You know how sometimes the pictures of what you did are way better than what you actually did? Like, you know, that time you went to the beach with your kids and spent 95 percent of the time in a state of anxiety but nevertheless took to your social media accounts later to post photos of your smiling brood enjoying a #familybeachday? That’s kind of the point at the Museum of Illusions, a pop-up exhibit on Hollywood Blvd. that puts visitors in front of various backdrops designed to take photos, solely to share. Scroll through to see what we thought and if you should go too.

Basically, the museum is a ticketed photo shoot that’ll make all your Facebook followers jealous. The “illusion” is really just that the backdrops are dimensional enough to make it look (kind of) like you’re doing whatever the scenery implies. The photos will show your kids scrambling up the side of a deep ravine…and tiptoeing on floating blocks high above the city.

Waving from inside giant bubbles…

And doing bizarrely wonderful stuff like this…

And this…

Kids will love role-playing their way through the museum, and grown-ups will love sending the finished photos to friends and family. Suffice it to say, the place needs no actual advertising to sustain its popularity (#genius). And it is popular: Expect to wait 30-60 minutes to get in if you visit on a weekend and about 15 minutes if you visit on a weekday. Museum organizers say you can avoid the wait if you pre-buy timed tickets online.

The Cost of Cool

So what’s the price for a destination that offers really cool pictures but no actual activity in which to partake (besides posing for all those really cool pictures)?

You can purchase tickets on the Museum of Illusion’s website for $25 (it’s $10 for kids 6-12 and free for kids under 6), or get $20 adult tickets at Goldstar.com. Sure, it’s a bit pricey for what you’re actually doing, but considering the dozens of seriously fun pictures you’ll have when all is said and done, we think it’s totally worth it. And just think of the super-weird holiday cards you could send this year!

If you don’t want to schlep to Hollywood for a single excursion, consider that the museum is nestled next to the Hollywood Wax Museum; across the street from the Ripley’s Believe it or Not!; and a block east of the bustling Hollywood and Highland Center. So make like a tourist and stay a while, especially when the grandparents are in town.

Note: Park at the Hollywood & Highland Center for only $2 for four hours if you dine or shop in the complex. 

Museum of Illusions
6751 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles
747-274-9374
Online: bigfunny.net

Note: When we visited, there was no working elevator to take visitors to the second floor (museum organizers say this has yet to be fixed). Keep this in mind if you’re bringing strollers or if anyone in your party is unable to climb stairs. 

Have you been to The Museum of Illusions? Show us your cool photos in the comments below!

— Story and photos by Melissa Heckscher

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