The California Science Museum is the best and maybe only option for kids and adults to experience…read morethe world of science around us in Los Angeles. The Space Shuttle Endeavor is here and might have been what initially drew me to the museum but they have an IMAX theater as well as new rotating exhibits to keep things fresh. The current new exhibit is Mummies. And don't forget to go outside and see the SR-71 Blackbird by the parking structure.

This place has changed so much the last time I came more than a decade ago!…read more I wanted to bring my son to experience the wonders of science and since o only had to pay for parking, that's not a bad deal. However, I forgot it's next to a stadium so there's cars going into the parking lots and it's confusing when you see a $60 parking sign but luckily museum parking is not the same. The place definitely changed, it seems so much darker, simplistic, and less colorful than I remembered. We didn't purchase any of the specific exhibits so we only went to the free pertinent exhibits which we went through within an hour! I had to slow my son down and because it's so crowded he didn't want to wait in line to look or try anything. I was able to get him to watch some videos playing around the life cycle exhibit, and then he got hungry so we went to the first floor food court. I know it says no food or drinks in the exhibits but I saw a lot of people snacking and drinking in the area, I don't think staff realized because it was so crowded. At the food court, they had a variety of stalls and we went straight to the burgers and pizza, we ordered a pizza and chili fries which my son ate mostly pizza and the snacks i brought. Thy also had a mini market convenience stall which sold snacks as well and a cafe which had ice cream and coffee. I think this place is decent, I can see some of the old things left behind like condiments station and furniture set to the side, so I think they are always revamping the pla

We had a great day watching the shows and learning about the animals…read more The pizza is excellent! However there were cobwebs on the lights above the food at the Chicken Shack. I'd check it out before purchasing!!

I was so excited to bring my son to SeaWorld for the very first time, hoping it would be a magical…read moreexperience. As a mom, student, and widowed parent, my time and our budget are limited, so this was a special day that required a lot of planning and coordination. Unfortunately, our experience was extremely disappointing from the moment we arrived to the park when we were not allowed to bring small ice chest to keep his string cheese cold. Another challenge resolved around obtaining disability accommodations. We waited in line for over an hour and a half just to receive the accommodations my son needed. For families of children with disabilities, long waits can be incredibly difficult and can set the tone for the rest of the day. I was surprised there wasn't a more efficient process in place. After finally getting through that process, we headed to the Orca Encounter, which was the highlight of our trip and the attraction my son was most excited to see. Within minutes of finding our seats, we were informed that the show had been canceled because of lighting issues. We waited, hoping the problem would be resolved, but it wasn't. There was very little communication about what was happening or whether the show would resume. By that point, the long wait for accommodations, the canceled show, and the uncertainty created an overwhelming environment which caused for him to be sensory overloaded with the crowds that were crashing into people and ran him over a few times. Instead of making happy memories, we spent much of the day waiting in lines and trying to navigate unexpected disappointments. I understand that technical issues happen and sometimes unavoidable. However, what was most frustrating was the lack of communication, the lengthy accommodation process, and the absence of any effort to make the experience better for guests who had already invested so much time. A simple update, an apology, or information about alternative options would have gone a long way. Families visiting with children who have disabilities often spend weeks preparing for outings like this. Many children thrive on predictability, and unexpected changes can be especially challenging. I hope SeaWorld will review its accessibility process, improve communication during ride or show interruptions, and consider how these situations uniquely impact guests with disabilities. This trip was meant to be a special memory for my son. Instead, we left feeling exhausted, disappointed, and wishing we had spent our time elsewhere

For those who may not know, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, is free from 3 to 5 p.m…read more maybe only on weekdays but maybe weekends too. I am not sure, but most of the information is right, if one is compelled they can fact-broaden my statement. I went to take advantage of this offer but it was June 19th and in honor of the holiday everyone got in for free on this day. But apparently it was a last minute decision. So poor reporting seems to be more like offering information as it comes, not in a malicious way, or incompetent way, more in like the town crier gives what he knows in excitement and it is the responsibility of hearers to know what to do with the information, including vetting it responsibly or accepting it as a gift when given by surprise, even though it could have come in handy earlier. So I entered and I made a beeline to the Butterfly Pavillion. I think it was 12 dollars and worth every single cent. And I write that as a full-blown understatement because exaggeration did not seem the way to go. Like saying this place was worth more than 12 dollars, it was worth the weight of a camel's back in gold. The experience was beautiful. And that statement can be easily understood. I mean butterfly garden + momentary visit= beautiful. But more than that it was a type of beautiful that I had not experience before. It was a new facet of nature's beauty that I experienced. Mostly because I had never interacted with butterflies in this way. For instance, there was a butterfly with wings that were a strong bold blue, almost neon, and for sure, vibrant. Like a royal blue not because it was that shade but because amongst blues it would have palatial lineage in its shade. We were warned that butterflies might be on the ground. And on two experiences two were. The first I encountered was not flying. And the younger members of the experience made sure to announce the butterflies presence and its vulnerability. I feel like sometime in this place's history a butterfly did get stepped on. And for no other reason, than the natural happens. In the second occasion, a butterfly was trying to fly or stand still and could not because the winds made it topple. During that moment a butterfly apparently landed on my back. Man people, if not all, wonder if a butterfly will land on them? And what it would mean? I mean, it could be good news. Saying that a butterfly landing on a person is an omen of disaster does quite fit the visual of the insect and what horror brings. A butterfly did land on my wrist and of course one can't help but feel special. Like, the butterfly chose me and its trying to communicate something. Something important that the universe wants me to hear. What exactly that is? I am not sure. I need to reflect on that later or I will know when the butterfly effects comes clearer in time.

I've been here a couple time and I feel like it's different each time I come depending on who I'm…read morewith. This time, I came with my toddler and it was a lot of fun! I appreciate that the museum isn't too big so that it's doable in less than 2 hours (provided you're not stopping to read signs etc since youre running after your LO instead..). My LO had a fun time running and racing through exhibits especially the diorama ones. The exhibits are pretty limited and small in size so you're not overwhelmed or worried about finishing this place. I think the older my kid gets, the more we can do and interact with. But for my 20 month old, it was a great way to spend about 90 min. There are bathrooms everywhere. This is a huge plus for me lol! Parking is $20! It's kind of pricey given the amount of time we spent (or didn't spend...) but it's so easy to get to the museum from the parking areas so convenience wins out. Tip: if you're an LA public library or county library holder, get free tickets through their Discover and Go page. We went to the museum this way and were able to spend a lovely Saturday morning here free (minus parking...).

I've been a little obsessed with this place over the last month. They have a big area in back with…read moreclaw machines to entertain the kiddos and some toys have envelopes attached w/ gift cards and other gifts such as tanks, pnw frag rags, long fin clowns, etc. You can entertain your kid here for hours and maybe they'll win you something lol. If you follow them on IG or FB the owner does "live coral sales" which is fun. I got a bubble coral, acan, and some Lepto frags here. I recently started my reef, and I usually only get coral from other hobbyist via fb groups or marketplace BUT this store is actually a really good price and all the pieces I got here have flourished in my tank. I feel like a kid again when I come here. Also it's spacious and very clean!! All the staff is really nice. Btw parking is TRICKY . They have a personal lot in the back but drive in slowly bc it's only one tiny lane to go in AND out.

Walking into the store was walking into a beautiful dream! This store is HUGE and there are a lot…read moreof black lights and fluorescent colors to make the tank illuminate with life! There are a LOT of salt water fish. There is a great selection of fresh water fish also! There must have been over 250+ active tanks in the shop. The staff here are super friendly and helpful! I needed to learn a few things and owner Jesus took the time to help me. His staff were all so friendly and welcoming. Prices are super reasonable! The selection is vast. Tons of fun, useful and professional items here! I'm a new huge fan!

This little shop has great prices and fishes that not any petco or petsmart carry. They also have…read moregreat little bird optiopns. My husband and I bpought a double yellow head amazon parrot and he is awesome. He has now been with us for a year and has bought joy and laughter into our home. He is a little chatterbox and we love it. The owner was a little flexible on the price and that was pretty cool. I take my son here from time to time because he loves to see what new fish he can add to his tank. 4 stars because the place could use a little cleaning..

I've been to most of the pet store around south side of Los Angeles and I would have to say that…read morethis store has a great selection of fishes at a really reasonable price. I normally don't like to share my favorite gems but after having a terrible experience with another highly rated pet store, I felt the need to give a shoutout to Bell Bird Farm. There are fluval products that are cheaper than Amazon prices but I think I bought out most of it

This was a great first time experience. There is SO much marine life to explore at this place. Tony…read morewelcomed us in and gave a a quick 101 session on the corals and what would be a starter. I'll be coming back to finish my tour and possibly start my collection.

Understand what you are getting into. This is not a fish shop that has quarantined healthy fish…read more These fish have gone through being shipped all over the world and you are hoping they will survive. The prices for retail customers are a bit ridiculous considering what they are selling. I purchased a goby and it even with slow acclimation it died very quickly. I blame myself for buying from this place and even fee guilty doing so. This is not a retail fish store. This is a place where the retailers go and understand 50% of the fish will die before resale.

This place and staff literally saved my reef tank. Thank you Isaac and Age of Aquariums for your…read morehelpful guidance and advice. I strongly recommend this place for all your reef keeping needs. (Freshwater too!) If interested heres a little story... If not, just take my word for it and shop here. - This week I decided to relocated my reef tank for a better view in the house... biggest mistake ever! Everything that could've gone wrong, went wrong. I underestimated the weight of the tank thinking I could just get by with 90% of the water drained and removal of the sump and equipment, I was definitely wrong! I ended up pulling out everything, but the sand. Every coral, every invert, every fish... yes including 4 wrasses and a goby that all like to hide in the sand bed, I mean EVERYTHING! I then accidentally broke my rock structure into several pieces in the process of lifting them out of the tank and putting them into bins. Trying not to lose too much temp, I moved as fast as I could and used as many spare heaters as possible. It was a total disaster! After glueing back all the rock work that broke into pieces and moving everything back into the tank, I was unsure of how my fishes and corals would react to this sudden change in temp, biology and chemistry. 4 hours later, I finally got the tank running again (in it's new location,) I then noticed a huge bacterial bloom, Im guessing from the stirring of the sand bed. I then decided to do a water change to see if it would help. To add to my streak of badluck, I had no saltwater prepped. I quickly rushed to Age of Aquariums to get saltwater. That's where I was greeted by Isaac. He knew something was wrong. All I said was "I decided to move my tank" he already knew where I was going. I told him my problems and concerns and hesitancy to move my livestock back into the tank. He recommended several products to me, answered a bunch of questions I had and gave me solid advice. He also allowed me to borrow several containers for saltwater as long as i promised to bring them back. I am truly grateful. 2 days later, my tank is bouncing back. I had 0 losses. Fishes are happy and corals are all starting to open up again. Im leaving this review to share my experience with those new to the hobby, getting into the hobby and those who have been in the hobby for a long time. You can always get cheaper products elsewhere, especially online... but, you will never get the support of a local fish store. Support you LFS, like they support us.

Whether a burgeoning hobbyist or seasoned pro, you will find all the supplies for keeping a happy,…read morehealthy tank here. Age of Aquariums has both freshwater and saltwater (marine) plants, fish, corals, driftwood, and cleaning equipment. The space is large, clean, and you can tell that they take great care of their fish because they look active and not sickly. I came on an afternoon over the weekend and was excited to see so many people asking about how to care for aquatic plants, when to introduce tank mates, etc. When you enter the shop, to your left are tanks, decorative wood, and dry goods like supplements. Loosely speaking, it seems like freshwater specimens (including some hefty bettas, thank you for keeping them in nice big mason jars instead of plastic) are on the left side, while marine/saltwater are center and right. The plants you see when you enter are far healthier than what you'd find at big box stores - I myself picked up some red root floaters and an Anubias variety called white rose. I've been to many a shop growing up that were dim, damp, and generally not as well kept as Age of Aquariums. They really take their time to explain how to design a tank, care for plants, and what to look for in healthy fish. Really fun spot I would like to bring my dad to so he can upgrade his 10 gallon tank!

One of my favorite places to take my toddler! It's located in a business area of Irvine with ample…read moreparking. It does get pretty busy here and we always try to go right at opening. They offer many special events throughout each month, including special hours for babies and young toddlers. Pretend City is most ideal when your child is walking. From the auto shop to the mini Trader Joe's to special events, my son loves it all! It has activities and unique areas for all ages and interests. We'll continue to go here for many more years!

Pretend city is such a unique play space for kids! What stood out to me most was how thoughtfully…read moredesigned each area was. Instead of a traditional playground, they have created miniature real world environments where children can explore different roles and interests through imaginative play. My daughter loved moving from room to room pretending, exploring, and discovering new things. From the boat area to the mechanic shop, every space felt engaging and encouraged creativity, problem solving, & independent play As someone with a background in child development, I appreciate businesses that understand the importance of hands on learning and open play. It's clear that a lot of thought went into creating an environment where kids can have fun while building valuable skills. The facility was clean, well maintained, and provided a wonderful experience for both kids and parents ... We will definitely be back!