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.

Gallery Nucleus is always the first stop on my mind when I visit Alhambra :) Their selection of art…read morebooks and prints is amazing, and I've had the pleasure of attending one of their Tuesday night cosplay figure drawing events! The staff are nice, and the exhibits themselves are so inspirational. Overall, it's such a treat, and a great space to discover new artists while connecting with fellow creatives!

Nucleus is a small art gallery exhibit and bookstore in Alhambra and this shop has been here as…read morelong as I can remember since the late 2000s. Apparently Nucleus expanded and opened a second location in Portland in 2016. [Parking]: Easy and free street parking. If parking is not available on Main St, then there are plenty of public parking spots and parking plazas in downtown Alhambra. [Space]: The space is separated into a bookstore at the front with various art books and a rotating art exhibit (Wicked in March 2026) at the back. All art on display is for sale. The bookstore sells mostly art books (both original works and artwork from specific anime, games, or pop culture) as well as various original greeting cards. Tickets are not required to see the exhibit and admission is free. [Conclusion]: A neat spot to see various unique art prints and a free exhibit. Chances are if you are at Nucleus then you are also here to check out other spots in downtown Alhambra (e.g. grabbing tea drinks or visiting other miscellaneous shops).

I have passed by this museum so many times over the last thirty years and finally I visited with my…read morefriends few days ago. What a beautiful place. Wow .... The selection of fine art here is unbelievable. Van Gogh, Picasso, Rembrandt and more. We saw so many beautiful masterpieces from 14th to 20th centuries. Degas bronze sculptures and paintings. You will find it here. The sculpture garden is so serene. There is a pond with flowers surrounded with so many trees and beautiful sculptures. I can stay here all day. Lots of benches to sit and enjoy the grounds. There is also a cafe by the entrance of the garden... Will be back soon. Loved this place.

Rodin! I'm in!! First time visit was with a friend who lives here and is a member. I love museums…read moreand this was more than I was expecting. The exterior space if tiered parking lot, shady with trees, and a simple building from the outside. Then came The Thinker (1880) by Auguste Rodin to the left of the entrance path. You had me at this wonder statue that also adorns the courtyard entrance to The Legion of Honor in San Francisco. There is a large collection of Rodin in a dedicated area. That is my most favorite museum. This was a nice association to enjoy. This interior wings of this two story gem are easy to navigate and a nice size to display the collections. Inside seating is in some areas so one can take a rest and spend more time with some pieces. We didn't have time to visit the cafe, but it has outdoor seating in a beautiful interior courtyard which my friend says is so relaxing. If I lived here, I would become a member. I will visit here again when I am back.

Background On Visit: Last Sunday (4/12/26), the venue hosted the Pasadena Festival Of Tea. We were…read moreone of the participants for this event. Hours Of Operation: They welcome visitors to the garden on many Friday and Saturday evenings and during the day on Sundays. You can check out their schedule of events and admission cost on their website: https://japanesegardenpasadena.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/japanesegardenpasadena/event.jsp?;=&event=1612& Admission Cost: Mostly, $15 on Friday and Saturday. Sunday, it's $12. For other events, they post the cost on their website. Location/Parking: Located across from the Arlington Gardens (Free). It's kinda hidden, but just use the gps on your phone to guide you. Parking can be found along Arlington. For special events, they encourage you to park at Westridge School (Orange Grove and W. State St.) and walk up to Storrier Stearns. Ambiance/Decor: The Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden is a beautiful and charming retreat with a quiet and tranquil elegance. The place is small which contains many of the much admired design features found in the most lavish of Japanese-style gardens of its era. As Kendall Brown states in his book, California Japanese-style Gardens, "this is the genius of Kinzuchi Fujii: this was once a flat area of two tennis courts; now it is a masterwork. 1) Classic Niko-an Teahouse, the garden landscape offers a variety of other beautiful details. 2) Numerous gathering points, seating areas & vistas 3) Four original bridges plus the original cedar log Japanese Waiting Bench 4) Two large interconnected, irregularly shaped koi ponds 5) The sounds of two waterfalls, one cascading down a 25-foot hill 6) An artful dry riverbed for rain overflow winding through the garden 7) Cooling shade everywhere from spreading sycamores & old oaks 8) Many tons of boulders & stones 9) Granite statuary & stone lanterns Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden For Thought: Wouldn't mind coming back to re-center myself. I did a have nice time.

This is the most difficult Botanical Garden to get in touch with…read more The hours they have posted on their website are wrong, no one picks up the phone after calling several times and leaving several messages. I went in person last weekend, and it was closed despite their online hours posted. The lack of clarity even upon walking up to the venue is not clear. They have no signs stating they are closed and it's clear they do not care to return voicemails. Please do not waste your time going there.

Visting in the summer with temps in the 90's was probably not the best idea. Go early, right when…read morethey open to do a morning walk if you're planning to visit in the heat. It's not necessary to make reservations, tickets at $18 for adults can be purchased at the window. Customer service was super friendly and welcoming and I love how we were greeted by a peacock and her babies as we walked in. The grounds are beautiful and I believe they have one more concert picnic event at night event in September. A lot of construction and maintenance work was being done throughout the gardens, along with a lot of sprinklers going off. Not a whole lot in bloom, but it was still nice to walk and the pond areas were very lively. There are a variety of gardens and I appreciate how well the trees are labeled. We stopped by the café for a cooling off break and to get something to eat. On Mondays the grill goes dark and they only sell pre-made food. I found it to be overly priced. They state no food allowed, but I brought in my own snacks. We also stopped by the gift shop which had some unique items. I'll definitely be back in the spring or fall when the weather is cooler and more plants are in bloom.

Such a cute botanical garden w lots to see. Nice afternoon walk and taking in all the beautiful…read moresurroundings. Growing up in Hawaii I absolutely love plumerias and so excited to immediately head to the plumerias section of the foresty area. We didn't get a chance to explore the deserty side as we got there at 6 and they close at 7.... But highly recommend how serene it is and parking was quite easy - a rarity in itself!

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.

Howard Whalen (now deceased) was a local Sierra Madre artist and sulptor. His work exhibited…read moreinternationally, and is iconic of the age he created in - the 1950s, 60s, & 70s. His sculpture garden is on the premises of his Craftsman home, adjacent to his large work-studio. He would often make breakfasts in the garden for large groups of other local artists, including his good friends Ed Harris (actor), Susan Brown (actress), Marie Peckinpah (actress & producer), Rolf Forsberg (filmmaker), Igor Dekansky (painter), and Howard Miller (television writer). Howard Whalen's medium was high fire clay. Visits to his garden and studio are mostly by appointment - as the garden is staffed only by volunteers - and their onsite presence is not tightly scheduled. However - if you love hidden art treasures - then your trip to Sierra Madre should include both the Howard Whalen Sculpture Garden, and the painting Studio of Igor Dekansky.

Happy to finally visit the VPAM. A gem that may be hidden to many, but needn't be. Of course if you…read moreknow anything about Vincent Price the actor, you also may know that he loved art and for many years encouraged people to get involved with art. He wasn't kidding, either. He and his wife Mary put together a museum that is on the campus of East LA College. This is a very active venue, though hardly overcrowded. On the afternoon I was there, a workshop for younger people to explore art was being held in the same area as one of their current exhibits. (I should have suspected as much as a 10 (?) year old was leaving with a somewhat water-soaked shirt). As the friendly person at the main desk assured me, the workshop would not interfere with my enjoying the art. True! There are three floors at the VPAM. On the first floor were some indigenous artists (some local, some not). Always timely, the voices here brought a nice variety in their work. On the second floor, there were artists with perhaps a more global outlook. You might even say that the art was (respectfully) confrontational. Meaning: I did not feel attacked or anything. Rather, I thought the work invites some real dialogue. There was a film, for instance, from the POV of a salmon trying to reconcile its life and its place in the world since a big dam has since interrupted their lives. There were also some colorful prints questioning the value of mineral mining. These works succeeded IMO by their beauty and skillful presentation that also asked questions that people may not think too much about. On the third floor is the Permanent Collection. Some donated by Vincent Price, but many others contributed, too. 'Form and Function in the Ancient Americas' 'showcases the wide range of Indigenous civilizations'. With many great examples, there is plenty to check out and enjoy without being overwhelmed by 'too much of a good thing'. One of the things I also enjoyed about VPAM is that it wasn't a huge undertaking to explore. Perfect for an hour or two, depending on you. So grateful for the helpful folks who help run the Museum. I look forward to returning sometime in the Spring, when apparently a collab with LACMA will open. There is also very much a connection with the Getty as they have sponsored much here, too. It's all free. Park in the nearby College lot as the regular lot behind the VPAM is under construction.

I like to visit local Museum and this is one of them. They always have interesting event and…read moreexhibition, and you definitely should check it out. too bad space is not as largeas I hope it to be. I knew this place because I used to go to the college, but I stopped going after graduated, but I just recently visited again . staff student worker helpful to guide you throughout the space.

This museum is small but packed full of incredibly detailed and interesting displays. The quality…read moreis incredible for the price of admission: free! I was surprised how amazing this place is and how much fun I had exploring the history of Whittier. Although I knew that President Nixon was from Whittier, I still did not expect to see an entire display about his history in Whittier. It was also interesting and very well curated. I can't wait to come back one day for a Haunted Whittier Tour! Instead of donating money to the museum we loaded up on a couple souvenirs instead. This museum is definitely worth a few visits since the displays are constantly changing and evolving.

A lovely museum worth visiting…read more I felt like a kid in a candy store with all the different rooms to explore. My friend and I had a great time and spent about an hour and a half here. Museum is free and there is parking in the back.

What a fun experience…read more My lady & I enjoy Pasadena for its many great spots for history. We visited this museum on a Saturday and were greeted very warmly by Christian who presented a small group of us with a great narrative tour. Such a nice time to see how the wealthy used to live back in the day. I highly recommend this museum and a special bonus if Christian leads the tour.

Honestly, such a cool hidden gem right in Pasadena! Stepping inside the Fenyes Mansion feels like…read moretaking a quick trip back to the 1900s, and the tour guide had the best facts-like how this massive 10,000-square-foot mansion was somehow the owner's idea of "downsizing," or how it's been used in movies like The Prestige. The place is loaded with original art and cool vintage details, but I honestly didn't want the tour to end. I was lowkey hoping we could explore every single room in the house, especially that secret basement with all the archives underground. Super worth checking out if you're looking for something fun and different to do for an afternoon!