Lady taking picture in the Chinese Garden

1. The first photogenic port of call is the boldly glazed ceramic mural, Mutual Savings and Loan (1964), by ceramist Doyle Lane in the Education and Visitor Center. It’s the perfect pop of color for your first snap.

A hand-drawn page of text and drawings from Chaucer's Canterbury tales, ~1400-1410

2. Head into the Library Exhibition Hall and check out the “Remarkable Works Remarkable Times” exhibition. There you can explore diverse books, manuscripts, maps, prints, photographs, and other objects, including the Ellesmere manuscript of Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales.

3. The North Vista offers a multitude of photo ops with its sculptures, Italian Renaissance fountain, and sweeping view of the San Gabriel Mountains. (Remember: The sculptures are all works of art, so please resist the temptation to touch them.)

4. A fan favorite: Sit in front of Sam Francis’ abstract painting Free Floating Clouds (1980) in the Virginia Steele Scott Galleries of American Art. It’s a great shot, and you’ll look like an art connoisseur.

5. The Chinese Garden has endless photogenic views, from architecture and plants to a lake and waterfalls. Added bonus: You might convince your followers that you’re halfway around the world.

6. Follow the canyon south to the iconic Japanese Garden, where you’ll find some of our most amazing snap spots. Unleash your inner supermodel and strike a pose.

7. Now make your way to the Desert Garden—one of our most popular landscapes. With more than 2,000 species of cacti and succulents, the variety of forms and textures will have you hashtagging on overload.