My husband and I planned to visit the Heritage Square Museum and the time to wait for the tour, we…read morewalked ten minutes to visit this beautiful museum, the house of Charles Fletcher Lummis, journalist, writer and fluent person politically. He gave a lot parties, friend of Will Roger, John Muir, President Roosevelt went to visit him. The house preserve the native adobe style, had guests houses and a nice garden. It is free! The family lived until 60, because that you see modern kitchen and laundry. It is worth to visit.

Live the way you want to be remembered…read more The Lummis House is a rustic American stone house built by C.F. Lummis in 1897. It's located on the edge of Arroyo Seco (by The 110) in Highland Park neighborhood of LA. This cultural landmark museum was on the NRHistorical Places and LA Cultural Monument no. 68 on Sept 1970. The museum house was built of river rock (exterior) and has ~4,000 sq ft space. It has two floors but only the first floor was open for self-guided tour; the second floor was video-tour (2.30 min loop vid) only. This house has a huge garden with an irrigation system designed to conserve water. Furthermore, the house's interior fixtures and woodwork were very detailed. Mr. Lummis was very passionate about the preservation of native indigenous people's culture which you'll see on most fixtures and walls. What's interesting was that the back of the house have casitas, 400 square feet, made for his children (or guests) which have fireplaces. I bet majority of LA locals who spent most or their entire life were oblivious to this cultural historical house. I'm ebullient that I explored this on a lazy Sunday morning. The tour guide (Christian Rodriguez) was very enthusiastic, knowledgeable and friendly. Their hours of operation was very limited. Plenty of street parking. Admission is free. Overall, I enjoyed my time and learned something about historical LA. I think you'll enjoy and like this landmark house.

Very beautiful space…read more I came here for a small "UNPLUGGED" wedding ceremony. This place reminded me of my favorite childhood movie called The Secret Garden. A beautiful atmosphere that holds wonder, power, and magic. I felt special even though this day wasn't for me. Inside one of the rooms displayed beautiful art work from a man who happened to be there overseeing everything go down at the event. He is kind and tells good jokes about his art work and in general. The two ladies who own this place came by earlier and indeed are nice and friendly. Now that I know of this place maybe I, two will hold something magnificent in this small gem that is surrounded by a bustling city,

Trace's artwork is provocative and unforgettable. Go to https://www.tajartinc.com/ and check out…read more"exhibitions" or "shop" to see what I mean. But she also showcases work from other artists. A portion of the sales are donated to charities to help animals worldwide, so you are also making the world a better place for our furry friends while you enjoy and own some beautiful art. I've met Trace, and she's as charming in person as she is passionate and talented. It's a pleasure to know her, and I look forward to supporting her in the future.

Cool public art! The fork is separating S. Pasadena Ave and S. Saint John Ave in the City of South…read morePasadena!

This is a cool sculpture on an island among busy streets, featuring lovely trees, shrubs, and…read moregreenery. But it was hard to access, surrounded by heavy traffic on all sides this past weekend. Parking was scarce too, but we still made a quick stop to check it out after an event we attended nearby. It's basically a giant fork with a fitting name for the artwork. The creation started as a joke by artist, Ken Marshall, who gave it as a birthday gift in 2009 to Ice House comedy club founder Bob Stane. It was temporarily removed, then later reinstalled a couple years later after attaining permits, and has since, been a site for food drives/charity events as well as a tourist attraction for people like me :D

Ambassador Mansions & Gardens is a very quiet, peaceful, and truly beautiful place. It's hidden…read morebetween buildings, and if you don't know it's there, you might easily miss it -- which makes it feel like a secret garden in the middle of the city. The territory is incredibly well maintained, with huge mature trees, beautiful flowers, fountains, mini waterfalls, and small ponds where you can see fish and turtles. There is also a lovely grassy area in the center where you can sit, relax, or have a small picnic. Geese walk freely around the gardens, and colorful parrots fly overhead, adding even more charm to the atmosphere. In April, the garden looks especially stunning -- the pergola and trees are in full bloom (I wish I remembered the names of those gorgeous flowers!), and the whole place feels alive and magical. Honestly, this garden is beautiful in any season of the year. You can come here with dogs, which is a big plus, but it's important to respect the property rules: pets must be on a leash, owners are responsible for cleanup, professional photography requires a permit, and activities like skateboarding, drinking alcohol, or organized sports events are not allowed. These rules help preserve the calm and cleanliness of the space. There is also a secondary school located on the property, which adds to the unique character of the place. Parking-wise, we were able to find free street parking nearby without any issues. This is a perfect spot to slow down, enjoy nature, and escape the city noise for a while. Highly recommended for a peaceful walk or a quiet moment surrounded by beauty.

What a beautiful place to walk around and enjoy the grounds. It is a private property so make sure…read moreto follow the rules and don't litter. Ambassador gardens is a luxury residential community with beautiful homes and condos. The grounds are beautiful with big trees, water features and seating areas. We even saw turtles and big birds by the waterfall. Really lovely place to take a stroll at. We parked on Green Street and walked towards the ambassador auditorium... see my videos and pictures. So pretty.

The Huntington is one of the most beautiful places in Southern California. Every garden is…read moremeticulously maintained, and you can easily spend an entire day exploring the different landscapes. The Chinese Garden & Japanese Garden was especially stunning, with peaceful ponds, traditional architecture, and incredible views around every corner. The Japanese Garden, bonsai collection, and conservatories were equally impressive. The grounds are spotless, the staff is friendly, and there are so many quiet places to slow down and appreciate nature. If you enjoy photography, this place is a dream--there are beautiful photo opportunities everywhere you look. I also enjoyed browsing the gift shop before leaving. Whether you're looking for a relaxing afternoon, inspiration, or just a break from the city, The Huntington is absolutely worth visiting. I'll definitely be back.

Pro tip: Book in advance and try to get the 10am when it just opens…read more You will need the entire day to actually see everything. I unfortunately got in the noon section. Wasn't able to 1/3 despite spending 3 hours there. You will need to bring sunscreen and water especially during the summer. Of all things would recommend going to the Chinese pavilion and European house/ rose garden. Both of them are by far the most spectacular especially the Chinese pavilion. It so zen and rich with beautiful architecture and biome of life and gardening is spectacular. If you become filthy rich this is the garden you would want. Haha The European house and grounds is beautiful and lush. Great place to enjoy the old money vibes and get your pics at the rose garden.

This is the most difficult Botanical Garden to get in touch with…read more The hours they have posted on their website are wrong, no one picks up the phone after calling several times and leaving several messages. I went in person last weekend, and it was closed despite their online hours posted. The lack of clarity even upon walking up to the venue is not clear. They have no signs stating they are closed and it's clear they do not care to return voicemails. Please do not waste your time going there.

Background On Visit: Last Sunday (4/12/26), the venue hosted the Pasadena Festival Of Tea. We were…read moreone of the participants for this event. Hours Of Operation: They welcome visitors to the garden on many Friday and Saturday evenings and during the day on Sundays. You can check out their schedule of events and admission cost on their website: https://japanesegardenpasadena.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/japanesegardenpasadena/event.jsp?;=&event=1612& Admission Cost: Mostly, $15 on Friday and Saturday. Sunday, it's $12. For other events, they post the cost on their website. Location/Parking: Located across from the Arlington Gardens (Free). It's kinda hidden, but just use the gps on your phone to guide you. Parking can be found along Arlington. For special events, they encourage you to park at Westridge School (Orange Grove and W. State St.) and walk up to Storrier Stearns. Ambiance/Decor: The Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden is a beautiful and charming retreat with a quiet and tranquil elegance. The place is small which contains many of the much admired design features found in the most lavish of Japanese-style gardens of its era. As Kendall Brown states in his book, California Japanese-style Gardens, "this is the genius of Kinzuchi Fujii: this was once a flat area of two tennis courts; now it is a masterwork. 1) Classic Niko-an Teahouse, the garden landscape offers a variety of other beautiful details. 2) Numerous gathering points, seating areas & vistas 3) Four original bridges plus the original cedar log Japanese Waiting Bench 4) Two large interconnected, irregularly shaped koi ponds 5) The sounds of two waterfalls, one cascading down a 25-foot hill 6) An artful dry riverbed for rain overflow winding through the garden 7) Cooling shade everywhere from spreading sycamores & old oaks 8) Many tons of boulders & stones 9) Granite statuary & stone lanterns Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden For Thought: Wouldn't mind coming back to re-center myself. I did a have nice time.

Rumi Aesthetics is officially my go-to!…read more I've been searching for the right injector, and Angie definitely understood the assignment. From consultation to treatment, she was knowledgeable, precise, and made the whole experience feel easy and comfortable. My Botox results are flawless, smooth, natural, and exactly what I asked for. Not frozen, not overdone -- just refreshed! If you're on the fence, book the appointment. You won't regret it!

Came here for a birthday party hosted by a friend and it was a cool spacious spot with music, food…read moreand a cool ambiance. I had fun and I never felt cramped or uncomfortable.

It is always a struggle to write beyond a cliche. Case in point, I want to express that the…read moreArlington Garden in Pasadena is a green oasis amidst urban noise and pace but that would say little since people consider their backyard and their local parks to be a green space of peace. And they would be right- who am I to judge the green that someone holds precious whether it be jade from feudal China or a patch of blades that are bed for the soul to rest. So I am left with one task: to express the serene beauty of this place that is also engaging in a quiet way, with almost ethereal words to truly defend and display that this, in all its glory, is a green oasis that wins by a short shot. The grounds are not huge, it is small but comes close to being medium. But what I loved is that its green branches and brown barks and twigs were immersive. I had entered a green swirl that moved all around me in stillness of movement but blurs of garden spirits. The place was like an outside museum that honors mother earth and her mantra of tender care that explains how flowers grow best. One of the most engaging experiences was their wishing tree. It was about two to four big trees with hanging wishes written by everyday folk. As I walked the steps to the trees, as I passed between them my skin could feel the words of hope hanging from branches. It was like the cards spoke in lovely whispers that reminded me that days of beauty are created when people do not forget to see that joyous petals that are in the wind and all around in the everyday. And as one note reminded us, joy is not ready made, to find it takes action. Reading the notes was a way in which I elected joy, as an act of resistance toward anger and disapointment. There was also this gazebo with a statue of a greek goddess. These are guesses of mine, I did not find some type of placards to confirm my notions. She was framed in the gazebo by a quasi-window. I entered the small gazebo and sat in the only green bench maybe big enough for two.I did not understand why she was giving me her back, I wanted to face her. But then I realized that Demeter or Gaia (maybe?) was not facing me because she was looking at her creation, like any person would when they have a garden to admire. From that seat I saw a man doing Tai-Chi and being filmed by his partner in all red. I sat and viewed him quietly and ask that whatever he was calling forth with his movements also entered my own person. From this seat, I also saw a pregnant woman taking pictures. She was wearing a white dress with a tasteful floral pops around. At times, she laughed with a wide smile, at times she held the bundle with her hands. It was seeing a place of growth, welcome a being with life about to begin. Her partner joined and they were directed into stances that made sense--- like the one where they look longingly at each other while he held her, and she held the coming boy. I could see their happiness, I could see their true connection, and I knew that the baby was being born into comfort and love. It was great reminder that sometimes life blooms with ease into joy. I also saw a lizard run and move its neck, both in a funny way. I saw a sole butterfly flutter. I saw folks sitting, relaxing, eating, all in with a calm demeanor. So I would like to think that this place is a green oasis or at least a place where rest is each to come by.

The Arlington Garden is a nice, public garden in Pasadena. Admission is free and street parking is…read moreplentiful. It's not a big garden, yet it does a great job at displaying native species, sustainable land scaping, and climate appropriate plants. I came during the hot days of summer, so there's not a lot that's in bloom. I did spot plenty of California poppies, milkweed, and yarrow. The trees, like the holly leaf cherry and eastern redbud, were beautiful on its own. I also had the rare privilege of seeing a flowering agave plant. The citrus area is a standout. They have some dwarf species and trees that were rehoused after being part of an art installation. They use the fruit to make marmalade. What's unused gets donated.