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.

You know how it goes... I find something on TikTok and the next thing you know, I'm driving over to…read morecheck it out! That's exactly how I ended up at Rancho Los Alamos in Long Beach. It was literally right down the street from where I was, so convenient, and absolutely beautiful! We started by having lunch at the park benches, which was such a nice way to enjoy the grounds. Then we managed to catch the very last tour of the house with the sweetest man ever! He was so kind and gave us so much wonderful information about the ranch and its history.Walking through the house honestly felt like stepping back into the 1930s. Everything has been preserved so beautifully, and because it's a museum, they work hard to keep the house looking just the way it did back in the day. It is absolutely pristine! I loved looking at all the old furniture, decorations, and everyday things people used. Just seeing the way people lived back then was fascinating. Imagine getting to live in a house like that... amazing! The only downside was that you're not allowed to film inside the house, but I completely understand because they have to protect and preserve everything. Unfortunately, we only had time to see the house before they closed, so we are definitely going back! There are still gardens, animals, and so much more to explore. It looks like such a great place to spend the day. Convenient, beautiful, educational, and a fun little trip back in time. I can't wait to return and see the rest! Five stars!

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.

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.

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.

Adrian Baes is Amazing guy! Very helpful and accommodating. I highly recommend this gentleman.read more

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.

This cute, little historic landmark is conquistadorable. The first adobe bricks got laid here in…read more1820 back when California was Spanish. It originally served as a station between the San Juan Capistrano and San Gabriel missions. The Diego Sepulveda Adobe is the second oldest building in Orange County, and that seemed like a pretty good reason to check it out. Volunteers from The Costa Mesa Historical Society open the building to the public on the first and third Saturdays of every month from noon until four. You can see the outside of the building anytime you feel like visiting Estancia Park, but timing your visit to coincide with the open hours is worth it. My docent Kathy was a fount of historical knowledge and shared lots of fun facts with the other guests and me. It's free to visit, but you can make a donation if you're a good person. (Do it. You can go on to describe yourself as a philanthropist. That's totally worth throwing a buck in a jar. Right?) The three room adobe is filled with relics and displays that reflect the different eras of California history. I'd like it if there were more informative displays on the Spanish and Mexican periods, but the early American period is well represented and there's a nice display about local Native American history. If you just want to take a look around and see some cool old stuff, you'll only need ten minutes to check out this quirky little museum. If you get a kick out of reading plaques and maps (like me), you'll enjoy spending half an hour here on a Saturday afternoon. Much of the building has been restored, but the original adobe walls have withstood floods, earthquakes, and nearly two hundred years of Orange County history. She's a brick house... mighty, mighty.

From a historical standpoint this building is just mediocre. They didn't restore it correctly. the…read moreterra cotta shingles are clearly not original. Also The paint looks to be too brand new covering up the original adobe look entirely. As a historical site enthusiast, I was not too enthusiastic about the upkeep of this building. Glad it's still here however, that's a big positive.

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.

This little hidden area of San Juan Capistrano is definitely worth a visit! In fact, Los Rios…read moreStreet Historic District is the oldest continuously inhabited neighborhood in California, and it features historic structures dating back to the late 1700s. This area also preserves three original adobe homes built around 1794--the Rios, Montanez, and Silvas adobes. Later in the 19th and early 20th centuries, wooden board-and-batten houses and Victorian buildings were added to the street. There's a spacious park including a butterfly garden, Hidden House coffee shop, a tea shop & a few little stores and several restaurants. There's also an adorable petting zoo! It's quaint and easy to see in under an hour, or you could spend a few hours relaxing & taking your time. It's easy to access to Los Rios from the 5 & there is plenty of free or low cost parking. Additionally, the train stops right in SJC and you can easily access this area from the stop. Peace.

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.