Jan 12 - Jan 17, 2025
California
Art Collectors and Their Collections
Program No. 1183RJ
Discover the beauty of Southern California’s best museums, enjoying lectures, docent-led walks and a close look at the life and collections of local art enthusiasts.
Enroll with Confidence
We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. Learn more
Protecting the Environment
We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
800-454-5768
Select your type of room
Price will update based on selection
Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.
Feb 9 - Feb 14, 2025
Mar 2 - Mar 7, 2025
Apr 20 - Apr 25, 2025
May 11 - May 16, 2025
Jun 22 - Jun 27, 2025
Sep 21 - Sep 26, 2025
Oct 12 - Oct 17, 2025
Oct 19 - Oct 24, 2025
Nov 16 - Nov 21, 2025
DATES & PRICES
| Standard | Single Ldg |
|---|---|
|
Standard |
Rooms, cabins or berths designated as single occupancy accommodations. |
Jan 12 - Jan 17, 2025
Feb 9 - Feb 14, 2025
Mar 2 - Mar 7, 2025
Mar 23 - Mar 28, 2025
Apr 20 - Apr 25, 2025
May 11 - May 16, 2025
Filling Fast!
Jun 22 - Jun 27, 2025Sep 21 - Sep 26, 2025
Oct 12 - Oct 17, 2025
Filling Fast!
Oct 19 - Oct 24, 2025Nov 16 - Nov 21, 2025
Not seeing the date you're looking for?
To be notified if dates of this program become available, click the button below.
This date is available to book as a private experience for your group!
6 days
5 nights
10 meals
5B 1L 4D
3
J. Paul Getty Museum Lecture & Visit
Los Angeles
5
Lecture, Norton Simon Museum
Los Angeles
At a Glance
Be treated to several of Southern California’s finest art museums and leave the driving to us! The Los Angeles area’s distinguished collections are on display in several grand museums. Daily in-depth lectures prior to the visits provide an orientation to the museums that enriches your appreciation of their visionary collectors.
Activity Level
On Your Feet
Four museum field trips involve several blocks of walking at a time and standing up to one hour on docent tours. Must be able to easily get on/off bus.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Study the life of J. Paul Getty and examine his collections of Western art from the Middle Ages to the present against a backdrop of dramatic architecture, tranquil gardens and breathtaking views of the city.
- Experience the museum of Arabella and Henry Huntington, with 207 acres of gardens.
- Discover Norton Simon’s collection of art from Europe and Asia on a docent-led walk.
General Notes
Select dates are designated for small groups and are limited to 24 participants or less. If not specified as a small group, departures will have up to 34 participants.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Paul R. Spitzzeri
A California historian and author of numerous works on such topics as railroad development and regulation, overland emigration, and criminal justice, Paul R. Spitzzeri received his bachelor’s and master’s in history from California State University, Fullerton. He is Museum Director of the Workman and Temple Family Homestead Museum near Los Angeles and an Award of Merit recipient from the American Association for State and Local History for his biography of the Workman and Temple families.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Paul R. Spitzzeri
View biography
A California historian and author of numerous works on such topics as railroad development and regulation, overland emigration, and criminal justice, Paul R. Spitzzeri received his bachelor’s and master’s in history from California State University, Fullerton. He is Museum Director of the Workman and Temple Family Homestead Museum near Los Angeles and an Award of Merit recipient from the American Association for State and Local History for his biography of the Workman and Temple families.
Donna Granata
View biography
Donna Granata is the founder and executive director of Focus on the Masters (FOTM), a highly respected nonprofit archive and educational program documenting contemporary artists. An accomplished artist in her own right, Granata is an internationally published portrait photographer. Her photographs have been displayed across the United States. Selected works from her FOTM portrait series are housed in the Smithsonian's Archive of American Artists; in the photographic collection of the George Eastman Museum and other public institutions housing the personal archives of the artists documented.
Simon Kenrick
View biography
A 23-year veteran of Road Scholar, Simon was previously a political journalist, neighborhood artist and kindergarten teacher. He teaches art history at San Francisco State University and Osher Lifelong Learning in Berkeley. Widely traveled in the U.S. and Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, he brings to life his personal knowledge of works and sites in his Road Scholar talks, museum and architectural tours—from Classical Greece and Rome to medieval Morocco, Impressionist Paris and the cutting-edge arts of the contemporary city.
Manuel Marquez
View biography
Manuel Márquez came to Road Scholar after a rewarding career in medical practice management. He has led groups to Cuba and his native Los Angeles. As an undergraduate in Boston, he was introduced close-up to the wonders of western art, the colonial and revolutionary history of the United States, and a love of learning about planet Earth and all its inhabitants. Manuel has explored nearly fifty countries on five continents. He enjoys music, reading, movies, and his beautiful cat, Pearl.
Dave McMenamin
View biography
Dave McMenamin, a lifelong native of Los Angeles, has a degree in mathematics from Occidental College, and a master's and Ph.D. in economics from UCLA. Dave taught economics at Occidental College for three years while working on his Ph.D. He then joined a company in downtown Los Angeles, holding many varied positions for over 35 years until his retirement in 2016. Dave is a docent and the director of education with Las Angelitas del Pueblo, a volunteer organization dedicated to preserving the city's history.
Suggested Reading List
(19 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Art Collectors and Their Collections
Program Number: 1183
California the Beautiful
Rowell's exquisite photographs are accompanied by excerpts from Joan Didion, M.F.K. Fisher, Jack London, William Saroyan and many other luminaries in this celebration of the nature and spirit of California.
Get the Picture: A Mind-Bending Journey Among the Inspired Artists and Obsessive Art Fiends Who Taught Me How to See
A journalist's deep dive into the art world's obsession with contemporary art and why it matters.
Building the Getty
An account of the construction of the Getty Center, written by its architect.
The Getty Center: Richard Meier & Partners
A photographic tour of the Getty Center.
William Mulholland and the Rise of Los Angeles
A biography of William Mulholland, the man who led the project of bringing water to Los Angeles. Written by his granddaughter, who seeks to dispel what she believes are common misconceptions about him.
Where I Was From
Supreme essayist Didion's personal history of California spanning the 18th to 21st centuries. More than a family chronicle, it's also a provocative cultural critique that attacks the myth of the Sunshine State.
California: A History (Modern Library Chronicles)
Arguing that America’s most populous state has always been blessed with both spectacular natural beauty and astonishing human diversity, Starr unfolds a rapid-fire epic of discovery, innovation, catastrophe, and triumph.
L.A. Confidential
James Ellroy's modern noir thriller, a densely plotted yarn in the style of Raymond Chandler. Made into a critically acclaimed film.
The Art Book, Mini Edition
A mini edition of the Phaidon classic. Marching through all periods and schools, the editors at Phaidon juxtapose salient examples of paintings, photographs, sculptures, video, installations and performance art with brief explanatory text.
Ask the Dust
Fante's oft-forgotten classic novel of Arturo Bandini, a confused young man trying to make it as a writer in L.A.
Ways of Seeing
Art critic, painter, essayist and Booker Prize-winning novelist Berger concentrates on how we look at art in this eye-opening and influential classic.
As I See It: The Autobiography of J. Paul Getty
The famous L.A. tycoon recounts his life in his own words in this timely autobiography:
it was published right before his death in 1976.
The Story of Art
Comprehensive and introductory without being elementary, this celebrated work is essential reading for anyone with any interest in art, architecture or aesthetics.
Art in Time, A World History of Styles and Movements
In this innovative compendium, art scholars reveal fascinating connections between great works of art, art movements and historical progress. Moving from present to antiquity, they highlight 450 paintings, sculptures, photographs, installations, video and new media from around the world.
Fodor's Los Angeles
A practical guide in the popular series, saturated with valuable information on accommodation, shopping, sights, and dining.
Sidewalking, Coming to Terms With Los Angeles
Growing out of a series of strolls, this smart, deeply affectionate portrait peels back the many layers of L.A., revealing a great city that's much more interesting than its sunny beaches, gridlock and movie stars.
Los Angeles City Center Map
A map of the center of L.A.
Creating the Future: Art and Los Angeles in the 1970s
Fallon contests the standard assumption that art in L.A. declined after the 1960s through this cultural and social history that highlights the innovative and independent voices and interesting, sometimes bizarre artwork that came out of the 1970s.
Water to the Angels, William Mulholland, His Monumental Aqueduct, and the Rise of Los Angeles
In this powerful, beautifully-told biography, Standiford narrates William Mulholland’s drive to bring water from the Sierra Nevadas to Los Angeles, one of the greatest civil engineering feats in history.
Program
At a Glance
Duration
6 days
Program Begins
Los Angeles
Program Concludes
Los Angeles
Meals
10
| 5B |
1L |
4D |
Activity Level
Be treated to several of Southern California’s finest art museums and leave the driving to us! The Los Angeles area’s distinguished collections are on display in several grand museums. Daily in-depth lectures prior to the visits provide an orientation to the museums that enriches your appreciation of their visionary collectors.)
Best of all, you'll...
- Study the life of J. Paul Getty and examine his collections of Western art from the Middle Ages to the present against a backdrop of dramatic architecture, tranquil gardens and breathtaking views of the city.
- Experience the museum of Arabella and Henry Huntington, with 207 acres of gardens.
- Discover Norton Simon’s collection of art from Europe and Asia on a docent-led walk.
General Notes
Select dates are designated for small groups and are limited to 24 participants or less. If not specified as a small group, departures will have up to 34 participants.
Featured Expert
Paul R. Spitzzeri
A California historian and author of numerous works on such topics as railroad development and regulation, overland emigration, and criminal justice, Paul R. Spitzzeri received his bachelor’s and master’s in history from California State University, Fullerton. He is Museum Director of the Workman and Temple Family Homestead Museum near Los Angeles and an Award of Merit recipient from the American Association for State and Local History for his biography of the Workman and Temple families.
Please Note:
This expert may not be available for every date of the program
Donna Granata
Donna Granata is the founder and executive director of Focus on the Masters (FOTM), a highly respected nonprofit archive and educational program documenting contemporary artists. An accomplished artist in her own right, Granata is an internationally published portrait photographer. Her photographs have been displayed across the United States. Selected works from her FOTM portrait series are housed in the Smithsonian's Archive of American Artists; in the photographic collection of the George Eastman Museum and other public institutions housing the personal archives of the artists documented.
Simon Kenrick
A 23-year veteran of Road Scholar, Simon was previously a political journalist, neighborhood artist and kindergarten teacher. He teaches art history at San Francisco State University and Osher Lifelong Learning in Berkeley. Widely traveled in the U.S. and Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, he brings to life his personal knowledge of works and sites in his Road Scholar talks, museum and architectural tours—from Classical Greece and Rome to medieval Morocco, Impressionist Paris and the cutting-edge arts of the contemporary city.
Manuel Marquez
Manuel Márquez came to Road Scholar after a rewarding career in medical practice management. He has led groups to Cuba and his native Los Angeles. As an undergraduate in Boston, he was introduced close-up to the wonders of western art, the colonial and revolutionary history of the United States, and a love of learning about planet Earth and all its inhabitants. Manuel has explored nearly fifty countries on five continents. He enjoys music, reading, movies, and his beautiful cat, Pearl.
Dave McMenamin
Dave McMenamin, a lifelong native of Los Angeles, has a degree in mathematics from Occidental College, and a master's and Ph.D. in economics from UCLA. Dave taught economics at Occidental College for three years while working on his Ph.D. He then joined a company in downtown Los Angeles, holding many varied positions for over 35 years until his retirement in 2016. Dave is a docent and the director of education with Las Angelitas del Pueblo, a volunteer organization dedicated to preserving the city's history.
Activity Level
On Your Feet
Four museum field trips involve several blocks of walking at a time and standing up to one hour on docent tours. Must be able to easily get on/off bus.
Suggested Reading List
View Full List
(19 Books)
You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
We can help. Give us a call, and we can answer all of your questions!
Call
800-454-5768
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
6 days
5 nights
What's Included
10 meals | 5B | 1L | 4D |
6 expert-led lectures
8 expert-led field trips
An experienced Group Leader
5 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
Check-in, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Location:
Los Angeles
Meals:
D
Stay:
The Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles
Activity Note
Hotel check-in available from 3:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously). Walk to local restaurant is approximately 0.5 miles each way.
Afternoon:
Program Registration: 3:00 p.m. After you check in to the hotel and receive your room assignment, visit the Road Scholar table to register with program staff and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please contact your Group Leader and let them know when you arrive. Orientation: 5:00 p.m. The Group Leader will lead introductions, provide an up-to-date daily schedule with any changes, discuss safety guidelines, emergency procedures, roles and responsibilities, and answer questions. Program-related travel and transfers will be via private motorcoach unless otherwise noted. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/current conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for understanding. Lunch at the Getty Center on Day 3 is on your own. If you wish to eat at the Getty Restaurant, reservations are recommended. Make reservations for the restaurant by calling 310-440-6810. Reservations should be made between 12:00- 2:00 p.m. We set aside some free time in the program schedule for independent exploration. The Group Leader is often available during free time to accompany informal outings, activities, or meals that were excluded from the program cost. You are welcome to join and assume any associated costs.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure. Continue to get to know your fellow participants, settle in, and rest for the day ahead.
Day
2
Los Angeles Collectors, Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Location:
Los Angeles
Meals:
B,D
Stay:
The Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking and standing at LACMA. There are stairs and elevators available in each of LACMA’s six buildings. The art in each building is displayed on one to three floors in an area about two blocks long. The extent and duration of walking and standing during independent exploration is according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
An art historian will lead a lecture on the historical background of Los Angeles museums and world renowned art collectors including Henry Huntington, J. Paul Getty, Norton Simon, and Charles Lummis. Each of their collections, ranging from Native American photography and prints to European masterpieces, are housed in museums throughout the city. After class, we will depart the hotel via private motorcoach tothe Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). Originally part of the Los Angeles Museum of History, Science, and Art, LACMA became a separate art museum in 1961. LACMA's campus is twenty acres and consists of six buildings, making it the largest art museum in the western United States.
Lunch:
This meal is excluded from the program cost and is on your own at the museum. The Group Leader is happy to offer suggestions.
Afternoon:
We will continue our independent exploration of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Enjoy more than 120,000 works of art including both permanent and rotating collections. After our visit, we will return to the hotel via motorcoach.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
3
J. Paul Getty Museum Lecture & Visit
Location:
Los Angeles
Meals:
B,D
Stay:
The Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach. Moderate walking and standing at the Getty Center. The art collection is displayed in four buildings and there may be temporary exhibits in two other buildings. Elevators are available. Elective: docent-led walks of art, architecture or gardens lasting about an hour. Extent and duration of walking and other activities during independent exploration is according to personal choice. Access to the Getty Garden involves a slight incline.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
An expert will introduce the J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Center in Los Angeles, which houses European paintings, drawings, sculpture, illuminated manuscripts, decorative arts, and European and American photographs. Wealthy American industrialist, Jean Paul Getty, was an avid collector of art and antiquities who established the J. Paul Getty Trust. After the lecture, we will ride via motorcoach to the Getty Center. The museum is accessed by a ¾ mile hover train ride from the parking structure. The Getty Center is one of the most visited art museums in the United States, exhibiting Getty's collection of Western art, from the Middle Ages to the present, against a backdrop of dramatic architecture, tranquil gardens, and breathtaking views. This stunning collection features works by Titian, Rembrandt, Manet, and Monet. Take this opportunity for independent exploration.
Lunch:
On your own.
Afternoon:
Continue to explore the Getty Center before returning to the hotel via motorcoach.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
After dinner, we will gather at the hotel for an expert-led learning session on the early history of Los Angeles. Officially founded in 1781 by Spanish governor Felipe de Neve, the early population consisted of ranchers taking advantage of the area’s Mediterranean climate. Growing as the regional capital of Alta California under Mexican rule, the city began to rapidly expand following the Mexican-American War and the completion of the Southern Pacific railroad in the late-nineteenth century.
Day
4
Lecture, Huntington Library & Botanical Gardens
Location:
Los Angeles
Meals:
B
Stay:
The Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach. Moderate walking at the Huntington grounds, which are over 200 acres with some inclines. There are stairs with limited elevators. Plan for standing and walking for one hour during a docent-led walk. Additional walking and other activities are according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
An art historian will lead a class on the collections of Henry and Arabella Huntington. Their sprawling estate covers more than 600 acres and is an oasis of art and culture set within an ever-changing botanical garden. Three art galleries and a library showcase magnificent collections of rare books and manuscripts, eighteenth and nineteenth-century British and French art, and early American art. We will depart the hotel via motorcoach for the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, and enjoy a docent-led walk before self-guided exploration.
Lunch:
On your own at the Huntington Library.
Afternoon:
Continue our independent exploration of the Huntington art collection, library, and gardens before returning to the hotel via motorcoach.
Dinner:
On your own.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
5
Lecture, Norton Simon Museum
Location:
Los Angeles
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
The Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking and standing for up to 1 1/2 hours on our docent-led visit. Plan for stairs or elevator between floors. Walk to local restaurant is approximately 0.3 miles each way.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
An art historian will lead a lecture to further introduce us to Norton Simon and his collection of fourteenth through twentieth-century European art, as well as art from the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. After class, we will depart the hotel for the Norton Simon Museum. Enjoy a docent-led walk before independent exploration of the collections and the sculpture garden. The garden at the Norton Simon Museum is a living work of art that provides tranquil and inspirational surroundings for museum visitors. Many come to sketch the attractive landscaping and featured sculptures or simply relax and enjoy the atmosphere.
Lunch:
Boxed lunch at the museum.
Afternoon:
Continue our independent exploration of the Norton Simon Museum before returning to the hotel via motorcoach..
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Day
6
Collections Management Lecture, Program Concludes
Location:
Los Angeles
Meals:
B
Activity Note
Hotel check-out by 11:00 a.m.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
In our last class, we will review the experiences we had this week. Additionally, an art historian will give a lecture about the fundamentals of museum collections management. Collections management works to maintain the long-term safety and sustainability of museum pieces and is a very intricate process. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes on your next journey!
Please select a day to update the map
Map details are not available for this location.
MEALS
10 Meals
5 Breakfasts
1 Lunch
4 Dinners
LODGING
Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.
Showing Lodging For:
- Nov 16, 2025 - Nov 21, 2025
- Jan 12, 2025 - Jan 17, 2025
- Feb 09, 2025 - Feb 14, 2025
- Mar 02, 2025 - Mar 07, 2025
- Mar 23, 2025 - Mar 28, 2025
- Apr 20, 2025 - Apr 25, 2025
- May 11, 2025 - May 16, 2025
- Jun 22, 2025 - Jun 27, 2025
- Sep 21, 2025 - Sep 26, 2025
- Oct 12, 2025 - Oct 17, 2025
- Oct 19, 2025 - Oct 24, 2025
- Nov 16, 2025 - Nov 21, 2025
Participant Reviews
Based on 34 Reviews
Sort By:
I have told all my friends that I loved this trip and would love to go on another Road Scholar trip. I loved the subject matter, the lectures, the pacing and the hotel and of course, our wonderful group leader, Nadine. Nadine is so accomplished and a wonderful conversationalist. it was a true delight having her at our table. You Go Nadine !
— Review left September 19, 2024
This is an excellent program for those interested in learning about art history, and about who collects art, why, and how art and wealth are related. There is a good mix of contemporary art as well as European art from the 1500s - 1900s, plus some ancient Asian art at the Norton Simon. You might want to extend your trip a few days on either end to see other of LA's amazing art museums, or return to one of the museums visited on this tour.
— Review left July 8, 2024
It is a wonderful program and the only way to see these four museums that are each unique and have very interesting histories. I'm very well-traveled but I don't think I could have ever done this trip on my own--plus the lecturers added so much to the understanding and enjoyment of this trip.
— Review left June 29, 2024
This was a fun and easy way to see many of LA's wonderful museums and learn more about the art, the collectors, and the history of the city.
— Review left March 12, 2024
Excellent tour. Lectures especially enlightening. Recommend fewer docent-led museum tours, as they often replicated the morning lectures.
— Review left February 29, 2024
Imagine traveling around the globe and across time in 5 days, while enjoying comfortable lodging and delicious meals. This program gave me access to the world's great art treasures and background information that made the experience even more meaningful. I could not have been more pleased, inspired, or satisfied.
— Review left February 14, 2024
There is much fascinating art of all types to see in Los Angeles! This program introduced much of it to me. I had not thought of visiting LA to see art, but the program sounded attractive and I am so glad that I attended!
— Review left February 5, 2024
Overall a pleasant and informative trip. Lecturers were good, yet one contracted COVID so could not deliver two lectures, but adequate substitutions were made. Trip leader was organized and kept everyone in order. Hotel (Westin Bonaventure) was excellent & contributed to the overall tenor of the trip.
— Review left February 5, 2024
The Road Scholar art trip to Los Angeles is a must for those that appreciate fine art
— Review left January 29, 2024
I really enjoyed Road Scholar's LA's Art Collectors and Their Collections. The program was well organzied and the leader was excellent. All of the presenters were informative and contributed to my limited knowledge of art.
I booked this trip because I wanted to get out of town for Thanksgiving and this trip fit my schedule so I was lukewarm about the topic but I really am glad now I chose this trip. It expanded my knowledge of art and especially how art collectors view their collections. The trip also renewed my interest in the repatriation of art taken from its original source and sold and held by collectors and museums far removed from its origin.
This was my first visit to Los Angeles and I got a good overview of its history from the lectures. I stayed several more days in LA after the tour was over and enjoyed several other museums and the touristy Hollywood area, which I would strongly recommend for anyone who has not been to LA before. I got recommendations of what else to see by the leader and other participants of the tour.
— Review left December 11, 2023
I found this program to be exactly what I was looking for because I knew nothing about LA. The museums were very good, and the leader was an asset to the experience. I would recommend this program to anyone who loves art!
— Review left November 13, 2023
The Art Collectors and Their Collections tour is wonderful--the only problem is that you could spend another week and still not get enough.
— Review left October 28, 2023
This was a wonderful program that more than exceeded my expectations. It was very well organized and the speakers were awesome. The museums in Los Angeles are world-class and we enjoyed every one. The food was good and the Westin Bonaventure has a phenomenal breakfast buffet. It was a fun place to stay with it's interesting architecture. I would recommend this trip to anyone who loves art and art museums.
— Review left July 3, 2023
Excellent trip. Westin Bonavanture Hotel is well located. Worth flying into LA a couple of days early. I had time to go to several nearby museums not included on our tour-- Broad Museum, Disney Hall (free phone app tour), LA Library- walked to Central Market--sorry not to see the Norton Simon Museum--no time to visit privately . Wish this was part of the RS program. Least favorite was the Getty Villa--great view but not worth the long drive and time there. Loved the Getty Museum--(the following day). Plan on doing lots of walking every day. I would highly recommend this trip. Manuel, our guide, was outstanding.
— Review left April 2, 2023
Another wonderful Road Scholar trip, filled with fabulous locations and fascinating presentations. I signed up for this program because I wanted to return to the Getty Center -- I had been there briefly on a different RS program several years ago and I've wanted to go back ever since. As expected, I loved the place, but I was equally blown away by the Getty Villa and the Huntington complex. I recommend this program to anyone interested in art, architecture, gardens, history and catching a glimpse of LA vibes.
— Review left January 23, 2023
It was a wonderful tour! Very well done from tour guide, lectures, field trips, transportation to accommodations.
Bring comfortable shoes.
— Review left March 19, 2022
This was an outstanding program for art lovers and museum fans. We explored gardens at the various venues, and had a few extras as well. Highly recommend this one.
— Review left February 28, 2022
This is a first-rate program.
— Review left February 26, 2022
This was my 2nd Road Scholar program. I would go on another immediately if I could.
— Review left February 25, 2022
The instructors for the "Art Collectors and Their Collections" program were outstanding in my opinion. They provided in-depth and detailed information which increased my knowledge of the art collections.
— Review left February 8, 2022
This was a very well-conceived and executed program. Gail, our leader, was excellent; preparation for our visit to each museum or venue was also excellent, with an art historian discussing each one, and showing very well-selected videos. Probably in the top-three of my dozen RS programs.
— Review left December 14, 2021
I submitted this already but it could have not gone through .Trip was great .Group Leader ,Gail was the best .Museums and art collections well chosen .Bonaventure Hotel good .If I mulled over this a bit longer there would be a negative fact but can't think of any right now.
— Review left December 7, 2021
This program offers diversity of venues, artists and interests. Good value for the cost.
— Review left September 20, 2021
If you love art, the program called Art Collectors and Their Collections is for you. I wouldn't have missed it for the world!
— Review left February 15, 2020
This was my 75 Road Scholar experience. Always excellent. Be sure to read the information sent by Road
Scholar before registering so you won't be disappointed - especially when it comes to "activity level".
— Review left January 22, 2020
Definitely art-centered but lots of local history included. I loved the program, and I am not an art scholar by any means - it is very accessible to the average art lover. Bus rides weren't long and were very comfortable, plus we saw lots of local sites going to and from the museums.
— Review left April 25, 2019
A great opportunity to enjoy some outstanding museums which are spread out from LA and would not be easy to get to by car. We had a comfortable bus and terrific driver (Donna) and enthusiastic leader, Nadine, who had all the logistics worked out. Excellent accommodations at LA Grand Hotel. Lecturers and docents gave fascinating background information.
— Review left April 20, 2019
great informative fun trip. Our leader Gail was helpful and friendly and knowledgeable.
— Review left April 10, 2019
I liked this trip. John C. was an excellent group leader, very organized, and usually clear (except when he held up a map he was pointing to and didn't make sure everyone could see where he was pointing). The hotel and its food were a cut about what I have come to expect from RoadScholar, which pleased me.
All the lecturers were very good. Their background on the collectors enhanced my visits to the museums. The museums were great, of course, and I appreciated the mixture of free time and docent-led tours. I was happy we were able to visit The Broad in addition.
I have a nit to pick about the ear phone symbol on the yellow itinerary sheet. The symbol was placed in the margin next to the description of the morning lecture. I assumed it meant the ear phone was needed for the lecture, and consequently I didn't always have it with me for the museum docents' lectures. John could have been more clear about specifying when it was to be needed.
— Review left April 2, 2019
Each of the museums visited had something different to offer. We were well prepared to appreciate all we saw by the knowledgeable lecturers. As a couch potato I was glad to have brought a walker with a seat. The exhaustion at the end of each 5 hour museum visit was well worth the fabulous experience. The hotel was the nicest in all of my 14 Road Scholar trips. We were offered chicken, fish or pasta at every dinner.
— Review left March 23, 2019
Fine until end when I couldn’t submit completed survey unless I filled in friend fields so filled in my own.
— Review left February 17, 2019
This was a great program with lots of art and art history. Be prepared to stand a long time. Time is limited so you'll want to see as much art as possible, but it's tiring.
— Review left February 5, 2019
An excellent program in every respect, with particularly good speakers.
— Review left February 5, 2019
We loved this program, the speakers were excellent and it was wonderful to see the great LA museums without having to drive to them. The hotel is in a great location downtown for walking to other venues.
— Review left February 2, 2019
