Some of the best shopping found in California Adventure is located in the shop across from Soarin'…read moreand the restaurant next door is a great place to eat. The Redwood Creek Challenge is awesome for kids and kids of all ages - plus the shipping next to Grizzly Run is also awesome (just outside of the entrance to Disney's Grand California Hotel). The Soarin' ride is so cool and this whole area is really one of my favorite areas for rides, food, shopping and great places to see characters and rest a bit too!

Love the outdoorsy vibes of the Grizzly Peak area of Disney California Adventure. My favorite ride…read morein this area is Soarin' whether it's Over California or Over the World. Also love that if you stay at the Grand Californian Hotel (GCH), you have your own entrance to Grizzly Peak. Get soaked on the rapids ride, and go back to change in your room! Love this area as it's themed really well and adjacent to the hotel and some great dining in GCH.

Old Towne Orange is a great place to spend an afternoon having lunch and browsing the many antique…read moreand vintage clothes shops! So many great places to eat from quick bites to sit diwn restaurant and lots of different cuisines. Each visit we try new ones. Check.begore you comes as se do take reservations or have online waitlists. Weeekends can get very busy so expect waits. Parking can be a challenge but there is a lot of street parking. There's a few public parking structures with 3 hour free parking, If you want to extend your visit, the Hilbert Art Museum (part of Chapman university) is in Old Towne Orange. It's a small and intimate museum and woth 1-2 hr visit you can enjoy the wonderful exhibits. And it's free.

I always laugh to myself when I write reviews on landmarks compared to actual businesses because…read moreit's just so random lol. Like... there are people who actually write reviews about their favorite freeways, so I get it now. No judgement though. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, yeah? For a while, my OC people would mention Old Towne Orange and how it's such a nice spot to browse thru vintage/thrift shops and walk around. Honestly, I agree. As someone who's spoiled with places like North Park, South Park, Mission Hills in San Diego (and also Old Town), I never really thought much to come here. Loved all the charming shops around, though. Time felt slow here and strangers felt like neighbors. A memorable moment from this past Saturday was when my friends and I stopped to sit at the bench in the middle of Orange Circle; Met the nicest old man with the cutest and friendliest dogs. Before he left, he joked to my friends and I about how his dogs were always running away from him, like the ladies in life (obviously he wasn't rude or creepy about it). And that entire experience at Old Towne Orange made me think about how many of us yearn for connection and communities like that again. Out-of-towners: If you want something different than Disneyland or Porto's for your weekend trip outing, but still want the actual nostalgic charm experience of the ~good ol days~, look no further.

A historical landmark, close & free to visit…read more Originally part of the ancestral village of Povuun'nga, the traditional place of origin of the native Gabrielino-Tongva people of the Los Angeles Basin, named Rancho Los Alamitos when the land was conceded to Manuel Nieto, and finally to Fred & Florence Bixby, whose children donated the family ranch to the City of Long Beach in 1968. To enter, visitors proceed to the Bixby Hill residential security gate at the intersection of East Anaheim Road and Palo Verde Avenue. Entrance is strictly at 1pm, as the guard will not allow entrance prior to that. Operating hours are 1pm - 5pm Wed - Sun. Initial visit, the barn area w/ the livestock was closed off due to a water main break. Tours of the Adobe Ranch is via a docent-led tour, which can be made at the Rancho Center. No photography is permitted. Tom was the docent, and he was quite knowledgeable of the history of Rancho Los Alamitos, allowing passage into each room on the first floor. Second floor was closed to visitors. My favorite room was the kitchen, as I marveled at the various appliances, such as the still operational refrigerator, with the condenser on top, instead of bottom. Also, the heavy, built to last stove, which probably served a countless number of meals for the family & staff working the ranch. There were a few objects which were available to touch, such as an early proto version of a View-Master. The cherry on top of the Adobe Ranch visit was pulling the rope attached to the dinner bell, signifying everyone to "come & get it!". The handsome, well-maintained garden landscape surrounding the property provides natural beauty & plenty of photo opportunities. Second visit was more fun, as the barn & livestock areas were open to the public, again! Preston, a magnificent Shire horse, towers over almost all visitors, and stuns with his majestic beauty. In the world record books, a Shire horse named Sampson is the largest recorded horse ever, at 7' 2.5" tall & 3,360 lbs. Not to be outdone, Fred the donkey bombastically greets people with his hee-haws. A few rescue horses, sheep & a coop full of chickens provided plenty of enjoyment. A pleasurable afternoon can be had at Rancho Los Alamitos. Visitors gaze back in time upon a working ranch, experience how things were built to stand the test of time, opposed to planned obsolescence of most machinery & appliances, today. Visiting Preston, Fred & the other animals, alone, is worth the drive. I look forward to coming back & I highly recommend giving Rancho Los Alamitos a visit.

I absolutely love Rancho Los Alamitos--it truly feels like a hidden gem tucked away in the Bixby…read moreEstates area. Getting there is part of the experience: you check in with the guard, receive a permit, and drive up the hill before checking in at the front desk. Once you're in, it opens up into this ranch beautiful historic space that feels worlds away from the city. The grounds are stunning. There are lush gardens, a tennis court, and even livestock--horses and chickens--which add so much charm. The ranch sits up on a hill, and it's the perfect place to just relax, sunbathe, or wander and take everything in. One of my favorite spots is the massive tree in the front yard, with its roots stretching out--it's incredibly impressive and peaceful to sit near. What makes it even more special is that it's free, which honestly feels unbelievable given how well-maintained and meaningful the space is. There's also a deep sense of history here, especially tied to the Bixby family and the legacy of the women who helped shape it, which adds another layer of appreciation when you visit. Part of me almost wants to keep it a secret because it feels so personal and serene--but it truly deserves all the praise. I feel lucky to have a place like this right in our backyard

Great quiet park (except for an occasional train)! Historic Neff House and George house were built…read morethere c.1863

Being a resident of La Mirada for the past 21 years, Neff Park has been one of my favorite local…read moreplaces to visit when I'm looking to get out of the house for a bit and decompress. It's a great place to bring your lunch or sit on the grass and enjoy a good book. The play area was remodeled not long ago and is a great place for kids to play and run around. If you're into visiting historic homes like I am, the Neff Estate is a must visit. Tours are given every third Saturday of the month from 2-4 pm. Tours are free, donations accepted. The George House and Neff Barn are also on site, however they are not part of the tour. During La Mirada's Halloweenfest, the George House is open for viewing and the Neff Barn is turned into a haunted maze. There is a beautiful gazebo on site as well, perfect for special occasion photos.

I recently visited Los Cerritos Rancho and had such a meaningful experience. From the moment I…read morearrived, I was warmly welcomed by the staff, who took the time to share the rich history of the landmark, including stories about the Bixby family. Walking through the home and gardens truly felt like stepping back in time. There's something incredibly special about being able to see and feel how people lived in the past--it creates a deep sense of connection and nostalgia that's hard to put into words. For me, the visit was also a moment of reflection--appreciating the lives and efforts of those who came before us, and how their contributions shaped the world we live in today. In such a fast-paced, modern era, it felt especially powerful to immerse myself in a place that preserves history so beautifully. I even remembered visiting here as a child, and coming back as an adult gave me a whole new appreciation for it. It's more than just a historical site--it's an experience that invites you to reflect, learn, and reconnect. I highly recommend visiting. It's a beautiful reminder that Long Beach is full of incredible history and hidden gems worth exploring.

Rancho Los Cerritos is a slightly hidden national historic landmark within Long Beach with…read moreGabrielino-Tongva roots. It was once a sheep ranch, cattle ranch, and even serves as an extension of our public library archives for local history. Entrance is free. Parking is free (and close to the entrance). There are volunteer-lead tours as well as printed maps to help you navigate the property. If you're planning to visit I'd set aside a half hour for everything. Bonus tip: they host events.

Mission-revival style former orange cleaning and packing facility built in 1924. Placed on the US's…read morenational register of historic places, you cannot go inside so review is based on just being able to see the outside. Elephant and Chapman brand oranges used to be packed here and I uploaded some of the vintage labels for you to have a look at. You can look in a bit from the front door and see the original wood floors and an original wood door. This main entrance also has the most detailed design features with mission tile trims, saw-tooth roof tiles, and the building number in original typeface. The building itself is interesting colors though there isn't much to see when you walk around. I hope there are plans to do something with this 23,000 sq ft. space like Anaheim Packing District. Saddened about the space being used as a trash dump by locals and a place homeless have been camping out at.

WOW! I'm a history buff, so this property is just PURE MAGIC to me! Such an amazing representation,…read morepreservation and staging of the home of a true Renaissance Woman, a multi-talented artisan, celebrated the world over, whom you've probably never heard of. Madame Modjeska aside, my favorite discovery pertaining to the history of this property: Theodore Payne arrived to Arden from England after his scientific studies drove the interests that would lead him to become an amazing botanist, landscape designer, seed harvest and processing expert, horticulturist and preservationist of native California flowers, trees and shrubs. The Theodore Payne Foundation is still active in teaching, stewardship, propagation and garden design throughout Los Angeles. It's main nursery is in Sun Valley! What a fantastic find that the foundation nursery where I buy my native plants started with Payne taking a job as Head Gardener at Arden in 1893! But that was just the outside! The inside of this beautiful home is so meticulously preserved and staged to really bring the observer into Helena Modjeska's life. If you pay attention, you may even realize some scandalous questions to ask the docent on site. My questions were answered, but I felt my enthusiasm for the property outpaced the docents by a very large margin. I wish there was a bit more excitement for his subject, and more of a guided storied aspect, rather than simple answers to our many questions. While this is not a living history adventure and docents are volunteers, it's great that there was someone there allowing us to tour the property, but a more engaging docent would be appreciated. I am looking forward to returning this Fall. There are tables for picnicking, restrooms and free parking. Reservations are encouraged, for a space in the small dirt parking area and the limited time the house and grounds are open. Cheers! "CC" NOTE/TIP: The directions initially took us to a property at the intersection of Santiago and Modjeska Cyn roads, which apparently the OC Parks Dept uses as parking for events at Arden House. The actual property is much further along Modjeska Cyn Road, through residential properties and before the canyon road ends at Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary. If you have the same challenge, navigate to Tucker and you'll see Arden House, on the right, just before TWS.

First heard about this historic land mark from Pageant of the Masters. Decided we needed to come…read morefor a visit and see what it's all about. Call OC Parks to get a docent led tour on either Wednesday or Saturday 10am. Each tour is only 10 people to keep it small and the interior is small so we need as much space as possible. House is air conditioned on inside which was perfect for hot days. We were lucky to get a reservation for Saturday in September 2025. Our docent was Bob, he was super chill and even allowed us to see parts of the house that we missed since we arrived late to the tour. The tour lasts 90min to 2 hours, there's just lots of information to share. You get to view the interior of the home and outside guest houses, pool and storage shed. Plenty to parking spots. Bryan from OC parks mentioned this place is closed starting in October 2025 because they are doing construction on the roof of the house. Be sure to get your tours in before that occurs, since the tours will temporarily end soon. Have fun!

Iconic along the Avenue in every way…read more Carroll Ave is a place filled with lots of scenic as well as historic history. This dazzling slice of Victorian homes in Echo Park, Los Angeles' Angelino Heights area encompasses the 1300s block and tip of the 1400s. Cinema, Music Entertainment & Television and various digital mediums have been capture on this landmark Avenue from Teen Witch and Grandma's Boy to the original Charmed television series and Michael Jackson's Thriller music video film. You can park on this street, stroll and even photo op (just be mindful of properties as they belong to actual home owners who help preserve their homes that are apart of the National Register of Historic Places with several official Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments listed among these homes. It's a 10 to 15 minute walk from Echo Park Lake if close by. Definitely a great place to be a local tourist, show your tourists and enjoy as an LA native/native Angelino.

Beautiful Victorian homes. I enjoyed strolling down the street. Definitely worth visiting and…read moretaking in the beautiful architecture.