Train fan through marriage (!), lifelong Disney nut…read more Finally made it here. Beautifully laid out with wonderful volunteers whose love of Walt and his trains shine through. Bonus: got to meet artist Gavin Freitas as he was on site and we bought one of his pieces!!!

Calling all #Disney fans this is a hidden gem in #griffithpark #LA…read more Parking - 5/5 free lot Cost - free +$4 trainride Time spent - 30 min to 1.5 hrs depending on how into Disney history or mini trains you are. Plan ahead - only open 3rd Sunday of the month. I loved being in the Barn and imagining the energy and inspiration that led to the magical Disney parks today.

If you're an artsy beach goth babe, you are going to love this store! It's part store, part…read moregallery. The store part has a bunch of rad things for sale. Books, jewelry, trinkets, oils, sage & candles. The gallery part is a must see. It's $20 to go through and they rotate the art work throughout the year. They currently have a mashup of Nightmare on Elm Street and Mars Attacks. Even if you don't do the exhibit, there are still plenty of photo ops through out the store. The best time to visit is now, durning spooky season! Your Homegirl, Violy

Fun interactive experience with the kid and I don't want to give anything away with pictures after…read morethe first room although I'm sure others have already posted them. We opted to get one of the blasters to shoot targets for things to move and hear. If it would have been a little less crowded when we got in it would have been better. Other visitors that we caught up to were pretty involved in themselves and made people wait for them to finish taking their pictures every 5 steps. The museum staff does try to regulate the amount of people but unfortunately they can't really go in and tell people to move it along. I think it maybe a little overpriced but it was fun and I like to support small businesses. When you're done with the museum the stores are fun to check out and they have all sorts of things if you're interested in horror movies and macabre things.

Needed a last minute outing to keep the kids busy so naturally, I googled my options. This…read morelocation was pretty convenient so off we went. Tickets were pretty easy to purchase online. I thought it was a timed entry but it is not...or it wasn't when we went. I followed the parking sign on the wall which led me to a lot just a little north of the museum. It was $20 to park there. Had I had more time to plan, I may have parked somewhere else as I felt that was a bit steep. I'm assuming metered parking would be hard to find in that location as it is in the heart of Hollywood. I thought it would be similar to the Museum of Illusions in New York, but rather than a museum feel, this was purely just photo ops. You can rent tripods at the front for $10. They also provide free lockers for your bags and stuff- which I would highly recommend. I didn't take up the offer in the beginning but soon realized that was a better option. I would also like to highly recommend and thank Tim! He showed us the ropes of how to take photos and he took some photos for us. He was friendly, professional and patient with my two young kids. He definitely knows his way around an iPhone camera and showed me some tricks I didn't even know. Tim's photos came out a lot better than mine as you need to find the perfect angle for the pictures to have that illusion effect. The tickets I purchased online also allowed us to go to the giant house next door and the upside down house. Tim came to the rescue again and took some amazing photos for us in the upside down house. It was a fun experience for all of us and I would definitely recommend visiting this location. If you see Tim, ask him for some pointers! Thank you, Tim!

This was just a fun little stop we made while walking Hollywood Blvd…read more The museum of illusions tickets cost $35, and a tripod rental is $10. They also offer many other packages. A good time was had by all!

A lot of effort was put into this version of the museum and everything is done respectfully. Very…read moregood variety and even Black Dahlia photos...worth the admission. Vic is great to check u in and out and gives u good info! Go see it!

I had such a wonderful time here…read more I had been wanting to come for years! My cousin told me about it, and she lives so far away, and I've had lived here all my life and never knew about it. They had really great accessible features for anyone that is handicap. It's really clean, and it's so cool getting to learn about others and how they passed away, not to mention, understand my own life and put it in perspective. I really appreciate them making my night.

I visited the area years ago, but was unaware this museum was here. So I made sure to visit given…read morea second chance. The ladies at the front were very welcoming, even though they couldn't answer all my questions. I wondered what their electric bill is every month. Apparently that number is above their pay grade! My favorite things were the oldest ones. I seem to remember neon signs from the 1930s on. Perhaps the highlight of the collection (at least it was for me) was the Grauman's Chinese Theatre Dragon. I just wish they hadn't put other objects in front of it. But the museum does not have a large footprint, so they have make do. What's there is great, I just wish there were more rooms and more exhibits. But it's only $10, which is cheap for a museum these days.

A small museum with not much to see but it was very interesting. Some of the neon lights were out…read moreand no longer working, making the total number of signs even fewer. The signs were very 'cool and neat' and if you are into old fashioned signage, this place is worth a stop in. The person who walked around with us was knowledgeable and shared some history to the signs which made the experience more insightful.

Autry Museum is a hidden gem that has so many fun things going on…read more I attended two screenings here and was blown away on how easy it is to get to the location! I actually took public transportation here and the bus drops you off in front of the museum! The amazing statues of horses and their riders, the architecture of the building and there's even a theater for screenings or talks on the stage! I saw that there's an American Indian Artist's Marketplace which I want to check out. I will definitely come back here to explore the exhibits!

Such a hidden gem, I don't even know this place existed. It's pretty big and has a lot of cool…read moreexhibits on LA's History as well as American West History. Great for all ages.

This is probably the most unique place I've ever visited in Southern California. Three of our…read moredocents were actual workers on the castle, so we got an inside view of its origins. I'll never forget the experience and highly recommend that you make it a priority to visit. When a person has a vision and spends 25 years fulfilling it with hundreds of friends and neighbors, you have a masterpiece! Go as soon as you can!

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 Love Letter to Old Hollywood!…read more If you're anything like me and have a lifelong love affair with vintage Hollywood, classic cinema, glamour, and a little nostalgia, then the Hollywood Museum is an absolute MUST! Housed inside the historic Max Factor Building, this place is a treasure trove of Hollywood history! From the golden age of cinema to beloved television shows and films across the decades, every corner has something fascinating waiting to be discovered. Three glorious floors filled with authentic movie memorabilia, costumes, makeup history, iconic props, and incredible pieces of Hollywood's past. It's like stepping into a time machine and wandering through the very eras that made Hollywood so magical. As someone who adores vintage everything, old films, and the artistry of makeup, I was completely in my element! There's something truly special about standing among pieces of cinematic history and imagining the legendary stars and stories behind them. And here's a little cherry on top of this nostalgic adventure... Mel's Drive-In is right next door! Naturally, we couldn't resist popping in for a bite afterward. What better way to wrap up an afternoon celebrating Hollywood's past than with a little old-fashioned diner nostalgia? Lights, camera, nostalgia! This wasn't just a museum visit. It was a delightful stroll down Hollywood's memory lane, and I loved every minute of it. Five stars for preserving the glitz, glamour, and magic of Tinseltown!

This place is so historic!!! A true diamond!! Located in…read morethe historical Max Factor building too It's original elevator works too! If you love movies, this is the place. From the classics from the past to current productions too Black & white to Sci Fi There are many floors to the building so that the elevator is a necessity! There is so much history packed in the rooms I was still able to get around in my scooter The can completely accommodate you

Trains! Trains! Trains! This is such a fun & free park that…read moreis beautifully nestled along the mountain. We enjoyed riding the train around the loop twice, checking out & climbing into all the different eras of trains, visiting the Museum store, and enjoying the beautiful backdrop this park offers. I highly recommend for this park to any age! I was so so happy to see the store sold postcards! Can't wait to mail some!

My kids love trains and were super excited when we surprised them with a trip to Travel Town before…read moregoing to the Griffith Observatory. I love how this is a choose your own adventure sort of place. If you don't want to pay, you can still see a bunch of the trains, go inside some of the cars, and walk around the museum. You can also pay for a train ride, which our boys loved. It loops the park twice! Some of the trains have QR codes if you want to learn more, and there are also a few signs throughout that give more information about the trains. One of them is open for people to walk through a car, and it looked like there was another one that has a reservation system. Some of the trains also allow you to climb into the front and see/touch/play with the controls. Inside the museum, there's a penny pressing machine (!!!), a little play area, a couple of vending machines, and trains, of course! There's also a gift shop that has some typical train items. But they also sell some unique things like pocket watches and old receipts from an estate sale, I believe.