While Universal Studios features man-made dinosaurs to simulate another era, La Brea Tar Pits really takes you back. This one-of-a-kind, unusually child-friendly museum located near downtown Los Angeles offers a rich collection of fossilized animals and plants that were trapped tens of thousands of years ago in pools of sticky tar that dot the region – everything from common berries to teeth from the famed sabertoothed tiger. Featuring a number of tours that touch on the evolution of various species, the Tar Pits museum can help you make your vacation a little bit educational. Open 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends.