My daughter and I took the Special Pasta Dinner event this afternoon. 8 students were chauffeur…read moredriven to the Hollywood Farmers' Market, which is a certified market which means that all vendors actually grow what they sell. Porsche pointed out the Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Hollywood that she attended. She gave us pointers on how to shop at farmers' markets and buying produce and allowed us a few minutes of free time to shop on our own. Once back at EATZ, where Porsche is also a cooking instructor, we had Mimosas and snacked on baguette slices and very fresh goat cheese in olive oil that she purchased from the market. We began with the panne cotta - yes, life is uncertain, start with the dessert!! This dish needed time to set. We prepared the fresh beautiful strawberries for the dessert as well. Each team of 2 had their own cooking station and burner. Just perfect for all of us. We made the pasta with basil and set it aside to soften. We worked on the roasted tomatoes with garlic and then the stuffed mushrooms with spinach, shallots, garlic and cream cheese, sprinkled with bread crumbs. We began the meat sauce and when the roasted tomatoes were ready, Porsche pulsated them in a food processor and added it to our meat sauce. Our workout began as we rolled out our pasta. Yes, that was definitely a workout, but so rewarding. We all got the technique down. We learned the correct thickness of the pasta and how to cut and separate them before cooking. Definitely a good appreciation for handmade pasta!! We were then treated to a delicious meal of our own creation!! Devine!! Porsche will be emailing all the recipes after the class. My daughter and I highly recommend take a great afternoon with Porsche and taking her class. She has several menus to select from and we will definitely return in the future!! Thank you, Porsche - you are amazing!!

I was looking for something new and fun to do on my day off and came across this San Pedro Food…read moreTour. Something new as I have never done a food tour before. I can honestly say that I was pleasantly surprised. This tour was full of great information about San Pedro and fantastic food. Chef Porsche was very knowledgable and suggested of other places to visit besides the stops on our tour. The tour included 5 stops and it covered burgers, cuban food, fish and chips, bake goods and a stop at a tea house. Our tour started off at Bunz Gourmet Burgers ( small mom and pops shop) fantastic burger. Will have to come back for more. We went to Cuban restaurant called Punto Cubano with great character and decor. There we had a cuban sandwich that was amazing. Obviously there's other stuff in the menu that you are more than welcome to order at your own cost. We had a delicious flan :-) we had a few stops in between and learned about the San Pedro Port history and other spots. We then hit The Whale and Ale (English pub) for some delicious fish and chips. Alcohol not included in the tour but available for purchase. I couldn't help myself so I had a guinness. We then went over to Hojas for some delicious chai tea that hit the right spot. Hard to pick a favorite as everything was very very good, and if I may add the food portions are just right. Enough to leave you stuffed. Overall the tour was fantastic. I definitely recommend this to anyone who is looking for something new and fun to do. It supports local businesses and is something that you can do on a date, with family, friends or even Solo. You'll meet great people on the tour. I look forward to future tours from Chef Porsche. Thank you Porsche for introducing me to a new are in San Pedro that I would've not know about on my own but will definitely be visiting again soon.

Impressive service! Called to get estimates for a company party, and after a few questions, I…read morereceived so much great information AND we determined a double decker wasn't going to serve my needs for this party. This was amazing because the level of time, energy and thoughtfulness I was given went beyond what some vendors provide even customers that wind up using them. LA Double Decker will stay on my list for future outings for sure!

Steven was very responsive with my numerous inquiries even prior to booking with him and he was…read morealways courteous, professional, and honest. I knew I had to book the bus at least 6 months in advance to make sure I got a great price and that the bus was available. The bus tour was one of our family activities for my 3-day family reunion in late July, consisting of 200 people. About 60 went on the bus tour. My family enjoyed the tour and had phrases of how great Steven and his team were. To top the great service we got, Steven even drove back to hotel that my family was staying in to bring back an iPad which one of my aunts left behind. Now that is beyond customer service! Steven, I thank you for taking great care of my family! I will definitely book again.

Scout was a fun and informative captain. He engaged with the small children and well as the adults.read more

We drove two hours in Friday primetime traffic just to do this sunset tour with Glass Bottom Boat…read moreand it was so worth it. Our group was 4 adults, 4 kids, and our dog and everyone had a blast. I had done one of those regular glass bottom boats before and it was honestly boring. This one is way different. The boat has two levels. You start on the top deck cruising King Harbor where you get to see sea lions, and then go downstairs into this cozy underwater room with huge windows on both sides. You can sit right next to the glass and watch fish swim by like you're in a tiny underwater aquarium Captain Erik was amazing. He was hilarious, super interactive, and thoughtful. He noticed when one of my friends didn't have a jacket and made sure she wasn't too cold, let the kids try on the captain's hat, and somehow made everyone on board, including a few strangers, feel included. The sunset was beautiful, the ride was smooth and easy for kids and dogs, and it was way better than we expected. If you're in the South Bay and think you know what a glass bottom tour is, this one will surprise you. I get TERRIBLE seasickness and I did not feel sick for a second! Totally worth the traffic and we'll definitely be coming back.

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.

Repeat customer, we've use LA Excursion for year and they've always provided great service!read more

They were so kind! They found my drivers license and drove to my house to hand deliver it but since…read moreI wasn't home they took the time to mail it to me with a very nice note! I'll definitely use them whenever the need arises!!

Smooth, ride up and back! Lots of fun and entertainment! It's been a while, but I need to book…read moresomething else! It will be mine. It was memorable plus fun.

Tyrone and Lily Davis are exceptional hosts as was the driver for the "D" Hotel getaway last summer…read moreof 2018. My autistic son and I had a fabulous first time customer experience. Every travelers received a raffle prize on the way to Las Vegas. I like that Good Times also allows a payment plan for these trips. We saw Barstow and the duration was fine for sightseeing. I recommend this company for traveling; may it be a turnaround or getaway from LA trip.

Had a blast weather was great TMZ was great. Really appreciated the history. Stopped at a drag…read moreshow, they passed out snacks on our buss.

Capone was fun His driver was great…read moreHas a fun time The abbey was nice to us too Would suggest to others .

Beautiful house!! We had tea this morning and got a tour of the house afterwards. The food was…read moregood, if a bit heavy on the sweets. Hibiscus and English Breakfast tea was served with all the little fixings. We also got to meet Charlotte the cat, who is SUCH a little sweetheart. She's a real people lover and won't say no to a good pet. Everyone was so friendly and the tour was very interesting. I think I'll pay another visit sometime, it was so awesome :)

I attended a great community event here today thanks to the #willmoreassociation for a fantastic…read morebreakfast. The Bembridge House is a hidden gem in Long Beach if you haven't visited , it's totally worth it. The only thing is that parking is very impacted in the area, I was lucky today to secure a parking spot. I was told by a very nice lady there will be a Halloween party here this year. Put on your list for a place to visit check the website for tour info....

I've been living in Long Beach for years and had no idea how much history was right outside my…read morefront door. This tour taught me so much about my own city and that's saying something from a know it all like me! Haha. And the food! Wow. I was skeptical about the idea of being full by the end of this tour but boy was I wrong. I was the perfect amount of stuffed. The diversity in flavors and locations were so great to experience all in a couple hours while the walking component made my fit bit happy :) Definitely worth a visit if you're in Long Beach for a visit or you've lived here you're whole life! Thanks Layla for the great experience.

Why didn't I do this sooner?! The tour was so much fun! Layla (food guide extraordinaire) has so…read moremuch knowledge about every place we visited. She even shared historical facts about Long Beach. I knew I was in for some treats but the added history was a major bonus! The food portions were generous and delicious! We even had delicious beer & wine pairings with our food! You'll go home with a cute tote that'll definitely come in handy and a bunch of coupons for future visits of the restaurants on the tour!! I can't wait to do this tour again! Pro tip: be prepared to eat... a lot!

My tour to Saudi Arabia with Distant Horizons and sponsored by The National Trust was a premier…read moretrip and I highly recommend it for both new and experienced travelers. The tour introduced me to a fascinating mix of tradition and modernity, with significant cultural and historical sites. We saw major cities, deserts, and oases. What made the trip special were the knowledgeable guides - local and American - and the meetings they set up with significant people in the governance and development of the country. The Saudi people are warm and welcoming, and the country is safe. It was an honor to explore Saudi Arabia with Distant Horizons.

For 25 years now, Distant Horizons has been taking me to the world's most fascinating places--Iran,…read moreCuba, Uzbekistan, Syria and Jordan. It's the only agency I trust when it comes to rich and distant cultural centers and wherever I'm going, I know its master owner will introduce me to remarkable locals, the deepest and most interesting guides, the most colorful hotels and dozens of sites I would never have known about otherwise. I can't imagine how my life as a traveler would have unfolded without the guidance and brilliance of Distant Horizons. Pico Iyer