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!

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

We drove all the way from Los Angeles to visit, and while the building itself is architecturally…read morebeautiful, the overall experience was extremely disappointing. The museum has very limited content. There are very few artworks on display, and much of the space feels empty. It was surprising to see a large number of staff but very few visitors, which created an odd atmosphere. What made the experience worse was the lack of clear guidance combined with overly intrusive staff behavior. In the children's drawing area, there were no visible instructions about how the space should be used. Our child was simply drawing on paper at a table provided for that purpose. Within just a few minutes, staff approached us three separate times to tell us that drawing must be done using a board and not on the table. For young children, especially in a space that appears designed for them, this kind of repeated correction--without any posted instructions--felt unnecessary and unwelcoming. Instead of supporting families, it felt like we were being monitored and interrupted. As a nonprofit institution, one would expect a more thoughtful, visitor-friendly experience. Unfortunately, the combination of minimal exhibits, unclear organization, and unfriendly interactions made this visit not worth the trip. We will not be returning. By the way, parking is $8 per hour and requires a three-minute walk from the parking structure to the building.

Very rarely do I get a deal in the OC on Goldstar on plays, so when I found one I wanted to see I…read moretook advantage. Theater is a little difficult to find as it is tucked back in what appeared to be somewhat of a depressed area (you could tell back in it's heyday the area was hoppin'). Street parking can also be difficult to find, and there is a parking structure nearby but not sure about the rates (Sun street metered parking is free all day). Theater itself is located in an art gallery, and it is very small and seating is congested (seats are also very uncomfortable like old style theater seating where you feel the springs pop out).

The area is growing so fast and the eateries are really turning out unique and creative dishes that…read moreyou cannot find elsewhere in Southern California...or the world. The Artist Village is an integral part of DTSA (Downtown Santa Ana) and full of Artsy and Delicious venues and events. This area is truly one unique place, a must stop and...."As Good as it Gets!"

It is a local museum that has a great collection of its own and excellent visiting exhibits. It is…read moredoable in one day which makes it a great place to take friends and family who might be visiting! It can be covered easily in one day if that is all you have, but I see something in the regular collection each time I come that interests me.

This museum is excellent for families and young kids. They have an older part of the museum that…read morehouses some art pieces and paintings, as well as missionary artifacts. Then they have a whole room dedicated to the featured exhibit (usually at a separate charge from admission). Then there's the newer part of the museum and a small outdoor space that can be rented out for private events! Our toddlers had a great time here, learning from the museum, and they even participated in a scavenger hunt where they had to find and identify seashells throughout the museum. The staff that we engaged with were friendly and kind. The museum is well-lit and well-ventilated. Bonus points for being stroller-friendly! The parking lot is just across the street, $6 all day.

You know, I've worked at two different art museums, and I'm still not what you'd call an "art…read morebuff," ...I'm more of what's you'd call "a lot buff!" *rimshot* Thanks folks, I'll be here all week. Take my wife, please. Boy are my arms tired. I'm pretty sure Grand Central Art Center is my new fave part of downtown Santa Ana. It's part grad student studios/other exhibitions/sales galleries. And, let me tell you, this is one top notch art gallery. Coming from a non-art buff, that means a whole helluva lot, doesn't it? Well, it should - because if I, a person who thinks Damien Hirst is just complete bullshit, then it should mean something to you. I'd say 85% of the works in this gallery caught my attention - a much higher ratio that the rest of the galleries around here. They've got some cutting edge stuff, a lot of trendy stuff and a dash of traditional sorta stuff. The space is top notch too. I love the way the different galleries are setup. But wait...there's more. On this particular art walk night that I went, they had posters of their upcoming exhibitions. Don't you roll your eyes and say "so what." These posters were the best free posters I've ever seen. Printed on fine quality paper with awesome designs. Oh, and FREE. Duh. Thumbs Up: -Non boring art. -If you're lookin' to buy, there is art here you can actually afford. Well, not you, but you over there...you can afford it. -Next to just about everything cool in Downtown Santa Ana. -Free food and drink during art walk! Thumbs Down: -It may end up being my second favorite thing after I finally visit Lola Gaspar across the way.

During the OC Yelp Elite Event here in March, a fascinating piece of artwork caught my eye…read more And no, for those who were there, it was not the Hitler Head teapot. Yes, I agree. W.T.F. Anyways, the husband and I saw a really cool piece of art and inquired about it a few days after the event. The price was right but we had some difficulty actually buying it. Let's just say there was a lack of communication with the curator and it took both my husband and I multiple attempts to buy the piece...over a month later. Whatever. But I would like to add that Alyssa, the curatorial assistant, was very helpful once we were able to finally pick it up. The experience of buying the art was a headache, but I actually really like the gallery. They show very eclectic genres of art and a wide range of contemporary artists - from cult artist "Dark Vomit" (scary!) to Thomas Kinkade (even scarier!). But the stuff in between is really cool. Take an afternoon and go check it out. The Artists Village in Santa Ana is one of the cooler neighborhoods of OC and Grand Central Art Center is, by far, one of the better art centers.

Lovely museum! Had to come for a school assignment but it's worth coming back to see new…read moreexhibitions (they are moving locations though). I loved the art they had displayed around this time. Everything was kept well and clean and the gallery staff was super helpful and sweet. And the cherry on top was free admission and free parking (make sure you get your pass validating by a member).

The last time I was here is was just the OCMA with the blue stickers…read more During my recent visit, I noticed it was the black stickers and it was renamed to UCI OCMA. It's still a good quality and free exhibition, never disappoints! There were multiple artists being showcase and I enjoyed walking through the museum and checking out their latest exhibition.

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.

The best store I've ever experienced--yes, experienced. I feel blessed that the rebel in me said…read moreenter even when the sign clearly read "Please, Do Not Enter." What waited on the other side was a cascade of surprise, curiosity, and constant discovery. Every curated piece felt like an invitation to look closer, to see differently. It was clear I had stepped into the world of two brilliant minds, generously offering us a small glimpse of how they see. And I was all in. I left spinning, elevated, creatively full--astonished that a place like this even exists.

I got the cutest purse form here . It was a good day where none of the south coast plaza rent a…read morecops bothered me and left me in peace to actually get inside my bag and make myself happy . It's a beautiful pattern silk blue and green with shiny silky threads

i absolutely adore the experience in their aquarium by far worth admission price for that part aloneread more

Went here for a bday and ended up getting a membership with parking by the end of the day. At first…read moreI thought this place felt a little disorganized, crowded, and a bit outdated, BUT my daughter LOVED every bit of it and by the end of the day, we all ended up having a lot of fun. Tip: a lot of the school groups are there early. We were there all day and by 2pm, it really cleared out and it was nice to still have 3 hours with a lot less people. Pros: Packed with hands on activities Food is actually pretty well priced (we have been to many museums/ kid spaces) Two floors, very spacious facility Parking area and overflow parking is a very short walk Great outdoor Dino area There's a nursing room for babies The gift shop isn't crazy expensive like many other museums/ activity centers Cons: Facility feels a little outdated but we got over that very quickly Not a ton of staff for how big the place is (you gotta look for them) I like to have a good coffee when I'm out all day with my kids at a museum or learning place--- their one coffee corner was closed Overall, this place packs a punch and there really is a ton to learn while also having fun. My kids enjoyed it and so did we as parents. We were there opening to closing time! Would I go as an adult without my kids? No. It's geared towards kids and it's fun with the kids.

Our class did a field trip here this week and they seemed to enjoy the experience…read more I think panning for gold was their favorite part.

Great place to enjoy SoCal history, experience the haunted houses here, and have parties at this…read moreplace. This place also has cats, and one of them is named Citron.