The J. Paul Getty Museum, according to its own website, “seeks to further knowledge of the visual arts and to nurture critical seeing by collecting, preserving, exhibiting and interpreting works of art of the highest quality.”

That means it has neat stuff for you to look at.

The museum is located in Los Angeles at the Getty Center, atop a hill overlooking the parking lot that is the 405 freeway (museum access is via Sepulveda Blvd). Drive by during rush hour and you’ll have plenty of time to stare at its wonder and watch the tram shuttle people up its steep hill.

Inside the museum you will find paintings, drawings, sculpture, illuminated manuscripts, decorative arts, and photographs from Europe and America.

There is a smaller J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Villa in Malibu, just off the Pacific Coast Highway and directly across from the beach. This one wins the battle of location.

However, the real winner is you, the art-loving public, because admission to both Getty Museums is free (however, the Getty Villa requires an advance, timed ticket for occupancy reasons).

Visit L.A., and add a free day of culture to your vacation. Sounds nice, doesn’t it?

This post is part of the UpTake Monday Museums & Monuments Series.

Photo: Allan Ferguson via Flickr

Summer vacations are officially here. I read that on the internet, so you know it’s true. Speaking of the internet, welcome to it. We’ve been expecting you.

This is where the travel happens, and to a lesser extent, the magic. Enjoy.

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Have you ever been conned by a hotel? It happens. Oyster can help you avoid the sneaky stuff.

LEGOLAND has added a water park. No assembly required.

Flying through Houston? Hungry? There’s a new La Salsa in town.

Win a trip to Shanghai! Seriously.

The Euro is down, rent a villa!

A nerd’s eye view on Moloka’i.

Are you ready to party, Columbus? The Park Street Festival is coming!

See the top beach houses. Rent them.

The Gulf feels the oil spill right in the wallet (and elsewhere).

Oahu is all about the pampering — and we’re not talking diapers.

Starwood Preferred Guests get free stuff! Are you one?

Pottery Games? Not in the house.

Kaua’i is all about the golfing — and we’re not talking, wait, yes, we’re talking about golf.

Winter Park, Colorado has gone to the jazz.

Tomorrow is Oceans Day — see what Disney is doing.

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And that, as they say, is that. They know who they are.

If you would like to be featured in a weekly edition of Travel Around the Internet contact us via email or Twitter. It could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship (see, Facebook).

From guest blogger, Marsha Takeda-Morrison, of Sweatpantsmom.

Did you watch the Academy Awards? Did you enjoy hanging out with all the winners at the Governors Ball afterwards? Yeah, my invitation got lost in the mail, too.

But there are other ways of brushing elbows with the A-listers, without having to lie your way into the Oscars by telling the guard that you’re Nicole Kidman’s obstetrician there to administer an ultrasound. (Which totally would have worked, by the way, if Keith Urban hadn’t noticed that I was flashing my library card and not a medical ID.) Here in L.A. the celebs are everywhere – buying sweaters, having coffee, eating lunch – just like you and me! Except with more money and better hair.

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