Five Things to Do This Summer at The Huntington
Where art, literature, and botanical wonders converge—and keep you cool
Posted on Tue., June 3, 2025 by
Where else can you sip tea in a former bowling lounge, browse rare succulents that thrive in the heat, reflect on environmental philosophy among translucent silk paintings, and let kids splash in fountains framed by living topiary?
This summer, The Huntington invites you to slow down, look closer, and discover something new—whether it’s your first visit or your 50th. Explore an abundance of gardens, galleries, and ideas with these five can’t-miss experiences.
Find Beauty That Doesn’t Need Water
Cactus and Succulent Show and Sale 2023. Photo by Linnea Stephan. The Huntington.
While most of us wilt in triple-digit temperatures, these sculptural survivors come into their own. The Huntington annually teams up with the Cactus & Succulent Society of America to showcase and sell rare and bizarrely beautiful desert plants, some of which can go three months without water. Come admire these living works of art, then stop by the sale to take a resilient friend home. Bonus: no green thumb required.
Cactus and Succulent Show and Sale
June 27–29, 2025
Mostly indoors, with one optional outdoor location
Free with general admission
See a Landscape Without People (Then Look Again)
The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens
Inside the hushed space of the Chinese Garden’s gallery, 22 silk panels shimmer with painted mountains, trees, and rivers—all intentionally lacking human representation. Wang Mansheng’s immersive installation invites reflection on what the natural environment might look like if we stepped away. But peer closer: As light filters through the silk, ghostly silhouettes of fellow visitors merge with the brushwork, revealing how closely integrated we are with the world.
Pair this meditative experience with a walk through Don Bachardy: A Life in Portraits in the nearby Boone Gallery, a celebration of human presence in all its expressive complexity.
Wang Mansheng: Without Us
May 17–Aug. 4, 2025
Studio for Lodging the Mind 寓意齋 | Chinese Garden
Free with general admission
Let the Kids Play in a Wonderland of Water and Wonder
The Helen and Peter Bing Children’s Garden. The Huntington.
The most enchanting spot on the grounds for younger visitors—and easily the splashiest—is the Children’s Garden. Designed to spark curiosity and offer a refreshing escape, this whimsical playscape features bubbling fountains, rainbow tunnels, magnetic marvels, musical pebbles, and hidden fairy doors. It’s the kind of place where science and imagination meet—and you won’t hear a single “I’m bored.”
Children’s Garden
Holds the same hours as The Huntington
Free with general admission
Take Tea Where the Bowling Lanes Used to Be
View of the Shakespeare Pavilion. Photo: Joshua White / JWPictures.com. The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.
Enjoy history and shade at the renovated Rose Garden Tea Room, originally built as Henry E. Huntington’s private bowling alley and billiards room. Today, it’s one of LA’s most picturesque spots for a leisurely alfresco lunch or a classic afternoon tea. Nab a table on the patio beside a 17th-century Italian fountain or dine indoors with views of the roses in full bloom. The menu features elegant seasonal fare, including vegan and gluten-free options—so everyone at the table can raise a teacup.
Rose Garden Tea Room
Monday–Friday: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Reservations recommended
Wander After Hours—and Watch the Gardens Glow
The Moon Bridge in the Japanese Garden. Photo by Linnea Stephan. The Huntington, San Marino, California.
As the sun sets over San Marino, The Huntington shifts into a quieter, dreamier mood. Twilight Tours offer a rare chance to explore the estate after hours, when the Japanese Garden glows golden, the bamboo rustles just so, and the outdoor sculptures shift from form to silhouette in the fading light. Learn how Henry E. and Arabella Huntington transformed their San Marino ranch into a world-famous cultural landmark during this 90-minute docent-led walking tour—all while experiencing the gardens in their golden-hour glow.
Twilight Garden Estate Tours
Advance purchase required; $49
Dates vary; start times are 5 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Plan Your Visit
Whether you’re a literature lover, art enthusiast, or plant nerd—or you’re simply seeking a shady escape from LA’s summer heat—The Huntington has something blooming for you. It’s just minutes from Pasadena and 12 miles from downtown Los Angeles.
Come for the cool galleries, stay for the peaceful gardens—and leave with a cactus, a sketch, or a little more wonder.