My party were the only guests on the tour as they just started doing tours again after the…read morePalisades fire so I felt very spoiled by the personalized service on this tour. :) Everything was great from the wine to the food and the history lesson we received about Malibu and the surrounding areas. We went on a beautiful sunny day and we even got the chance to see peacocks on one of our stops.

We had an outstanding tour on a beautiful So Cal Saturday. My wife and I were the only guests on…read moreour tour accompanied by guide Steven. It began with a tasty brunch and wine at Kristy's in Malibu. Wonderful food and service. The wine tasting rooms we visited were among the best we been to. We miss Rosenthal's tasting room on PCH, so we had a little bit of nostalgia heading up to the estate. We actually ran into the owner, Ken at one of our stops. Both Ken and Steven are terrific hosts. I highly recommend this tour.

Gillian Lomax is a wonderful British Gal and Beatles Tour Guide!…read moreI have been in THIS TOUR and gotten to know her as well through "Like-Minded" Beatles-Related Events over the years. She also for a long time hosted Beatles News on breakfast With The Beatles. Take This Magical Tour With Gillian and Be Prepared To experience The Magic "Gilly" brings! Her Tour Is A Must for Every beatle Fan! Makes excellent birthday, or surprise gift for any Fan! Yeah Yeah Yeah!

From the owner: A Magical History Tour is a Beatles tour of Los Angeles visiting a number of Beatles related sites…read morefrom Santa Monica to Hollywood in a 4 hour tour. Places where the Beatles stayed, lived, recorded, played and frequented.

Had an absolutely fantastic experience at Joyride Bike Hire! Nico runs the shop and he is a…read moregenuinely great, helpful guy who makes the whole process a breeze. I actually lost track of time and brought my bike back an hour late, but he was incredibly understanding and gracious. Top-tier customer service--highly recommend renting from here if you are in Santa Monica!

Joyride Bike Rentals was great to work with…read more I joined a group of my friends to rent bikes in Santa Monica pier and we rode our rentals all the way to Venice beach and back. The bikes we rented were clean, well maintained, and rode smoothly. Great for CA visitors and locals alike.

We just wrapped up on the Black Dahlia Tour w/ Blaze and wowzers what a unique way to explore Los…read moreAngeles (for visitors and locals alike). You will walk away having learned about some of the sad and often horrific mind boggling facts regarding some dearly departed souls. In this case, Elizabeth Short. Blaze is a wealth of knowledge and made the experience enjoyable and informative without being a snore fest. The luxury hurst was cushy and comfortable, there was offer for stops if bathroom or coffee was needed, which I appreciated! Highly recommend taking a tour if you want a break from the run of the mill touristy things, or maybe you love the dark LA history. Really you can't go wrong!

I booked this tour with Grave line for my husband's birthday because he loves true crime, and it…read moreended up being the perfect gift! Our guide, Ansley, was respectful, knowledgeable, approachable, and friendly. She really brought the stories to life and made everyone feel comfortable asking questions. The vintage funeral car was such a cool and fitting touch for the Manson Family Murders Tour (and the main reason why I booked the tour). About 80% of the experience was spent in the car, which was cozy and gave us plenty of time to soak in the history while listening to music from the era. Including Manson, The Beach Boys, and The Beatles, to name a few. We also made three stops along the way to get out, take photos, and see key locations up close. As a mortician, the experience carried an extra layer of meaning. I actually helped funeral direct the service for the LaBiancas' granddaughter (who had the same fate as her grandparents). So hearing and seeing this history firsthand felt deeply personal and surreal. If you're into true crime or Los Angeles history, this tour is an absolute must. Graveliners and Ansley made the experience both educational and unforgettable. We loved every minute!

My bike chain broke and everything was in desperate need of a proper tune up. After going to a…read morecouple repair shops a few months prior and being ripped off while receiving shoddy work (beware, Bicycle Workshop on Ocean Park is the worst!!!) I decided to look elsewhere and gave this place a try. Ryan did an incredible job!! He aligned everything, replaced my brake pads, lines, shifter and even cleaned my bike. Now it rides smoother than butter. The cherry on top is that their pricing is reasonable as well. I dropped my bike off looking tired, dirty, and overused, and picked it up looking immaculate. Every detail had been cared for, and the ride quality was transformed. It feels refined, responsive, and a joy to ride. The level of craftsmanship and care truly exceeded my expectations. Clean, organized and professional one stop shop that I highly recommend. Thanks again Ryan!! Appreciate you

Service was amazing! They were fast, convenient and easy to work with. We rented bikes for half the…read moreday and were able to accommodate a full day rental. This is the second time our group has rented from them and we will definitely do it again!

Great prices for bike rentals and quite the selection. Grab a friend and take a nice bike ride…read morealong the path around the Santa Monica Pier. If you go on the weekend, I would suggest getting out there early so you do not have to dodge all the tourists and screaming children running back and forth without parent supervision.

I strongly recommend this bike rental location on the Santa Monica Pier. Amalia helped us and she…read morewas extremely friendly and welcoming. The bike ride was fun and we really had a great time.

I cannot say enough wonderful things about our experience here at Rubel Castle. Our host, guide,…read moreand local "Rubelligent" volunteer, Ms. Kathleen had all the intel about this historical property. She was so knowledgeable and helped set the stage for us to slip into a forgotten era and get a glimpse of how imagination met inventiveness with a DIY charm. ~ A LITTLE BACKSTORY FOR YOU ~ It's not pronounced Rubel as Barney from Flintstones. Rather, it's like Target is to Targét when we are trying to be fancy. So that's Rubel as in "Roo-bell." Unlike modern-day construction, Rubel Castle wasn't built overnight. It was made of collected recyclables and construction rubble that spanned many decades and took several friends and volunteers to build it. For Michael, however, the lifetime inspiration was first sparked at the age of 9. His love for canons was where it started and the rest is history you can hear about on the tour. But don't just show up like we did randomly one day. To book, visit RubelTours.org and make a reservation. ~ OUR TOUR EXPERIENCE ~ It's as if Michael Rubel, the creator and mastermind of this enchanted dominion had intended it to be--magical. Built in the castle period of wood and tin, every corner captured our interests, from antique cars to the 1890's Seth Thomas Tower Clock with a unique backstory (and only six in existence today). There were old vending machines, tools, trinkets, and machinery that time had long forgotten. Did I mention there was a drawbridge? Yes, and a dungeon too. I was just waiting for a dragon to come swoop down on us next. Walk in the footsteps of famous visitors like Alfred Hitchcock, Dwight Eisenhower, Jack Benny, and Bob Hope. It's a feast for the eyes no matter where you glance. I particularly enjoyed the bottle house that Michael built in 1968 as his "home" as a kid. That independent spirit was quite charming to see. ~ WATERCOLOR NATURESCAPE ~ We were fortunate to have our gracious host lead us on a tour and organize a special art crafting experience outdoors. It was absolutely lovely beneath the trees and between rusted vintage cars from the turn of the century. We each got a small canvas to paint our flowers in watercolor. (This particular experience takes place in the Spring and Fall, weather permitting.) We heard the squirrels rattling in the leaves and birds chirped and sang in the trees above. We discovered that peacocks apparently originated from this property, compliments of Michael Rubel. And did I mention that on the far side of the property, a custom garden was in full bloom? BOOK A TOUR Help support the Glendora Historical Society and keep this magnificently unique city-castle maintained. It's worth it.

A castle in Glendora? Yes, your eyes aren't deceiving you--Rubel Castle is real, it's magnificent,…read moreand it's gloriously eccentric. Thanks to the sheer persistence (and probably delightful stubbornness) of Michael Rubel, we now have this quirky, towering State Treasure sitting right in the middle of Glendora like a fairy tale that accidentally took a detour through a hardware store. This place is beautifully done, and part of its charm is that it's a full-on hodgepodge of relics, antiques, crystal trinkets, and "wait... what is that doing here?" moments tucked into every nook and cranny. You'll marvel, you'll laugh, you'll squint in confusion--honestly, it's everything you'd want in a castle built with love, imagination, and a dash of madness. And let's talk about the makeshift cemetery. Quirky? YES. Fun? Absolutely. Slightly spooky? Only if your imagination is over-caffeinated. But it fits the vibe perfectly--like the castle whispered, "You know what I'm missing? A tiny cemetery." The tours are fantastic, the guides are passionate, and the whole experience feels like you're stepping into a living scrapbook of California history and charming chaos. Overall: Amazing, amazing place. Book your tour. They only do tours every first Sunday of the month, so set your alarms, mark your calendars, tie a string around your finger--just don't miss it. Rubel Castle is truly a California State Treasure, and an absolute must-see for anyone who appreciates creativity, history, and a little eccentric sparkle.

The creators of this tour came up with a brilliant idea and found ideal, beautiful hidden gem…read moreneighborhood routes to explore. Both tourists and locals will be delighted by the Garden Safari experience. Though I've lived in LA for 30 years, (even for a time in Santa Monica) I didn't know what was special and specific to the route through Santa Monica to Brentwood. I found the education in trees and architectural history of the area particularly fascinating. The tour ended up in the perfect historical and refreshing spot that I couldn't believe I'd never been to. One of the best parts of the tour for me is that it has led me to a new sense of wonder and interest in walking around all neighborhoods in general. But the ones on this tour are particularly stunning.

We just spent an enjoyable afternoon exploring parts of Santa Monica with Natalie and Garden…read moreSafaris. She pointed out various architectural styles and points of interest along with notable tree varieties throughout. A delightful way for a tourist or local to discover the area. I especially enjoyed the La Mesa portion with its stately mature Morton Bay Figs.

My friend and I had a great time with Miles, the tour guide. He was extremely knowledgeable and it…read morewas a very fun time. It was nice and balmy out and my friend even had an experience! When Miles was talking about a ghost's strong smelling perfume, she immediately smelled it and then it went away. So we had a great time! Thank you so much.

To reply to your message, Candace, yes we did join your tour. Probably not the smartest idea to…read morethrough my real name out to write honest reviews, but people really do need to know. I can recall your memory by telling you that we had 6 people in our group, and 3 of them walk out half way, making me feel terrible for having them pay that much for some terrible dad jokes and a sad excuse for "factual" stories. Now I do apologize and will remove this post if I am indeed mistaken. Here's the dishonest review site that was emailed to me after the tour, and below is my email confirmation with purchase ID removed. https://pro.peek.com/reviews/sample/5907ae6893d2da304f00005b/1 Email confirmation: Thank you for making a purchase with Santa Monica Tour Company on 2017-10-18. Here is a receipt for your order. Please note that a separate confirmation email which includes details about the activity you booked will be sent separately. ORDER DETAILS: Purchase ID: xxxxxxxx Order Summary: Haunted Santa Monica Ghost Tours (6x Adults) Subtotal: $210.00 Taxes & Fees: $15.28 Discounts: $0.00 Total: $225.28 Thanks, Jeb --------------------------- This tour was run by Zack and Candace, two really friendly people. Zack is super energenic, threw dad jokes, and would be an awesome person for regular tours (not haunted tours), and Candace helped tell half the stories. Not sure how this averaged 5-stars. I would give it 0-stars if possible. Biggest disappointment and waste of money. Our group of 10 people all felt scammed. Wasn't what we expected at all. The places we went to were just too crowded to set the mood. Most of the "facts" that were described weren't delivered well to draw us into the stories. Good information on the buildings, but all the haunting stories didn't have any emotions behind it to create the atmosphere. That coupled with the noise and crowdedness of the entire tour just took everyone completely out of it. The whole tour was missing the Mystery aspect of a haunted tour. Delivery of the stories using "factual" statements such as "EMF" and "Séances" does not make it scary, mysterious, or convincing. Not even drugs or alcohol would make it close to what you would expect (Not to say there was any of that involved). TLDR; If your not doing this for your 5 year old kids, don't waste your money or time. Additionally, the tour sent me an email asking to rate my review from 1-5 stars. If you pick anything below 5-stars you get sent to a fake reviewing site that doesn't allow you to submit; Clicking 5-stars sends you to this Yelp page. That's just terrible. https://pro.peek.com/reviews/sample/5907ae6893d2da304f00005b/1