1. Getty Center

My first criteria for judging a museum is always the quality of the artwork. The collections and shows at the Getty Center are extraordinary. I'd place them in my top 3 museums in the U.S. The scale of the architecture creates a very impressive and grand environment, but it's not an intimate setting. Those who like to wander and explore will love it. Visit later in the day during the week to avoid the large crowds.

I liked a lot of the art at the Getty, the architecture was OK ( a little too hospitalish for my tastes but OK), and I really enjoyed the gardens & cityscape's but the flow of the place is terrible. I spent a lot of time back tracking through areas I'd already seen looking for things I missed and I'm sure there were area that I never came across. I would recommend the Getty Villa instead.