A hidden gem (quite literally) in Laguna Beach, the Museum of Make Believe truly lives up to the…read morewhimsy and magic it seeks to bestow upon its travelers. Highly recommend to anyone seeking a trip of puzzle-mystery with a nostalgic edge. Huge shoutout to Sabrina & Sylvan for guiding us along the way and their warm hospitality.

Super cute, whimsical and magical experience at the Museum of Make Believe…read more After seeing some Instagram posts and reels about the cute space, my friend and I decided to stop by to visit for a day trip. You do choose a time slot to enter, but due to traffic we were going to be a little bit late. We called and let the staff know and it was no biggie. Parking is a bit confusing since it's near a very busy road and residential area, so just make sure you're not parking where you can get fined or towed. After some confusion, we parked in the structure (unclear if allowed or not, but subsequently nothing happened. Phew!). The museum is located at the business plaza building and immediately stands out with it's beautiful storefront and the door that looks like it's out of a fairytale. Immediately we were welcomed by Sabrina, who was not only super informative (but in an easy to understand, not overwhelming way), but super friendly and made our visit that much more amazing. She knows the lore, knew the key and critical points to swoop in to enhance the magic (like when we went to ask the wise wizard some questions), and was very accommodating overall. The people really do make the magic. During your visit, you can opt to do the scavenger hunts and answer the riddles for some prizes and it varies in difficulty from easy to hard, but everything is open to interpretation based on YOUR IMAGINATION. It's the Museum of Make Believe for a reason. The attention to detail is immaculate, from the miniatures and dioramas, the foliage on the ceiling to the ground, and even in the water closet, there's so much to see and you can easily spend a long time just taking everything in. I won't include spoilers but I love that there's not just a lot to see, but to experience through sound and even smell! Lots of thought went into this museum and I'm glad it's getting expanded as well! Can't wait to see what the future holds for such a magical place!

2nd time at Whoop Axe was a success and I had even more fun!! Shout out to our coach, Samson! He…read moremade sure we had all the safety tips and showed us some tricks on how to perfect our game too! I was surprised by how empty it was for a Saturday night though. I hope people keep coming here, because it is super fun! I almost wonder if they sold some more types of food if they would help...like basic stuff perhaps...? Just hoping we were there at an off time or something. I know they also have tons of fun events every month, including line dancing and family nights too! And they also have another location at the Kaleidoscope in Mission Viejo! Always a fun time when you're whooping axe!!

Great atmosphere, service was amazing. They really run the place well and have a very good staff…read morerunning the joint 5 stars for sure!

Summer concert series at Soka University on the lawn. There…read moreis nothing better .. An incredibly beautiful campus . Plenty of parking with a shuttle that takes you right to the lawn. Snacks and beverages for purchase offered. The entertainment is always top notch bathrooms are clean and accessible. I only wish that they had more concerts during the summer months. Summering at Soca is sensational !

I love walking through the Soka Millennial Trail during sunsets. Parking is free on campus. It's…read morevery clean and the walking paths are very clear. It's a circular perimeter so there's no way of getting lost. Just don't go off the beaten paths and stay on the paved walkway. The fountain area is very peaceful and lovely. It feels like the day's stress gets washed off walking through them. The trail is about a a mile and a half walk. Easy and great cardio workout with dogs.

Great staff, very pleasant. Framing is never inexpensive when done well, however, I got the best…read morequote on a frame for a very large magazine cover poster I had made. The framing and transparent low glare protective plexiglass are high quality. I wanted plexiglass as it is less likely to break in the event of earthquake or drop. Recommended!

These folks do a great job at a very reasonable price. We are very happy with the framing they did…read morefor us.

I can't believe I've never been to this library and community center before. I was very impressed…read morewith the overall campus, especially all the fountains outside. It had a really peaceful vibe. I came today for a free adult art class they had and I guess they do a free art/craft class for adults on the last Wednesday of every month. Today's class was to make pressed flower sun catchers. I cannot believe it was all free! They provided all the supplies and instruction. Mia & Helen were fabulous instructors and helped through the whole process. I can't wait to come for more classes in the future.

Quaint library in the community center. It's quiet but they are relaxed about chit chat…read more There a ton of available computers but go to the 'Workstation' desk to reserve one. Bring handy wipes for the keyboard and mouse; not too clean.

I grew up in this area and never knew Aliso Viejo Ranch existed! According to a review from a…read morefriend who got married here, this ranch was recently registered as a historic site. The buildings on this site were part of the 22,000 acre Moulton Ranch dating back to the 1920s and 30s. It's a beautiful stretch of land of fruit trees, ponds, barns, bunkhouses and sheds. The ceremony was outside with the barn and farm as the backdrop. Rustic and romantic! Inside the barn is a modern and spacious room that easily fits 100 people. Bathrooms are nice and clean. Lots of parking. Great, friendly staff!

This venue is absolutely beautiful. The rustic atmosphere, with historic buildings, is surrounded…read moreby lush green landscape, large trees, fruit, and nut orchards, and the most beautiful flowers. There's a catering kitchen, barn, lounges, courtyard, bathrooms, and plenty of parking around the venue. This is absolutely one of the most beautiful wedding venues I've ever seen.

Mother-daughter date at The Frida Cinema was nothing but good times. $10 movie tickets is a win…read moreitself, but this nonprofit independent cinema is also so unique and welcoming. The Frida Cinema is situated in the heart of Downtown Santa Ana, and fits right into the cultural district. We were greeted by a very friendly worker, who later came into the theater to announce our movie. We watched Little Women, one of the two movies playing for the day. I had a great time! They play many classics, horrors, and diverse films that are selected. Other movies currently playing include Gremlins and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. You can go on their website and check out their movies. I would definitely go back and catch a movie again at The Frida Cinema. You can also rent the venue for film screenings, birthday parties, etc.

Great independent movie theater. Lots of cool community events and they show a lot of classics and…read moreunique movies, niche ones from the past and much more. A lot of them are one day only special showings and some are played a couple days, so definitely follow their socials to see what's going to be showing next. They also have their own film club that you can join with discounts and benefits too. They also have their own merchandise too and participate in a lot of local community events, which is always neat. Love to see that. Concessions are also affordable, unlike at large chain theaters. Huge plus. I came back here again recently to watch the Bang Dream! 10th Anniversary concert showing. Lots of cosplayers, wota doing wotagei (Google it, you won't be disappointed) during the showing (testament to how chill welcoming this theater is), and we did a group photo at the end together and there was a merch gathering in front. Absolute W. Since it is a smaller theater, the restrooms can get super busy with lots of people there for a singular event, so keep this in mind if you have to time your restroom breaks best on intermission etc. My only qualm, though might makes sense based on context, but the seats were super uncomfortable (though I was sitting for 5 hours for a very extended showing) and my lower back and butt muscles were cooked. Maybe bring a cushion or something for the next visit.

This review comes a year after our experience. I hope parents who are currently considering this…read moreschool will take a few minutes to read about our child's journey and our family's experience here. If I had to summarize my message in one sentence, it would be：if your child is not a "perfect" student, this school may not be the right place for them. My child enrolled in this school at 3 years old. A few months later, it became clear that he had a speech delay. He struggled to express his thoughts and often could not follow classroom instructions the way teachers expected. Over time, the teachers appeared to lose patience with him. Without professional support to help him regulate his emotions, he eventually reacted in distress and once hit his head against a teacher. After receiving warnings and going through an observation period, we made the difficult decision to leave the school. When we first received warnings, we repeatedly apologized to the school. We believed our child was the "imperfect" one who was making the teachers' jobs more difficult and adding extra burden to their work. However, about two months after, we noticed he had developed a habit of biting his nails. I don't know exactly what he experienced during the school day, but our pediatrician later confirmed that his nail biting behavior like this is often a sign of stress and anxiety. After we signed an agreement with the school stating that another warning could result in him being required to stay home, I discovered one day that he had bitten his fingers until they bled while at school. The next day, we withdrew him immediately and began looking for another school. Thankfully, the teachers at his new school have been incredibly patient. With their support and our work at home, it took nearly a full year to help him overcome the nail-biting behavior. Three months of anxiety took us a year to repair. Several friends' children enrolled around the same time as mine. Over time, all of us chose to withdraw our children within a similar period. I won't go into detail about other families' experiences here, but it became clear to us that this school has very little patience for children who are not "perfect." This did not seem to be an issue with just any individual teacher, but rather something reflected in the school's overall philosophy and management. It also did not reflect the level of inclusion and respect for children's individual development that the Montessori philosophy emphasizes. Each classroom has a lead teacher and an assistant teacher. However, it often seemed that assistant teachers were discouraged from spending extra time supporting children who needed more help, I guess it might because that would indirectly increase the lead teacher's workload. At the same time, the school does not appear to have sufficient staffing to support a more inclusive learning environment. Over time, this can result in children who need extra patience receiving less support -- for example, parents being asked to pick up a child for something as minor as a runny nose, or receiving warnings for small moments of difficulty following instructions. In the end, I sincerely hope every child finds a school that truly fits them. And I hope this school will continue to grow and become a more supportive place for children in the future.

I had toured 5 Montessori's ... and none felt like home until I walked through the doors of…read moreMilestone. I was greeted by Miss. Maddie who answered all my questions and made me feel confident on sending my daughter to this daycare . Also Miss. Jamie is exactly the type of person you'd want to speak with for development and expectations . Miss. Tracy is wonderful and loving with all students .

We recently held our ceremony at Laguna Hills Civic Center, and overall, it was a really positive…read moreexperience--especially for couples looking for something simple, affordable, and still beautiful. One of the biggest advantages was how easy the appointment process was. Having a scheduled time made everything feel smooth and efficient. The clerk who assisted us was friendly, helpful, and made the experience feel welcoming rather than transactional. The setting itself was a pleasant surprise--the scenery created an atmosphere that felt much more elevated than expected and made the moment feel like a much larger wedding. It also provided a great backdrop for photos, which was important to us. All of the necessary information was clearly outlined on the website ahead of time, which made planning straightforward and stress-free. And from a value standpoint, it's hard to beat--it truly felt like a $20,000 wedding experience for just $89. Everything was organized well, which helped the day run seamlessly. There were a couple of minor drawbacks. It can get crowded, especially with multiple parties scheduled around similar times. While the website notes a maximum of 20 guests, it's possible to have more if you're outside--but that can make the space feel tight and limit photo opportunities. Overall, it's a beautiful, efficient, and cost-effective option that still delivers a memorable experience. A great choice for couples looking for something intimate without sacrificing the feeling of a special occasion.

This government building has a really calm, serene feel to it. As you walk up, the Clerk-Recorder…read moresuite is on the right side of the fountain, which makes it easy to find. Right before the entrance there's a QR code for the waiting area, and it's honestly a great system. Once you scan it, you can see your place in line, and when it's your turn they'll text you the window number so a friendly staff member can help you. If you need copies, filing, or to register something, it's definitely worth checking their website first and completing what you can online to save time. But if you don't have access, there are three computers available after you walk through the waiting area that you can use. I went in the afternoon during the week and it was incredibly quick; hardly anyone waiting. They accept cash or credit card, and you can always ask ahead if they take personal checks, money orders, or cashier's checks. If you call with questions beforehand, the staff is very knowledgeable and helpful. They record everything right there in the office, and the whole process was smooth and efficient.