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.

Thanks to the research of Super Elite Yelper Gary I., we were able to tour the Phillips Mansion in…read morePomona prior to dinner nearby. The mansion, built in 1875 and maintained by the Pomona Historical Society, was the home of the one-time "richest man in LA County", Louis Phillips. Tours are conducted by reservation only and as of this writing, can be reserved here: https://www.pomonahistorical.org/phillips-mansion for $15. Our docent, pictured below, gave us many interesting details and pertinent history of the building. The grounds are lovingly maintained; the building itself could be called a "fixer-upper". It's good to see the work in progress and the building does seem to be in good hands. This tour is very highly recommended.

We enjoyed immensely the Phillips Mansion and Currier House tours yesterday afternoon. We…read moreappreciated our docents' enthusiasm and knowledge regarding the history and preservation of these buildings. The main goal for the Currier House currently is weatherproofing it from further damage. I hope that the Pomona Historical Society finds success in obtaining funding and the proper skilled craftsmen to restore it again someday.

I've known for years the Baddio (more accurate spelling is Baddia) brothers and their adventurous…read moreendeavor of coffee plantation in relation to John Hollenbeck. Today I met some Covina residents, who grew up and still live in Civina close to Hollenbeck and Baddio but know nothing about the history behind the street names. After sharing with them some stories, I was urged to look into some details to refresh my memory about this part of history. This post provides some very valuable information and I'll keep it in my archive.

A great opportunity to learn about the history of Covina! You can visit their Jailhouse on Sundays…read morefrom 1-3pm. They use this specific house for their board meetings and a few other things. The information below is from their website that I just 'cut & pasted': The little town of Covina was founded in 1886 by Joseph Swift Phillips. A land speculator, Phillips purchased 2,000 acres of land from John Hollenbeck . The area was located just south of the San Gabriel Mountains within the La Puente Rancho. Phillips immediately surveyed the land into 10 acre parcels and planned to sell each parcel for only $650.00. He enticed a couple of newspapermen to settle in town to help advertise and promote land sales. One investor was Daniel Houser from Stockton, California. He brought five sons, and, using money from the sale of his invention of the Combined Harvester, eventually brought water to the town. Water enticed more people to settle on the fertile land. Businesses sprouted up along Citrus Avenue and Covina was incorporated in 1901. At one time, it served as the agricultural hub of the San Gabriel Valley, producing and shipping more oranges than anywhere else on earth. The Covina Valley Historical Society was organized in 1969 to preserve and promote the history of our community. We own and operate two distinctly unique historic venues; The Firehouse Jail Museum and the Heritage House. The Firehouse Jail Museum, erected in 1911, is located directly behind City Hall just east of Citrus Avenue. This exciting museum contains one of the most complete collections of orange industry documents and artifacts in southern California. Hundreds of school children visit this unusual museum each year. We are open every Sunday (excluding holidays) from 1pm-3pm. Admission is free. The Heritage House is located adjacent to Covina Park at 300 N Valencia Avenue. The 1908 craftsman-style home is completely furnished with period-accurate treasures and it offers a unique glimpse of early 1900's life. It is opened by appointment only by calling (626) 966-9871.

Love me some In N Out! Double double for the win! It all started from somewhere and this was…read moreit.... Sort of. A replica of the original, but very much serves the purpose. Couldn't imagine this amazing institution started from a small outhouse size building in San Gabriel, CA. The museum has limited open times (Thu-Sun 11a-2p). If you're a fan of In N Out, you really need to check this out! Keep on Yelp'n!

This spot has been on my radar for a while, and I was really looking forward to visiting. We…read morefinally made it out that way and decided to stop in. Overall, it was a bit underwhelming, to be honest. It was cool to take photos in front of the old shop and explore inside, but there aren't many activities. I understand that from a liability standpoint, they likely want to limit interactive displays, but it left the experience feeling a bit limited. If you're a history buff, this spot is worth a visit just to chat with the staff member, Kenny. He is incredibly knowledgeable, personable, and clearly passionate about the brand's history. I would have loved to talk with him even longer, but he was busy engaging with other guests during my visit. I recommend grabbing burgers from the nearby working location and then coming here for a picnic to take in the sights. I truly appreciate when companies preserve their history like this so future generations can experience it.

5 star service! 5 star food! 5 star sightseeing! 5 star hotels!…read more If you want to enjoy your trip without any worries, signet is your choice.

Went to Vietnam for 9days. Excellent tour guide, 5stars…read morehotels. wonderful food. Trip arrangements were suit for the weather.

I visited for the first time the weekend before Halloween and definitely got full fall vibes. It's…read moresmaller than I expected but adorably quaint and there are plenty of cute photo ops. I thought it would be busier so close to the holidays but it actually wasn't too bad. We even found parking right across the street from the entrance. There's also a park right next door too. It's free to enter with tractor rides and petting zoo costing $3 each. The pumpkins were on the pricier side but they did have a good variety of different kinds. I will be back next fall for the pumpking patch again. I also want to come back at other times and check out orange picking and their vendor markets.

Fantastic historic societywent on tractor ride on Halloween…read more Local farm and history of local area. Something that should be supported

One of my favorite places to go! Came on a day where the weather was nice and got a good spot for…read moreall the shows. The event is rain or shine, so bring sunscreen and umbrellas. The only thing I wish would improve is bringing back more craftsmen. A lot of jewelry vendors do drop shipping now, so if you're looking for one of a kind or good jewelry, you have to watch out and be careful.

2026 Season - April 4, 2026 - May 17, 2026…read more This visit applies strictly to the very last day of the season - May 17, 2026 As a first-timer to any Renaissance Pleasure Faire, there was a lot of anticipation on my part, having seen numerous videos on social media & YouTube. As always, I think the best policy is always to curb any & all expectations. Parking - Perhaps my biggest criticism of my entire experience. This is a rather specific situation that pertains strictky to ADA Handicap Parking. There is a specific lot that is designated for handicap parking - Lot 3 of the Santa Fe Dam Recreational Area (where the Ren Faire takes place). However, Lot 3 is situated farther than most parking = you have to walk much farther away than most of the other guests. It's ironic in that ADA Handicap Parking should allow you to be closer to the event's entrance. Perhaps the only advantage to parking in this distant lot is that your car will not be caught in the middle of the chaos of everyone else trying to leave. It very evident that this was an oversight when faire organizers made decision to have the event take place at Santa Fe Dam Recreational Area. If there's a way to modify this for future seasons, this would be the biggest improvement that they could make. FOOD Tri-Tip Sandwich ($18) - 6.0/ 10 It's to be expected, but you're definitely going to be paying for more than what you receive - inflation, labor costs, etc. That said, it's fairly hard to mess-up tri-tip. It's not necessarily dry, but the drizzle of bbq sauce helps. Frankly, I wished I asked for more bbq sauce (on the side). The tri tip is served in a roll that's slightly wider than a hot dog bun. It wasn't anything to "write home about", but it's seemed like a better option than most. 1 sandwich is only substantial enough to be a snack. Granted, I walked a good 10 minutes (to the jousting arena) before enjoying my sandwich, I think it would had been helpful if it was served much warmer. French Fries - 6.0 / 10 It's french fries. I will say that the portion is very generous. There was more than enough for me & my friend, so I'd even say it'd be enough fro 3-4 people, assuming it's being shared as a side. Again, maybe it's because I waited a good 10 minutes (buying a beer, walking over to the jousting arena) before enjoying the fries, but it might have been helpful if they could be served a bit warmer. They were still pretty crispy (more on the well-done side, which I prefer). Just some things to note (especially as a 1st timer): - Dress-Up. You're in the 16th Century / Elizabethan Era. So knights, nobleman, peasants, merchants, inn-keepers, plague doctors. But basically, in 2026 at least, anything that isn't "modern" (the past 100 years) is fair game. You can literally see almost anything & it wouldn't seem too out-of-pocket. Yeah, you'll get some strange looks & comments, but people get over it fairly quickly. Just dress-up. - Try to speak "in-character". Whatever it is that you decide to go as, try to "play the part". The volunteers / workers will respond to you accordingly & will "play along". Embrace it & have fun. - The focus of the faire is the shops. That's fine. Get your shopping-on & support these vendors. But there's also many games / activities (archery, axe throwing, dunk tank, how long you hang on a bar, etc.), manually-powered rides, performance shows, & craft activities (making chain mail, sewing, casting coins, & other cool stuff). Like anything else, you get what you put in. Bring your enthusiasm & pack your patience. Also knowing what I know now, I'm definitely going to focus more on my next visit with more investment in my costume (granted I came dressed as a humble peasant).

A visit here is a great way to learn about the history of Glendora! I was greeted warmly by Karen…read moreas the doors were opening at 11:00am and she was very helpful answering my questions. I enjoy local history, so I spent a little time viewing the displays which cover artifacts from the indigenous peoples to the famous. I certainly walked away knowing more than when I entered. Highly recommended!

Always a fun place to visit! Benefits: FREE & labeled…read moreself-guided tour. Any questions are answered by the docents. Highlights: Sally Rand display, doll collection, images of some of the public schools in Glendora that no longer exist, old maps of Alosta & Glendora, old toys, 100 year rain fall records, citrus display, a huge archeological dig, Rt. 66 display, old businesses from Glendora, a ton of old photos, etc. Volunteer run- OPEN SATURDAYS 11 AM- 2 PM

I'm always going to recommend this place. It's extremely inviting and the staff is super…read morepersonable. They carry something for everyone in terms of price point and selection. I love getting my hair oils from here as well as attending their classes held throughout the month.

I highly recommend Kindred Spirits!! Shawna helped me pick out a selection of crystals to keep me…read moregrounded and focused for a job interview. She is a fellow cancer and made a lasting impression!

City of San Dimas is a small-town city in the SGV of LA county. It is bordered by the San Gabriel…read moreMountains range to the north, Glendora and Covina to the west. This city has many interesting historical development and cultural heritage. For instance, they had their first hotel "The Walker House" to Sheriffs station (1927) to San Dimas Grain Company (1897) to Rail road station to the Johnstone building (1902). Sam Dimas is very charming and alluring small town city rich in nature. I like that this city is very walkable where you can easily go from one store to the next. This city has plenty of parks, public parking, but limited entertainment, supermarket, cafes and restaurants. San Dimas is very family-friendly town and has numerous activities and resources available to residents. Overall, I enjoyed visiting, walking and exploring this charming small town city. I highly recommend you visit.

A safe city. Lots of good food places, shopping, and nearby parks. Really close to my hometown…read moreGlendora so also a plus lol.