To be honest, it was mildly surprising to learn that Orange County has its own museum of art, if…read moreonly because not many of the counties in the Bay Area do, other than SF. Yet, at the same time, given the size and population of OC, it also makes perfect sense. Either way, I can't say I ever would've guessed it would be this nice, though! Just a shame that their exhibits didn't really blow us away... Located in the burgeoning arts and theater district of Costa Mesa, just down the road from South Coast Plaza, OCMA is such a gorgeous looking building. Sure, it helps that it's only a few years old, but the look of this place is no less impressive. Right out in front, there's a 65-foot art piece in the middle of the plaza that helps connect all of the neighboring buildings. Inside, there's a fairly large gallery space on the ground level with rotating exhibits, an upper level that appears to hold their more permanent collection of pieces, a coffee shop right next to the gift shop, and a rooftop restaurant with a large open area/garden. Sadly, though, as nice as the museum's design and amenities may be, though, much of the artwork was just okay. While the artwork upstairs was fine, the featured exhibits didn't really speak to us. Obviously, art is subjective, but one included pieces that appear to have just been drawn with a spirograph. The other consisted of several photographic series, whose commentary on social media I can appreciate, but felt exceedingly voyeuristic in nature - one following/semi-stalking a fellow after a chance encounter, another of strangers invited to sleep in the artist's bed so they could be photographed/documented, and a third showing the belongings of guests at the hotel she worked at. Artwork aside, the thing that I like most about OCMA is how admission is entirely free. So, in that sense, it's impossible to be too disappointed with the experience and/or what we saw. However, one thing to note is that you do have to pay if you park at any of the nearby garages, which are all unaffiliated with OCMA. For example, at the one on the other side of the Segerstrom Center, it cost us about $10 for two hours or so. Alternatively, South Coast Plaza is just a few blocks over and parking there is free, but I don't know how aggressive they are with towing and it feels like a big gamble just to save a few bucks. All in all, even though none of the exhibits were really our flavor, we still had a good time checking out OCMA. Oddly, there weren't many other visitors here when we arrived, but it did seem to get busier as the day wore on (there was a big group walking in as we were walking out) and we certainly didn't mind not having to deal with a bunch of crowds around. Plus, as nice as the museum looks, it's actually fairly small compared to others I've been to elsewhere. Since the featured exhibits have so much influence on the experience, I absolutely wouldn't mind coming back to see whatever they happen to have featured down the line. The ones they had when we were here may not have interested us, but the next ones might! Plus, it doesn't hurt that admission is free! All in all, THREE AND A HALF STARS rounded down.

When I went, desire then having lots of space very little was out to look at. It was free, so not…read moremuch room to complain. You do get more than you pay for lol. They have an area where you can add your art too which is cute. The immersive experience at the time was cool. It's worth the trip, I'm assuming certain exhibitions are more with your gas + time than others so maybe check before you trek

Noguchi gardens is a gorgeous spot to just relax for a little, enjoy a break from the hustle and…read morebustle of the world. It's a small space but the artwork is nice and instills a sense of calm that is appreciated

Fun and interesting little place to visit if you are in the area by South Coast Plaza mall…read more Not the easiest place to find since you can't see it from the street. It is behind the Mastros restaurant. There is a parking structure nearby that is like $3 or $4 for 15 minutes and you can probably run through in 15 minutes, but 30 minutes to be safe. You can also walk from the mall parking lot, it is a little bit of a stroll but manageable. There are plenty of pictures so you can see what you are getting into before you make the drive, pay for parking, and walk over. When we went there on a Sunday morning, there were only 2 or 3 other people, so it was very quiet and zen. I enjoyed the write-ups and the exhibits. If I worked right there I would probably visit all the time.

Dads, out there! You have to take your sons to this living…read moremuseum. They have an amazing selection of planes and cars. More than anything of value, it is the docents who were there during WWII. They tell living stories from those who were there. Like the planes, and the cars, these men who are almost 100 years old, tell some amazing stories. This is a goldmine in the heart of Orange County. It is a living museum. You can see where Hitler stood in his car right in front of you. This is real. Please, take your sons and daughters to this amazing place. Five stars all the way!

I really enjoyed visiting this air museum today. They have an amazing display of airplanes and…read moreautomobiles. All of the employees here are very friendly and knowledgeable about each aircraft. My favorite airplane was the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. Overall: I recommend visiting this museum if you enjoy seeing military aircraft or rare automobiles.

LOVELY and well maintained garden! I thoroughly enjoyed my time here. We were fortunate to visit…read morewhen they had the mosaic sculptures featured throughout too, which was an added bonus. I loved seeing the sculpture that will be at Burning Man this year. The garden is on the smaller size for a botanical garden (some stuff was under maintenance while we were there) but the gardens were impeccable. My favorite part was all the dahlias. Stunning! Your entry ticket ($12 for adults) also includes admission to the library, which had a bonsai area and some fun history. We were able to easily find free parking nearby. All the staff was so friendly, knowledgeable, and passionate about the work. I definitely recommend this spot! Such a beautiful, relaxing space.

They're open in limited capacity so it's not going to take longer than an hour to tour the grounds…read more Parking was $6.50 Not sure when construction finishes but it shouldnt take long because we spoke to someone there who said the city will want to expedite construction to open the restaurant. Beautiful still. We came the day before Mother's Day for the rose show. Looking forward to coming back when construction completes because at $5 admission that is kind of a rip for how much is there. It took us longer because I recognized someone at the rose show and my son is really into plants but for an average person I'd say 30-45 min is really how much is there right now until they finish the remodel

The best store I've ever experienced--yes, experienced. I feel blessed that the rebel in me said…read moreenter even when the sign clearly read "Please, Do Not Enter." What waited on the other side was a cascade of surprise, curiosity, and constant discovery. Every curated piece felt like an invitation to look closer, to see differently. It was clear I had stepped into the world of two brilliant minds, generously offering us a small glimpse of how they see. And I was all in. I left spinning, elevated, creatively full--astonished that a place like this even exists.

I got the cutest purse form here . It was a good day where none of the south coast plaza rent a…read morecops bothered me and left me in peace to actually get inside my bag and make myself happy . It's a beautiful pattern silk blue and green with shiny silky threads

Really enjoyed looking at all the art sculptures walking an approximate of 1.5 mile loop. The trail…read moreconsisted of cement and gravel paths. The flowers around the path were also in full bloom. There is also a cool sky bridge to take in the beautiful scenery. I could see the ocean! Parking is free and trail head starts at the beginning of the parking lot. There were also two small dog parks within the loop.

Wow, this is a great park!…read more There's a bunch of fun sculptures throughout this nice park. Bunnyhenge is probably the biggest one. There's also a dog park here for small and large dogs. I like how there's an accessible elevator for the bridge to connect the two parks so you don't have to cross the street. Parking is also easy since it's at the civic center. Do yourself a favor and check out the Newport library too!

The Marconi Automotive Museum in Tustin, California, is a non-profit museum founded by Dick…read moreMarconi, featuring a collection of over 100 rare and exotic cars, race cars, and motorcycles, with a focus on supporting children's charities through events and admissions. The impressive collection includes Ferraris, Lamborghinis, classic American muscle cars, and Formula 1 cars, with proceeds from visitors and events going to the Marconi Foundation for Kids to help children in need. The Marconi Automotive Museum is also a corporate event and entertaining center and features 3 areas for a wide variety of group accommodations! The staff at The Marconi are very friendly,knowledgeable and well versed to answer most questions regarding the vehicles they have in their collection and their histories! The museum staff member by the name of Emir was so knowledgeable regarding Mr.Marconis collection of cars and so friendly-which made our visit that much more enjoyable! The Marconi is definitely a must see if you or your family are visting the Southern California- Tustin area ! . . . . #marconiautomotivemuseum #exoticcars #childrenscharities #specialeventcenter #Tustin

Great place to take the kids! Children 12 and under are…read morefree! Add this place to your kid friendly list! The staff was super friendly and helpful!

A beautiful area with a well maintained area. Bathrooms available. The Kellogg House is available…read moreto walk through. I went to see a Disney Main Street event. Lots of booths with things to sell (some higher priced items), food vendors and a singing quartet. Come check it out.

Our class did a field trip here this week and they seemed to enjoy the experience…read more I think panning for gold was their favorite part.