In early May, I traveled to Los Angeles for a cookbook event at The Well Lived Woman. The day after our event, I went alone to The Huntington. Although the property includes nearly 120 acres of botanical gardens, I spent most of my time in the rose garden. It was fully in bloom, and no matter the direction I turned, there were intricate, colorful, sun-drenched roses before me.

As a mother, I cherish my alone time. It is often true that my alone time is spent on Wiley Canning Company, but on this day, I was able to spend it in a state of observation and admiration of the beautifully grown and maintained gardens surrounding me. I was reminded of the importance of processing time, or reflection time, to simply be in a state of neutrality, with no specific plan for a short while. I listened to this playlist, created by Elise Joseph, as I walked the property with my camera.

Below, I’ve written a few simple tips to keep in mind when planning a visit for yourself.

If you visit on a weekend or Monday holiday, you must reserve your ticket in advance. Weekday visits do not require reservations. As always, I recommend arriving as close to opening as possible before crowds grow.

There is a wonderful café on site near the entrance called 1919 Café. Before you begin to explore the grounds, you can enjoy a meal there or a variety of dining locations.

The Huntington is huge. Allow yourself to spend many hours exploring the library, museum, cafés, and botanical gardens.

You can visit The Huntington’s full website here.