Great experience for children. Great value for your money. Staff very friendly. The virtual part…read moremay be not the best thing for kids that are to young.

Jurassic Con is a fun and free, little convention that's taken place in the Ralph B. Clark…read moreInterpretive Center for the last couple years. They've gathered props, costumes, and special effects pieces from different movies and shows, most particularly the Jurassic franchise, obviously. This year, unlike last, there was more going on outside with all the different tents dedicated to paleontology, local indigenous tribes, and environmentalism. They also had science presentations using liquid nitrogen. This year there were more cosplayers, and several Jurassic Park jeeps in the motor pool. Since they hold it in a place loaded with fossils, it sort of blurs the lines between cinema and reality. You get done looking at studio molds, animatronic dinosaurs, and Ray Harryhausen's claymation figures, and go look at Ice Age mammals, take pictures pretending to be eaten by a megalodon, and ask the resident scientists about the latest finds.

There are 3 parking options: Tower Plaza Parking Structure (602 Anton Boulevard), Irvine Parking…read more(3201 Avenue of the Arts), and The MET Parking (535 Anton Boulevard). I chose the Tower Plaza Parking Structure (near the Westin Hotel), which was just a short walk to the museum, while the other options are a bit farther. Parking is paid, about $6 per hour. Once you arrive, check-in is quick and no reservation is needed. Admission is free, and they provide a sticker that you'll need to wear throughout your visit. The museum is two floors, featuring a variety of sections and artists. The architecture itself is beautiful and perfect for photos, and the artwork is unique and enjoyable to explore. Overall, it's a great experience, especially since it's free. Tip(s): - Park at Tower Plaza Parking Structure (near Westin Hotel) and just walk to the museum - Free entry - Restrooms available - No appointments needed

To be honest, it was mildly surprising to learn that Orange County has its own museum of art, if…read moreonly because not many of the counties in the Bay Area do, other than SF. Yet, at the same time, given the size and population of OC, it also makes perfect sense. Either way, I can't say I ever would've guessed it would be this nice, though! Just a shame that their exhibits didn't really blow us away... Located in the burgeoning arts and theater district of Costa Mesa, just down the road from South Coast Plaza, OCMA is such a gorgeous looking building. Sure, it helps that it's only a few years old, but the look of this place is no less impressive. Right out in front, there's a 65-foot art piece in the middle of the plaza that helps connect all of the neighboring buildings. Inside, there's a fairly large gallery space on the ground level with rotating exhibits, an upper level that appears to hold their more permanent collection of pieces, a coffee shop right next to the gift shop, and a rooftop restaurant with a large open area/garden. Sadly, though, as nice as the museum's design and amenities may be, though, much of the artwork was just okay. While the artwork upstairs was fine, the featured exhibits didn't really speak to us. Obviously, art is subjective, but one included pieces that appear to have just been drawn with a spirograph. The other consisted of several photographic series, whose commentary on social media I can appreciate, but felt exceedingly voyeuristic in nature - one following/semi-stalking a fellow after a chance encounter, another of strangers invited to sleep in the artist's bed so they could be photographed/documented, and a third showing the belongings of guests at the hotel she worked at. Artwork aside, the thing that I like most about OCMA is how admission is entirely free. So, in that sense, it's impossible to be too disappointed with the experience and/or what we saw. However, one thing to note is that you do have to pay if you park at any of the nearby garages, which are all unaffiliated with OCMA. For example, at the one on the other side of the Segerstrom Center, it cost us about $10 for two hours or so. Alternatively, South Coast Plaza is just a few blocks over and parking there is free, but I don't know how aggressive they are with towing and it feels like a big gamble just to save a few bucks. All in all, even though none of the exhibits were really our flavor, we still had a good time checking out OCMA. Oddly, there weren't many other visitors here when we arrived, but it did seem to get busier as the day wore on (there was a big group walking in as we were walking out) and we certainly didn't mind not having to deal with a bunch of crowds around. Plus, as nice as the museum looks, it's actually fairly small compared to others I've been to elsewhere. Since the featured exhibits have so much influence on the experience, I absolutely wouldn't mind coming back to see whatever they happen to have featured down the line. The ones they had when we were here may not have interested us, but the next ones might! Plus, it doesn't hurt that admission is free! All in all, THREE AND A HALF STARS rounded down.

What a fantastic hidden gem, set in a beautiful park. Not a lot of people with tons of open green…read morespace and parking. The museum has a very cool working palentology lab. You can see the fossils up close - a whale which had legs! a megladon and a basking sharks mouth, a saber tooth tiger cat were among the highlights for any kid interested in dinosaurs and ancient animals. This isn't a busy museum with long lines, waiting turns to get up to something close. This is super easy, very relaxed and just as educational.

Man I love this park it's my family's go to place plenty of activity's for the whole dayread more

Beautiful, yes. Quiet, yes. But the staffs really do make people uncomfortable. As if they're the…read morestrict parents or mall cops, telling you to move, to not stand there too long, no picture setup, don't stop for more than 30s, don't talk too loud The garden is the size of a small practice soccer field and there are at least 10 staffs

Absolutely loved visiting the Japanese Garden at CSULB! It's such a beautiful, quiet, and…read moreincredibly clean space, perfect for clearing your mind. The peaceful atmosphere makes it an ideal spot for college students to unwind between classes, and honestly, staff could benefit from that calm escape too. Everything is so well maintained, and you can really feel the serenity the moment you walk in. Just a heads up, make sure you have reservations before you go & no snacks allowed. Highly recommend this hidden gem!

Nice place for a stroll. It's no LA Arboretum but this 26-acre garden is free and more of an…read morearboretum on a college campus than a standalone. I met up with a friend that I hadn't seen for awhile and it was the perfect place to catch up during a walk around of the garden. I loved the pond with the lily pads and turtles, and the Heritage House surrounded by orange trees and roses. I was impressed by the amount of orange trees. It reminds you of why they call it Orange County. If I went to school here I'd be here probably once a week. Otherwise it's great to come if you live in the OC.

Arboretum and Botanical Garden is a free attraction at Cal State University Fullerton. I'm not sure…read moreabout the weekdays, but my boyfriend and I came during the weekend and parking was free when we went to pay at the ticket stations. Yay! From the parking lot it was easy to follow the signs along to the garden. The garden had areas that represented Woodlands, Mediterranean, Dessert, and a Cultivated Collection. There were walking paths but I still recommend closed toed shoes since it's a bit sandy. They had many benches throughout for resting or handing out and admiring nature. We spent about an hour here, but to be fair I'm not that into nature. I GOT A BUG BITE and it swelled and was super itchy. Sigh. I think someone who super loved nature or wanted to take their time to hang out could take 2-3 admiring all the plant life. My FAVORITE moments here was when we came across wildlife. My favorite were the rabbit, turtle, and crane. It's beautiful. Great spot to get some steps in and absorb some sunlight.

We had a great time visiting this beautiful presidential library. I don't know much about Nixon…read moreexcept Watergate that led to his resignation. Glad I learned a lot about him from our visit. The museum is very organized and the garden is very beautiful. I liked the replica of the Oval Office the most. Great place to spend a couple hours and learn a lot of history! Ps. Hubby had only visited this library once before for his high school dance decades ago!

Definitely a cool place to visit. I took my 14 year old and…read morewe spent about an hour + here. We learned a lot, saw a lot, and the staff was all super knowledgeable.

This exhibit "experience" was more then a forensic analysis, very sad to see how Titanic faltered…read moreand then sank. Here at the exhibit, true stories of most of the passengers were told. Artifacts and images , jewelry, furniture , life jackets, letters helped to tell real stores of the passengers who decided to board the titanic . I found it to be very interesting. Although if I could change one thing it would be the headset and earbuds, kept falling off ( due to excessive wear ) I enjoyed this experience, I feel you will too !

This was my first visit to any Titanic show and it was such a fantastic event!…read more According to their Yelp event, Titanic in Photographs is "The in-depth story of the world's most famous ship, told through an exhibition of unique, period photographs, brought to life with a world-class display of priceless original artifacts & images. Located near the engine room on the famous RMS Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA." The photos that have been blown up to mega sizes are a real treat. They are not grainy and there's a ton of detail to pour over while walking through the exhibit. John White and his small crew of tireless workers setup the entire display in a matter of a few weeks and their efforts show. After the exhibit, take a stroll around the Queen Mary. From the bridge to the bilge, you can spend literally all day aboard this massive ship (bigger than the Titanic even). Gift shops, restaurants and a few of bars make the tour much more enjoyable too.

Noguchi gardens is a gorgeous spot to just relax for a little, enjoy a break from the hustle and…read morebustle of the world. It's a small space but the artwork is nice and instills a sense of calm that is appreciated

Fun and interesting little place to visit if you are in the area by South Coast Plaza mall…read more Not the easiest place to find since you can't see it from the street. It is behind the Mastros restaurant. There is a parking structure nearby that is like $3 or $4 for 15 minutes and you can probably run through in 15 minutes, but 30 minutes to be safe. You can also walk from the mall parking lot, it is a little bit of a stroll but manageable. There are plenty of pictures so you can see what you are getting into before you make the drive, pay for parking, and walk over. When we went there on a Sunday morning, there were only 2 or 3 other people, so it was very quiet and zen. I enjoyed the write-ups and the exhibits. If I worked right there I would probably visit all the time.

Such a great way to spend a couple hours checking out California inspired artwork. There's so much…read moreto experience when viewing some subjective art. I also appreciate the historical value portrayed with it. There are two buildings- the north and south. The north side has the permanent exhibits- Disney, stone and scene, radio museum, Maynard Dixon and the Oregon trail, and contemporary paintings. The south has the Emigdio Vasquez art work, Route 66, and Ralph Massey exhibits. I appreciate local museums so much and hope to see so much more of it!

Spent a couple hours at the Hilbert and thought it was a lovely experience. The staff are so warm…read moreand welcoming, and very knowledgeable about the artists and the collection. Tip: for kids (or anyone) ask for the scavenger hunt and get a little prize so fun!

YiYa Formosa, located on the 3rd floor of the Garden Walk, is trying to recreate the feeling of a…read moreTaiwan night market, and you can tell there was a lot of intention behind the concept. For a Friday evening, the crowd inside is very light...so I hope this establishment survives. Inside the store, the "stall" set up area feels incomplete or semi-vacant. Most of the vendors are selling knick-knacks rather than food, which wasn't what I expected from a night market-inspired space -- more food stall or hot bar please. The area is sub-divided into sections that seem to try to create a little of everything -- there are spaces for gatherings, worship, paintings and a small gift shop. Food options are limited to just a couple of snack bars, which don't really compare to as much options like 99 Ranch. There is also offering to learn mahjong! One bright spot, though, is the wishing tree, which is a very welcoming and thoughtful touch. Too bad, the paper was out.

Wow this place was really cool. It's like walking down a night market in Taiwan. They have small…read moreshops throughout the space with hidden alleys taking you in another direction. When you first walk in, you are greeted by a dragon and colorful parasols hanging from the ceiling. There is a store towards the back that sells some treats and a place where you can get more info on how to travel to Taiwan and sightsee through the beautiful country. The items sold here are pretty authentic and pretty cute. If you are a Lego fan, they have some cool brick sets that are Pokemon and anime themed. I think maybe adding a food hall in here would make it that much better. If you are in area and waiting for a reservation, stop by here to kill some time. You will enjoy it and feel like you were transported elsewhere. Plus, you can take some really cool photos.