Queen Anne Cottage.
Meyberg Waterfall.
There always has been something calming about a day at the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden in Arcadia, California. If you have not visited the Arboretum put it on your list of 100 places to see before you die. If you have been to the Arboretum — but not recently — it’s time to get back.
I went back yesterday with my wife and 5-year-old granddaughter and it brought back memories of afternoons playing hooky from work in my younger days as a sports writer, sitting under an exotic tree by the lake, embracing the solitude.
It is a place for young and old. The 127 acres have paths to explore and unique plants and wildlife to discover.
My wife spent the warm early morning (the Arboretum opens at 9 a.m.) and midday heat reading under the shade of a tall tree with a view of one of the lakes or the reflection pool with its fountains.
My granddaughter and I roamed the paths in search of wildlife. My granddaughter, a water lover extraordinaire, could not resist the lakes and ponds that was home to turtles, ducks, swans, frogs, tadpoles and carp. Along the shore were herons and Canadian geese who decided to stay in Southern California rather than continue their migration north to Canada.
The Arboretum is peacock heaven. They own the place. Peacocks and peahens strut their stuff along the paths and through the gardens.
Meyberg Waterfall is a favorite spot for photography or relaxing by the falls. The famous Queen Anne Cottage, constructed in 1885, is an ornate example of Victorian extravagance set in a lakeside landscape. The cottage has been used in hundreds of movies and television shows.
The Los Angeles County Arboretum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, Adults $8, seniors (62 and older) $6, students $6, children (5 to 12) $3 and children 4 and under free. The tram ride is $4 and parking is free. Considering the cost of attractions these days, this is a pretty good bang for your buck.
— Stan Wawer
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