There's plenty of parking just come early to not walk so far…read moreYou pay via QR code upon entry To get to the location it's about a 5 to 15 minute walk it's depending on where you parked The location is easy to find just follow all the food trucks and vendors The check-in process was extremely smooth. Everyone was so happy and welcoming. I recommend to get there earliest so you can get a good spot so you can overlook the water The music could have been a little bit louder because it was hard to hear But the live performers were awesome I wish there was more interactive activities. I feel like everyone was just sitting around, waiting to launch their lanterns, but it was still a beautiful experience. I will most definitely go again next year

The best part of the Water Lantern Festival was spending quality time with my wife and…read morestepdaughter. Decorating our lanterns, enjoying the atmosphere, and watching the lanterns on the water together made for a great family memory. That part was awesome. But everything else? Not so much. Parking was excruciatingly bad. There were only about three people directing cars at the entrance, so it took forever just to get in and park. If you arrive early, you end up parking farthest away from the actual event and have a long walk. Getting out after the event was even worse. With basically one exit, traffic barely moved. We were stuck about an hour just to get out. RIDICULOUS. My advice: park outside the park if possible and walk in. The food situation wasn't much better. They had plenty of food trucks, but everything was overly expensive, the lines were long, and you're looking at around a 30-minute wait for food. Another tip: bring your own food and drinks. You'll save money and a lot of time. Overall, the lantern experience itself and the quality time with my family were memorable. I'm glad we experienced it together. But the parking situation, traffic control, expensive food, and long waits really brought the overall experience down.

For a $15 bike rental, I still felt like I was ripped off. The choice of the three cruiser bikes…read morethat they had were from bad to worse. They were each 3 speed bikes, but the shifting cable on the bike I got was not even installed. It was one speed only. There were no brakes other than a coaster brake. The seat was adjusted UP so that you felt like you were gonna fall off the back. I asked the attendant to adjust it, but they said they couldn't or rather maybe they didn't know how. Riding the bike I could tell the chain was loose. The bell on it was rattling the entire time, and the plastic handlebars were falling apart leaving black residue on my hands. I'm glad I didn't spend more than $15 on this. I will not be renting any of the other equipment here based on how poorly kept their bikes were. I think it's a safety hazard to be renting out bikes that are falling apart like this.

everyone is super nice and generous with the time. The surrey is so much fun and my son loves it…read more Defintiely worth the 25 bucks for an hour of enjoyment for the whole family. I will come back and have come back so many times already.

Wonderful place to explore native plants! There's a nature center, picnic tables, and lots of…read moretrails leading out from the parking lot. Look out for snakes! Parking is free. They do have free family activities as well: check out their website here https://parks.lacounty.gov/whittier-narrows-natural-area-and-nature-center-2/ On-site staff seemed very friendly and helpful. Restrooms are also available. The park does appear to be occupied by groups of people sleeping overnight and using drugs (the scent of natural green herbs was evident during my most recent visit). Maybe more could be done to help these folks find permanent housing.

A great place to walk around, explore, and learn new things! Beautiful garden! I enjoyed the tour…read morethat we got. It was great learning about the animals near the Whittier area. I brought one of the kids I work with who enjoys animals and insects and he enjoyed looking at the different species. This encouraged him to ask the tour guide questions and find out new facts about animals.

This trail was an absolute CF. I've been on better primitive trails. It is one way in and one way…read moreout no other options. There are NO maps and little trail indicators. You'd be better off walking barefoot on a coral reef. You cannot actually enjoy the trail because you have to always look down so that you don't trip and break your neck. I do not recommend, do so at your own risk.

I've pretty much always lived near a sewer line/bike path. Growing up in Hawaiian Gardens it was…read morenear the 605. When I lived on the outskirts of Cypress it was still right there next to me across the street. Now that I live in Whittier I've discovered this wonderful path that goes all the way from Baldwin Park at one end to the beach at the other. This path spans about 30 miles and it is both scenic, horrifying, and polarizing when it comes to how the conditions for the ride goes. When you go east towards the Santa Fe Dam the winds are with you and the riding isn't too difficult. But when you go west towards Long Beach the winds are hitting you in the face like palm strikes. It is a bit of a doozy but if you want that workout it is a great one. The surroundings can go from beautiful rivers that lead to the ocean to dry river banks filled with trash and homeless settlements. It can even have something in between where nature has taken back the area and lush fields of grass and trees occupy the space. It goes near highways and homes and really gives you a journey you never expected. I love finding new things every time I ride, from the houses that are built right next to it to the horse trails running parallel. If you want to stay socially distanced but still want to explore in a manner away from populated streets and spaces I highly recommend getting on a bike and going down this wonderful riverway.

Mindy, her son Sy and Cruising Castaic was ahhhhmazing!!! My bff and I went yesterday, Saturday and…read morewe placed our reservations a couple of weeks ago online. The whole experience was so organized, fun, and memorable! We arrived around 10mins before our reservation and everything was set up. Sy gave us the run down, thry even provided waterproof phone bags and waterproof satchel for your stuff, life-jacket, board, paddle and of course instructions, lol! We got to sailing or Paddleboarding and the lake was so nice, everyone else in the water was nice, no bad vibes on the lake. We paddleboarded the lake for a good hour and brought everything back. I had a win. Too because I eventually stood up and actually did it!! Its a work-out and worth every dollar. We will definitely be heading back to the lake and hopefully bring our squad! Parking dies cost $15 and they take apple pay, Google pay, and card payments. Have fun and get outside, and enjoy!!

We went on Saturday and we had a blast. The lake was the perfect temperature and the kids had so…read moremuch fun on the paddle boards. Mindy and her son were beyond awesome!!!!

I've lived in LA for years and somehow never realized you could kayak the river until a friend…read moresuggested trying LA River Kayak Safari. We booked a weekend morning tour, and it ended up being one of the most unexpectedly fun things I've done in the city. I was a little nervous at first since I'm not super experienced with kayaking, but the guides were patient and gave clear instructions before we got on the water. Once we started, it felt calm and surprisingly peaceful. We even spotted birds and fish along the way, which I definitely didn't expect in Los Angeles. The whole experience felt safe, well-organized, and relaxed. It's such a cool way to see a different side of the city. I'd absolutely do it again.

Did you know you can kayak the LA River? Did you know that in the summertime the water ain't…read morenearly as dirty as you'd think? Yes, this is an urban wildlife experience. Don't go expecting to be away from the city. Go if you want a unique view of the city, in a lush and strange area where it feels like nature is winning out over concrete. Guides were friendly. We saw lots of cool birds. Nice blend of relaxation and fun.

We booked the sunset ride for Sunday at 7:00 p.m. We checked in around 6:40. It only took about 5…read moreminutes to fill out the waiver and get a wristband and walk towards the water. They also have a key to the bathroom, which is around the corner. Even though we were 20 minutes early, they let us get on the water bike after a quick instruction. Riding on the water bikes was really fun! We rode around the bay and the water was choppy sometimes but as you get inside the bay, the water is calmer. A trick is that if you feel the water is too choppy, start paddling - the water will calm down with the pedaling. There are several boats around which provided live music for us. The bike has two cup holders and a front container to put your phones and small stuff in. We had a great time. They share a parking lot with nearby restaurants which offer 3 hours of free parking. That is a huge plus for something near the beach! We will be back next time to try a glow ride.

So I went to Long Beach Waterbikes and caught their father's day deal, all daddies ride for free…read more I was looking for something fun and different to do for father's day. This was exactly what I needed. I got some exercise and some nice views. I enjoyed myself very much and would definitely do it again. Right after I was done I was straight the bar for much needed refreshments. Yay!