Getty? Yup!

My mom and I spent Sunday afternoon at the J. Paul Getty Museum, that bastion of travertine and natural light. It's an exceedingly pleasant place to visit, whether you're interested in art or not. And while we were walking around, I realized why.

The Getty is not so much a museum as a resort.

It was designed by a famous architect.

The grounds are sprawling and pristinely beautiful.

The food is great.

The views are stunning.

The gardens are perfectly manicured.

There's even a pool (although you can't swim in it).

And, of course, there are gift shops everywhere.

Although it's completely different from a resort in one critical respect.

It's free!

(And parking is only eight bucks!)