Explored Silver City Ghost Town's creaky saloons and mining cabins--perfectly preserved…read more100-year-old relics felt frozen in Gold Rush days, with cool artifacts everywhere. Affordable entry, haunted vibes added thrill (booked lantern tour next), short drive from Lake Isabella made it an easy adventure. Bodfish hidden gem for history buffs!

We traveled a long distance to get there and we ended up there 5 minutes before they closed. My…read moredaughter tried to negotiate with the fellow that claimed he was a family member. We wanted to have 5 extra minutes to walk around. We were willing to pay the entrance fee as were two people behind us. He wouldn't budge and he was mean about it. Truth is it's really junky!

Thanks to the research of Super Elite Yelper Gary I., we were able to tour the Phillips Mansion in…read morePomona prior to dinner nearby. The mansion, built in 1875 and maintained by the Pomona Historical Society, was the home of the one-time "richest man in LA County", Louis Phillips. Tours are conducted by reservation only and as of this writing, can be reserved here: https://www.pomonahistorical.org/phillips-mansion for $15. Our docent, pictured below, gave us many interesting details and pertinent history of the building. The grounds are lovingly maintained; the building itself could be called a "fixer-upper". It's good to see the work in progress and the building does seem to be in good hands. This tour is very highly recommended.

We enjoyed immensely the Phillips Mansion and Currier House tours yesterday afternoon. We…read moreappreciated our docents' enthusiasm and knowledge regarding the history and preservation of these buildings. The main goal for the Currier House currently is weatherproofing it from further damage. I hope that the Pomona Historical Society finds success in obtaining funding and the proper skilled craftsmen to restore it again someday.

Cute place to hang for an hour or so. They have benches where you could have a family picnic. It is…read moresmall though, so if you live far, it's not worth the drive. There is a gated community park next door that has a lake. I noticed some people added pictures of it here, but that is private property and not associated with the Tesoro Adobe Historic Park.

Hidden Treasure. Booked Picnic Tables and Grill for my mom's 90th birthday. Gorgeous and stunning…read moreroses and fountain. Thanks a million for the wonderful service . Epic birthday

I cannot say enough wonderful things about our experience here at Rubel Castle. Our host, guide,…read moreand local "Rubelligent" volunteer, Ms. Kathleen had all the intel about this historical property. She was so knowledgeable and helped set the stage for us to slip into a forgotten era and get a glimpse of how imagination met inventiveness with a DIY charm. ~ A LITTLE BACKSTORY FOR YOU ~ It's not pronounced Rubel as Barney from Flintstones. Rather, it's like Target is to Targét when we are trying to be fancy. So that's Rubel as in "Roo-bell." Unlike modern-day construction, Rubel Castle wasn't built overnight. It was made of collected recyclables and construction rubble that spanned many decades and took several friends and volunteers to build it. For Michael, however, the lifetime inspiration was first sparked at the age of 9. His love for canons was where it started and the rest is history you can hear about on the tour. But don't just show up like we did randomly one day. To book, visit RubelTours.org and make a reservation. ~ OUR TOUR EXPERIENCE ~ It's as if Michael Rubel, the creator and mastermind of this enchanted dominion had intended it to be--magical. Built in the castle period of wood and tin, every corner captured our interests, from antique cars to the 1890's Seth Thomas Tower Clock with a unique backstory (and only six in existence today). There were old vending machines, tools, trinkets, and machinery that time had long forgotten. Did I mention there was a drawbridge? Yes, and a dungeon too. I was just waiting for a dragon to come swoop down on us next. Walk in the footsteps of famous visitors like Alfred Hitchcock, Dwight Eisenhower, Jack Benny, and Bob Hope. It's a feast for the eyes no matter where you glance. I particularly enjoyed the bottle house that Michael built in 1968 as his "home" as a kid. That independent spirit was quite charming to see. ~ WATERCOLOR NATURESCAPE ~ We were fortunate to have our gracious host lead us on a tour and organize a special art crafting experience outdoors. It was absolutely lovely beneath the trees and between rusted vintage cars from the turn of the century. We each got a small canvas to paint our flowers in watercolor. (This particular experience takes place in the Spring and Fall, weather permitting.) We heard the squirrels rattling in the leaves and birds chirped and sang in the trees above. We discovered that peacocks apparently originated from this property, compliments of Michael Rubel. And did I mention that on the far side of the property, a custom garden was in full bloom? BOOK A TOUR Help support the Glendora Historical Society and keep this magnificently unique city-castle maintained. It's worth it.

A castle in Glendora? Yes, your eyes aren't deceiving you--Rubel Castle is real, it's magnificent,…read moreand it's gloriously eccentric. Thanks to the sheer persistence (and probably delightful stubbornness) of Michael Rubel, we now have this quirky, towering State Treasure sitting right in the middle of Glendora like a fairy tale that accidentally took a detour through a hardware store. This place is beautifully done, and part of its charm is that it's a full-on hodgepodge of relics, antiques, crystal trinkets, and "wait... what is that doing here?" moments tucked into every nook and cranny. You'll marvel, you'll laugh, you'll squint in confusion--honestly, it's everything you'd want in a castle built with love, imagination, and a dash of madness. And let's talk about the makeshift cemetery. Quirky? YES. Fun? Absolutely. Slightly spooky? Only if your imagination is over-caffeinated. But it fits the vibe perfectly--like the castle whispered, "You know what I'm missing? A tiny cemetery." The tours are fantastic, the guides are passionate, and the whole experience feels like you're stepping into a living scrapbook of California history and charming chaos. Overall: Amazing, amazing place. Book your tour. They only do tours every first Sunday of the month, so set your alarms, mark your calendars, tie a string around your finger--just don't miss it. Rubel Castle is truly a California State Treasure, and an absolute must-see for anyone who appreciates creativity, history, and a little eccentric sparkle.

This is such a peaceful and welcoming National Monument located in Keene, CA, just east of…read moreBakersfield. This National Monument has a visitors center, museum, gift shop, a beautiful walking trail with flowering plants and trees as well as a path with various cacti. In the warmer months it's easy to spot lizards and rabbits, as well as having year-round birds and squirrels. You can learn about civil rights, agricultural labor history, and how Cesar formed a Union that is still in existence today. The Park is located in Kern County (the southernmost county of the California agricultural belt) just 30 minutes east of Bakersfield, in the mountains below Tehachapi. It was the first location of the Union headquarters he formed, the United Farm Workers (UFW). His office has been preserved within the museum exactly how it was the day he passed away. Cesar, and his wife Helen, lived and are buried within the Monument (his dog is buried with them too!) in a beautiful and serene garden. Their house is on the property and was left the way Helen had it the day she passed away. There isn't access inside their home, but they do allow special events in their courtyard area that you'd need to inquire about. Entrance and parking are both free to the public, but you can make donations if you'd like. I love visiting this Monument a few times a year, as it's so peaceful and calming. We usually bring lunch and sit at one of the many picnic tables provided.

Nice grounds, but kind of awkward to visit after recent events. Also, you couldn't really walk…read morearound the national monument with the private residence housing. The museum was nice though!

If you're looking for an outdoor wedding venue for great Princess-esque photos, this is the place…read moreto go. I needed to tour Kimberly Crest because I always wanted a Disney Princess wedding, but I didn't want to get married at Disneyland or in Downtown Disney. To book the tour slot, we filled out the form on their website and emailed to coordinate a time with Mary and Tanya after sharing some additional details about our wedding (priorities, budget, timing, guest count). The historic home and additional stone stairwell and fountain add-on are beautiful, and they are great for couples who want a photographic venue and have put a high emphasis on getting great wedding portraits in a castle-eqsque setting. We were looking for a wedding venue with water elements, and felt like the fountain/pond was a great water feature. You have the option for your guests to go inside the house for a guided tour during cocktail hour, but otherwise it is closed, which means the entirety of your wedding is outdoors. Inspired by a French castle, the French château-style mansion was built in 1897 and has an old Victorian-style architecture, and the iconic cascading stone and concrete stairs in the Italian Renaissance-style gardens (the majority of the photos you see online) were added between 1905 and 1909 as a part of the garden overhaul by the new Kimberly family owners. In case of rain in Redlands, they have great tent partnerships and can get your reception space tented for a great day. It's a venue-only rental, which is great if you're looking to bring in all of your own vendors for a Saturday wedding with up to 200 guests! The ceremony is on the grass lawn, the cocktail hour is behind the house in a cute secret garden area, and the main reception dinner and dancing are in the courtyard at the top of the stairs, and you can really transform the space for your own fairytale vision. If you book, you get exclusive use of historic gardens & grounds, and the old Carriage House and Garden House as the two getting ready rooms for the amount of hours that you book (keep in mind the hours you book also include the setup and tear down times for your vendors). While we were touring, there were professional photoshoots for Quinceañeras, and I can easily see why they'd select Kimberly Crest for their photoshoot! Although we ended up going a different direction for our wedding venue, we loved seeing the different spaces around the property, and I hope to be able to come back one day.

Working with the Kimberly Crest House & Gardens team was probably the most wonderful experience in…read moremy wedding planning process. First of all, the venue itself is STUNNING. If you are ever in the area (which you definitely should be at some point), stop by this beautiful house. You will genuinely feel as if you are transported in time, it's an ethereal experience. The grounds are gorgeous and secluded, you feel like you should be in Europe. This place is a hidden gem in Redlands, CA. This was the first place I looked at for wedding venues, I couldn't stop comparing everything else I looked at to Kimberly Crest. Once it was booked, Tanya and her team were so on top of managing Venue related wedding necessities from beginning to end. They did such a fantastic job at communicating and promptly replying. They worked with my budget needs and gave me amazing recommendations and ideas for the wedding. They let me come by the venue as much as I needed to. I never felt like I was annoying them (with all of my questions, as a bride usually has), they remained patient and kind throughout the process. The Kimberly Crest House & Gardens team really did go above and beyond for me and my now husband. They took on responsibilities outside of their assigned roles to ensure my wedding day ran as smoothly as possible. I, unfortunately, had entrusted a wedding coordinator that did not meet my expectations and neglected several of her duties. But, Tanya and her team quickly picked up the slack and ensured my day turned out as magical as I ever dreamt it could be. I have so much love for this venue and the team! Don't be afraid to book it for your wedding or any event. I promise, the pictures will turn out stunning - you will feel like a true princess!

Please check out this place. Thanks to this resident that the zoo and the bird refuge exists…read more https://www.bellosguardo.org https://linktr.ee/bellosguardo

Beautiful tour of an estate with stunning views and history of the property and Santa Barbara.read more

I came here for an event today so really my review is tailored more towards the events that Casa is…read moreholding but also to acknowledge the fabulous grounds and building though I admit I don't have full context for the history or background. I would definitely come back here to learn about the house and to take the guided tour. This wasn't the purpose for me coming today but the gentleman who works here noted that it's a great tour and I know friends who have enjoyed learning about the family and the history of the house, getting a deeper dive of information. I came here with some friends for their first hosted event Sound Bath. A wellness day if you will. From start to finish everything was very organized and thoughtful. The staff hosting the event and the spiritual wellness guide and sound healer was wonderful. Everyone was nice and you felt welcomed. Not pretentious and just very positive and good vibes. We had a nice group and everyone was respectful and on time for the sound bath so it went off without issue. It was a relaxing experience and the grounds were very nice to hold this outdoor event. The birds were chirping, the sun was shining, we found an area with shade, very nice. Very faint sounds of cars in the distance here and there which wasn't ideal but out of their control and once things settled in you really couldn't hear much external noise. After the relaxing sound bath we were offered tea and light pastry snacks. I opted for a water and began exploring the grounds instead of partaking in the refreshments. The grounds are lush and lovely, very zen. Loved the beautiful trees and walkways with small fountains and running water. It was green and pretty all around from the recent rains. Definitely a great location for events and to learn a little SB history. I will definitely do my research and come back again soon.

Yikes, this is an expensive tour but it is a rarity to see a period house with most of the original…read moreoccupants furnishings etc. The tours are docent led and very informative. If you like these types of tours, this one is quite worth it.

I went on a private vintage shopping tour with April, and WOW! I work in fashion (I've been a…read morestylist for 16 years). I've always admired vintage clothing, but I wasn't familiar with the older brands or their history. April knew EVERYTHING! She was so knowledgeable and was able to pick out gems I would have otherwise overlooked. I want to do one of her group tours next. Such a unique and fun experience for fashion lovers.

A thoroughly captivating and enjoyable walking tour. The amount of colorful history shared and the…read morepace were just right. Plus, you feel like you're walking with a celebrity.

Another amazing night spent at Mountain Park. Took about 9 kids for my sons party. Awesome place…read morefor the kids to play and explore. Roasting hot dogs and eating s'mores, what more could you want on a beautiful Tehachapi night? Highly recommend if you have never been here.

If you're looking for a park in the middle of nowhere, but still just outside town, where you can…read morecamp or visit on a day trip, this is your place. Granted you have to be in Tehachapi, or know where Tehachapi is, or be wanderIng around southeastern California, or have a sweet GPS. Given all the above transpiring, if you find yourself in the lucky position of needing to do a summer XC run with your sophomore weak-of-heart running daughter, just don't tell her about the steep uphill. You do get to run back down afterward anyway. Should you be able to trick your kids into the run or perhaps a hike, magnificent views await at the overlooks partway and all the way up. We're talking Twitter-background-wallpaper-quality shots (not that I would know). Should I wind up randomly or intentionally in T-town, I'll take another hike, provided I can talk the daughter into it ("no honey this isn't the one you remember, it's an easy hike":).