antiquities from "ancient Greece, Rome and Etruria arranged by themes including Gods and Goddesses, Dionysos and the Theater and Stories of the Trojan War". Getty Museum web site
Nixon Presidential Library & Museum 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd. Yorba Linda, CA 92886 (714) 983-9120	"Nixon's pre and post Presidential materials, as well as the museum, Birthplace, and helicopter". Nixon Library web site
Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Library 40 Presidential Dr. Simi Valley, CA 93065 (800) 410-8354	Displays document Reagan's public life. Part of the tour includes a replica of the Oval Office. One of the Air Force One airplanes is open for tours. Reagan Library web site
USS Hornet - Sea, Air and Space Museum 707 W Hornet Ave. Alameda, CA 94501 (510) 521-8448	Aircraft carrier that participated in WWII & the Apollo 11 & 12 recovery missions, now a museum with tours.    USS Hornet web site

                                                                               

Places of Interest
Bates Nut Farm 304 S. Broadway Los Angeles, CA 90013 (760) 749-3333	"Nuts from all over the world meet here". Interesting place to go for a picnic. Bates Nut Farm web site
Bradbury Building 15954 Woods Valley Rd. Valley Center, CA 92082 (213) 626-1893	Still splendid more than 100 years after its 1893 opening, its magical light-filled Victorian court, open cage elevators, marble stairs, and ornate iron railings make this one of downtown's most photographed icons. It has been featured prominently as a setting in many films and television shows, most notably in Blade Runner (1982). It also appeared in Double Indemnity (1944), D.O.A. (1950), Good Neighbor Sam (1964), Wolf (1994), and The Outer Limits episode "Demon with a Glass Hand" (1964), among many others.        Bradbury Building web site
Calico Ghost Town Yermo, CA (760) 254-2122	Built during the silver mining boom of the late 1800s. When the silver ran out the town died. Now resurrected as a tourist destination. Many original buildings still stand. Tour Maggie's mine, the Mystery Shack, pan for gold, ride the narrow gauge railway and visit the shops. Calico Ghost Town web site
Julian, CA	Historic gold rush town. Famous for apple pies, gold mine tours and bed and breakfast inns. Lots to do here. Julian Chamber of Commerce web site
Oak Glen, CA	Visit apple orchards, interesting shops and restaurants. Known for apples, apple cider and apple pies. Oak Glen Apple Grower's Association web site