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!

Overall, the gardens are beautiful, but I left feeling a little disappointed with the overall…read moreexperience. I understand charging an admission fee, but it's hard to justify when many of the flowers and plants didn't appear to be very well maintained. On top of that, several areas and gardens were closed off due to private events, which meant we couldn't fully enjoy everything that was included with admission. I was also surprised that the train ride required an additional fee, especially since the ride itself lasted only about two minutes. Between the entry fee, limited access to parts of the property, and extra charges for attractions inside, the experience didn't quite feel like a good value. I hope this feedback is taken constructively because the gardens have a lot of potential. Better maintenance, ensuring guests have access to the advertised areas, or adjusting pricing when sections are unavailable would make for a much better visitor experience.

We love this venue and were honored to have our wedding ceremony and reception hosted here. We…read moreinteracted with Ani during an open house and we were very quickly sold on locking in this venue. She also connected us with several recommended vendors, many of which we ended up hiring for our big day. We had a lovely spring day for an outdoor ceremony next to their tree and an indoor dinner / reception inside the building. We were very blessed to have Ani and Thursday Club staff provide us with a wonderful venue for a day we will never forget.

Great event space!! The food was fantastic and every worker was super friendly and welcoming.read more

Expectations exceeded!!! My Husband found this location online and we agreed to book it for my…read moremilestone birthday celebration. Some of our closest friends joined us here for the weekend and we had an absolute blast with them at the castle! We didn't need to leave to go to a bar or restaurant. We enjoyed our time in both family rooms, the pub downstairs, the kitchen, the study and the outdoor backyard was the best for photos. We want to go back around the holidays when there is snow. This place is beyond impressive. I truly had the best birthday and this location was a huge part of that!

If you're looking for a vacation rental in the Lake Arrowhead area that offers access to mountain…read moreattractions and massive amounts of space for large groups, then look no further than Castle in the Forest. I've had the pleasure of staying here numerous times for different occasions, including birthdays, ski trips, etc and each time has been an absolute delight. One of the stand out features of this vacation rental is its spaciousness. It's perfect for large groups with many bedrooms and bathrooms for folks to spread out and enjoy themselves. The bedrooms are comfortable and well appointed and the common areas are designed with group gatherings in mind. Whether you're cooking up a feast in the chefs kitchen, lounging in front of the fireplace or playing games in the card room, there is no shortage of space to enjoy. Castle in the Forest is very close to the Lake Arrowhead Village with many shops and restaurants, and only about 45 minutes away from snow-sports in Big Bear. I cannot recommend this vacation rental enough. It is the perfect place to gather with friends and family for a fun filled mountain getaway.

My husband and I got engaged at the end of January and were aiming for an April wedding, so we were…read moreon a tight timeline. Chevy Chase Country Club was incredibly responsive and helpful from the very beginning, which made the entire process smooth and stress-free. When we toured the Oak Grove ceremony space and learned we'd have access to a bridal suite for the day, we were SO excited. When we first visited, Matthew and Amy showed us around. The ENTIRE country club is so beautiful, from the Oak Grove and Cypress Trees to the staircases. As we became more serious about booking and completely fell in love with the space, Silvana and Ruben were quick to respond and provided a detailed meeting and breakdown of everything. The packages were clear and informative, and they were always willing to accommodate our needs. When Cassidy took over for the rehearsal and day-of coordination, she was absolutely amazing. She was extremely responsive via email, attentive to every detail, and even addressed things we didn't think to ask about. During the rehearsal and on the wedding day, she coordinated everything so seamlessly that both our families and we felt completely at ease thanks to her calm and supportive presence. She truly cared about making our day special, and it showed in every detail. Our family members were so impressed by the venue, accommodations, and staff that they're already talking about hosting future events here. Thank you, Cassidy and team. We highly recommend this venue and hope to be back again soon! :)

Let's begin with having a country club wedding, especially at the Chevy Chase country club is the…read moreMOST romantic. And basically an all-inclusive: from the ceremony to cocktail hour, to our reception. Just steps away from one another, at the sunset hour, under twinkle lights and mature oaktrees. Is really all I could've ever asked for. Elegant, rustic, and well-executed 75 guest wedding. Thank you guys! And when I say all-inclusive everything is a smoothly run train. From the valet, to security, cake cutting, vendor organization, and wedding planner, menu tastings. Also, we had a private bridal suite, groom conference area, and living room, private balcony, and private bathrooms on the second floor for our families. What a necessary luxury, day of, that we never knew we needed. Cassidy is the wedding event coordinator and she's an absolute pro. Sure, the price point matches the service. You pay for exactly what you get. Which is Great value and excellent service. It's been about 10 days since our wedding. And we still receive compliments from our guests on how beautiful the evening was, and how the dinner was super yummy. Returning to my childhood neighborhood to get married was extra special, and put me at ease even on our big day. Thank you Cassidy! We will stop by for lunch shortly.

A beautiful place to spend a quality time with your family and friends. We had a great time in this…read moreplace on our reunion. The owner came and talked to us, very friendly and nice. Clean place and close to the shopping and restaurants. I've been recommending to everyone who was asking for quick gateway. %100 satisfied

What a smart concept! And beautiful grounds! Perfect for out of town visitors! Or a small wedding!…read more So I get two invites, in the same week, at this venue! I Yelp it, and don't find it. So I check out their website! Very informative, detailed information, online form, phone number, Social media, etc.... and such a delight to discover an authentic rustic venue and like a one house hotel in our backyard! (Kind of!) very exciting! Today a picnic lunch, and tomorrow night an art exhibition! What's next! Ah yes, perhaps I need to plan a surprise birthday party! You will too once you see it!

Absolutely loved our experience at Pinocchio's Banquet! The venue was beautiful, the food was…read moredelicious, and the staff was warm, helpful, and accommodating. Everything came together perfectly and made our celebration feel extra special. Highly recommend!

I was originally searching for a small room to host my baby shower. We came across this banquet…read morehall and it exceeded all of my expectations! This place was actually huge. I ended up inviting more family and we still had enough room to play games and dance! I'll absolutely be returning for future events. The server was so sweet and took care of all of my pregnant needs and Armen was amazing with communication. If you're looking for the perfect place to host your baby shower or any event for that matter, this is it!

Two week just passed and we are still talking about our quinceañera at the Pasadena room!, I'm so…read moregrateful with you guys, because everything went exactly how I wanted and vision it from day 1 of planning. The view! Amazing Thank you so much! Alfie was super nice, super helpful, Joy was too since the first day we got there. Food was amazing, everyone gave me compliments about every single thing. Thank you so so much to all of you who make it possible.

I planned and organized a banquet style event here for my non profit and it was such a breeze…read moreworking with Joy! Super friendly and accommodating. We loved the mid century modern architecture of the club house, and the stunning views of the San Gabriel mountains and DTLA from the wrap around deck around the LCF Room. It was great how everything we needed was included in a package, including linens, food, AV equipment, etc. They had a Mediterranean lunch buffet that was perfect if you have many people with different types of allergies and dietary restrictions in your guest list. Thank you for having us, and would definitely recommend for any type of formal event!

Background On Visit: Last Sunday (4/12/26), the venue hosted the Pasadena Festival Of Tea. We were…read moreone of the participants for this event. Hours Of Operation: They welcome visitors to the garden on many Friday and Saturday evenings and during the day on Sundays. You can check out their schedule of events and admission cost on their website: https://japanesegardenpasadena.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/japanesegardenpasadena/event.jsp?;=&event=1612& Admission Cost: Mostly, $15 on Friday and Saturday. Sunday, it's $12. For other events, they post the cost on their website. Location/Parking: Located across from the Arlington Gardens (Free). It's kinda hidden, but just use the gps on your phone to guide you. Parking can be found along Arlington. For special events, they encourage you to park at Westridge School (Orange Grove and W. State St.) and walk up to Storrier Stearns. Ambiance/Decor: The Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden is a beautiful and charming retreat with a quiet and tranquil elegance. The place is small which contains many of the much admired design features found in the most lavish of Japanese-style gardens of its era. As Kendall Brown states in his book, California Japanese-style Gardens, "this is the genius of Kinzuchi Fujii: this was once a flat area of two tennis courts; now it is a masterwork. 1) Classic Niko-an Teahouse, the garden landscape offers a variety of other beautiful details. 2) Numerous gathering points, seating areas & vistas 3) Four original bridges plus the original cedar log Japanese Waiting Bench 4) Two large interconnected, irregularly shaped koi ponds 5) The sounds of two waterfalls, one cascading down a 25-foot hill 6) An artful dry riverbed for rain overflow winding through the garden 7) Cooling shade everywhere from spreading sycamores & old oaks 8) Many tons of boulders & stones 9) Granite statuary & stone lanterns Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden For Thought: Wouldn't mind coming back to re-center myself. I did a have nice time.

This is the most difficult Botanical Garden to get in touch with…read more The hours they have posted on their website are wrong, no one picks up the phone after calling several times and leaving several messages. I went in person last weekend, and it was closed despite their online hours posted. The lack of clarity even upon walking up to the venue is not clear. They have no signs stating they are closed and it's clear they do not care to return voicemails. Please do not waste your time going there.

What a beautiful place to walk around and enjoy the grounds. It is a private property so make sure…read moreto follow the rules and don't litter. Ambassador gardens is a luxury residential community with beautiful homes and condos. The grounds are beautiful with big trees, water features and seating areas. We even saw turtles and big birds by the waterfall. Really lovely place to take a stroll at. We parked on Green Street and walked towards the ambassador auditorium... see my videos and pictures. So pretty.

Ambassador Mansions & Gardens is a very quiet, peaceful, and truly beautiful place. It's hidden…read morebetween buildings, and if you don't know it's there, you might easily miss it -- which makes it feel like a secret garden in the middle of the city. The territory is incredibly well maintained, with huge mature trees, beautiful flowers, fountains, mini waterfalls, and small ponds where you can see fish and turtles. There is also a lovely grassy area in the center where you can sit, relax, or have a small picnic. Geese walk freely around the gardens, and colorful parrots fly overhead, adding even more charm to the atmosphere. In April, the garden looks especially stunning -- the pergola and trees are in full bloom (I wish I remembered the names of those gorgeous flowers!), and the whole place feels alive and magical. Honestly, this garden is beautiful in any season of the year. You can come here with dogs, which is a big plus, but it's important to respect the property rules: pets must be on a leash, owners are responsible for cleanup, professional photography requires a permit, and activities like skateboarding, drinking alcohol, or organized sports events are not allowed. These rules help preserve the calm and cleanliness of the space. There is also a secondary school located on the property, which adds to the unique character of the place. Parking-wise, we were able to find free street parking nearby without any issues. This is a perfect spot to slow down, enjoy nature, and escape the city noise for a while. Highly recommended for a peaceful walk or a quiet moment surrounded by beauty.