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.

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

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.

Great experience for children. Great value for your money. Staff very friendly. The virtual part…read moremay be not the best thing for kids that are to young.

Jurassic Con is a fun and free, little convention that's taken place in the Ralph B. Clark…read moreInterpretive Center for the last couple years. They've gathered props, costumes, and special effects pieces from different movies and shows, most particularly the Jurassic franchise, obviously. This year, unlike last, there was more going on outside with all the different tents dedicated to paleontology, local indigenous tribes, and environmentalism. They also had science presentations using liquid nitrogen. This year there were more cosplayers, and several Jurassic Park jeeps in the motor pool. Since they hold it in a place loaded with fossils, it sort of blurs the lines between cinema and reality. You get done looking at studio molds, animatronic dinosaurs, and Ray Harryhausen's claymation figures, and go look at Ice Age mammals, take pictures pretending to be eaten by a megalodon, and ask the resident scientists about the latest finds.

We've been coming here for years and we stopped in here recently, finally…read more I've been a history buff for years. Yeah, I'm a nerd like that. But I also like to see the gemstones and minerals from a long time ago too. I make jewelry for family and friends, so I know alot about it. It's neat to see artifacts from years ago. We checked out the exhibits. It's small but you can learn a thing or two. Glad that we stopped in. We wanted a break from the 20 bus loads of teenagers at the Park.

I had no idea this museum had it's own Yelp entry since it's in Knotts Berry Farm. Nonetheless,…read moreyeah, this is a pretty impressive museum. It's packed. Even the ceiling.... If you're a die-hard Knotts fan you'll recognize art by Paul von Kleiben, mockups of larger attractions, historical items 150+ years old and more. My favorite part is bringing kitty treats. The cats of Knotts spend their day sleeping in the protected courtyard, but some will come close for a treat.

What a fantastic hidden gem, set in a beautiful park. Not a lot of people with tons of open green…read morespace and parking. The museum has a very cool working palentology lab. You can see the fossils up close - a whale which had legs! a megladon and a basking sharks mouth, a saber tooth tiger cat were among the highlights for any kid interested in dinosaurs and ancient animals. This isn't a busy museum with long lines, waiting turns to get up to something close. This is super easy, very relaxed and just as educational.

Man I love this park it's my family's go to place plenty of activity's for the whole dayread more

Took my mom and family to see this house. It was amazingly beautiful-preserved beautifully. If you…read morelove history, this is a great tour.

This is an old gorgeous house built in the 1890's and wonderfully preserved. It is open on the 1st…read moreand 3rd Saturdays of every month from 1-4 PM. They do tours of the insides and you're allowed to wander around the outside freely. It's free, but if you enjoy yourself you should donate--donations simply go to keeping the house clean. No photos are allowed of the inside, so you'll always be surprised by what you see. If you're interested in old houses and the way things used to be "back in the day" then you need to stop by if you get the chance. It is clear that the people who work here have a definite passion and either feel a sense of wonder for this bygone age or a real connection to something they lived through long ago. For some reason I feel a bit "different" since visiting. Unlike some museums that just show you a bunch of stuff, you really get a feel walking around this house for what it must have been like to live here across the 100+ years it's been here. Definitely something that you should check out.

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.

Tucked deep inside Cal State University Long Beach (CSULB). This mini museum might be small but the…read moreart holds weight. Interesting, unique sculptures and paintings to adore. Friendly staff and a great environment so that's why I'm giving it 5 stars. It's worth a visit!

That isn't an online art commission. It's social‑media overuse turning into attention‑seeking…read morebehavior and using online pressure to secure space in galleries. I can't lie! too much time online can fuel entitlement, blame‑shifting, and distorted narratives, and that pattern showed up here. Two associates who've known Dana Do since high school reported ongoing hostile behavior at CSULB, including mockery of peers' artwork, age‑based remarks, and misleading stories shared with professors. At the Kleefeld Museum, the same human‑behavior patterns appeared. Dana relied heavily on open social‑media commissions, narrative‑shaping, and online monitoring to maintain visibility. Her painting showed color theory and value issues, yet she made elitist comments about who "belongs" in the university. Calling older students "bullies" and "unprofessional" while engaging in exclusionary behavior herself is contradictory. the issue is the interpersonal behavior, not age. The mix of technical inconsistencies in the artwork and the surrounding conduct created enough discomfort that we left. Signs of Drawing and Painting department favoritism only reinforced a dismissive atmosphere. As a museum experience, it felt psychologically unsafe and unsupportive of developing artists. Not recommended!

We did the Kellog house tour and our tour guide was great. She was very knowledagable of the…read morehistory of not just the house, but the surrounding city/cities as well. The length of the tour was well worth the money, I also know that some stories are passed down through history or just lore. We enjoyed our experience and how everyone got into character/dressed as the era. My next goal is to do the Disney mansion tour. See you soon

Great host, very interesting venues and stories. The perfect spot to walk around and see history…read morethat still exists.