MIght not be a big deal to some of you Orange County residents, but for me and my girlfriend, we…read morelove the Secret Silo. For years and years, I have been trying to stop by here and take a look. So, we took 30 minutes of our time to hang out here yesterday. Lots of Huntington Beach history and scenery. I love the nature and water scenery in the Silo. My first up, close and personal scene. I will cherish more in the future.

The recent windstorm split one of the two tree's next to the silo, they had to remove the split…read moretree and now we can see the silo much clearer from the east side. Some of the roof is in disrepair and I hope the new development does not tear it down. Also surprised they did not perform any maintenance on the remaining tree, as it now exposed to more wind.

WOW!! You're not from California if you've never been to Ziggurat Xing!! So awesome to see where RC…read moreDoMinion filmed his music video for New Years Song!! This place is the BEST.

Last year I entered Tower Zero as a destination to visit on Yelp. I did this because it's the most…read moreiconic lifeguard tower in the country. No other tower is as much visited and photographed as Tower Zero. It has been the backdrop for so many major surfing contests, including the annual Huntington Beach currently known as the OP Pro. It first started in 1961. It is the longest continuous surfing event in the world. Everyday thousands of people trek out to the end of the .35 mile pier. The first pier was built in 1919. Damaged over the years by enormous waves and tides, the current pier is basically indestructible. I personally believe only a tsunami could destroy it. There are many reasons other than the tower to visit the pier. Hope to see you out there.

The Anaheim Packing District is always a great time, especially on Taco Tuesday at Urbana--the food…read moreand vibe never miss. Valet here is fast, efficient, and honestly cheaper than most places, which makes a big difference with how busy it gets.

Went here on Saturday. We had brunch reservations in one of the restaurants. Number 1 warning to…read moreall people coming here to visit. Parking is terrible! If you are lucky, you would find street parking a block or two away. It is very inconvenient. Even Valet parking is terrible. It is congested in the parking lot. Aside from parking. Anaheim packing district has many restaurants and outside venue shops all in walking distance. Entertainment and lots of drinks, food and snacks to choose from. This place is a cool place to chill. Lots of people and decor everywhere. I recommend stopping by to checkout the different vendors.

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.

Pirate Tower in Laguna Beach is absolutely worth the effort to get to. There are two ways in: the…read moreTreasure Island Beach side, which involves walking over a rocky cliff area, so definitely check tide levels before you go. The other option is a hidden residential staircase that leads down directly, but it's hit or miss and not always open. Parking can be a bit tricky. From the residential aide straight across meter parking. From the Montage Resort area paid parking nearby do not park in the plaza across you will get towed or ticketed. Once you make it down, it opens up into crystal clear water and a stunning stretch of beach. The tower itself is incredibly unique and photogenic, almost like something tucked into a seaside storybook. Just a heads up, it is not dog friendly. Overall, a memorable spot that feels like a little hidden treasure along the coast.

This place is as fantastical as it looks on social media. It took a while for me to find out how to…read moreget to it. The entrance is in a residential area, and you take some stairs between houses down. There are some sharp rocks being lapped with ways on the way there, so bring some flip flops to walk over to it.

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.

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

I genuinely love that this place has the annual Strawberry festival. It makes the place feel more…read morealive and fun when it comes to enjoying time here by yourself or with family/friends.

Though it's just a short stretch, Historic Main Street is one of the key historical landmarks in…read moreGarden Grove. In the 19th century, many people were migrating to the Midwest and Western U.S., and Garden Grove was one of the cities established by these settlers. Originally an agricultural community, Garden Grove was known for its orange and stone fruit farms (which is why early homes always had orange trees in the backyard). Main Street was the hub for community gatherings, which led to the development of surrounding services like post offices, churches, and local shops. In 1905, the introduction of the Pacific Electric Railway boosted the transportation of agricultural products from Garden Grove, making it easier for farmers to ship their goods. By the 1950s, with the rise of highways and suburbanization, local businesses began moving to larger shopping malls and newly developed towns, leaving Main Street's glory days behind. However, after 1980, there was a greater focus on historical preservation, and the city of Garden Grove invested resources to restore and maintain these original buildings. Today, many of these old structures have been given new life, housing restaurants, cafés, and thrift stores. The area also hosts annual events like car shows, concerts, and festivals, which help promote local culture and keep the economy thriving. Garden Grove is also one of the primary destinations for Asian immigrants in Orange County. The city has a diverse population, with about 42% Asian, 17% White, 15% Hispanic (White), and 14% Hispanic. Around 44% of the residents are naturalized U.S. citizens who were born outside the U.S. On weekdays, the street is pretty quiet, with most people hanging out inside the cafés. I took a walk around and came across the quirky Elvis-themed Mexican restaurant, Azteca Restaurant & Lounge, the popular Vietnamese coffee shop Phin Smith, another Vietnamese café called Phuc Long Coffee and Tea, and a thrift store that, to my surprise, sells wedding dresses and formal gowns! It was a fun and relaxed afternoon. Garden Grove Historic Main Street Free parking. GPS coordinates: 8554Q3F6+X4, or just enter Phin Smith's address: 12921 Main St, Garden Grove, CA 92840 There's a parking lot right across from it.