I love visiting Descanso Gardens and keep coming back. The gardens are stunning in every season;…read moreright now, roses and poppies are blooming, with some camellias left. Though lilacs and tulips have finished, there's still much to enjoy. You can enter for free with an EBT card, making it accessible for families. There's ample free parking, and a few cozy coffee spots and a gift shop inside. It's the perfect spot for a peaceful walk and to enjoy nature. Highly recommend!

My mom and I took my kids to see the Christmas markets in France this past December. It was a…read morebucket list trip for my mom, and while my boys had a great time, the travel was complicated and arduous, mostly because of my wild three-year-old Wade B. A couple weeks later, my husband and I took the boys to the Enchanted Forest of Light at Descanso Gardens. They had an absolute blast, and my five-year-old Leo B. declared, with utmost sincerity, "I think this is the nicest place I've ever been." Matt B. and I had been once before, almost a decade ago, with our friends Caroline Y. and Scott S., when we were all young and childless. We came back together, this time with five kids, and as much as I enjoyed it back in the day, I found it even more compelling this second time around. The magic was amplified ten times by the presence of my sons, who absolutely loved all the beautiful, colorful lights. I did buy them shitty Christmas light necklaces, one of which broke almost immediately, causing considerable strife. The alternative, of course, was to deny Wade his request before even entering the garden, where he would badger me every time he saw another child with the necklace. I was not surprised to see that most of the children seemed to have them, every parent having made the same calculation on their way in. Smart and evil of Descanso Gardens to put that vendor right by the entrance. I'm guessing Enchanted is their big revenue generator for the year, and this is a McKinseyish way to maximize. The kids oohed and aahed at every exhibit, marveling at all the colors and lights. We oohed and aahed right with them, and had the additional pleasure of watching them play and interact with the elaborate, immersive displays. They loved the tulip fields, the model trains, the stained glass houses, the trees and music and light. There was also a large platform that served as a dance floor for small children, who partied to the ambient music. Wade was especially taken with this stage, and the one part of the night that did not go well was when I yanked him away so we could see the rest of the installations. It was cold and the kids were up way past their bedtimes, but we all had a blast at the Enchanted Forest. When pressed, Leo admitted that Paris was in fact as nice as Descanso Gardens, but the point was made. Come Christmas, we can take the boys to France or we can just drive to La Cañada and buy a few tickets that support a wonderful botanical garden. We might even manage the latter every year.

The city holds a great 4th of July fireworks show at the elementary school every year! There is…read morelots of music, food, and rides for the whole family to enjoy. Gates open at 4 pm and close at 8:30 pm prior to the start of the show, but be sure to get there early for good seats! There is a $5 entry fee, but children 2 and under are free.

We had a great time…read more Adam Schiff was there and was very welcoming. The food trucks and ice cream was good It was a safe and fun environment Only suggestion would be hope it was a bit longer

This town hall festival is none like any other…read more The whole city is here enjoying the vibrant vibes of people and culture. It is lit up at this event. So many smiling faces and laughing all around. Tons of families every way you look. It was a beautiful site to see the city come together.

Sooo many beer vendors, Bratwurst, roasted turkey legs and mmmmm pretzel, churros and Pastry from…read morePorto's. Live band was excellent and strong sound system. Loved the carnival rides, games, booths. Just buy tickets as all booths only accept tickets vs cash/card. Relaxful day in Montrose

This farmers market has some of the freshest fruits and vegetables ever! I find farmer's markets…read moremore fun to visit and better quality food to buy than your average grocery store, and there are plenty of shops that you can go visit as well. This farmer's market houses all goods from yogurt to produce to meat to necklaces. The variety is absolutely amazing, and the market is also very organized. Tip: Go before 9am if you want to find the freshest vegetables, otherwise a lot of the good stuff will be sold out by then. I usually get the kale from the Aztec Farm stall, which is amazing quality, and that sells out super early.

Definitely one of my favorite places to be on a Sunday especially after working out. Many vendors…read moreselling various things like food (kettle corn, bread, pastries, Mexican and Korean dishes, hummus, olives, fruit, veggies, and so on), jewelry, clothes, art, etc... Sometimes there's a guy here who can sharpen your knives. There's stuff for kids to enjoy like a mini petting zoo. There are also plants for sale especially if you love succulents. Totally enjoy the fruit that's out there for you to try before buying. Sometimes you can even sample drinks before buying! Plenty of free parking either in the lots or street.

I really love this garden but today I brought my service dog with me. She was wearing her service…read moredog vest and the guy at the entrance said "no dogs are allowed" despite her wearing a vest that clearly said "service dog". I then told him that she's a service animal and he asked what task she performs as is customary. But once I said her task, he laughed at me and said he had never heard of a dog who "does that". I told him I have a disability that requires her and he eventually let me in. But he had an overall negative rude condescending demeanor and didn't seem to like working there. This was highly triggering for me and actually triggered my CPTSD because it never feels great to have your disability or needs not taken seriously. Not everyone's disability is visible and for it to be laughed at felt very insensitive. It makes me not wanna go there that much in the future now because I know it's always gonna be triggering for me if that worker is there. I couldn't relax the whole time I was there cause I felt so distressed by this.

Always enjoy visiting Descanso Gardens. This place is a true hidden gem and urban oasis just a…read moreshort drive from LA. From the moment you step in, you're surrounded by incredible beauty and tranquility. The gardens are impeccably maintained with so much variety.. stunning rose gardens, one of the largest camellia collections in the world, and the highlight for us was the Japanese Garden. It felt like stepping into another world. We also enjoyed wandering through the oak woodland and catching the beautiful seasonal blooms. Everything was in full glory! We brought the kids and they had a blast riding the little train (super fun and a great way to see more of the grounds). The staff was friendly, the paths are easy to walk, and there are plenty of benches to sit and soak it all in. It's the perfect spot for a relaxing day date, family outing, or even a peaceful solo walk. Admission is reasonable and totally worth it. We'll definitely be back for the special events and different seasons. Highly recommend!

I love flowers so I'm always on the lookout for any flower festivals around town. When I see an…read moreevent posted on Yelp about the cherry blossoms festival at descanso gardens, I can't contain my excitement. After doing my research and reading reviews, I knew beforehand the issues regarding possibility of tickets being sold out early and issues with parking. My friend and I were lucky to be able to purchase tickets online before they sold out. We left home early and made it at descanso even before they open their doors so parking was very easy. If you did your homework, then I don't understand the negative reviews. So it was my first time to attend this festival so I had no idea what to expect. We headed to the Japanese garden where we thought the cherry blossom trees will be. I think we just saw a couple of them and wondered if there's more to see. We decided to join the tour and our guide informed us that the cherry blossom trees are expected to bloom late this year. It was a bummer but I thought this isn't Japan nor Washington, DC so I'm thankful that I was able to see even a few. So we then decided to go ahead and explore the rest of the gardens. We're glad we did because we really had a good time seeing other flowers like tulips, azaleas, day lilies, etc.

Came here in March because my boyfriend surprised me with tickets (aww right?). I was really…read moreexcited to come to this festival because I've never had the chance to. It may not be Japan, but close enough right haha! As a heads up, definitely buy tickets ahead of time. When we arrived, all the tickets were sold out. PARKING: Parking lot is available. Not too sure if you'd have to pay, I would assume so since it's LA. Lots of options on the residential streets and a short walk over. That worked out for us. CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL: Overall it was an alright experience. Funny to see how everyone kept taking pictures by any PINK flower thinking it was a cherry blossom. Not too many cherry blossom trees out there, so I wouldn't come expecting a grove of them. Also not the most organized festival. Spent most of the time just exploring on our own beyond the cherry blossom trees. It was a nice, relaxing day. Worth seeing at least once, but not over and over.

Great bartender Crystal has a lot of class. Small but friendly Would highly recommend....read more

The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE; also often known as the Elks Lodge or simply The…read moreElks) is an American fraternal order founded in 1868 originally as a social club in New York City. Today headquartered at Elks National Veterans Memorial in Chicago, Illinois, it is one of the leading fraternal orders in the United States, claiming nearly one million members. Ok, I know more now than I did before I posted. My wife is a member, I stop by now and then for a cocktail. Friendly crowd. They support the community and raise money for charitable groups.