The Lanterman House is a craftsman museum house Listed on the National Register of Historic Places…read more The owner of this house was Dr. Roy Lanterman and wife, Emily, and they bequeath it to the City of La Cañada Flintridge. We registered for a group tour which cost $5/pp. The group was greeted by two old docent female staff (Marylou and Gayle). We started off by watching a short film about the history of La Cañada and the Lanterman family back in the late 1880. Some highlights about the tour: This house has a U-shaped Mexican Colonial hacienda design with 35 French windows, multiple rooms, a playroom, an entertainment room, Doctor's office, a large granite fireplace and a dance ballroom. Our docent was very knowledgeable and amiable. The house itself is not an estate per se but rather sits on a large lot. The house has many cool artifacts. Free parking lot on the side of the house. Tour lasted 75 mins. Overall, it's a nice historic house by the family who contributed significantly to the city of La Cañada.

If you're in the area visiting Descanso Gardens, try and set aside time to visit this lovely 1915…read morehome which is about a 5 minute drive away. Access only via scheduled docent led tours - it's a well-spent 1.5 hours for, believe it or not, only $5 for adults (discounts for Seniors and Students to $3, I think.) I won't repeat the program structure re: starting with a video and the path of the tour, as other reviews cover this accurately. But I will say if you're interested in stepping into a home and learning about the history of an area (La Canada) via the eyes of a family very influential to its growth, this is a must for you. Any history buff, and avid documentary watcher (you know who you are LOL) will enjoy a visit. The interiors have been restored and the vast majority of the furniture, art and collectibles are original to the 1915 construction. This is thanks to some "pack rat" sons who kept everything and more inside their parents' house before it was finally acquired by the city of La Cañada as a historical home. This isn't a vast Vanderbilt, grand estate - it's a beautiful and charming family home that has surprisingly modern touches that were ahead of their time - but maintaining the quiet elegance of another era. Docent Yvonne was lovely and the volunteer team at the Visitor Center equally helpful and kind. Great step back in time - you'll feel as if the Lanterman family could walk around the corner at any moment. Just go, you'll enjoy it!!! :-)

I cannot say enough wonderful things about our experience here at Rubel Castle. Our host, guide,…read moreand local "Rubelligent" volunteer, Ms. Kathleen had all the intel about this historical property. She was so knowledgeable and helped set the stage for us to slip into a forgotten era and get a glimpse of how imagination met inventiveness with a DIY charm. ~ A LITTLE BACKSTORY FOR YOU ~ It's not pronounced Rubel as Barney from Flintstones. Rather, it's like Target is to Targét when we are trying to be fancy. So that's Rubel as in "Roo-bell." Unlike modern-day construction, Rubel Castle wasn't built overnight. It was made of collected recyclables and construction rubble that spanned many decades and took several friends and volunteers to build it. For Michael, however, the lifetime inspiration was first sparked at the age of 9. His love for canons was where it started and the rest is history you can hear about on the tour. But don't just show up like we did randomly one day. To book, visit RubelTours.org and make a reservation. ~ OUR TOUR EXPERIENCE ~ It's as if Michael Rubel, the creator and mastermind of this enchanted dominion had intended it to be--magical. Built in the castle period of wood and tin, every corner captured our interests, from antique cars to the 1890's Seth Thomas Tower Clock with a unique backstory (and only six in existence today). There were old vending machines, tools, trinkets, and machinery that time had long forgotten. Did I mention there was a drawbridge? Yes, and a dungeon too. I was just waiting for a dragon to come swoop down on us next. Walk in the footsteps of famous visitors like Alfred Hitchcock, Dwight Eisenhower, Jack Benny, and Bob Hope. It's a feast for the eyes no matter where you glance. I particularly enjoyed the bottle house that Michael built in 1968 as his "home" as a kid. That independent spirit was quite charming to see. ~ WATERCOLOR NATURESCAPE ~ We were fortunate to have our gracious host lead us on a tour and organize a special art crafting experience outdoors. It was absolutely lovely beneath the trees and between rusted vintage cars from the turn of the century. We each got a small canvas to paint our flowers in watercolor. (This particular experience takes place in the Spring and Fall, weather permitting.) We heard the squirrels rattling in the leaves and birds chirped and sang in the trees above. We discovered that peacocks apparently originated from this property, compliments of Michael Rubel. And did I mention that on the far side of the property, a custom garden was in full bloom? BOOK A TOUR Help support the Glendora Historical Society and keep this magnificently unique city-castle maintained. It's worth it.

A castle in Glendora? Yes, your eyes aren't deceiving you--Rubel Castle is real, it's magnificent,…read moreand it's gloriously eccentric. Thanks to the sheer persistence (and probably delightful stubbornness) of Michael Rubel, we now have this quirky, towering State Treasure sitting right in the middle of Glendora like a fairy tale that accidentally took a detour through a hardware store. This place is beautifully done, and part of its charm is that it's a full-on hodgepodge of relics, antiques, crystal trinkets, and "wait... what is that doing here?" moments tucked into every nook and cranny. You'll marvel, you'll laugh, you'll squint in confusion--honestly, it's everything you'd want in a castle built with love, imagination, and a dash of madness. And let's talk about the makeshift cemetery. Quirky? YES. Fun? Absolutely. Slightly spooky? Only if your imagination is over-caffeinated. But it fits the vibe perfectly--like the castle whispered, "You know what I'm missing? A tiny cemetery." The tours are fantastic, the guides are passionate, and the whole experience feels like you're stepping into a living scrapbook of California history and charming chaos. Overall: Amazing, amazing place. Book your tour. They only do tours every first Sunday of the month, so set your alarms, mark your calendars, tie a string around your finger--just don't miss it. Rubel Castle is truly a California State Treasure, and an absolute must-see for anyone who appreciates creativity, history, and a little eccentric sparkle.

No stars were seen but my tour was so much fun. My tour guide was top tier he made the tour so…read morefunny. Don't remember his name but it started with a C

tmz had the best tour ever! paula and kiki were thw greatest. the information shared was…read moreawesome. they kept it fun and interesting. the finger or the wave was dun and the special treats were also great! thanks a bunch

I have now had the pleasure of experiencing two different Six Taste food tours and had the best…read moretime at both! I did the DTLA one for my 30th birthday with friends, and then threw a 60th birthday party with family and both were so much fun. Both guides were wonderful and fit right in with our groups, and the food was fantastic (DTLA was really special and I crave the pasta regularly). I was born and raised in LA and still find this to be so much fun and have discovered new spots each time. Highly recommend if you're from LA or just visiting - such a fun way to spend an afternoon or evening!

My husband and I had such a great time on the Arts District tour with Six Taste Food Tours. The…read moreexperience felt thoughtfully curated and relaxed, and we loved getting to try a variety of local spots in the Arts District all in one afternoon. Our tour guide, Sally, was wonderful. She shared interesting stories about the neighborhood and the restaurants, which made it feel more like exploring the area with a knowledgeable friend rather than a typical tour. The food was delicious and plentiful, and we even met some really nice new friends along the way. Our very first Six Taste tour was actually the Arts District tour back in 2016, so it was special to return ten years later and experience it again. Over the years we've also enjoyed their tours in Downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood, Santa Monica, Thai Town, Koreatown, and Little Tokyo. Every tour has been a fun way to discover great food and learn more about the neighborhoods of Los Angeles. Highly recommend!

This place was so amazing great place to get close to ostrich. The own himself gave my family a…read moreprivate tour it was so informative and all the details he gave us have me so amazed. The location it self it's beautiful near mountains. They also have restrooms and playground for kids. They also have little shop they sell ostrich eggs which are huge and they even have home made honey. Amazing place would definitely be going back!!

Such a great little place! We did a tour in the morning with five kids under 7, and the gentleman…read moregiving the tour was so accommodating to antsy little bodies needing to move around. I'm so sorry I didn't catch his name, but he was very knowledgeable and so kind. I'll absolutely be recommending Quail Run Ranch to every one!

We had a great time with David. He was an excellent tour guide, very friendly and knowledgeable…read more Thank you for making our trip memorable.

We have never done a similar tour but as our friends from AZ were looking for a true Hollywood…read moreexperience, we chose this company for the good ratings and also a great Groupon deal.... we met at the location a bit early and were able to use the restroom before leaving for our tour. Our tour guide Dave was awesome - engaging, informative and also inquisitive as we were all an active part of the tour. What more to add? Yes, book the last tour of the day as the tour guide may not feel as stressed to get back to the Hollywood Blvd location on time and you may see some of the local celebrities, either driving their vehicles or briefly walking outside. Great company and ditto experience.

5 star service! 5 star food! 5 star sightseeing! 5 star hotels!…read more If you want to enjoy your trip without any worries, signet is your choice.

Went to Vietnam for 9days. Excellent tour guide, 5stars…read morehotels. wonderful food. Trip arrangements were suit for the weather.

I did the Missing at the Mortuary tour in Pasadena after watching The Mortician on HBO Max, so I…read morewas definitely curious to see how it all connected in real life. The tour had some creepy atmosphere but overall, it felt a little flat. Didn't really learn anything new or interesting. It wasn't bad, but it didn't really live up to the intrigue or tone of the show. I couldn't help but wonder if the electrical company that bought out the mortuary is getting a cut of the profits.

Best business out there for any entertainment! From ghost investigations to magic to escape rooms!…read moreThis place has it all! Insane that it is at a real true crime location... taking the tour next! 10/10 ask for Noel

Excellent tour. Steve was a very knowledgeable and informative guide. Very well organized tour in…read morea new ford transit full size van, with many landmarks, apartment buildings and homes pointed out. Stops at key murals, watts towers, liquor store, etc. so you get a chance to walk around and take photos. Very well done and I would recommend to anyone who wants to see south l.a. firsthand.

The tour itself with Big Mike was worth it. He's a gifted story teller and shares his own personal…read moreexperiences & insights that adds an authentic value to the tour. The two stars go to Big Mike holding down this bizness. The cons: The night before Purchased dual package tour: La Hood Life and Hollywood tour for $125 a person. A Text message sent at 2am said to meet up at 930am, which we didn't see until parking in the garage at 930am. We get there at 937am to check in, our tour gets verified with the owner (bald slick brother in a all white T parked a glossy badass Benz). At 10am the rest of our tour group arrives. They wait on the opposite end of us because our tours are separate. At 1010am we get verified the 3rd time that we have both tours booked, then offered a seat in the open air tour truck. At 1035 we get verified again & told to get off the open air tour truck and get a seat on the white van with everyone else, that our Hollywood tour would be after we get back from the Hood tour, Mind you the tour I booked was described as 3.5 hrs, quick & to the point. Instead We end up on a nearly 4 hours long tour of the hood. We got back to the pickup location at 230pm. 5 hrs in total wasted mostly by waiting around, watching a verbal argument btwn Mooney, the owner & Big Mike but he seemed to stay out of it. The complaining and arguing and cussing was authentic, cuz Mooney's frustration was real & felt. Yet I think his hissy fit led to all the chaos & waiting around we had to do. We're out $80 because that how much more we paid than everyone else on our tour. I left feeling "Debow-ed" with my tourist chain getting yanked off! Not to mention, the Van sound system went out by blasting uncontrollable screeching noise every time the Van was started back up. This screeching assault to our hearing happened about 9 times. Painful!!! Plus we were stuck in the heat with no AC. Haha it was so ridiculously awful, that looking back I can only laugh. Luckily we broke down close to a small store & bought cold drinks & snacks while the wiring was figured out to the sound system. The rest of the tour the microphone didn't work so the people in the back couldn't hear Big Mike's awesome story telling, and their nonstop complaining behind me was distracting AF. Lastly what we were overcharged $80, should be given to Big Mike and lil sum for Mooney cuz Mooney was mad as hell and I could tell by his high level cussing he can tell a story too.

Pasadena Heritage lecture "Tribute to Julia Morgan, Architect", was held January 21, 2012 in honor…read moreof Julie Morgan's 140th birthday, the 35th anniversary of the founding of PH and to raise awareness for the possible preservation, renovation and restoration of JM's YWCA (1921) located at Marengo and Holly in Pasadena which has been listed on PH's most endangered list for many years. This was a very informative, well attended presentation on the City's historic civic center plan, JM's bio and body of work, architecture and construction of the YWCA as well as the past and present function of the structure and possibilities for reuse. The second part of this program may be scheduled in the Fall of 2012. Julia Morgan, California's first licensed woman architect, is known for her work at Hearst Castle, in addition to her work in SF, Oakland, No. California and for the design and construction of YWCA buildings throughout California, Utah, Arizona, and Hawaii including 14 structures at the Asilomar Conference Grounds (originally YWCA) in Pacific Grove. Bernard Maybeck was her mentor.

For the past 16 years, Pasadena Heritage has been hosting the annual Craftsman weekend, which…read moreaccording to their website is "the largest and most comprehensive celebration in the Western United States." Throughout this weekend, you can take both bus and/or walking tours of historic neighborhoods, but the highlight of the weekend is the Craftsman House Tour where you get to visit six distinctive period homes, Not only do you get to see the interiors of these beautiful homes, you'll also have trained docents inside who will give you historical facts and architectural info about the home itself. So if you have a love of the American Arts & Craftsman movement, than why not take advantage of being local to a part of the country where you can see beautiful examples of this distinct architectural and design style. I certainly did last year and with Annual Craftsman Weekend coming around again in October, you can too. To see the pics I took while on the 2006 Craftsman House Tour, check out the link below: http://www.flickr.com/photos/la_addict/sets/72157594566541113/