Descanso Gardens

On our list of the best activities in Los Angeles.

Sixteen distinct garden areas cover the 150 acres E. Manchester Boddy bought in 1937, from the Camellia Forest and Japanese Garden to an oak woodland and a lilac garden threaded by a paved promenade. Boddy planted up to 100,000 camellias bought from two Japanese-owned nurseries before selling the land to Los Angeles County in 1953. His own 22-room mansion, designed by James Dolena in the Hollywood Regency style, still stands on the property and now holds exhibits on the gardens' history after renovations in 2007 and 2019.