I love visiting Descanso Gardens and keep coming back. The gardens are stunning in every season;…read moreright now, roses and poppies are blooming, with some camellias left. Though lilacs and tulips have finished, there's still much to enjoy. You can enter for free with an EBT card, making it accessible for families. There's ample free parking, and a few cozy coffee spots and a gift shop inside. It's the perfect spot for a peaceful walk and to enjoy nature. Highly recommend!

My family and I visited Thanksgiving weekend and had a blast wandering around all the light…read moredisplays in the garden! This isn't necessarily a holiday-themed "Christmas" light experience, but it put us all in the holiday mood nonetheless. The themed light displays are well curated, the event is organized, staff are friendly, and the free parking is orderly and well managed. There are ten different themed exhibits found on the mile-long path. By far our favorite was the Ancient Forest, but the Garden of Good Fortune and the Fantasy Forest were close seconds! They do a wonderful job of using the light displays to really compliment and highlight the giant oak trees and other featured plants - as well as excellent music choices to really immerse you in a serene fantasy forest type experience. Some of the exhibits are interactive, like the Symphony of Oaks where you can step on the lights to make them change colors and sing - so fun! They also had a large village of tiny stained glass houses and other buildings you could actually enter and walk through - really beautiful. Another display I loved was the giant light built to resemble the moon - it was placed directly over one of the ponds and the reflection was magnificent! And everyone loves the massive, sprawling field of tulip lights which has a rotating show that will occasionally send waves of lights towards you. We spent a good hour and a half meandering around the path, which is well maintained and mostly flat with plenty of maps to find your way around the exhibits. The staff did a great job of respecting ticket entry times and the exhibits are so well laid out that we hardly noticed the crowds. Very well done! They don't sell tickets at the door so be sure to purchase online in advance. Booking our timed entry tickets was very easy via their website. They also take advanced reservations for their on-site Farmhouse restaurant and for valet parking. The restaurant and gift shop area was packed so I'd recommend restaurant reservations. But the parking was ample, even at 6pm on a Saturday and so well staffed and managed that we found a spot easily with zero chaos. This was my first visit to Descanso Gardens and now I'm wishing I had seen it in the daylight so I could compare haha! Tickets are a tad pricey but ee loved their Enchanted Forest of Light and can highly recommend it. Plus you're supporting a local botanical garden! I'll definitely be back to see all the splendor of the garden in the daytime.

RE: There's another review for Rockhaven Sanitarium at:…read more https://yelp.to/ZIov0ej5Kbb We Are Friends of Rockhaven! Agnes Richards founded Rockhaven in 1923 after being a psychiatric nurse and witnessing the cruel treatment of women with mental illness. She made sure to call each and every patient a resident, and treat them with respect. The beautiful history of Rockhaven Sanitarium (or home for the Golden Age Stars) is the most vivid piece of history that's been forgotten by so many. My favorite actress Billie Burke (Glinda, the good witch), Mrs. Topper, and, well, just too many of her parts to list resided there until her death. Do you remember Elly May Clampett? She was played by Donna Douglas, who was also a resident at Rockhaven as was, Clark Gable's first wife, Marilyn Monroe's mother, Marion Rose of Vaudeville's Statler and Rose, Broadway's actress and producer, Peggy Fears; I'm just naming a few of the long list of golden age stars that have resided at Rockhaven. And, when you're enjoying the walk you can feel the glow they left behind. It's closed now due to the COVID pandemic but we're able to go once in a while to clean up a little and just 'be' in it's past. To relish in the feeling of just 'being' there, is amazing. You're able to touch all of the past around you! This is something I've seen only in LA and its surrounding areas. This type of museum interaction is priceless; it's like watching a golden oldie but, being right next to the star you admire(d) so very much. There's a group called Friends of Rockhaven that loves and cares so much for the Sanitarium; it's so heartwarming. One of the many protectors Joanna Linkchorst has allowed us to become one of the many friends of Rockhaven and contribute to its survival. It's been such a pleasure and an honor to help in any way we can and my sincere hope is that it won't be sold for demolition or forgotten. Thank you so much, Friends of Rockhaven for all you do!

This is such a gorgeous property with a lot of history - a real gem in the middle of Montrose. I…read morehope it can be rehabbed and turned into something historical and useful for the community. Definitely look into taking one of their free tours (donation optional at the end). Joanna and Mike are so knowledgeable and passionate about this place, it's really worth your time if you like history, architecture and are fascinated by mental health institutions of the past.

Always enjoy visiting Descanso Gardens. This place is a true hidden gem and urban oasis just a…read moreshort drive from LA. From the moment you step in, you're surrounded by incredible beauty and tranquility. The gardens are impeccably maintained with so much variety.. stunning rose gardens, one of the largest camellia collections in the world, and the highlight for us was the Japanese Garden. It felt like stepping into another world. We also enjoyed wandering through the oak woodland and catching the beautiful seasonal blooms. Everything was in full glory! We brought the kids and they had a blast riding the little train (super fun and a great way to see more of the grounds). The staff was friendly, the paths are easy to walk, and there are plenty of benches to sit and soak it all in. It's the perfect spot for a relaxing day date, family outing, or even a peaceful solo walk. Admission is reasonable and totally worth it. We'll definitely be back for the special events and different seasons. Highly recommend!

Overall, the gardens are beautiful, but I left feeling a little disappointed with the overall…read moreexperience. I understand charging an admission fee, but it's hard to justify when many of the flowers and plants didn't appear to be very well maintained. On top of that, several areas and gardens were closed off due to private events, which meant we couldn't fully enjoy everything that was included with admission. I was also surprised that the train ride required an additional fee, especially since the ride itself lasted only about two minutes. Between the entry fee, limited access to parts of the property, and extra charges for attractions inside, the experience didn't quite feel like a good value. I hope this feedback is taken constructively because the gardens have a lot of potential. Better maintenance, ensuring guests have access to the advertised areas, or adjusting pricing when sections are unavailable would make for a much better visitor experience.

Stone Barn Nature Center is a small educational center dedicated to the wildlife and community…read more It's located within the Deukmejian Wilderness Park. I came to visit and was greeted by Jackie, a young blue eyed and beautiful woman, at the reception desk. She was informative and affable. Let me tell you about this center, the history of the stone barn dates to 1898 when the property was acquired by George Le Mesnager, a French emigrant and prominent Los Angeles vintner, from Dr. Benjamin Briggs, the founder of La Crescenta. Between 1914 and 1918, George's son Louis constructed the original stone barn and shed along with several other buildings that no longer exist. They were used for storing equipment and grapes until 1920, when Prohibition ended the winemaking industry and forced the Le Mesnagers into the water industry. As the turn of the century, this center is a place to learn about the wild animals in the Cresenta valley and LA County. It's a great place for kids and family. Overall, it's a nice center to bring kids or kids at heart.

So impressed with this little nature center that opened not too long ago! Went to Deukmejian…read moreWilderness Park for a picnic/hike party and found this little gem! Lots of cool activities for the kids, and it's got a little history of the area. Definitely a fun place to check out if you are visiting the park. Entrance is free!

Great host, very interesting venues and stories. The perfect spot to walk around and see history…read morethat still exists.

We did the Kellog house tour and our tour guide was great. She was very knowledagable of the…read morehistory of not just the house, but the surrounding city/cities as well. The length of the tour was well worth the money, I also know that some stories are passed down through history or just lore. We enjoyed our experience and how everyone got into character/dressed as the era. My next goal is to do the Disney mansion tour. See you soon

The Lanterman House is a craftsman museum house Listed on the National Register of Historic Places…read more The owner of this house was Dr. Roy Lanterman and wife, Emily, and they bequeath it to the City of La Cañada Flintridge. We registered for a group tour which cost $5/pp. The group was greeted by two old docent female staff (Marylou and Gayle). We started off by watching a short film about the history of La Cañada and the Lanterman family back in the late 1880. Some highlights about the tour: This house has a U-shaped Mexican Colonial hacienda design with 35 French windows, multiple rooms, a playroom, an entertainment room, Doctor's office, a large granite fireplace and a dance ballroom. Our docent was very knowledgeable and amiable. The house itself is not an estate per se but rather sits on a large lot. The house has many cool artifacts. Free parking lot on the side of the house. Tour lasted 75 mins. Overall, it's a nice historic house by the family who contributed significantly to the city of La Cañada.

If you're in the area visiting Descanso Gardens, try and set aside time to visit this lovely 1915…read morehome which is about a 5 minute drive away. Access only via scheduled docent led tours - it's a well-spent 1.5 hours for, believe it or not, only $5 for adults (discounts for Seniors and Students to $3, I think.) I won't repeat the program structure re: starting with a video and the path of the tour, as other reviews cover this accurately. But I will say if you're interested in stepping into a home and learning about the history of an area (La Canada) via the eyes of a family very influential to its growth, this is a must for you. Any history buff, and avid documentary watcher (you know who you are LOL) will enjoy a visit. The interiors have been restored and the vast majority of the furniture, art and collectibles are original to the 1915 construction. This is thanks to some "pack rat" sons who kept everything and more inside their parents' house before it was finally acquired by the city of La Cañada as a historical home. This isn't a vast Vanderbilt, grand estate - it's a beautiful and charming family home that has surprisingly modern touches that were ahead of their time - but maintaining the quiet elegance of another era. Docent Yvonne was lovely and the volunteer team at the Visitor Center equally helpful and kind. Great step back in time - you'll feel as if the Lanterman family could walk around the corner at any moment. Just go, you'll enjoy it!!! :-)

Richard nailed exactly everything I had been feeling in the head. This was my first psychic…read moreexperience. I don't regret it. He explained everything he was doing and what every card meant and how it can be perceived. During the times of COVID-19 we had our session through FaceTime. It was convenient, safe and I don't think it took away anything from the experience. I would recommend a reading from Richard to everyone!

My psychc reading with Richard Lael was so interesting and so much fun! The reading was very…read moreinteractive and very thorough. Im excited to get more readings in the future!

We had the pleasure of attending a kids drum circle with Alan with our almost 2 year old son. Alan…read morewas so inclusive to all ages and encouraged exploration with sounds! Wonderful teacher for all ages!

Grounds are magnificent house beautiful 1937 glamour the Camellia with your blue is are…read moremagnificent. It's a lovely oasis for LA County.

The Boddy House, built in 1938 and refurbished in 2007, was the former mansion of Elias Manchester…read moreBoddy; a self-made millionaire, (1891-1967). Descanso Gardens was his 150 acre estate where the house is located. The entire estate was donated to Los Angeles County in 1953. Well worth seeing if you happen to be visiting Descanso Gardens. 22 rooms and over 12,000 Square Ft.

RE: There's another review site for the beautiful Rockhaven Sanitarium at:…read more https://www.yelp.com/biz/rockhaven-sanitarium-montrose We Are Friends of Rockhaven! Agnes Richards founded Rockhaven in 1923 after being a psychiatric nurse and witnessing the cruel treatment of women with mental illness. She made sure to call each and every patient a resident, and treat them with respect. The beautiful history of Rockhaven Sanitarium (or home for the Golden Age Stars) is the most vivid piece of history that's been forgotten by so many. My favorite actress Billie Burke (Glinda, the good witch), Mrs. Topper, and, well, just too many of her parts to list resided there until her death. Do you remember Elly May Clampett? She was played by Donna Douglas, who was also a resident at Rockhaven as was, Clark Gable's first wife, Marilyn Monroe's mother, Marion Rose of Vaudeville's Statler and Rose, Broadway's actress and producer, Peggy Fears; I'm just naming a few of the long list of golden age stars that have resided at Rockhaven. And, when you're enjoying the walk you can feel the glow they left behind. It's closed now due to the COVID pandemic but we're able to go once in a while to clean up a little and just 'be' in it's past. To relish in the feeling of just 'being' there, is amazing. You're able to touch all of the past around you! This is something I've seen only in LA and its surrounding areas. This type of museum interaction is priceless; it's like watching a golden oldie but, being right next to the star you admire(d) so very much. There's a group called Friends of Rockhaven that loves and cares so much for the Sanitarium; it's so heartwarming. One of the many protectors Joanna Linkchorst has allowed us to become one of the many friends of Rockhaven and contribute to its survival. It's been such a pleasure and an honor to help in any way we can and my sincere hope is that it won't be sold for demolition or forgotten. Thank you so much, Friends of Rockhaven for all you do!

Rockhaven Sanitarium, built in 1923, marked an important historical turning point in the…read moredevelopment of safe and humane treatment of women with mental illness. Home to many of Hollywood's family members in need of a stable and caring environment, including Marilyn Monroe's mother and Billie Burke, it became known for compassionate care of those with "a mental affliction". Learn more in this Emmy-winning documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88-u9JENth0. Today, it sits empty. The City of Glendale purchased the property to save it from certain destruction; plans to develop the property stalled during the recession. Friends of Rockhaven to the rescue! Guided by Joanna Linkchorst, tours of the property have educated scores of people about the important history of the sanitarium. Learn more about how to support this effort here: http://www.friendsofrockhaven.org/ Stigma is stigma. So many people have suffered unnecessarily due to prejudice against mental illness. Thank you, Rockhaven, for showing us a different way to peace and health.