Elegance, Beauty & Pure Serenity…read more The Huntington is truly an exquisite experience. The breathtaking gardens, tranquil pathways, cascading waterfalls, beautiful blooms, and lush landscapes create an atmosphere of timeless elegance and serenity. The Tea Room was equally delightful, with beautifully presented sandwiches, champagne, and impeccable ambiance, perfect for a special celebration or an elegant afternoon with friends and family. The staff was gracious, professional, and attentive throughout our visit. A wonderful destination for nature lovers, visitors, and anyone who appreciates beauty and sophistication. Absolutely worth experiencing!

I call it the Disneyland of botanical gardens. ;) I am a member of the Huntington, and have been…read morecoming for years. It is my absolute favorite Zen spot in the world. I no longer live in the state, but visit every few weeks and make sure to visit the gardens every time. I've painted these gardens over the years and will continue to do so. My favorite gardens are the Rose garden, the Japanese garden and the Chinese garden. This is the perfect date spot as well as a perfect place to walk in the morning amongst nature before the day gets too hot. The children's garden will entertain the littles and they even have a water feature on the hot days. The art pieces throughout the museums are not only beautiful but historical and should not be missed. There is a great coffee shop to grab a cup for your walk and a great gift shop at the exit. There are a couple of quick food options as well. Parking is plentiful- but make reservations! Verdict: perfection- everyone must visit this lovely land at least once in their lifetime.

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.

A free museum! You can get timed entry to Yayoi Kusama's infinity mirrored room if you book an…read moreentry ticket online that includes the infinity room. The infinity room is a room of mirrors and lights that changes colors so it looks like an endless...infinity. If you're not able to get into the infinity room you can still see Kusama's mirrored box, Longing for Eternity. The Broad is a great way to spend a few hours enjoying art.

Loads of art to see, and general admission is free. Reserve tickets online and also make purchases…read morefor any rotating exhibitions. Lots of local venders and other businesses as well, so make a day of it

This museum is a very neat experience! It is intended for adults, but our little ones had a great…read moretime here too! The whole place is decorated with art and it is very immersive! It's a bit difficult to find parking, but after that's settled, knock 3 times on the door and upon entry, you are greeted and signed in. We were greeted by Sabrina and Alyssa. They were friendly and welcoming and made sure that all of our questions were answered. The whole experience is neat because in such a small area, there are so many things to see, smell, and read! They have their own section of a gift shop as well. I can't wait until they expand their location and I'm so glad they our family had the opportunity to experience the Museum of Make Believe.

A hidden gem (quite literally) in Laguna Beach, the Museum of Make Believe truly lives up to the…read morewhimsy and magic it seeks to bestow upon its travelers. Highly recommend to anyone seeking a trip of puzzle-mystery with a nostalgic edge. Huge shoutout to Sabrina & Sylvan for guiding us along the way and their warm hospitality.

5 stars! Adorable and funky museum that was very entertaining. The real weight of my review…read morehowever, is with the bathroom. Such a nice, clean, welcoming, and warm and inviting space. Never have I felt so content to use a public restroom. My friend and I were very happy with our experience considering we have been on the road (ikykyk). We even got to sit and scroll! There was multiple kinds of fresh smelling soap and a beautiful apple cinnamon air freshener. Amazing and considerate public restroom quality!

Nice stop after eating at Emma Jean's. The museum is free, but donations are appreciated. There are…read moremultiple rooms to walk through, some photo ops set up, a gift shop, and a restroom.

There are 3 parking options: Tower Plaza Parking Structure (602 Anton Boulevard), Irvine Parking…read more(3201 Avenue of the Arts), and The MET Parking (535 Anton Boulevard). I chose the Tower Plaza Parking Structure (near the Westin Hotel), which was just a short walk to the museum, while the other options are a bit farther. Parking is paid, about $6 per hour. Once you arrive, check-in is quick and no reservation is needed. Admission is free, and they provide a sticker that you'll need to wear throughout your visit. The museum is two floors, featuring a variety of sections and artists. The architecture itself is beautiful and perfect for photos, and the artwork is unique and enjoyable to explore. Overall, it's a great experience, especially since it's free. Tip(s): - Park at Tower Plaza Parking Structure (near Westin Hotel) and just walk to the museum - Free entry - Restrooms available - No appointments needed

Well any museum with a Serra sculpture outside that you can just walk into is an automatic 4 stars…read more The museum itself is wonderful to walk thru. A small modern space, very museum. The two exhibits on the main floor were nicely spaced out. There was a large group of young people with energy and enthusiasm. I asked one of the docents if they were a student group and she said no, they just showed up. So props to the young people just showing up for art.

Wonderful museum for families. With ebt card or wic card, it's a dollar entry and children under 3…read moreare free. The museum is split up into several topics. There is an animal exhibit, early years in the high desert, cowboys, the military and stones. They also have a small pretend city with a firestation, market and bistro. Theres costumes to play dress up and there's a magnetic wall to play on. Theres puzzles and books as well. The day we went, there was an event going on with vendors, food trucks and performances. It was great to learn about all kinds of things while also having a lot of playful fun.

Great little county museum! Lots of exhibits for small children and interesting factoids for the…read moreadults. Sections on the military history, real estate history, native history, and even some paleontology. $10 entry fee with a variety of discounts available. Worth a side trip for some local history.

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.

We had a pretty fun experience at the Natural History Museum with our 3 year old toddlers! We only…read morewent through the lower ground and first floor because we didn't think the second floor would be as appealing for them. Overall, it was a fun experience and a nice place to explore with little ones. I'd definitely recommend it if you're looking for something different to do with young kids. I would avoid the dinosaur show at all cost. It was not worth it not one bit! I also don't think a membership is worth it. This was kind of like a one year kind of experience in my opinion.

I visited the discovery cube in Orange County qnd it was definitely a fun experience even as Ana…read moreduly. I also found out that this visit can be free during the first weekend of the month, for Bank of America account holders. Upon entering the museum, there was a display of build your own racing cars where a lot of kids were racing their creations. It was definitely a fun site to see. As you venture throughout the museum towards the back area, you walk into the dinosaur exhibit area. This is where they talk about fossils and various dinosaurs and there's also an explorer kit that you pay extra to try and find items and clues. Upstairs, you can have a better view of the space missile rocket that's on display and it's quite fascinating to read about rockets. Towards the back right of the museum currently there is a Scooby Doo Halloween exhibit so it was also fun to experience that area. Lastly, the most famous area is still the indoor Minh water area where you can see where is fish and stingrays. Overall a great experience for kids and adults. One less star as you have to pay $10 to park in their parking lot. I remember many years ago I used to be free, but I guess since it's more popular, you have to pay for parking now.

I've spent my whole life driving by the cube off the 5 freeway and yesterday I finally got to visit…read moreit with my daughter! We were invited by friends who had comp tickets, we were so grateful! The museum is really big so make sure to plan almost a full day there. We brought our own lunch for us to save some money. But there is a café where you can buy lunch, snacks, drinks, etc. if you didn't bring anything. There's a lot of exhibits on both floors. My daughter really liked the ocean exhibit the dinosaurs, and the grocery store! The parking is $10. Make sure to come early. The main lot was full by the time we got there at around 11 AM. But I think there's an overflow lot for other cars. If you live in the area, it makes sense to buy a membership if you're gonna go two or three times throughout the year. It pays for itself the more you go!

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.