My grandkids enjoy the art and crafts of the sheep and love all the animals, plants, big trees and…read morespecially all the houses.. Everyone was very friendly to us The restroom was very clean.

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.

A Long Beach landmark and Los Angeles County, must!…read more The Lions Lighthouse is apart of the Shoreline Aquatic Park off the beaten path from Shoreline Drive by the Aquarium of the Pacific (where I had my high school prom) and a few nice skips away from the Pike Outlets. It's a big silo that is more lively at night as it glows/lights up. Built in the late 1850s, this tourist attraction is along the L.A. river and has a nice view of the Queen Mary and lots of Long Beach as it's slightly uphill. It's not a fully functional lighthouse so you aren't able to enter it, but can enjoy it's beauty day and night in the LBC. Lots of attractions, eateries, sitting spots, shops and fun nearby. It could use a little tlc, but I'm sure it's due to the weather and normal aging. Paid parking nearby. Make sure you grab some photo-worthy keepsakes of this iconic lighthouse.

Very pretty scenic view of Long Beach marina. Lighthouse is surrounded by luscious grassy area…read moreperfect for relaxing and picnic along the park. On the day of my visit there were some kind of event happening (really crowded), didn't really get to enjoy the fully view of the park. The lighthouse itself is very well kept and withstands some great history. Marina is also located close to the Pike outlet mall, so it's great for a stroll right after some much needed shopping

I'm giving it 5 stars for the uniqueness and the cool story behind its birth (so to speak)…read more Do not travel here from far to see it bec it is a residents and you cannot look inside or walk thru. If you're into architecture, it's cool to see if you are in the area. I am and left wanting to get my hands on it. Lol. It's a landmark, but I didn't see a plaque. Personally, I'd open my doors and show and tell :-) It's kinda shocking how wide it is (or isn't ;-)). I held my arms open and felt I was the same length.

The skinny House was a short drive from Phnom Penh Noodle Shack and because parking was impossible…read moreone of us jumped out to take these photos. This skinny house was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records and also featured on Ripley's Believe It or Not. No signs posted just a marker in Google Maps. It was built on a tiny plot of land that was given as a debt repayment. The original owner built the house to collect on a bet. Per Redfin, the house is a 2 bedroom and 1 bath with roughly 860 sqft.spread out over the three floors. A permanent tiny home. The home was still privately owned so this was a quick photo shoot of the outside but really only worth it if in the area. Still something quirky to see and read about during our latest SoCal trip.

Beautiful, yes. Quiet, yes. But the staffs really do make people uncomfortable. As if they're the…read morestrict parents or mall cops, telling you to move, to not stand there too long, no picture setup, don't stop for more than 30s, don't talk too loud The garden is the size of a small practice soccer field and there are at least 10 staffs

Absolutely loved visiting the Japanese Garden at CSULB! It's such a beautiful, quiet, and…read moreincredibly clean space, perfect for clearing your mind. The peaceful atmosphere makes it an ideal spot for college students to unwind between classes, and honestly, staff could benefit from that calm escape too. Everything is so well maintained, and you can really feel the serenity the moment you walk in. Just a heads up, make sure you have reservations before you go & no snacks allowed. Highly recommend this hidden gem!

Beautiful house!! We had tea this morning and got a tour of the house afterwards. The food was…read moregood, if a bit heavy on the sweets. Hibiscus and English Breakfast tea was served with all the little fixings. We also got to meet Charlotte the cat, who is SUCH a little sweetheart. She's a real people lover and won't say no to a good pet. Everyone was so friendly and the tour was very interesting. I think I'll pay another visit sometime, it was so awesome :)

I attended a great community event here today thanks to the #willmoreassociation for a fantastic…read morebreakfast. The Bembridge House is a hidden gem in Long Beach if you haven't visited , it's totally worth it. The only thing is that parking is very impacted in the area, I was lucky today to secure a parking spot. I was told by a very nice lady there will be a Halloween party here this year. Put on your list for a place to visit check the website for tour info....

Location location location for perfect 360 views. Plenty of room for family gathering!read more

We stayed here and it was musty and the windows were leaking at the time and they had plastic…read morearound them to help with the issue. It was very expensive and the hot tub smelled really bad and had sand in it. We had to empty our trash and do chores upon leaving. For the price we paid, you think a housekeeper could handle that? It was a one a done. Good experience, not worth the money. The view was gorgeous though

Just outside the main gates of the Naval Weapons station in Seal Beach, CA, the National Memorial…read moreWest honors submarine crew members who died when subs were lost. Laid out in a semi circle are stone markers listing their names on bronze plaques. 52 submarines were lost in World War ll. On this day, April 10, a somber anniversary, 50 years since the USS Thresher, a nuclear-powered submarine, sank off the coast of Cape Cod, MA in 1963 killing all 129 people aboard. The Thresher sailed 220 miles off Cape Cod to start deep diving test. Accompanied by the support ship USS Skylark. Once there, Thresher starts its descent with a target of 1,000 feet, 30 minutes later, they reach 1,000 feet without incident. 45 minutes later, a pipe apparently ruptures, flooding the engine room and causes electrical and power failures. The sub grows heavier from the flooding and sinks. The Skylark detects a high-energy, low-frequency noise with characteristics of an implosion. The sonar registers the sound of Thresher breaking apart. All 129 officers, crewmen and civilian technicians were presumed dead. On April 11, the Navy officially declared the sub lost. On April 12, president John Kennedy issued executive order 11104 paying tribute to the crew of Thresher by flying flags at half-staff. The only other US nuclear sub to sink was the USS Scorpion in 1968, 99 killed. Reason for sinking is unknown. Nov. 2012, the US submarine veterans, an organization of 13,800 members (all former submariners) asked the US Navy to reopen the investigation of the sinking of the USS Scorpion. As one former submariner said "We refer these submarines as being on eternal patrol".

100% worth a stop. Turn left before the guard shack and park. Thank you for your service veterans!read more

It's a giant bunny in a front yard…read more.. With large, colorful, bulbesque lights for nighttime enjoyment. 'Nuff said

Local Flavor in Long Beach, California…read more.. Alana had this bookmark, so we were just helping her out... Hahaha! I don't know why she bookmarked this landmark? She doesn't especially like bunnies? Hee hee! Yes, she is a good friend - she knew I would like it! We had some difficulty getting Jeff to go with us. Eventually, he caved in... maybe because I told him he'd get more respect of he checked in here... because this is a cool art installation! Yes, The Giant (white) Bunny is on the front lawn of someone's home in Long Beach. We found free street parking right in front; snapped a few photos; and had a fun experience together! Go check it out!

He doesn't live there anymore, but the space is still a lovely reminder of a very long beach type…read moreof experience.

Don't disturb the gnomes that live here. It's not polite to open the door before knocking…read more Classic Long Beach. You're Welcome.

I recently visited Los Cerritos Rancho and had such a meaningful experience. From the moment I…read morearrived, I was warmly welcomed by the staff, who took the time to share the rich history of the landmark, including stories about the Bixby family. Walking through the home and gardens truly felt like stepping back in time. There's something incredibly special about being able to see and feel how people lived in the past--it creates a deep sense of connection and nostalgia that's hard to put into words. For me, the visit was also a moment of reflection--appreciating the lives and efforts of those who came before us, and how their contributions shaped the world we live in today. In such a fast-paced, modern era, it felt especially powerful to immerse myself in a place that preserves history so beautifully. I even remembered visiting here as a child, and coming back as an adult gave me a whole new appreciation for it. It's more than just a historical site--it's an experience that invites you to reflect, learn, and reconnect. I highly recommend visiting. It's a beautiful reminder that Long Beach is full of incredible history and hidden gems worth exploring.

Rancho Los Cerritos is a slightly hidden national historic landmark within Long Beach with…read moreGabrielino-Tongva roots. It was once a sheep ranch, cattle ranch, and even serves as an extension of our public library archives for local history. Entrance is free. Parking is free (and close to the entrance). There are volunteer-lead tours as well as printed maps to help you navigate the property. If you're planning to visit I'd set aside a half hour for everything. Bonus tip: they host events.