Get off the congested tangle of Southern California highways and spend an afternoon strolling through the gardens of the Huntington in San Marino. Founded in 1919 by railroad and real estate developer Henry Edwards Huntington, the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens were opened to public in 1928. Set on 120 acres, the botanical gardens feature over 14,000 different varieties of plants. Specialized gardens include a century-old 12-acre desert garden with one of the largest assemblages of cacti and succulents in the world. Have a cup of English tea in the Rose Garden, and enjoy the koi pond in the Chinese Garden and the serenity of the Japanese Tea Garden. Once you've walked the grounds, head over to the Children's Garden , where kids can engage in hands-on learning focused on the four ancient elements of fire, water, earth and air. The Huntington is open Tuesday through Sunday, and closed on Monday. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors, $10 for students, $6 for children ages 5-11, and free for children under 5 years old.