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.

tmz had the best tour ever! paula and kiki were thw greatest. the information shared was…read moreawesome. they kept it fun and interesting. the finger or the wave was dun and the special treats were also great! thanks a bunch

This tour gave Temu version of nightlife and ruined my birthday. I love me some Harvey and actually…read moretook a picture with Charles at the Cheesecake factory one time. I watch TMZ literally faithfully everyday and what I miss i go to the TMZ channel on my TV. I was so disappointed. The commercials looked so fun. I booked the TMZ After Dark Tour, hyped it up, invited people, and really thought it was about to be a vibe. I played it off and still tried to enjoy myself, but honestly I was embarrassed. The only halfway fun part was the bus, and that was because of my group. First off, the TMZ worker let her friends (who didn't pay) on the bus while the rest of us paid $70. That already didn't sit right. Then the host... who thought it was a good idea to have a 70+ host who can barely walk running a nightlife tour? (Janice Dickerson) On top of that, she controlled the music. Some songs I could rock with, but others had us like "what is this?" and it took way too long to recover the vibe. Biggest issue: the bars. They were NOT inclusive. I'm all for trying new spots, but not when they're completely empty except for the bus patrons and two other people looking at all the Black and Hispanic people like "why are you here?" (Which someone actually asked my friend that) The energy was uncomfortable and unwelcoming the entire time. This is marketed as a fun, inclusive nightlife experience... and it's the complete opposite. Save your money and go literally anywhere else. Maybe try the Comedy tour might be better IDK. Look at the pic. Why take tours to a confederate bar?

we had a wonderful time with Darlene and learned a lot about Los Angeles! Food was wonderful!read more

I enjoyed the experience. I thought the restaurant foods that were chosen were great.read more

Quail Run Ranch is a unique and one-of-a-kind ostrich farm that is basically out in the middle of…read morenowhere. You might not realize how huge and dangerous some of these birds really are, but they average about 9 feet to 12 feet tall and from 250 to 350 pounds. And, they can be quite deadly. During the mating season, the males will instantly try to attack you if you get close. They've got about 6 to 10 different ostriches in separate fenced off areas. If you pay a few dollars for a tour, they will walk you down and show you the different ostriches they have, as well as provide some pretty interesting ostrich facts. Their feet are crazy as they are the only two toed bird on earth. Looking at them it is easy to see how they are related to dinosaurs because it looks just like a dinosaur foot. You can also buy ostrich eggs if they have them available, which are equal to about 24 to 36 eggs. The flavor and consistency is actually pretty good as well and very similar to chicken eggs. They also sell honey and a bunch of other things. Also, in certain times of year, you can go and see the baby ostrich chicks that they raise. If you're feeling adventurous, this is definitely worth a trip, especially if you have kids. This has become a fun stop we started making on our annual visit to the California Poppy Preserve in Antelope Valley. I would call ahead and see what's going on with tours and everything else. Five stars.

This place was so amazing great place to get close to ostrich. The own himself gave my family a…read moreprivate tour it was so informative and all the details he gave us have me so amazed. The location it self it's beautiful near mountains. They also have restrooms and playground for kids. They also have little shop they sell ostrich eggs which are huge and they even have home made honey. Amazing place would definitely be going back!!

Manuel was a great tour guide -- he was very knowledgeable about the area and all the fun facts…read moreabout the celebrities and the history of several areas in and throughout Los Angeles. He would even provide suggestions of food places to go to and I kept adding things to my bucket list of places to check out on my own time if I were to ever return to the area. I appreciate his patience and professionalism when navigating the roads of LA as not many drivers on the road are all too fond of the bus tours. However, Manuel handled things very professionally throughout our tour and was a flawless and safe driver making sure everyone felt comfortable and taken care of. I am also very grateful that he reminded us to bring a jacket as this was around 3:30pm for the start of our tour when it was really sunny but it quickly became freezing by 5:30ish in the evening. He definitely saved us from the cold by recommending us to grab our jackets! Overall a really positive experience as he did not shy away from providing more info and knowledge about Hollywood even to the VERY last minute as we approached the drop off point. Much appreciated and thanks again !

We had a great time with David. He was an excellent tour guide, very friendly and knowledgeable…read more Thank you for making our trip memorable.

5 star service! 5 star food! 5 star sightseeing! 5 star hotels!…read more If you want to enjoy your trip without any worries, signet is your choice.

Went to Vietnam for 9days. Excellent tour guide, 5stars…read morehotels. wonderful food. Trip arrangements were suit for the weather.

I did the Missing at the Mortuary tour in Pasadena after watching The Mortician on HBO Max, so I…read morewas definitely curious to see how it all connected in real life. The tour had some creepy atmosphere but overall, it felt a little flat. Didn't really learn anything new or interesting. It wasn't bad, but it didn't really live up to the intrigue or tone of the show. I couldn't help but wonder if the electrical company that bought out the mortuary is getting a cut of the profits.

Best business out there for any entertainment! From ghost investigations to magic to escape rooms!…read moreThis place has it all! Insane that it is at a real true crime location... taking the tour next! 10/10 ask for Noel

Excellent tour. Steve was a very knowledgeable and informative guide. Very well organized tour in…read morea new ford transit full size van, with many landmarks, apartment buildings and homes pointed out. Stops at key murals, watts towers, liquor store, etc. so you get a chance to walk around and take photos. Very well done and I would recommend to anyone who wants to see south l.a. firsthand.

The tour itself with Big Mike was worth it. He's a gifted story teller and shares his own personal…read moreexperiences & insights that adds an authentic value to the tour. The two stars go to Big Mike holding down this bizness. The cons: The night before Purchased dual package tour: La Hood Life and Hollywood tour for $125 a person. A Text message sent at 2am said to meet up at 930am, which we didn't see until parking in the garage at 930am. We get there at 937am to check in, our tour gets verified with the owner (bald slick brother in a all white T parked a glossy badass Benz). At 10am the rest of our tour group arrives. They wait on the opposite end of us because our tours are separate. At 1010am we get verified the 3rd time that we have both tours booked, then offered a seat in the open air tour truck. At 1035 we get verified again & told to get off the open air tour truck and get a seat on the white van with everyone else, that our Hollywood tour would be after we get back from the Hood tour, Mind you the tour I booked was described as 3.5 hrs, quick & to the point. Instead We end up on a nearly 4 hours long tour of the hood. We got back to the pickup location at 230pm. 5 hrs in total wasted mostly by waiting around, watching a verbal argument btwn Mooney, the owner & Big Mike but he seemed to stay out of it. The complaining and arguing and cussing was authentic, cuz Mooney's frustration was real & felt. Yet I think his hissy fit led to all the chaos & waiting around we had to do. We're out $80 because that how much more we paid than everyone else on our tour. I left feeling "Debow-ed" with my tourist chain getting yanked off! Not to mention, the Van sound system went out by blasting uncontrollable screeching noise every time the Van was started back up. This screeching assault to our hearing happened about 9 times. Painful!!! Plus we were stuck in the heat with no AC. Haha it was so ridiculously awful, that looking back I can only laugh. Luckily we broke down close to a small store & bought cold drinks & snacks while the wiring was figured out to the sound system. The rest of the tour the microphone didn't work so the people in the back couldn't hear Big Mike's awesome story telling, and their nonstop complaining behind me was distracting AF. Lastly what we were overcharged $80, should be given to Big Mike and lil sum for Mooney cuz Mooney was mad as hell and I could tell by his high level cussing he can tell a story too.

Pasadena Heritage lecture "Tribute to Julia Morgan, Architect", was held January 21, 2012 in honor…read moreof Julie Morgan's 140th birthday, the 35th anniversary of the founding of PH and to raise awareness for the possible preservation, renovation and restoration of JM's YWCA (1921) located at Marengo and Holly in Pasadena which has been listed on PH's most endangered list for many years. This was a very informative, well attended presentation on the City's historic civic center plan, JM's bio and body of work, architecture and construction of the YWCA as well as the past and present function of the structure and possibilities for reuse. The second part of this program may be scheduled in the Fall of 2012. Julia Morgan, California's first licensed woman architect, is known for her work at Hearst Castle, in addition to her work in SF, Oakland, No. California and for the design and construction of YWCA buildings throughout California, Utah, Arizona, and Hawaii including 14 structures at the Asilomar Conference Grounds (originally YWCA) in Pacific Grove. Bernard Maybeck was her mentor.

For the past 16 years, Pasadena Heritage has been hosting the annual Craftsman weekend, which…read moreaccording to their website is "the largest and most comprehensive celebration in the Western United States." Throughout this weekend, you can take both bus and/or walking tours of historic neighborhoods, but the highlight of the weekend is the Craftsman House Tour where you get to visit six distinctive period homes, Not only do you get to see the interiors of these beautiful homes, you'll also have trained docents inside who will give you historical facts and architectural info about the home itself. So if you have a love of the American Arts & Craftsman movement, than why not take advantage of being local to a part of the country where you can see beautiful examples of this distinct architectural and design style. I certainly did last year and with Annual Craftsman Weekend coming around again in October, you can too. To see the pics I took while on the 2006 Craftsman House Tour, check out the link below: http://www.flickr.com/photos/la_addict/sets/72157594566541113/

I'm a fan of historic hikes, especially ones that feature old relics, so visiting this historic…read morelookout tower was right up my alley. Cerro Negro (formerly San Rafael) fire lookout tower was built in 1934. It was operational for 26 years until the county turned it over to the Glendale City Fire Department in 1960. Since then it has been used as a communications site. It's unfortunately not accessible to the public and can only be viewed from behind a chain link fence. Located near the tower is an old, nonfunctional, Chrysler Victory Air Raid Siren. I've read that it produced the loudest sound ever achieved by a siren, delivering 138 decibels, and that it could be heard 25 miles away. It was tested on the last Friday of every month at 10am up until 1985. It's an interesting piece of Cold War era history that, depressingly, is starting to have increasing relevance today. You can access the site a number of different ways. For quick access you can just drive to the end of Sugar Loaf Dr and walk a short distance. My recommended method would be to take the 4-mile roundtrip hike from Descanso Gardens. There's an easy-to-miss entrance off of Descanso Dr before you turn right into the park that takes you to Descanso Motorway. From there it's a moderately strenuous climb where you'll travel counterclockwise, encircling the park, along the ridgeline. After you make the semicircle you should be able to see the lookout in the distance. The path should be fairly obvious from there.

This lookout tower is quite visible from many vantage points along the maze of hiking/running…read moretrails in Glendale. There are a variety of options for trails that are moderate to difficult , from fire road to single track. The trails are great for hiking, running, and are dog friendly. Access points are found within several residential spots in the area and the Sports Complex.