California's most popular museum houses dinosaurs, bugs and dioramas about our not-too-distant Cro-Magnon cousins.

The Natural History Museum is the largest (with more than 33 million specimens) and most popular museum in California. The best way to begin rounds is with the dinosaur exhibit, which contains a real T-rex skull and other prehistoric skeletons. Another must-see is the Hall of Native American Cultures, featuring a replica of a pueblo cliff dwelling and collections of beautiful beadwork and jewelry. The Gem and Mineral Hall showcases some major baubles, which includes 300 pounds (!) of natural gold. In the North American Mammal Hall, large dioramas show animals in their natural habitats. The Ralph M. Parsons Discovery Center is home to a 12-foot Burmese python named Jay and an iguana named Cecil; the Insect Zoo, which comes complete with a "bioscanner" video camera for an up-close view of some multi-legged specimens, is a great gross-out for kids. And for those who think a night at the museum is movie with Ben Stiller, think again. NHM frequently hosts "First Fridays," where the museum stays open late for an evening of tours, discussion from world-renowned thinkers, music performances and sets from cutting-edge DJs.