After a decade or more of not visiting MOLAA, despite living about a 15-min walk away, I went two…read moreweekends back-to-back. On August 16th, a friend invited me to check it out on their free-admission day (Sunday). Since my daughter was with me, I brought her along. There was this very interesting exhibit with work by Mercedes Gertz. I was so fascinated and pulled into her world, from her pieces revolving around the societal expectations of women and marriage and how that shows up in certain "fairy tales" to the part of the exhibit that delves deeper into dreams being a connection or road to the unconscious and the psychology behind it and how that all shows in her work. I was in awe and felt so drawn, I knew I had to go back and spend more time to admire her work without being rushed through by my daughter. Little did I know, her exhibit was taken down that same evening/the next day. I was so sad finding this out when I returned the Saturday after with a friend whom I knew would appreciate the subject her art touches on, especially the part about dreams and psychology. We still enjoyed the rest of the art, and even saw the small room at the rear of the gift shop and got to appreciate some time in the Sculpture Garden. It had been forever since I'd gone back there as well. Since a large portion of the museum was closed off due to the Gertz exhibit being taken down, they did offer us admission tickets for a future date. I guess I'll start paying closer attention to their events and exhibits again. It felt good to get out of the outside world and get lost in the art.

This museum was SO disappointing! The building is huge so I figured it would be able to house large…read morescale exhibits. Inside there were four gallery rooms for exhibits but the rooms, although fairly spacious, severely lacked art. I mean, the walls were very bare and I felt like they didn't have enough inventory to fill up the wall space. It was weird. Here you have this massive building and barely any art worth viewing. It was ridiculous. The entire experience was pretty lame and left me feeling unsatisfied. I should have known better when their website wasn't allowing patrons to purchase tickets online. The entire museum feels and looks mismanaged to me. It's such a waste of a good building, I honestly don't know how these folks keep the lights on because the exhibits are laughable. One thing I will say, the Guillermo Bert exhibit is definitely worth checking out but that's the only interesting art MOLAA has to offer right now. The people who run this museum need to get it together because the Cheech in Riverside is amazing and a true inspiration to Latin American artists everywhere. Sorry MOLAA, I'll never come back and I'll never recommend this place to anyone.

I love that they exist and they have so much that cannot be found or seen anywhere else. I am so…read morehappy we have them in Long Beach. All that being said, they have definitely downsized in order to move from their 4th Horseman location to the Arts District location. Cool staff and now they have T-shirts, smaller prints, and other merch at lower price points, so it makes some of the art more accessible if you are not in the market for a larger piece. I hope they have a long life at their new location. We need you in Long Beach!

STEPH JUDGEMENT: Awesome gallery dealing with all art macabre, bizarre, and beautiful…read more I'd been a fan since their 3rd & Elm days, but their new location behind the 4th Horseman takes everything up to another level! Everything you loved about the old place is more and better here, and it's really a must-visit when you're in downtown Long Beach. The quality of work they show here is really great, and I try to see everything that comes through. Shows change about once a month, so check their Instagram or Facebook to see what's the latest exhibit. In addition to original art, they sell a variety of prints, books, and other merchandise so check them out!

This is a small museum with a huge heart. Its focus for preserving the cultural heritage of many…read morepacific islands, respecting the connection and need for conservation of indigenous cultures is an incredible undertaking They had a lot of modern pieces here by local artists, an impressive collection of books to browse through and reference. Many Micronesian island represented here. We were also able to catch the last day of an installation about Mauna Kea which was very moving. I appreciate the conversation we had with the director and could feel her passion for this work and the museum.

This museum is small but mighty! After our visit to MOLAA across the street was cut short since…read morehalf the museum was closed, our group ventured here. We're so glad we did! The young woman who greeted us at the door was so enthusiastic, knowledgeable and friendly. She gave us a great introduction to the mission of and exhibits at the museum when we entered, and as we looked around she'd pop in just the right amount to encourage us to touch things or to give us more information. She showed us around the outdoor garden, and helped us to understand so much more than we would have on our own. I learned a lot, and recommend that you visit!!

This museum is in a really nice location. It's right next to the beach and you can't beat that. I…read morebought my tickets online and they had a special for 50% off. There's also free parking next to the museum which is a plus. It was my first time at this museum and it's a pretty small museum. When I went, the second floor was closed because there was an event that night. I went to see the Robert Williams exhibit which is on the main floor and there was a lot to see. There's also a lower level with an exhibit for local high school artist which is cool. Although the museum was small I was there for almost an hour. I thought the description of the pieces were very detailed and helped me understand what I was looking at.

This is a review for LBMA as a wedding venue. Wow, what a fabulous event LBMA creates for a…read morecouple's special day. They are professional, flexible and very kind. I loved working with the staff to create the perfect day for my daughter Simone and her new husband Ujwal. The venue is lovely on a warm summer night with the palm trees and the setting sun over the Pacific. Worth every penny! The memories are forever.

Jellyfish galore! It was a very nice aquarium to go to. Now I know the difference between sea lion…read morevs harbor seals due to their showings. Going on a weekday during the summer can be a hit or miss on crowds. Great place to go to with family and friends and is a good spot to stroll along shoreline village/the pike. You do need to pay for parking at the parking garage but make sure to get your ticket validated at the aquarium so at least the cost is reduced.

What a nice aquarium! I am a scuba diver, and very critical of keeping sea creatures....some where…read moreother than the sea. However I also realize that preserving endangered species, as well as teaching younger generations about conservation is important. I thought the price was a bit steep, but they do offer AAA discounts as well as other discounts. The layout is a bit confusing, and there are not a lot of signs that say "hey this area frogs, fish, and sea turtles". We just keep wandering down different areas asking "have we seen this before?". Eventually we had seen everything. There was a show, but my friend was getting "hangry", so we did not stay for the show. There were several exhibits, where I felt like I was underwater with "my people"....(sea creatures)...The different coral, sea anemone's, fish, crabs..(I am a Cancer, so they ARE my peeps).....lobsters, sea horses...and much more. Always staff around to answer questions, and protect the touch tanks from over zealous kids. I got my under water fix, and also saw some amazing creatures.

Reservations are needed for this lovely little garden tucked into the middle of the CSULB campus,…read moreso we made ours the night before and grabbed a 12:00 PM Sunday spot. One thing to know before you go: check the operating hours. The garden was closing at 1:00 that day, so our visit was shorter than we would have liked. About 15 minutes before closing they started rounding everyone up, which was completely understandable, but next time I'd definitely book earlier. We brought Billy's mom and dad with us, and his father is 92 amazing years old, so we're always paying attention to how much walking, stress, parking drama, or general nonsense an outing involves. This one was about as easy as it gets. There's paid parking right next to the garden. I think we paid around $6.50, and the payment system was simple enough. Once you're inside, it's just beautiful. Little bridges, waterfalls, colorful koi everywhere (bonus! tons of baby koi this time!) lilies on the pond, flowers, and these bright red dragonflies flying around that completely caught my attention. There were families, students, people sketching, people feeding the fish, just a really nice mix of people quietly enjoying the space. What I especially like is that you don't have to make a whole production out of it. You can stroll, sit for a while, watch the koi, cross a bridge, look at the water, and just enjoy being somewhere pretty. Small, peaceful, easy, and genuinely lovely. It makes for a really nice family outing, and it's one of those places that's good to keep in your back pocket when you want to do something without committing to an entire day.

Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden is a peaceful hidden gem tucked inside California State…read moreUniversity, Long Beach. I walked into a space that is smaller than some larger Japanese gardens, but the layout feels carefully planned with winding paths, traditional landscaping, a koi pond, waterfalls, bridges, and quiet corners throughout. It is the type of place where taking your time matters more than trying to see everything quickly, and the smaller size actually makes the experience feel more intimate. The garden feels like a world apart from the campus surrounding it, and the transition from the university grounds to the garden is immediate and effective. The koi pond is easily the centerpiece of the garden and one of the most enjoyable parts to spend time around. I found myself lingering by the water, watching the fish move through the pond as the sunlight filtered through the trees. The fish are large and active, and the surrounding greenery, stone features, and water elements create a very relaxing atmosphere. The garden does a good job balancing natural scenery with traditional Japanese design, with each section offering a slightly different view and feeling as I walked through. The bridges and stone lanterns add to the sense of place, and the sound of the waterfalls creates a calming background that stays with you as you move through the space. What I liked most about this garden is how calm it feels despite being located on a college campus. It feels separated from the surrounding area once you enter, making it a nice place for a quiet walk, photography, or just taking a break. The landscaping is well maintained, and the entire space has a slower pace that encourages you to actually stop and appreciate the details rather than rushing through. The garden's design rewards a slow approach, with each turn in the path offering a slightly different perspective on the pond, the plants, and the stonework. The visit is fairly quick since the garden is compact, but it works well as a relaxing stop rather than a destination that takes up an entire afternoon. Reservations are required, so it is worth checking availability before going. Admission is free, although parking is an extra cost and can be the main inconvenience, especially during busy campus hours. The garden's location on campus makes it accessible, but the parking situation can require a bit of patience. Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden is a beautiful spot if you are looking for a peaceful escape rather than a large attraction. The koi pond, thoughtful design, and quiet atmosphere make it a place worth visiting, especially on a nice day when you can take your time walking through the garden. It offers a brief but meaningful pause from the surrounding city and campus life, and the care that has gone into maintaining the space is evident in every corner.

You know how it goes... I find something on TikTok and the next thing you know, I'm driving over to…read morecheck it out! That's exactly how I ended up at Rancho Los Alamos in Long Beach. It was literally right down the street from where I was, so convenient, and absolutely beautiful! We started by having lunch at the park benches, which was such a nice way to enjoy the grounds. Then we managed to catch the very last tour of the house with the sweetest man ever! He was so kind and gave us so much wonderful information about the ranch and its history.Walking through the house honestly felt like stepping back into the 1930s. Everything has been preserved so beautifully, and because it's a museum, they work hard to keep the house looking just the way it did back in the day. It is absolutely pristine! I loved looking at all the old furniture, decorations, and everyday things people used. Just seeing the way people lived back then was fascinating. Imagine getting to live in a house like that... amazing! The only downside was that you're not allowed to film inside the house, but I completely understand because they have to protect and preserve everything. Unfortunately, we only had time to see the house before they closed, so we are definitely going back! There are still gardens, animals, and so much more to explore. It looks like such a great place to spend the day. Convenient, beautiful, educational, and a fun little trip back in time. I can't wait to return and see the rest! Five stars!

A historical landmark, close & free to visit…read more Originally part of the ancestral village of Povuun'nga, the traditional place of origin of the native Gabrielino-Tongva people of the Los Angeles Basin, named Rancho Los Alamitos when the land was conceded to Manuel Nieto, and finally to Fred & Florence Bixby, whose children donated the family ranch to the City of Long Beach in 1968. To enter, visitors proceed to the Bixby Hill residential security gate at the intersection of East Anaheim Road and Palo Verde Avenue. Entrance is strictly at 1pm, as the guard will not allow entrance prior to that. Operating hours are 1pm - 5pm Wed - Sun. Initial visit, the barn area w/ the livestock was closed off due to a water main break. Tours of the Adobe Ranch is via a docent-led tour, which can be made at the Rancho Center. No photography is permitted. Tom was the docent, and he was quite knowledgeable of the history of Rancho Los Alamitos, allowing passage into each room on the first floor. Second floor was closed to visitors. My favorite room was the kitchen, as I marveled at the various appliances, such as the still operational refrigerator, with the condenser on top, instead of bottom. Also, the heavy, built to last stove, which probably served a countless number of meals for the family & staff working the ranch. There were a few objects which were available to touch, such as an early proto version of a View-Master. The cherry on top of the Adobe Ranch visit was pulling the rope attached to the dinner bell, signifying everyone to "come & get it!". The handsome, well-maintained garden landscape surrounding the property provides natural beauty & plenty of photo opportunities. Second visit was more fun, as the barn & livestock areas were open to the public, again! Preston, a magnificent Shire horse, towers over almost all visitors, and stuns with his majestic beauty. In the world record books, a Shire horse named Sampson is the largest recorded horse ever, at 7' 2.5" tall & 3,360 lbs. Not to be outdone, Fred the donkey bombastically greets people with his hee-haws. A few rescue horses, sheep & a coop full of chickens provided plenty of enjoyment. A pleasurable afternoon can be had at Rancho Los Alamitos. Visitors gaze back in time upon a working ranch, experience how things were built to stand the test of time, opposed to planned obsolescence of most machinery & appliances, today. Visiting Preston, Fred & the other animals, alone, is worth the drive. I look forward to coming back & I highly recommend giving Rancho Los Alamitos a visit.

Wed August I was getting ads for Imaginarium and couldn't…read moreget a handle on what exactly this was. I was looking for 4hours to keep my charges occupied. I'm glad I had the kids with me: they had a blast, I had an okay time- together we averaged 4 stars. The decorations reminded me simultaneously of the Rose parade floats and Meow Wolf. I thought: How do we make this last four hours so the kids will collapse into bed? I dragged my feet, forced myself to go through the rooms slowly, took lots of pictures of the children posing. When one child wanted to color the balloons/apples I let her do that for 5minutes. The 7:30pm circus show really kicked the experience into high gear for them. They were amazed by the death wheel, the fire dancer, and the globe of death. Then they discovered the ball pen, which was about 15minutes of fun. Then they discovered the bubble machine and I watched from afar as they got themselves covered in foam. There was a misting station to clean off. There was begging to do the slime lab and I finally acquiesced. Those $8 per slime were well worth the money to keep the girls occupied for hours. As it approached closing time the girls got a sudden burst of energy and wanted to go through all the games again, go to another show (this time with an aerialist) and take more photos. Overall, Imaginarium is a very photo op worthy place. But if you're not really into photo ops, it could be perplexing how you would spend your time here. The kids loved it, but I think the highlight for them was the slime lab. Anyway, worth the entry if you have young kids!

Had such a fun time at Imaginarium at Lakewood!…read more Loved the millions of LED lights, giant LEGO displays, and the lantern pool where you can drop your wishes. The live circus performances were also included with the ticket, which was such a fun surprise! Such a magical experience for both kids and adults! ‍ IG: socalhkfoodies

This exhibit "experience" was more then a forensic analysis, very sad to see how Titanic faltered…read moreand then sank. Here at the exhibit, true stories of most of the passengers were told. Artifacts and images , jewelry, furniture , life jackets, letters helped to tell real stores of the passengers who decided to board the titanic . I found it to be very interesting. Although if I could change one thing it would be the headset and earbuds, kept falling off ( due to excessive wear ) I enjoyed this experience, I feel you will too !

This was my first visit to any Titanic show and it was such a fantastic event!…read more According to their Yelp event, Titanic in Photographs is "The in-depth story of the world's most famous ship, told through an exhibition of unique, period photographs, brought to life with a world-class display of priceless original artifacts & images. Located near the engine room on the famous RMS Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA." The photos that have been blown up to mega sizes are a real treat. They are not grainy and there's a ton of detail to pour over while walking through the exhibit. John White and his small crew of tireless workers setup the entire display in a matter of a few weeks and their efforts show. After the exhibit, take a stroll around the Queen Mary. From the bridge to the bilge, you can spend literally all day aboard this massive ship (bigger than the Titanic even). Gift shops, restaurants and a few of bars make the tour much more enjoyable too.

Can't believe it took me 3 decades to finally come here but here we are. Cabrillo Aquarium, a free…read moreaquarium with plenty to see. They have a main exhibit hall with all sorts of marine life from the biggest moon jelly you'll ever see to little predator snails to cute baby sharks. Then, you can see the discovery center which has all sorts of bones, interactive pieces, and what not. But surprisingly, our favorite exhibit was the nursery where it's a research lab where they brew up algae, breed seahorses, and all sorts of nature preservation projects. Definitely worth a walkthrough. Did I mention it's free to come here? But you can also donate and by all means, should donate, cause this is a precious institution that should remain for future generations to come. Anyway, this was a great spot for young and old folks alike. Parking is paid, maybe like $3/hr up to a max of $9?

Can't believe I didn't know about this place and I live in the South Bay. This is truly a fun spot…read moreto come to during summer with the family. Not only is it educational, but it's a great place for the whole family and it's free. You can of course make a donation but it's such a great spot to come too. You can bring your lunch and just hang. What's so neat about this place is that it's next to the Marina and there's a cool park in the same area so you can hit the water and swings area and have a picnic. As you enter they are so friendly and will answer your questions if you have any. You can also become a member and they have their perks as well. You can also get a tour with someone who works there and you can also go on your own and at your own pace. But everyone here is FRiENDLY! The bathrooms were very clean and they even had 2 big bathrooms with changing tables and for the family as well enough room for all. The displays, information and the real life bones and all they have of the whales, sharks and history and facts is so mind blowing and really keeps you interested even if you are young and older as well. So many fun facts and animals to see. Lots of cool fish and sea creatures that you can admire and just mind blowing that these were created for us to enjoy and research and some even make us laugh. The whole place was just great all around from inside to the outside just so many cool features and even a cool area for the infants and toddlers to read books, touch cool animals and just dive into fun facts. As you end your day there there is a cool shop you can get some fun stuff and snacks as well. Dangerous place to take the kids ha ha.. they have some cool squishies and fun stuffies that they will want. The prices are reasonable but for a good cause for sure. I can't wait to be back. Def a cool spot to come hang with the whole family. Parking is $3 for 1 hr and if you stay a bit longer it's ok they don't check. Bring your lunch and come hang here.