One of the world's most significant fossil sites, the tar pits in central Los Angeles have revealed fossils of plant and animal life preserved in the pits for ten of thousands of years. The fossils themselves are on display in the Page Museum on the site, while replicas of some of the animals, mammoths and sabre-toothed cats found have been creatively re-placed in and around the pits.

Address: 5801 Wilshire Blvd

Website: www.tarpits.org

Telephone: (323) 934-7243

Opening times: Monday through Friday, 9:30am-5pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am-5pm.

Admission: $7 (adults), $2 children; free on the first Tuesday of each month.