I've been to this library since I was in elementary school. It was one of my favorite places and my…read moreall time favorite library. It was a lot different then. Very kid friends with awe sensory activities and book reading groups. I recently started school. I enjoy a different scene from my warm bedroom especially now in the summer. Studying at this library is not as pleasant as it used to be. It smells really bad in specific areas due to many homeless people. They take up all the study tables and quiet corners. Most of them sit for hours on their phone. Some Sleep for hours. It's not as quiet as other libraries but it's quiet enough to study my online classes. I'm a bit disappointed with how the remodeled. It feels more modern than homie which is no issue just not my vibe. I don't remember the library staff allowing homeless people in when I was a kid unless they looked somewhat well kept and with better hygiene. Anyways if it weren't for the homeless people and smell this library would still be my top favorite. I prefer the signal hill library now but still Billie Jean is a close way from where I live Oh and signal hill library is open on Mondays! Which is great because I study everyday of the week. I don't mean to be mean towards homelessness people. I agree there should be more done but one reality is that not all of them care to work and most are doing drugs. I can see that being of conflict in assisting them with stability. Nevertheless, I will always remember the good memories I had at this library. I practically grew up here.

I call it the Disneyland of botanical gardens. ;) I am a member of the Huntington, and have been…read morecoming for years. It is my absolute favorite Zen spot in the world. I no longer live in the state, but visit every few weeks and make sure to visit the gardens every time. I've painted these gardens over the years and will continue to do so. My favorite gardens are the Rose garden, the Japanese garden and the Chinese garden. This is the perfect date spot as well as a perfect place to walk in the morning amongst nature before the day gets too hot. The children's garden will entertain the littles and they even have a water feature on the hot days. The art pieces throughout the museums are not only beautiful but historical and should not be missed. There is a great coffee shop to grab a cup for your walk and a great gift shop at the exit. There are a couple of quick food options as well. Parking is plentiful- but make reservations! Verdict: perfection- everyone must visit this lovely land at least once in their lifetime.

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.

we love going to these little pop-up stuff that we see on social media or on Google and everything…read moreand this time we went to bubble world in Montebello. It wasn't that far of a drive for us and parking. There was a lot of parking and it was free and I believe you had to purchase your times to go and you wait in line and then you also have to sign like a waiver or something We love seeing all these high technology and everything. It was so cool so much opportunities for photos and a lot of things to do with your kids and they seem super entertained. I think we went in and it took probably a good hour or so to see everything and do everything so if you were ever in the area, then totally check it out just kidding. The exhibit was closed now LOL

Was not impressed. At all…read more Not worth the price and people are gross. The workers do not do their job either. Of course, the place is already quite dirty as it is, especially since it's closing soon. Some of the rooms were cool. I like the balloon room and the lights, but some people should really read the rules. First off, this family blocked the stairway to get in. And one of the family members was this short, big guy who was just running in the balloon room in circles and popping all the balloons and kicking them around up over the walls. Now that's fine, but then me and boyfriend tried to make our way in and another couple too, were there. He continued to kick up a bunch of balloons, while me and another person was trying to take pictures. He even accidentally knocked down his daughter in the process. He was extremely obnoxious and even joked about it with his family members, who just laughed and took videos. Now most of the interactive stuff was bad. It was gross for the most part due to all the germs, dirt, and hair. The balls and balloons all have random dirty smears of brown and orange on them. The ball pit was very dirty. I assume they're not planning on sanitizing any time soon due to the exhibit closing down. Anyways, we go into the light room and the worker says stay in the path and don't the lights. After two minutes, all of a sudden these three kids run in and start going into the lights and grabbing them, she stares and doesn't say a thing to them. These kids are super rowdy so I say something, and then she says oh, yeah don't do that. Pretty useless in my opinion. Most of this stuff is geared towards kids, but my bar was already super low. Do not spend your money here. Go somewhere else.

A MUST DO! A FREE EVENT EVENT & FREE PARKING! This is someone's home not a museum so Please be…read morerespectful & DO NOT BOTHER THE HOMEOWNERS they live there. Just take a look from the sidewalk. The Devil's House is the famous house from the movie Hocus Pocus with the Sanderson Sisters Bette Middller, Sarah Jessica Parker & Kathy Najimy. The movie was filmed in multiple locations including Whittier & Altadena California, Salem Massachusetts & Warner Ranch. This is the home where in the movie you meet the Devil - Gary Marshall & Penny Marshall from the TV Show Laverne & Shirley. There are also Trick or Treating Scenes filmed here as well with several houses right next door. There is also a park across the street you can check out as well. You can also drive by East Whittier Middle School which was Jacob Bailey High School in the movie. Some Interior Shots were filmed there on 14421 Whittier Blvd. To make it worth your trip check out some other Cool Local Spots in Whittier. Back to the Future Mill Valley High School was filmed @ Whittier High School on 12417 Philadelphia St. King Richard's Antiques is one of the largest antique shops in California. It is Fantastic with multiple levels with over 60,000 Square Feet of Vintage Merchandise. Also check out Nixon Plaza - Richard Nixon's Law Office was located here in a historic 100 year old building that has now been transformed into a Food Hall There are multiple restaurants with a Large Indoor & Outdoor Dining Area. You can grab something to eat & a brew @ Whittier Brewing Company in the Food Hall. Also check out the Whittier Village Cinema. It is a small beautifully restored Art Deco Movie Theater that was originally called The Wardman Theater which was built in 1932. The Architecture, the Tile & the Lights are really beautiful. It is located in the Uptown Section of Whittier that has lots of nostalgic charm & charisma. Also check out some of the other restaurants & breweries in the area too. So Much Fun in Whittier! It used to be, you had to have Mega Bucks & be really Rich to have the Good Life, not anymore. The Game has changed. You've been Upgraded. Now You Can Live Like a King on a Limited Budget!

I have passed by this museum so many times over the last thirty years and finally I visited with my…read morefriends few days ago. What a beautiful place. Wow .... The selection of fine art here is unbelievable. Van Gogh, Picasso, Rembrandt and more. We saw so many beautiful masterpieces from 14th to 20th centuries. Degas bronze sculptures and paintings. You will find it here. The sculpture garden is so serene. There is a pond with flowers surrounded with so many trees and beautiful sculptures. I can stay here all day. Lots of benches to sit and enjoy the grounds. There is also a cafe by the entrance of the garden... Will be back soon. Loved this place.

What an incredible experience and great way to explore Pasadena. I've lived in SoCal all my life…read moreand I never even knew this museum existed. All I can say is WOW! What a beautifully designed and curated collection. It was the perfect way to spend my Sunday afternoon. I got to see a Monet, Van Gogh, and a Rivera up close and personal. The detail was incredible, what masterpieces! If you haven't checked out this museum, definitely put it on your list. The staff were super helpful and friendly. Plenty of parking. I definitely will be looking into a membership.

The Gilb Museum of Arcadia Heritage is a small museum that exhibits exclusively to preserve and…read morerecognize Arcadia's heritage. This museum is maintained and operated by the City of Arcadia; admission is free. Museum is named after the Ruth and Charles Gilb, both long-time residents of Arcadia. This museum features 7 interpretive galleries. The main gallery features a chronology of Arcadia's history. Moreover, museum offers community programming for adults and youth. You can swiftly complete the entire museum (galleries and collections) in less than 40 minutes. Free Parking available. Friendly staff. I'm glad I was able to check out the Gilb museum. Overall, it's a modest museum to visit.

I have wanted to visit the Gilb for nearly a decade and I finally visited over the summer…read more It is not a large space, but there is some good information about Arcadia and how it was formed in there. I loved seeing some Olympics volunteer outfits from 1984, pictures from the military, and the hall of fame of famous Arcadiana. A neat place. And it seems that they have activity kits for kids to complete.

This is the most difficult Botanical Garden to get in touch with…read more The hours they have posted on their website are wrong, no one picks up the phone after calling several times and leaving several messages. I went in person last weekend, and it was closed despite their online hours posted. The lack of clarity even upon walking up to the venue is not clear. They have no signs stating they are closed and it's clear they do not care to return voicemails. Please do not waste your time going there.

Background On Visit: Last Sunday (4/12/26), the venue hosted the Pasadena Festival Of Tea. We were…read moreone of the participants for this event. Hours Of Operation: They welcome visitors to the garden on many Friday and Saturday evenings and during the day on Sundays. You can check out their schedule of events and admission cost on their website: https://japanesegardenpasadena.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/japanesegardenpasadena/event.jsp?;=&event=1612& Admission Cost: Mostly, $15 on Friday and Saturday. Sunday, it's $12. For other events, they post the cost on their website. Location/Parking: Located across from the Arlington Gardens (Free). It's kinda hidden, but just use the gps on your phone to guide you. Parking can be found along Arlington. For special events, they encourage you to park at Westridge School (Orange Grove and W. State St.) and walk up to Storrier Stearns. Ambiance/Decor: The Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden is a beautiful and charming retreat with a quiet and tranquil elegance. The place is small which contains many of the much admired design features found in the most lavish of Japanese-style gardens of its era. As Kendall Brown states in his book, California Japanese-style Gardens, "this is the genius of Kinzuchi Fujii: this was once a flat area of two tennis courts; now it is a masterwork. 1) Classic Niko-an Teahouse, the garden landscape offers a variety of other beautiful details. 2) Numerous gathering points, seating areas & vistas 3) Four original bridges plus the original cedar log Japanese Waiting Bench 4) Two large interconnected, irregularly shaped koi ponds 5) The sounds of two waterfalls, one cascading down a 25-foot hill 6) An artful dry riverbed for rain overflow winding through the garden 7) Cooling shade everywhere from spreading sycamores & old oaks 8) Many tons of boulders & stones 9) Granite statuary & stone lanterns Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden For Thought: Wouldn't mind coming back to re-center myself. I did a have nice time.

We spent 2 hours here, but could have spent so much more time if we didn't have a deadline. We went…read moreon the free day (first Friday of the month), but with that free ticket you only get 2 to 3 hours in the afternoon before the place closes, so it's a great taster to make you want to come again! Our kids ages 2 to 7 all had a great time! There was so much to do, from walking through the river and doing water play, to sand play in the pretend lake, to crafts (that we didn't have time for), to climbing equipment, and building/engineering/physics activities. Plenty of things to do both indoor and outdoor. The physics section is great for older kids too, even middle school (but the rest of the museum is definitely geared to elementary).

Free Parking, confusing at first as it's a shared lot for the park. There was a line upon arrival…read moreso you can actually buy tickets online and bypass the other line. The museum is both indoors and outdoors. There's several activities that are geared towards older kids such as sitting on seat and self-pull to go up. Or a tug a war type thing. The other outdoor activities are for all ages, they have areas where you can bang on stuff to hear the sounds. There's an indoor which I feel the younger ones loves such as the train table or the parachute. Overall there's activities for all ages. There was even a spot if someone wants to read and do storytime. Fun overall. It can get pricey. I'm not big on places charging adults as it truly is more for the kids.