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.

I absolutely love Rancho Los Alamitos--it truly feels like a hidden gem tucked away in the Bixby…read moreEstates area. Getting there is part of the experience: you check in with the guard, receive a permit, and drive up the hill before checking in at the front desk. Once you're in, it opens up into this ranch beautiful historic space that feels worlds away from the city. The grounds are stunning. There are lush gardens, a tennis court, and even livestock--horses and chickens--which add so much charm. The ranch sits up on a hill, and it's the perfect place to just relax, sunbathe, or wander and take everything in. One of my favorite spots is the massive tree in the front yard, with its roots stretching out--it's incredibly impressive and peaceful to sit near. What makes it even more special is that it's free, which honestly feels unbelievable given how well-maintained and meaningful the space is. There's also a deep sense of history here, especially tied to the Bixby family and the legacy of the women who helped shape it, which adds another layer of appreciation when you visit. Part of me almost wants to keep it a secret because it feels so personal and serene--but it truly deserves all the praise. I feel lucky to have a place like this right in our backyard

Such a cute area!…read more Old town Tustin is not flashy or anything. It seems like this area is older and it has a more rustic feel. Old Town Tustin isn't very big. I was surprised at how small it is actually. You can drive from one end to the other end rarely easily lol I did not have time to check out the museum here. I would like to do that next time I visit. Museums are fun and learning about the history of the city of Tustin might be fun. There's lots of walkable restaurants and shops. The only thing I didn't like about Old Town Tustin was the parking situation. It's hard to find parking anywhere. I drove around and around. When a spot opened, like everyone was fighting over it lol I did find some parking, further out and had to walk a bit.

There are many shops and beautiful spots to relax and take photos. The food is diverse, delicious,…read moreand reasonably priced. I really liked this place and recommend it. Parking is also very cheap.

7/26/26 What a gorgeous place to take the family out for a lazy Sunday afternoon! There are plenty…read moreof adorable places to visit and take a stroll. My family took the Metrolink from the Anaheim station ($10 per person) and it took about 45 minutes. Hubby and I drove from San Gabriel which took a little over an hour. My usual go to is The Hidden House Coffee shop with affordable and well made drinks, offering a sizable outdoor patio. The Ramos House Cafe is a few steps away, as well as the Los Rios Tea house. All of these are historic homes, vintage and picturesque. Within a few feet from the public parking lot is the Montanez building, where a nearby butterfly sanctuary is located. The Los Rios Cottages are for rent which are located next door to the Ramos House, very pretty but these are right alongside the train tracks, if you don't mind that racket, it'll be fine. It's an easy stroll and a beautiful destination. Come check it out. There are plenty more shops that I haven't visited. Today, I am limited as I have a medical boot (and a crutch) that's preventing me from my usual nosiness in discovering things on foot, until next time.

I really like coming here to chill.Its so peaceful. Having a beverage at the patio of Hidden House…read more Coffee is so relaxing. I wish when I retire I could live in one of the little houses on the street.

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.

Stone marker by the train tracks on a prettily landscaped corner of Echo Hill Lane and Esperanza…read moreRoad. Find historical background here, please note as this was written in 1969 there are no hyperlinks haha: http://www.yorbalindahistory.org/gsdl/cgi-bin/library?e=d-000-00---0tescol--00-0-0--0prompt-10---4------0-1l--1-en-50---20-home---00031-001-1-0utfZz-8-00&a=d&c=tescol&cl=CL1&d=HASHea2acc28ae4c9a6c968d90#start Additional visitor's information can be found here: http://thebillbeaverproject.com/2012/10/21/don-bernardo-yorba-ranch-house-site/

I recently purchased a book from CVS about the history of Yorba Linda. I never knew that this…read morehistorical marker was here, in front of Fairmont Hill. This is the site of Bernardo Yorba Ranch/house. I highly recommend this book if you are a history buff because it has tons of landmarks noted. You can easily spend a day driving around town looking at all of these historical spots.

The good: This place is one of a kind! I am so happy I…read morefinally got around to visiting this place. Parking is free! The whale museum is free! Tours of the lighthouse are free! The picnic tables areas are plentiful and there's lots of grass for picnics blankets. The views are great. It's a great spot for whale watching. I noticed people coming here and bringing their camping chairs just to read. It's relaxing and you get to enjoy the sea breeze and beautiful sunset. I also noticed youngsters coming to record an acoustic guitar music video. I imagine people come here to paint as well. The bad: I've lived around here for almost 3 years now and haven't been here until now. The interesting: They do tours of the actual lighthouse area a few times a month and it's completely free and doesn't require a reservation.

The lighthouse is tall and picturesque sitting regally on a cliff. It's a must to stop and take…read moresome photos if driving down the coast of PV. The lighthouse has really restrictive hours, only open the second Saturday every month from 10-3 so you have to plan for this if you wanted to go inside. I went years ago and remember it being kind of a clusterfuck with a lot of people and disorganized system on entering. But the good part was you could go inside all the way to the top. Just the picture from the outside would suffice for most people. The Point Vicente Interpretation Center is nearby as well as some cliff trails to explore.

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.

There's all these cute little things hidden throughout the city. Well not quite hidden but a nice…read moresurprise to see. It's located inside the park right in the middle. Just along the pathway and right across from the playground. It's open to the public during certain hours. From the look of it first hand you wouldn't think that it's a lighthouse. Just a nice Victorian style home with the cute wooden picket fence around. There's a parking lot to the side of the property which leads you to the gift shop and restrooms. One end has a cute little garden area where it's a butterfly sanctuary. I didn't go inside the gift shop which I did notices that they offer tours of the property. I can't review the tour as I didn't experience it but the property from the outside was beautiful. You could walk along and check out the front and back of the property and garden. It's a cute place which I think they also host different events throughout the year. I could be wrong but it looked like they were having something for Easter later. It's a beautiful landmark with its nice architecture but to think that it was a lighthouse, I would have never guessed. If you get a chance to stop by the park, it's worth checking out even a wander around if you didn't do the tour.

The lighthouse is open Tues-Sunday and gives free tours on the hour at 1,2,3 pm which are about 45…read moreminutes. The tour is the only way to see the house and go up to the light. There are a couple of windy staircases which I thought was fun but spooked some people on my tour. It was so interesting to see the inside the house and learn about the lightkeepers' family history. It's an old Victorian house/lighthouse. If you don't go on the tour you can still tour the grounds. Parking is difficult on the weekends because it's next to a park but there was some spots in the neighborhood. The Korean Friendship bell is close by.