Whether you’re living in Los Angeles or visiting LA, you’ve likely seen the Broad Museum on multiple lists of must-see places in LA. As one of the city’s most noteworthy museums, the Broad is located in downtown Los Angeles and is home to many artworks, including the famous Infinity Mirror Room. 

If you’ve never been to this museum and want to go, I’ll walk you through what you need to know when visiting the Broad Museum for the first time. 

What Is the Broad Museum Famous For?
LA’s Broad Museum is famous for hosting contemporary art. They have many works from famed artists like Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat. One of their most famous exhibits is the Infinity Mirror Room, created by Yayoi Kusama. This Instagram-worthy, immersive display is filled with lights and makes you feel like you’re in space. 

How Much Are Tickets to the Broad Museum?
If you’re wondering how much it costs to get into the Broad Museum, the good news is it’s free, and this includes Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirror Room. Getting tickets, however, is a little tricky. 

You’ll want to get tickets specifically for the Broad Museum and Infinity Mirror Room instead of just the Broad. Unfortunately, you can’t get these tickets at any time, either. Tickets are available to reserve online on the last Wednesday of every month at 10:00 a.m. PST. From there, you can pick the upcoming day and time you’d like to go. 

Can you get into the Broad without a ticket?
No, you can’t get into the Broad without a ticket. Instead, you must reserve tickets online to get into the Broad Museum and the Infinity Mirror Room. You may see a line of people waiting outside the museum, but if you have tickets already, you can go up to one of the attendants to check in and head inside. 

The Infinity Mirror Room
This immersive experience is one of the museum’s most popular displays. I expected this exhibit to be in a massive room in which people were crammed in, trying to fight one another for the best photo op. However, kudos to the artist and Broad Museum staff for creating a really unique setup. 

Once you’re in the museum, you can go to the line specifically for the Infinity Room. It’s on the first floor, just before the gift shop, so it’s easy to find. The wait isn’t long at all; I think my husband and I were in line for no more than 10 minutes. 

How it works is that each group gets to go into the room by themselves (with a limit of 4 people per group) for 1 minute. There’s an attendant at the door to let you in, and you can leave your coat/purse/bag with this person if you don’t want to bring them in. 

When you walk in, there’s a short pathway for you to stand and surround yourself with the stunning light display. It was incredible! Not only is the artwork itself amazing, but getting to experience it without crowds makes it all the more special. 

While one minute may seem short, that’s really all you need to get some nice photos/videos and take in the artwork. I’ll add that while it’s worth a photo op, give yourself time to actually appreciate it in person too!

How to Get to the Broad Museum
There are several options for getting to the Broad. While you certainly can take a Lyft or Uber there, driving or taking public transportation could be more economical depending on where you live or the location of your hotel.

Public Transportation
This is what my husband and I ended up doing. The great thing about being downtown is that the Broad is near one of the city’s subway stations. 

To get here from the Hollywood area (including Universal City and North Hollywood), you’ll take the subway’s red line toward Union Station and get off at the Civic Center station. From there, walk along Hope Street and then hang a right at 2nd Street until you see the Broad Museum on your left. 

Drive and Park
The other option is to drive and park at the Broad Museum. The parking garage is open on Wednesdays-Sundays from 9 in the morning until 10:30 at night. Here are the rates according to Broad Museum’s official website:

• $17 for 3 hours on weekdays with validation from The Broad (after 3 hours, an additional $5 every 15 minutes, $27 maximum)
• $17 after 5 p.m. on weeknights
• $17 all day on weekends

How Much Time is Needed for the Broad Museum?
​You should be able to see the Infinity Room and the rest of the museum within 1.5 - 2 hours. The museum’s third floor is only included with the free general admission tickets. However, you can pay extra to see other displays, which may increase your time there. 

Is the Broad Museum free?
Yes, it's free to enter the Broad Museum. The only cost would be to attend premium exhibitions, but the infinity and main museum area are free.

What's at the Broad Museum?
You can find all kinds of exhibitions and artwork at the Broad, including the famous Infinity Room and work from artists like Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat.

Is the Broad Museum worth visiting?
Absolutely! I think the Broad is definitely worth a visit. They have lots of incredible works there, and with free admission, it's one of the most affordable options for things to do in LA. 

Transparency Disclosure — The opinions on this website are independent and based on my own personal experiences. I may receive a referral fee for stays booked through the links on this site.

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Editor's note: The Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun is now called the Dreams Puerto Morelos Resort & Spa. The only change to this resort is it's name since it is still owned by the Hyatt brand and did not undergo renovations.

The Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun (now called the Dreams Puerto Morelos Resort & Spa) is an all-inclusive resort that opened up in 2021. If you're planning a Mexico trip and looking at Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun reviews, I'm here to help. I recently stayed there, and in this Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun review, I'm giving my honest take on this resort.

Where Is the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun Located?
This Hyatt Ziva is located about 20 miles south of Cancun in Puerto Morelos, so a heads up that if it says 'Riviera', it's usually not located in the city or main hotel zone but rather farther out along the cost. My husband and I arrived at night. After taking a turn off the highway, we found ourselves on a rough road leading to the coast where the resort is. Unfortunately, whoever was in charge of maintaining this road didn't prioritize fixing potholes. At one point, we thought we might be stuck after our driver hit a massive pothole. Considering that, it wouldn't surprise me if drivers took turns opting out of rides to and from this resort.

Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun Check-In Process
We finally made it to the Hyatt Ziva, and it's definitely a fancier resort. The lobby area where you're dropped off is upstairs, and then downstairs is where you'll find the amenities and the entrance out to the pool. Check-in was pretty easy, but we did have to wait a bit for the bellhop to bring up our luggage. 

Initially, we were only given one room key because the resort was so busy that they didn't have extras. We had to wait until the next afternoon to get one. If you're staying with another person, it helps to have an extra room key, so I hope the Hyatt Ziva prioritizes ordering more room keys for guests in the future. 

​Pros: What I Like About the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun

• Good food - Overall, I'd say the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun had a solid assortment of foods. You've got lots of different options to choose from, including Mexican, Asian, Mediterranean, French, American, and Italian.
• Nice staff - Mexico is the best when it comes to hospitality, so it was no surprise that the folks working here were lovely. Shout out to Timo, one of the servers by the pool!
• The rooms - Our room was incredible! It was not only huge, but had a massive bathroom space complete with a jacuzzi and a large balcony that had a sofa on it.
• All-inclusive - Unlimited food and drinks? Sign me up! I rarely go to all-inclusive resorts anymore, but it was a nice perk not having to reach for my purse every time I wanted to order something.
• The waterpark - This was one of the unique things about the resort that I really enjoyed. They have an actual waterpark area that includes a play area for young kids as well as four big water slides (though only three were in use when I was there). Best of all? There was hardly any wait, so you could ride them as many times as you'd like. 

Cons: What I Didn't Like About the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun

• Guests hoarding pool chairs - This drove me absolutely nuts. As early as 7:00 a.m., people started saving pool chairs. Eventually, we decided if we wanted something halfway decent, we'd have to do the same. But it was so frustrating since we never got a space near an umbrella. 
• Few umbrellas - Speaking of umbrellas, there's a small handful of them around the pool, and if you want to sit beside one, you'll need to wake up near the crack of dawn. I wondered if the lack of umbrellas was to entice people to pay extra for their cabanas, which you can see in my Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun photos above.
• No beach - This was one of the most depressing beaches I've ever seen. It's basically a sliver of sand filled with rocks and/or seaweed. Plus, don't expect those turquoise waters here; we didn't see that.
• Poor entertainment - For a five-star resort, this place didn't have the kind of entertainment I was hoping it would. Sure, they offered karaoke, live bands, and occasional 'shows', but nothing substantial. I've seen other resorts with larger entertainment teams that included dancers who performed in nightly themed shows similar to the type you might see on cruise ships. I don't know if resorts are trying to move away from this or it's just this one. 
• The location - As I mentioned, the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun isn't in Cancun proper, so if you want any type of nightlife, you'll have to Uber or taxi to Cancun or Playa del Carmen. Considering how bored I felt at night, it would have been nice to at least have somewhere to walk around.
• Restaurant wait times - Things were probably more chaotic than usual considering how busy the resort was during this week, but I still didn't think they organized restaurant seating well. Often, there was a long line for the specialty restaurants, and you couldn't make a reservation to help alleviate these issues.

Who Should Stay at the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun All-Inclusive?

• Families with kids
• Couples who want to just lounge around
• Travelers who like the idea of just spending the week only at the resort 

Who Shouldn't Stay at the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun All-Inclusive?

• College and young friend groups who want more of a party vibe
• People who want to be able to explore more on their own

FAQs About the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun
1. What was the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun before?
The Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun is under four years old, but based on my research, it used to be a Secrets resort.

2. How far is Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun from the airport?
The Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun is roughly 20 minutes away from the Cancun airport.

3. Does Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun have a lazy river?
No, this Hyatt Ziva resort doesn't have a lazy river. Instead, it has a kids water park and larger water slides for older kids, teens, and adults. 

4. Is the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun in the hotel zone?
No, the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun is located about 30 minutes south of Cancun's hotel zone, so it's kind of out in the middle of nowhere. Basically, you need to drive to get anywhere from there. However, there is a Hyatt Ziva in the Cancun hotel zone that my husband and I did check out during our trip. I liked the Hyatt Ziva in the Cancun hotel zone way more since it had the turquoise blue waters and a larger beach.

5. Does the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun have a waterpark?
Yes! This was actually one of my favorite features of this resort. They have a smaller waterpark for young kids and then bigger waterslides for older kids, teens, and adults. The waterpark wasn't busy either, even while the resort itself was full of people, so there's no long lines to use the water slides.

6. Is the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun adults only?
Nope, the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun all-inclusive resort is for people of all ages. There were plenty of kids there during our stay. 

7. Is there a difference between Hyatt Ziva Cancun and Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun?
Yes, they are two different hotels. The Hyatt Ziva Cancun is located in Cancun's hotel zone, whereas the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun is located roughly 20-30 minutes south of Cancun in Puerto Morelos.

8. Is the beach swimmable at the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun?
While there aren't any rules that you can't swim at the beach here, the water at the shore had a lot of seaweed that made it not ideal for easily getting in the water. Plus, the ocean here isn't that bright blue you might associate with this region, so keep that in mind.


Transparency Disclosure — The opinions on this website are independent and based on my own personal experiences. I may receive a referral fee for stays booked through the links on this site.

Idyllwild, California has some personal significance to me, so it was extra exciting to see this California mountain town. I went with my fiancé and our dog to celebrate my fiancé's birthday. Our overnight trip was in late February, and we were driving from Los Angeles.

Idyllwild is a mountain town located in the San Jacinto Mountains and is about a two-hour drive from Los Angeles. Idyllwild is great for an overnight or weekend trip. In this article, I’ll share what to know if you’re considering a mini-getaway to this quaint California town in the mountains.

What is Idyllwild known for?
Idyllwild is a mountain town located in the San Jacinto Mountains in Southern California. It’s about a two-hour drive from Los Angeles. Idyllwild provides access to hiking, wilderness, and local businesses such as restaurants, shops, and wineries. The town is ideal for a short escape from the hustle and bustle of busier SoCal cities. Idyllwild is perfect for a day trip, overnight visit, or weekend getaway. 
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Does Idyllwild have snow?
Yes, Idyllwild has snow. This may be surprising considering it’s located in Southern California, but once you start driving up into the San Jacinto Mountains, it’s as if you’re being transported into a whole other world. You leave the desert climate of inland SoCal and enter a wintery landscape full of snow, beautiful mountains, and pine trees. Now, don’t expect snow in Idyllwild all-year-round, but if you go in the winter, there’s a good chance you’ll hit a beautiful snowfall. 

Is Idyllwild worth visiting?
Yes, Idyllwild is worth visiting! It definitely embraces the quaint mountain town aesthetic. From cabin-like lodging to adorable local shops, you shouldn’t be disappointed. Plus, Idyllwild is super-relaxing and quiet; I slept the best I had in months during our overnight stay! Our dog, Piper, also got to meet the Idyllwild Mayor, an adorable golden retriever who made the rounds visiting folks in town. 

What is the best time of year to go to Idyllwild, CA?
I imagine different people will have different answers for this, but in my opinion, the best time to go is the winter to (ideally) see a real snowfall near LA. As someone originally from Michigan, it's really cool treat to just drive a few hours and experience a pretty snowfall in the mountains. We stayed in February, but I imagine this would be a gorgeous place to stay during the holidays if you're craving that snowy Christmas weather.

Where to Stay in Idyllwild
We stayed at the Silver Pines Lodge, which is located right around the corner from the center of town, so the location is great. Silver Pines Lodge offers cabin-style rooms that are very cozy. The rooms come with a fireplace that runs on a thermostat system, so it's easy to control. The main issue we encountered with our room was that the bathroom does not get heated, and as a result, the floor in there was extremely cold. A refrigerator was included with the room, though, which was a nice addition. They are also pet-friendly, so feel free to bring your dog on the trip if you stay here! 

How long should you stay in Idyllwild?
You should stay in Idyllwild for at least one night or for the weekend. Idyllwild is not very big, so any time longer than a few days isn’t necessary. 

Transparency Disclosure — The opinions on this website are independent and based on my own personal experiences. I may receive a referral fee for stays booked through the links on this site.


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