Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum

The hilltop presidential library of the 40th president, set on a panoramic Simi Valley ridge. The centerpiece is the Air Force One Pavilion, where you can walk through the actual Boeing 707 (SAM 27000) that flew Reagan and six other presidents, displayed alongside Marine One and a presidential motorcade. Exhibits cover his life, the presidency, and the end of the Cold War, and the grounds hold a section of the Berlin Wall and the gravesites of Ronald and Nancy Reagan.

Practical: Allow two to three hours; the hilltop terraces have sweeping views. Rotating special exhibitions and an on-site café make it an easy half-day, weather-independent stop.