Wow! A beautiful and intriguing fountain in the middle of a small parking lot…read more The mermaids are in a peculiar stance and doing special things with their hands. Don't remember too much of those poses/statues in high school history classes.

Dec. 2011 review update:…read more I'm obsessed with this fountain. I might need an intervention. I'm in Malaga Cove Plaza every couple days: post office, market, coffee shop, cafes, gift shop, newspapers....recently I was there to get my hair done. I got to Malaga 40 min early so I could check out fountain photo ops. I was almost late for my appt.. Two hours later, hair cut & colored, I'm back at the fountain waiting for sunset. I was freezing. I was hungry. Should've gone potty before I left the salon but was in a hurry to get back to the fountain....(TMI, apologies). Sometimes in the plaza I avoid looking at the fountain. Resist. Don't take that first pic, you'll be hooked. A couple times they shut off the fountain's water & I felt a sense of panic. Withdrawal symptoms. I never check-in here. People will get wise. She's at the fountain again. Complete transparency: I haven't posted all the pics I've taken, not even close. It's embarrassing. This has been going on for 8 years. I'm exhausted. That Beach Boys song, "Help Me Rhonda", plays in my head but I altered the words: Help me Neptune Help, help me Neptune Help me get him out of my head. I've seen a lot of beautiful fountains in my day (e.g., Chicago's landmark Buckingham Fountain) but none so captivating as this one. It's got me. And there are no barriers here to keep people at a distance. It's so easy to use the sky as a photo backdrop, as water squirts & drips from every cherub, mermaid & dolphin orifice. Flowering trees surround the fountain in late winter/early spring. And Neptune, the star of the show, appears to reach for clouds & contrails. Sometimes it looks as if they emanate from his giant hand. He's powerful. I'm smitten. Another Yelper managed to capture Neptune holding the moon, well done. And then there's that pic where the stature is purple, captioned "photo class". Creative. And btw....about that fig leaf: Originally Neptune was not wearing one, which apparently caused a bit of an uproar as did the topless mermaids which remain. I'm guessing that today, almost a hundred years later, there'd be an even bigger uproar over a completely naked Neptune in the middle of a parking lot. So we've got half-nekkid Nept with the girls spraying water from their bosoms & a crazy lady taking pictures & everybody's just doin' their thing. A glimmer of hope: I'm not tempted to take photos when it's raining. Yet. But whoa, what interesting shots those could be. Uh oh

Loved our sunset stroll recently at Roessler Point. It has free parking, nice coastal and ocean…read moreviews, doggie trash dispensers just to name a few. Many locals have children playing soccer and basketball. It also has a nice trail and those without dogs can visit the tidepool along with direct access to the water. It connects right over to Rats Beach and Torrance Beach. I quite enjoyed my short and relaxing walks with the dogs here. Too bad there's no benches to sit down so one can really gawk at the ocean and people watch at the same time!

This magical location in Malaga Cove is so special to us as it secures such a sentimental place in…read moreour hearts !! We've been visiting this little gazebo for over 25 years and the view is always stunning any time of the day or evening !! I am very lucky and grateful ! Cheers !

The good: This place is one of a kind! I am so happy I…read morefinally got around to visiting this place. Parking is free! The whale museum is free! Tours of the lighthouse are free! The picnic tables areas are plentiful and there's lots of grass for picnics blankets. The views are great. It's a great spot for whale watching. I noticed people coming here and bringing their camping chairs just to read. It's relaxing and you get to enjoy the sea breeze and beautiful sunset. I also noticed youngsters coming to record an acoustic guitar music video. I imagine people come here to paint as well. The bad: I've lived around here for almost 3 years now and haven't been here until now. The interesting: They do tours of the actual lighthouse area a few times a month and it's completely free and doesn't require a reservation.

The lighthouse is tall and picturesque sitting regally on a cliff. It's a must to stop and take…read moresome photos if driving down the coast of PV. The lighthouse has really restrictive hours, only open the second Saturday every month from 10-3 so you have to plan for this if you wanted to go inside. I went years ago and remember it being kind of a clusterfuck with a lot of people and disorganized system on entering. But the good part was you could go inside all the way to the top. Just the picture from the outside would suffice for most people. The Point Vicente Interpretation Center is nearby as well as some cliff trails to explore.

On Juneteenth I attended a celebration at the Korean Bell of Friendship to celebrate freedom by…read morehelping ring the bell. It was a wonderful day, and one I recommend for others to attend, not only to feel the vibrations of the bell when it is hit with a large hanging tree trunk, but also to celebrate the liberation that was given to a criminally oppressed people. And to also understand that liberation, although won at battles, still has not full embraced and enveloped all. So that bell has not fully been rung, and thus we must continue, until we hear the greatest knell in history the one that indicates that all humans have an unfettered chance to reach their best future with confidence. The celebration was sponsored by local political players. Suitably, there were a lot of speeches. But I never hate a speech just because its long. I genuinely hear speeches because they might contain words that move me into action or new perspective, and thus I always try to hear them to understand their value. One of the most memorable speeches of the day, was a person who explained that freedom and liberty has not reached all modern day people (duh!) because freedom, true freedom, means that all have a fair and equitable chance to attain economic prosperity. And from my limited perspective, what she said made sense, a whole lot of it. A person might have the freedom to wear what they chose, to eat what they crave, to dance in their style and funk, to offer their devotion to their deity. However, if all these freedoms do not include a chance to build wealth, without external interruption that is driven by who a person is, then freedom is superficial. Yes, money is the root of all evil, but money is also the foundation for legacy, protection and choice, and, well, freedom. And thus, she reminded all present that we must continue to fight against injustice and thus the bell rang and made each of us an instrument of peace. Beyond speeches from political leaders there was also songs performed by vocalists- a mother and daughter. A lot was happening fast, and sometimes the sound system gave up, so I am afraid I did not get their names. But I do remember them singing a song, right before the bell rung that had the following lyrics: "What would you do, if you had nothing to fight for and nothing to die for?" What would a person do in a world marked by substantial peace? Would we be happy or would we miss the fight? Meaning is the gift of the battle the persistence needed to continue even when all seems at rest? Injustice has created warriors that understand that a white flag will never be planted. The day was meant to celebrate freedom and deliver of message of positive togetherness as the moment celebrated Juneteenth using Korean spirt. But the speeches brought the seemingly opposing concepts together using the thread of a universal recognition that freedom is a wonderful thing. This link was greatly conveyed but fell short in the Mexican sweetbreads that had small Juneteeth flags planted on them. I know I am being petty because Mexican bread can be used to celebrate Juneteenth, for sure I get that. But I would have rather had celebratory bites from the Black/African American community. I know I am being petty, but, hey, that is my freedom. That choice seemed more convenient rather than being connected to the greater purpose of freedom. The last activity of the celebration was ringing the actual bell. Like 7 people, grabbed the wooden log. And we gently slammed it into the bell. The bell rung with vibrations that my skin could feel. We could slightly hug the bell to have ur bodies feel the vibrations. And the experience was memorable. I do not know how many people have the opportunity to hug a bell as it sends off vibration after being hit. But if you have the opportunity seize it, I think you will be a better person for it, or at least, know what ringing feels like on the skin not just the ear drums. As I walked back to the car, I enjoyed the blue views and ocean breeze. I also saw a kite flying high. Yes, it had a string to it, but it was flying free.

A beautiful iconic part of L.A…read more It could use a bit of restoration. I like it a lot. Definitely looking forward to coming here some other time to play basketball with an excellent view.

We had such a fantastic day out at South Coast Botanic Garden in Palos Verdes! If you're looking…read morefor an easy, beautiful spot to spend quality outdoor time with family, this is definitely it. The grounds are gorgeous and filled with so many different flower species, and our granddaughter was thrilled spotting butterflies fluttering all over the garden. The main circle path makes getting around a breeze which is great whether you want a relaxed stroll, a light hike, or a ride on the tram. The highlights right now made the trip extra special. The giant Troll exhibit is incredible. Each troll character has its own unique pose and personality, and hunting them down felt like a mini treasure hunt for the little ones. On top of that, the seasonal pumpkin displays added a really festive, fun autumn touch. It was an absolute funday for both kids and grandparents. We enjoyed our visit so much that we signed up for an annual membership before leaving. Highly recommend bringing the family!

When I heard Thomas Dambo's trolls were here, I knew we had to set a day aside so I can see them…read morebefore the exhibit is over in October. Of course, it was ninety degrees when we visited, and I can't tolerate heat well, but nothing was going to stop me. To start off the day, I wanted to use the restroom before the long walk. As I am coming out of the stall, there was a gentleman using the urinal. I flew by him and out the door! I was so embarrassed. I have never done that in my life! Can I use the cancer card?!? JK! After that, we started searching for the hidden trolls. They give you a nice map, and you follow the sparkles. It is truly magical. I don't know what it is, but I turn into a little kid when I see them. Luckily, we hardly saw anyone, probably because of the heat. The trek back was rough for me. We saw Lexi the Ranger, and she let us hop on the golf cart and take us to the entrance. Thanks Lexi, you saved me! If you can't tolerate heat, I would wait till maybe the end of September maybe then it will have cooled off. There are twelve trolls hidden throughout the beautiful gardens. I highly recommend visiting. 8/30/26

A Long Beach landmark and Los Angeles County, must!…read more The Lions Lighthouse is apart of the Shoreline Aquatic Park off the beaten path from Shoreline Drive by the Aquarium of the Pacific (where I had my high school prom) and a few nice skips away from the Pike Outlets. It's a big silo that is more lively at night as it glows/lights up. Built in the late 1850s, this tourist attraction is along the L.A. river and has a nice view of the Queen Mary and lots of Long Beach as it's slightly uphill. It's not a fully functional lighthouse so you aren't able to enter it, but can enjoy it's beauty day and night in the LBC. Lots of attractions, eateries, sitting spots, shops and fun nearby. It could use a little tlc, but I'm sure it's due to the weather and normal aging. Paid parking nearby. Make sure you grab some photo-worthy keepsakes of this iconic lighthouse.

This local attraction serves as a memorial for my girlfriend as for that weekend we spent on the…read morewater. Just enjoying the scenery we became curious and wandered jokingly onto its location

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....

Visited this park on a Thursday lunch time with my two dogs in tow…read more Parking is not free and you have to download the app to pay-per-hour. I found plenty of free street parking across the street and all around the neighborhood instead. After nearly getting hit by a car a few times and getting approached by an intoxicated looking homeless or two, we finally made it to the park. And then that's when we discovered that the place is NOT DOG FRIENDLY. Omg! At first, I thought I saw the signs wrong and had to actually go up close to it. I also witnessed a bunch of other dog owners walking around the park with their dogs but many had them not leashed. That's when it dawned on me why the park has a no dog allowed policy. It's honestly very infuriating when people are so blatantly disrespectful about park policies and other people's safety. Not to mention the dog shit everywhere that really shouldn't have been there. Ugh. And that was enough of LA County shenanigans for me that day.

The oceanfront Veterans Park is located at the corner of south catalina avenue and torrance…read moreboulevard, which features grass, trees, and playground. The community center, formerly the main library of Redondo beach, is currently unavailable and under construction. I always like the elevated ocean view, and found it's quite peaceful to walk around here.

The skinny House was a short drive from Phnom Penh Noodle Shack and because parking was impossible…read moreone of us jumped out to take these photos. This skinny house was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records and also featured on Ripley's Believe It or Not. No signs posted just a marker in Google Maps. It was built on a tiny plot of land that was given as a debt repayment. The original owner built the house to collect on a bet. Per Redfin, the house is a 2 bedroom and 1 bath with roughly 860 sqft.spread out over the three floors. A permanent tiny home. The home was still privately owned so this was a quick photo shoot of the outside but really only worth it if in the area. Still something quirky to see and read about during our latest SoCal trip.

A slender, slim and, dare I say, skinny house located on the famed Eastside of Long Beach...pretty…read moreawesome place to drive by and check out, if you're ever in the area. Skinny House is literally that- a very skinny house located on the corner of 7th and Gladys Ave in Long Beach. You'll almost always see people driving or walking by to take a few snapshots of it. I couldn't believe how skinny it was the first time I drove by it. It is in a residential area, so it's best to either drive by or walk by it. Good luck finding parking here...as anyone will tell you, we'll, those who are from Long Beach...as it is impossible to find a parking spot anywhere in this city! So yeah, check this place out whenever you want. Pretty cool landmark...one of many in Long Beach. Beats the heck out of me if anyone lives in it! I can only imagine the possibilities...