Being able to see the cars you idolize in real life is an experience unlike any other. Fortunately, California has many automobile museums for car enthusiasts to visit, including one of the best in the country: the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.
The museum houses over 300 automobiles in total, with over 120 cars on permanent display, according to the Petersen website. The collection includes vintage Ford and Corvette models, famous cars from movies such as the Batmobile and the DeLorean from “Back to the Future,” historic Formula 1 and other motorsport vehicles, and countless others. The Petersen Automotive Museum truly has something for everyone.
The Petersen Museum also has a “Vault” where additional vehicles are stored. Cars are parked in the museum’s basement, and visitors can pay extra to visit this section of the museum.
I did so and believe it is well worth it, as some of the most unique cars are stored in the Vault. I also paid for a tour from one of the museum guides, and the guide took the time to showcase his favorite cars and explain the stories of the various automobiles in the Vault.
The museum also features special exhibits, such as the “Totally Awesome! Cars and Cultures of the ‘80s and ‘90s” currently on display, alongside its fixed displays, and there is something for everyone to see. Museum tickets are expensive, but visiting the museum is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience and is overall well worth it.
Luckily, there is a perfect museum for historic car enthusiasts in Danville, just a 30-minute drive from Milpitas. The Blackhawk Museum features a collection of historic cars and houses many one-of-a-kind models, including Ferraris, Duesenbergs, and custom builds.
I really enjoyed this museum, with its entry price of just $15 for a student ticket and a wide array of exhibits.
Included with the ticket are two free docent-led tours, one of them in the auto gallery. The tour was enjoyable, and I learned extra tidbits of info not included in the cars’ descriptions.
Docents are also roaming the galleries and are there to answer any questions you may have. While the collection of automobiles in the museum is limited, I think the Blackhawk Museum is still an excellent outing for the whole family.
Overall, there are many routes you can take to see your favorite cars, but I highly encourage any car enthusiast to take advantage of the best car museums that California has to offer.
