I've been exploring interesting places in the Los Angeles area for 35 years and finally stumbled…read moreonto this one. It is not your typical museum. It's more like a time warp. The docent, Dick, was a walking encyclopedia and very nice man. We were fascinated by everything we saw and learned and are planning a return trip to see what we couldn't cover in the first four hours. The family history is fascinating. So is the local history, which covers the rough and tumble early days of Los Angeles after 1905. If you like machines, this is nirvana. If you're not into machines, there is still plenty to pique your interest. There are 5 acres of interesting artifacts in various stages of preservation and decay. One gets a strong sense that the place has changed very little within those 5 acres and the fascinating stories of a family of interesting characters are enriched by the stuff that surrounded them. Who needs a curator when everything is exactly as they left it? Go early and make a day of it. Get the tour from a docent. Prepare to get muddy or dusty. Wear old shoes. It's an unforgettable place.

This was a very last minute visit as it wasn't planned but I was in the neighborhood visiting…read moreanother property. This ranch is hidden in plain sight. The area surrounding it is pretty urbanized with apartments across the street and an distribution center nearby. Don't miss the entrance! There is an abundance of things to see! Each building and each room has a lot to take in. If you are into history, antiques and such, this is the place!

Took my mom and family to see this house. It was amazingly beautiful-preserved beautifully. If you…read morelove history, this is a great tour.

This is an old gorgeous house built in the 1890's and wonderfully preserved. It is open on the 1st…read moreand 3rd Saturdays of every month from 1-4 PM. They do tours of the insides and you're allowed to wander around the outside freely. It's free, but if you enjoy yourself you should donate--donations simply go to keeping the house clean. No photos are allowed of the inside, so you'll always be surprised by what you see. If you're interested in old houses and the way things used to be "back in the day" then you need to stop by if you get the chance. It is clear that the people who work here have a definite passion and either feel a sense of wonder for this bygone age or a real connection to something they lived through long ago. For some reason I feel a bit "different" since visiting. Unlike some museums that just show you a bunch of stuff, you really get a feel walking around this house for what it must have been like to live here across the 100+ years it's been here. Definitely something that you should check out.

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 castle in Glendora? Yes, your eyes aren't deceiving you--Rubel Castle is real, it's magnificent,…read moreand it's gloriously eccentric. Thanks to the sheer persistence (and probably delightful stubbornness) of Michael Rubel, we now have this quirky, towering State Treasure sitting right in the middle of Glendora like a fairy tale that accidentally took a detour through a hardware store. This place is beautifully done, and part of its charm is that it's a full-on hodgepodge of relics, antiques, crystal trinkets, and "wait... what is that doing here?" moments tucked into every nook and cranny. You'll marvel, you'll laugh, you'll squint in confusion--honestly, it's everything you'd want in a castle built with love, imagination, and a dash of madness. And let's talk about the makeshift cemetery. Quirky? YES. Fun? Absolutely. Slightly spooky? Only if your imagination is over-caffeinated. But it fits the vibe perfectly--like the castle whispered, "You know what I'm missing? A tiny cemetery." The tours are fantastic, the guides are passionate, and the whole experience feels like you're stepping into a living scrapbook of California history and charming chaos. Overall: Amazing, amazing place. Book your tour. They only do tours every first Sunday of the month, so set your alarms, mark your calendars, tie a string around your finger--just don't miss it. Rubel Castle is truly a California State Treasure, and an absolute must-see for anyone who appreciates creativity, history, and a little eccentric sparkle.

Wed August I was getting ads for Imaginarium and couldn't…read moreget a handle on what exactly this was. I was looking for 4hours to keep my charges occupied. I'm glad I had the kids with me: they had a blast, I had an okay time- together we averaged 4 stars. The decorations reminded me simultaneously of the Rose parade floats and Meow Wolf. I thought: How do we make this last four hours so the kids will collapse into bed? I dragged my feet, forced myself to go through the rooms slowly, took lots of pictures of the children posing. When one child wanted to color the balloons/apples I let her do that for 5minutes. The 7:30pm circus show really kicked the experience into high gear for them. They were amazed by the death wheel, the fire dancer, and the globe of death. Then they discovered the ball pen, which was about 15minutes of fun. Then they discovered the bubble machine and I watched from afar as they got themselves covered in foam. There was a misting station to clean off. There was begging to do the slime lab and I finally acquiesced. Those $8 per slime were well worth the money to keep the girls occupied for hours. As it approached closing time the girls got a sudden burst of energy and wanted to go through all the games again, go to another show (this time with an aerialist) and take more photos. Overall, Imaginarium is a very photo op worthy place. But if you're not really into photo ops, it could be perplexing how you would spend your time here. The kids loved it, but I think the highlight for them was the slime lab. Anyway, worth the entry if you have young kids!

Had such a fun time at Imaginarium at Lakewood!…read more Loved the millions of LED lights, giant LEGO displays, and the lantern pool where you can drop your wishes. The live circus performances were also included with the ticket, which was such a fun surprise! Such a magical experience for both kids and adults! ‍ IG: socalhkfoodies

Did you know... if you need to stay indoors, you can view awesome sculptures and more art…read moreinstallations on the Paramount Outdoor Art Museum link here. Perfect virtual art tour from wherever you are. Save on gas, stay safe and healthy. Enjoy! http://www.paramountcity.com/government/outdoor-art-museum#ad-image-9

This museum is small but packed full of incredibly detailed and interesting displays. The quality…read moreis incredible for the price of admission: free! I was surprised how amazing this place is and how much fun I had exploring the history of Whittier. Although I knew that President Nixon was from Whittier, I still did not expect to see an entire display about his history in Whittier. It was also interesting and very well curated. I can't wait to come back one day for a Haunted Whittier Tour! Instead of donating money to the museum we loaded up on a couple souvenirs instead. This museum is definitely worth a few visits since the displays are constantly changing and evolving.

A lovely museum worth visiting…read more I felt like a kid in a candy store with all the different rooms to explore. My friend and I had a great time and spent about an hour and a half here. Museum is free and there is parking in the back.

This is a small museum but it's full of interesting displays of fire trucks and ambulances, each…read morewith their own unique history and perfectly preserved and polished and restored. We came here with my daughters and their family. The children were very entertained and learned so much about firemen and firehouses and fire engines and ambulances. This is a must visit museum. The veteran firefighters were very friendly and helpful. We thanked them for what they did to keep our community safe!

We had such a great time at the Los Angeles County Fire Museum in Bellflower! From the moment we…read morewalked in, we noticed how incredibly clean and well-kept everything was. The exhibits are organized beautifully, and you can tell they take a lot of pride in maintaining the space. The staff was so friendly and welcoming. They were happy to answer questions and shared interesting details that made the experience even more special. It didn't feel rushed at all, just a warm, inviting environment. It's also located right in the middle of a nice little downtown area, which makes it perfect to visit and then grab a bite or walk around after. Such a hidden gem! We'll definitely be back and highly recommend checking it out. $5 a person and children 12& under are free.

One of my favorite places to take my toddler! It's located in a business area of Irvine with ample…read moreparking. It does get pretty busy here and we always try to go right at opening. They offer many special events throughout each month, including special hours for babies and young toddlers. Pretend City is most ideal when your child is walking. From the auto shop to the mini Trader Joe's to special events, my son loves it all! It has activities and unique areas for all ages and interests. We'll continue to go here for many more years!

The place is wonderful, filled with lots of hours of play and excitement but I definitely feel…read moreit's over priced.. if you have EBT or Wick then you can get in for $5 a person.. The man at the front desk has a ton of attitude so beware.. only reason why I left 3 stars.. he was extremely rude to me for not understanding something with the pricing.. The vending machines are expensive but it's pretty cool that you can bring your lunch. Definitely worth checking out .