This is one of the best air museums on the west coast, especially if you have an interest in WW2…read moreairplanes. What makes Planes of Fame unique is that not all the planes are on static display. Some of them can and do fly from time to time! If you're lucky, you can watch one taxi and take off. The down side of this fact is that sometimes the plane you really want to see has flown away. That was the case for me. I wanted to see the P-38, which was away and in its place was Tom Cruise's P-51 Mustang. Other highlights were a very early model Mustang, an Ohka, Zero, Corsair, and a Bf109 among other things. There's also a B-17 outside you can crawl through. Some of the planes are replicas, but they are stated as such on the displays. Docents were friendly and informative.

Such a fun experience coming to this museum as an aviation experience. Although it gets hot during…read morethe day (we went during the summer time), it was definitely worth walking the multiple hangars of aircraft they had. We even saw Tom Cruise's P-51 Mustang!

Wow what a hidden gem!! The Raymond M Alf Museum of Paleontology is tucked away in Claremont on the…read moreWebb school campus. Since it is a high school, you must show your IDs at the gate to be given a badge to get onto campus. The museum is closed Sunday-Tuesday. Wednesday -Friday from 11am-5pm, and Saturday from 11am-5pm. Admission Pricing (March 2026): $12 General $9 Youth/Senior $9 Student with ID FREE 4 and under FREE CA teachers, EBT & WIC cardholders This museum is 2 levels. The top is a chronological walk through history and the bottom level is more of a hands-on interactive play area for kids. We spent about an hour at this museum. We had so much fun exploring history. In order we went through the Precambrian, Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic periods. The fossils and skeletons were so fascinating. This would have been such a great spot for a field trip back in grade school. I had a lot of fun exploring history and taking selfies. Highly recommended for those who enjoy dinosaurs, fossils, or history!

Although small, it was well designed and I left more educated. $12 for entrance which was worth it…read more Parking is free but you need to talk to the parking security guard first since it's in a school.

California Botanic Garden was absolutely beautiful! I loved exploring the different trails…read morethroughout the garden. There was so much nature and wildlife to enjoy along the way. We got to see bunnies, rabbits, turtles, and so many different types of birds. It was such a peaceful and beautiful experience being surrounded by nature. Whether you're looking for a relaxing nature walk, want to explore the trails, or enjoy a nice hike, this is a great place to visit. I definitely recommend coming here if you love nature and wildlife!

Claremont, CA This…read morebotanic garden has grown on me. There are so many varieties of California native plants and they do have a nursery that is usually open a few days a week but is closed for Summer and reopening in October, 2026. What I love about this property is the sprawling amount of walkway to take a nice walk. You'll find enough shade along the way but many parts are not shaded. The pathways are decomposed granite, concrete and or asphalt so it's like hiking in nature but without the dirt road or elevation gain. I also really love that it's not crowded here. It's also smack dab in the middle of nature so you will occasionally see wild animal poop on a path, cracks that have not been repaired, but none of that really bothers me. There are plenty of benches along the path and a restroom on one side of the property so plan accordingly. They used to have a nice gift shop here and novelties like hats, t shirts, children's toys, books are now displayed in a small outdoor kiosk near to where you check in. California Botanic Garden is a member of the American Horticultural Network of Gardens (AHS). So if you have an annual membership at one of the participating Gardens associated with AHS Gardens you automatically have access to visit all of the gardens in network, unlimited visits for no additional charge. It is nice being a member at one garden and having access to visit hundreds of gardens. Currently, 380 gardens participate in this Network throughout parts of United States and Territories of U.S.A., Canada, and Cayman Islands. https://ahsgardening.org/ahs-garden-network/ I copy and pasted the exerpt below from AI but it has been a treat to see the blooms and how they change color, specifically Native California Buckwheat which can be seen along many hills and roadsides in California. To observe how the plant changes and matures in different seasons is quite fascinating: "Native California Buckwheat flowers start out white (or pale pink/creamy) and transition through shades of orange, cinnamon, rust, and deep red-brown as they age and dry out into summer and fall. Flower Color Changes Fresh Blooms (Spring): Tiny clusters open up as bright, clean white or pale pink. Aging and Drying (Summer): As the weather heats up and soil dries, the petals shift into rusty orange, copper, and tan. Late Season (Fall/Winter): The spent flower heads mature into deep rust-red and chocolate brown tones across the hillsides." I truly enjoy seeing the change of colors on each visit, they are so bright and vibrant! Look for it, and you will find a lot of beauty in the varied California native plant foliage and blooms on this property. Visiting seasonally gives the best picture. For example, The 1000's of large Matilija poppies which resemble a crinkly giant sunny side up egg just finished peak bloom a few months ago. They will be back!

First about logistics if you haven't been here before (because we had difficulties):…read more - go to gate 17 at the fair ground. Not wherever Google takes you (to a sheriffs place?), Not gate 1 (if you call the listed number it says To go to gate 1 and proceed to the security but the security at gate 1 laughed at us and said the event was closed early and we almost turned around). Plenty of parking. Really cool to see a bunch of trains up close. You can climb aboard some. The kids really loved it. You probably could go through the whole thing in an hour or less. Everyone working there, maintaining the trains and working the store were friendly. This event isn't open every weekend but specific weekends only. Check their website or call the phone number (voicemail says the dates) before you head over.

Such a great free activity to attend with kids or family. Railgiants is only opened once a month…read moreand everyone that works there donates their own personal free time to keep this place up and running. You can tell everyone who volunteers there genuinely enjoys the train and the mesuem and are always happy to provide demonstration, the history, and explanations behind the trains. My kids love that they can ring the train bell and it's great way to kill some time on the weekend.

I stand by most everything in my last review, but I would change the stars to 4 out of 5. It really…read moreisn't worth the $16 per person (maybe one time only?), but it IS worth it if you have the WIC/SNAP/EBT discount of $6 per person for up to 4 people. My 5 year old and almost 8 year old enjoyed it, but I wouldn't recommend it for older. 1.75 to 2 hours is perfect. After that, we were just repeating some favorite things for a little while, but definitely not more than 2.5 hours total. I do like that it's a small area, so I could keep an eye on multiple kids at the same time, even if they were in slightly different places.

I'm basing my review on the overall value for the price. I will start by saying that the space is…read morevery nice with lots of engaging, interactive activity stations. I love that! My kids love that! Here's what we don't love: 1. The price. If they charged $12-14 per child and let parents in for free, I would easily give this place 5 stars. The bottom line is that it's overpriced for what it is. It is not a large space. It's actually the smallest children's museum we've visited, yet it is the most expensive at $15 per child and $16 per adult. It cost almost $50 for me and my two kids. Why are the prices so hefty, and why are adults charged at all? 2. No re-entry. Again, why? For the price, we should be able to leave for a bit to eat and come back. I cannot think of a justifiable reason for this policy. 3. The enforcement of arbitrary rules. Several times during our visit, the employees would come on the loudspeaker reminding parents that all children needed to be accompanied at all times. That makes perfect sense for toddlers and babies. But my kids are 5 and 9. My well behaved 9 year old should be allowed to explore and take her time in a station without me hovering over her. This is a safe place designed for children, so why are they not allowed to roam and explore like they can at other children's museums? If it's a safety concern of making sure they don't get kidnapped or leave the premises, then install a gate and check-out system. It would be quite easy since there are employees just standing at the front desk the entire time anyway. They also have an open staircase right there that seems hazardous to little ones, so a gate would make the most sense. There are far too many other incredible children's museums in Southern California (Kidspace in Pasadena, Yorba Linda Children's Museum, the Discovery Cube, etc) that blow Second Story out of the water and are more appropriately priced.

What a wonderful little getaway at CSU Fullerton! This was my first visit and wanted to check it…read moreout before school is back in session. Parking is in front near the entrance, weekdays it's $4 /hr but free on the weekends. Admission is just a $5 suggested donation to support the arboretum. I arrived within the first half hour after opening to try and beat the heat. Even though it was still warm, there were plenty of shaded areas to stay cool along with benches that were great for relaxing. There was also a breeze so that helped. Thought about spending an hour there but glad I paid for two hours of parking because I ended up staying for 1 & 1/2 hours. One of my favorite moments were simply sitting on a bench listening to all the birds. Hopefully you can hear them on the video. This is a peaceful place to unwind and definitely encourage you to visit.

Stunning, relaxing, and well-kept views. It's a great spot to get close with nature and enjoy an…read moreoutdoor stroll. BTW: visiting the garden is FREE! And so was parking when we came. I came on a really hot day, so I only saw about half of the place, but it was such a nice time by the ponds, creeks, and little lake. Beautiful wildlife to admire, too -- turtles, ducks, fish, and tons of dragonflies and other lovely creatures peacefully about. We spent a lot of time admiring a group of docile ducks and enjoying the shade by the water. They also have an online plant shop for those interested in gardening (with a great ongoing deal). Planning on purchasing from there and picking up so I have an excuse to stop by again. Loved my time here. Expect to enjoy yours too!

This is probably the most unique place I've ever visited in Southern California. Three of our…read moredocents were actual workers on the castle, so we got an inside view of its origins. I'll never forget the experience and highly recommend that you make it a priority to visit. When a person has a vision and spends 25 years fulfilling it with hundreds of friends and neighbors, you have a masterpiece! Go as soon as you can!

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.

Today, Correctional Officer Chappel was our intake officer when we visited our inmate. She was very…read morekind and efficient, the best experience yet when visiting our loved one. Thank you, officer Chappel!

I would like to take a moment to recognize Correctional Office Chappel who was our intake officer…read moreduring our recent visit to see our incarcerated loved one. Officer Chappel has been extremely helpful , professional,and compassionate My wife uses a wheelchair Officer Chappel ensure she clears security checkpoint as comfortable as possible Officer Chappel is tuly appreciated and deserves recognition for the way she treats us

I'd say a solid 4.5! Free museum that's really small, but a huge section of the museum is closed…read moreoff for renovations right now. They really only have their two main exhibits, one of which is a history of Ontario and the other is about water conservation in Ontario. AC is really strong, clean facility, super nice staff... but honestly there really isn't much to see unless you're a local and really interested in your area's history. I think if they had their art exhibits open, it'd be an easy 5/5 despite being small because it is free.

A pretty nice local museum that has rotating exhibits. I came here on a weekend visit and it was…read morebusy here and there. People seem to just stop in shortly here, with a few people that stuck around longer to really take in the art. You walk in to the security desk and check-in with your location. They only need your zip code and you're free to check out the exhibit. There's about two museum security persons in the exhibit areas They don't really greet you, but they're there. I came in for their Chicana(o) art exhibit as well as their water exhibit. Both were good. They also had a special historical exhibit that features the history of the City of Ontario. That was an okay exhibit. Facility has some nice historical architectural feel. Kind of like some of the art deco styling in the L A. buildings. Parking lot is small, but you can also park on the street. Also just a very close walk the Ontario train station.

Thanks to the research of Super Elite Yelper Gary I., we were able to tour the Phillips Mansion in…read morePomona prior to dinner nearby. The mansion, built in 1875 and maintained by the Pomona Historical Society, was the home of the one-time "richest man in LA County", Louis Phillips. Tours are conducted by reservation only and as of this writing, can be reserved here: https://www.pomonahistorical.org/phillips-mansion for $15. Our docent, pictured below, gave us many interesting details and pertinent history of the building. The grounds are lovingly maintained; the building itself could be called a "fixer-upper". It's good to see the work in progress and the building does seem to be in good hands. This tour is very highly recommended.

We enjoyed immensely the Phillips Mansion and Currier House tours yesterday afternoon. We…read moreappreciated our docents' enthusiasm and knowledge regarding the history and preservation of these buildings. The main goal for the Currier House currently is weatherproofing it from further damage. I hope that the Pomona Historical Society finds success in obtaining funding and the proper skilled craftsmen to restore it again someday.