California may not be known for its art collections and culture the way New York City is, but this is a bit of a misconception. If you actually live here, you'll find this state stacks up to anywhere in the US. There are plenty of opportunities for an aficionado to get out and about in this state to find just as many masterpieces as they do hidden gems. You'll find plenty to explore in the Movoto picks for the 5 best cities in California for the arts.
1. Los Angeles
2. San Francisco
3. Santa Barbara
4. San Diego
5. Laguna Beach
Read more about what each city is known for, and see for yourself.
To a certain extent, this is subject so this isn't to say you can't find amazing art in other towns. However, we looked at the following factors before making the final picks.
There are practically too many museums to list (and let's not forget the famous Philharmonic), but the good news is you won't be disappointed in any of them. The Getty is known for its collection of Renaissance art and certainly has the best views, bar none. The Los Angeles County Museum of Art is a bit more contemporary, and has more variety than many of the other museums. Find installation pieces at LACMA like the Rain Room — where you walk through a storm and manage to stay entirely dry. You can also find the Museum of Modern Art and the Broad, both of which feature more abstract art than you could see in any given day day. Or visit the Huntington Library and the Norton Simon in Pasadena where their gardens might inspire you to paint something of your own.
San Francisco does not fall down when it comes to museums, and we recommend the International Art Museum of America. East meets West so you can see side by side how the different time periods and lifestyles were viewed by a variety of artists from around the world. However, you'd be missing out if you didn't check out the symphony and especially its ballet company. Students from around the world attend ABA so they can have a chance at making it into this prestigious troupe of dancers. It also houses the San Francisco Art Institute and the Academy of Art University as well as the San Francisco Opera and a variety of theaters to see the hottest new musicals and dramas.
If you want local artisan work, you have to visit Santa Barbara. The arts and crafts show is every Sunday every weekend of the year, and on Saturdays during the holiday weekends. Located just steps away from the Pacific ocean, it creates the perfect atmosphere to stroll around and take in the colors of the vibrant paintings. There's an emphasis on beauty everywhere in this city, and you sport a good (or at least better) chance of finding something amazing to hang in your family room that you can actually afford here.
In San Diego, art lovers can head straight to Balboa Park. It has more than a dozen museums, including photography and The Museum of the Living Artist where you can find regional work. It also has Japanese, botanical and desert gardens so there's always something to see and learn when you walk from place to place. It's also home to the world-famous zoo and historic carousel. There's a lot to discover in this 1,200 acre landmark for both kids and adults. Having one central location to see practically everything you'd want to see is a bit of a rarity in California, so this is a spot to be treasured.
Visit Orange County and see art all around you, from the artist colonies in Santa Ana to the many galleries near the beach towns. Laguna Beach has its famous hills that give you some of the finest vantage points of the ocean in all its glory, which is why you'll find the famous Wyland gallery here with a balcony that overlooks its inspiration. Renowned for his capture of sea life, Robert Wyland has art all throughout the country featuring captivating images of whales, dolphins and waves. See it here along with a variety of local artists selling their creations. This city, like Santa Barbara, has some very high standards. With the average home price reaching over 2 million dollars for both cities, they really do attract the best of the best.
