This place is truly fantastic.
The gardens are lovely and range from English to Oriental. They've got rare kinds of cacti and succulents in the Desert Garden. The Lily Ponds are picturesque and there's the cute Chinese Garden Tea House with a decent menu.
The library is wonderful-- and possibly overlooked by many guests who prefer the art exhibits. First editions Chaucer (The Canterbury Tales), Milton (Paradise Lost), Frederick Douglass (Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass), the Gutenberg Bible, etc....
The art exhibits are very nice, although sometimes they can get crowded on weekends. Make sure to check out Gainsborough's ""Blue Boy"" and Lawrence's ""Pinkie"" (which happen to face each other from two opposite sides of a room). There are quite a few American pieces (sculptures, paintings, furniture) on display, so it's not all European art in the exhibits.
The parking is free. The entrance fee for students is $10. Not too bad considering we're helping to keep this place open. What an awesome legacy Henry E. Huntington left behind.
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