If you are a lover of both history and art, take some time to go over to Burbank Blvd. and…read moreColdwater Canyon in Van Nuys and walk the length of the Great Wall of Los Angeles. Told in a series of murals, the Great Wall of LA tours you through time. The Dust Bowl...The Zoot Suit Riots...World War II...Rosie the Riveter...the Japanese internment camps...the Baby Boomer era...the era of covered wagons...The Gold Rush... all are depicted in beauty and tragedy alike. There is so much history here told in art that I cannot write it all out. Go for yourself and see how much you know -- how much you learn.

The great wall of LA spans, many yards. I don't know how long distances really, but it goes on for…read morea long time and has a lot of different paintings murals in pitchers in the school to check out.

This place was nice, my friend took me because she is back in night school at harbor college and…read moreneeded to make up some credits for a bad grade!!! And my expectations were low but just had a day off and was like, let me TRY it. So it was better than expected because I learned a LOT and it really gives you a strong sense of history which is NOT always the case.

A slice of local flavor just outside Universal Studios…read more Campo de Cahuenga is a small museum and park located just off the 101 FWY at the corner of Lankershim Blvd and naturally Campo de Cahuenga. They have a rich history dating back to the late 1840s. It's registered as #151 for Historical Landmarks of California/California Historical Landmarks, #29 for the city of Los Angeles (Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument), the fountain inside the courtyard is a memorial fountain additionally noted as part of the history here, according to several listings such as the Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreations: "The Treaty of Cahuenga was signed in 1847, ending hostilities in California between Mexico and the United States." Which lead to the acquisition of California become apart of the U.S. You can reenactments of all the history here annually, not to mention walk throughs, special events and memberships that include some fun perks. CdC additional allows rentals of their parking area, filming and has free parking. It's directly across the street from the above ground LA Metro Hub for Universal/Studio City and just above the connection for the B/Red Line to North Hollywood Station as well as Union Station and various stops throughout Los Angeles. The construction of the station here did lead to some foundation issues, but it's been preserved and sustain to the best ability by the city of Los Angeles and members of Campo de Cahuenga. Currently open from 10am to 2pm on Thursdays and Fridays, you can call ahead for more details, but also keep an eye on their calendar. A beautiful hidden must of the San Fernando Valley's Studio City/Universal City adjacent culture.

Cool place to visit if you're into folk art. My visit was short since there's only a two hour…read morewindow that you can visit on Thursdays. Some areas are in need of repair; some loose pieces were on the ground so look where you step. Unfortunately, you are not allowed to take photos here. There is no parking on this narrow street so you'll have to park and walk.

Magical garden hidden in a private home. It is open to the public two hours a week while the…read moregardener works on the garden: Thursdays, 10am-noon. However, these hours are contingent on the gardener, who may not show up or may come late / leave early. If you're coming from afar, it might be a good idea to email the owner at gardenofoz@me.com and ask about that particular week. I found the email address on a webpage about the garden. I emailed at the start of the week when I wanted to come but heard back the following week. Turns out the gardener had car trouble so the garden was closed the previous week. The owner did email me back again letting me know the garden would be open the following week, which was nice of her. So, if you're driving from afar, reach out to confirm. Don't come at the last minute just in case the gardener leaves early. It's not the easiest to access but hey, this is a private home and we're lucky to have any access to it. This is interesting for anyone who loves folk art, mosaics, outsider art, etc. It's a large space with a lot to look at. No photography is allowed. Parking is on the street. The streets are narrow and hilly but there should be available parking within a reasonable distance.

What an amazing oasis in the middle of the SFV! I'm so glad this garden has reopened to the public…read more The grounds are beautiful and serene, and I really appreciate how they've integrated nature with sustainability by using reclaimed water to supply the garden's pond. We visited today and were lucky enough to catch a performance by the Taiko Project. Their performance honestly gave me chills! Love that they also talked about the history of taiko in Japan and US and they even had volunteers at the end of the show to try taiko drumming! There was also Kamishibai storytelling in the tea garden, which the kids really enjoyed. They also have Japanese Garden "I Spy" sheet for the kids to do and Clean Water Patrol activity book. This is def one of those low stress, high vibe activities that I highly recommend. Just a heads-up though, outside food and drinks aren't allowed inside, but water is ok. There are restrooms near the entrance as well as behind the tea garden. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for kids. We had such a relaxing afternoon and are already looking forward to coming back for more events at this little oasis.

The Japanese Garden in the Sepulveda Basin is such a beautiful oasis in the Valley, especially in…read morean area that can get so hot. It feels peaceful, well cared for, and instantly calming the moment you walk in. There is a small $5 admission fee, which honestly feels completely worth it, especially because it clearly helps keep the grounds so clean, beautiful, and well maintained. I brought my parents here while they were visiting, and they absolutely loved it. If you're lucky enough to visit during the right season, you may even catch the cherry blossoms, which make the whole experience even more special. There is also plenty of parking on site, which makes visiting easy. One thing to keep in mind is that they are closed on Sundays. Also, if you have extra time, Sepulveda Basin Lake is nearby and worth checking out as well. A lovely, serene spot that feels like a hidden gem in the Valley.

What an amazing opportunity to see this historic home perched on in the Hollywood Hills. What a…read moreonce in a lifetime moment. I loved the house and the tour with all the history of the family and this home. Our docents Scott was great.

An amazing piece of architecture that overlooks the city of Los Angeles. This is definitely a place…read moreto enjoy the views of the city of angels, learn about its historic significance, and take some amazing photos. Eric the docent at Stahl House is informative, engaging, and very passionate. I knew a little bit about the house and its story , but Eric definitely paints a wonderful picture about the stahls and their commitment to follow their dreams! My advice to anyone is make sure you bring clean socks because you will be removing your shoes when entering the home and be prepared to take lots of photos. Eric was more than willing to help direct us to the best spots to take photos. Be mindful that no photo equipment is allowed other than your phone.

This summer is the summer of library visits. because of the LA Public Library Stamps, I have been…read moreon a mission to collect as many library stamps as I can. This is a cute library with a small parking lot attached. Staff is friendly. There's usually a cart of free books to take at the entrance. My usual local library (North Hollywood) was recently closed for maintenance so I had a few holds sent to this library for pick up. Definitely going to come back to check out their events in the future

I have been to most of the libraries in the LA COUNTY system. I like them all, but something about…read morethe Studio City Library always does it for me. I go their pretty frequently, but not that often. It is close to home and when I need to get some work done of any kind, I need peace and quiet; since you can't do much at home. Too much distraction from neighbors and every day life. I need to address some highlights to certain things that gets my attention. First and foremost, I would like to describe the beauty of the architecture of this building. It is very well curated in a very unique way with white, beautiful flowers all around the building and parking lot. Inside is very CLEAN, bright, lit, with high ceilings. It has plenty of room to move around, lots and lots of tables/chairs, a separate room for children's section, an information desk, lots of computers with free WI-FI, shelves are very nicely organized with all types of books. Fiction, non fiction and other types of books.They have a full rack of MAGAZINES in the back, but YOU CAN ONLY USE THEM INSIDE THE LIBRARY! Can't check them out. An easy check out system by their employees, and they are pretty fast and quick. Employees are very nice, helpful and friendly. I have to mention them by their names. Not in any particular order: Brian, Devin, Dominique, Vince, Lupe, Kim, Kristine, and there was a lady by the name of Maureen that no longer works there. ALL SUPER HELPFUL whenever you need anything! I not only like to go and work there, do some paperwork, write bills, organize miscellaneous things etc...I also like to rent DVD's from this library, books, and if you request a movie or a book and they don't have it on the shelf, the process is SEAMLESS. You tell them what you need, and they will get it for you within a week and place it on their HOLD shelf, email or call you that the items are ready to be picked up. Has an ample size parking lot, clean restrooms for boys and girls, and a water fountain to fill up your bottle. What more can one ask for?? I truly love STUDIO CITY BRANCH LIBRARY in every way!! :-)) Thank you for serving the public, community for over 30 plus years!!

Iconic statue done in stainless steel by Ringo Starr and donated to Beverly Hills. All you need is…read morelove.....and peace. Good place for a selfie.

Went here today for the first time in the eight years that I live in Burbank. It was the only…read morelocation that had a state park parking pass available. I walked in and was greeted by Silvia at the front desk. She was friendly, thorough, and so helpful in answering all the questions that I had. She even made sure that she let me know of all the happenings going on at the library within the Burbank system, and some tips on the Libby database to Rent additional resource resources. This is a very small library, the smallest in Burbank. Very quiet inside. There was plenty of parking in a lot. They do have a dropbox for a book return. It's not the closest one to my house, but glad to know this is an option. Sylvia was a gem.

This library never seems to be open. When we finally do show up at the posted hours, it was closed…read morebecause they were filming. That's very disappointing because my kids keep asking to come here, and we never seem to be able to get in.

The murals of Chandler along the bike and path of North Hollywood have changed and expanded with…read moretime, with new murals and pieces being added not only the buildings, walls and spaces that highlight it, but the path itself, with more benches and even workout equipment so you can enjoy the beauty of North Hollywood in more ways than one. The murals and art stretch from the near Chandler Ave/Vineland Blvd down to Chandler/Cahuenga Blvd... Short stroll to from the Metro B (Red) Line. It stretches for a half mile and is an easy 10 to 15 minute stroll depending on your pace. A few local staples at both end including Great White Hut (restaurant) and Iliad Bookshop, not to mention a great brewery in-between (Lawless), off Craner Avenue (tiny side street). Lots of parking in the area, free of restrictions, walkable distance to other parts of NoHo like my favorite dives The Good Nite and Bullet Bar, both on Burbank Blvd. Take a stroll through a slice of North Hollywood's Chandler Blvd Art & Mural walk and enjoy a slice of valley outdoors.

Being an art lover, I found out about this place on Yelp. Since it was a nice day and this is…read moreoutdoors, we took a drive out here. My review is based on my observations, with no research on its background. This stretch of a few blocks appears to be the exterior wall of some industrial businesses. The city at some point built an outdoor walking, jogging and bike path for all to enjoy. Then came the murals to bring color and life to an otherwise dull and grim row of fences/ walls. We strolled about 10 minutes and viewed some pieces. They were mostly nice, but really hoped there was some information telling me the background of the mural and the artist(s). Unfortunately, some were also tagged by graffiti. If you're nearby, it's a nice way to spend about 10-15 minutes on a stroll, and it's free to see. There was plenty of street parking. Wear sneakers as the walking surface can get uneven.

Needed a last minute outing to keep the kids busy so naturally, I googled my options. This…read morelocation was pretty convenient so off we went. Tickets were pretty easy to purchase online. I thought it was a timed entry but it is not...or it wasn't when we went. I followed the parking sign on the wall which led me to a lot just a little north of the museum. It was $20 to park there. Had I had more time to plan, I may have parked somewhere else as I felt that was a bit steep. I'm assuming metered parking would be hard to find in that location as it is in the heart of Hollywood. I thought it would be similar to the Museum of Illusions in New York, but rather than a museum feel, this was purely just photo ops. You can rent tripods at the front for $10. They also provide free lockers for your bags and stuff- which I would highly recommend. I didn't take up the offer in the beginning but soon realized that was a better option. I would also like to highly recommend and thank Tim! He showed us the ropes of how to take photos and he took some photos for us. He was friendly, professional and patient with my two young kids. He definitely knows his way around an iPhone camera and showed me some tricks I didn't even know. Tim's photos came out a lot better than mine as you need to find the perfect angle for the pictures to have that illusion effect. The tickets I purchased online also allowed us to go to the giant house next door and the upside down house. Tim came to the rescue again and took some amazing photos for us in the upside down house. It was a fun experience for all of us and I would definitely recommend visiting this location. If you see Tim, ask him for some pointers! Thank you, Tim!

I recently visited the Museum of Illusions and had mixed feelings about the experience. It was fun…read moreoverall, especially if you enjoy taking pictures. There are several photo-friendly illusion setups that make for some cool and creative shots. We bought the bundle deal and also visited the Upside Down House and the Giant House. While those were interesting to see, there still wasn't much to do at either location besides taking pictures. One thing I really appreciated was the front cashier--He was very nice and welcoming, which made the check-in experience pleasant. However, I don't think the visit was quite worth the price. It felt a bit too expensive for what it offers, especially considering the bundle included all three exhibits. The experiences are fun for photos, but they're fairly short and limited in activities. For the amount you pay, it would be nice if there were more interactive things to do or more areas to explore. Overall, it's a good spot if you're really into taking fun illusion photos, but if you're expecting a longer or more activity-filled experience, it may feel a bit overpriced.