Signed up for a haunted walking tour at night. My group was the only one that signed up for that…read morenight so we got to choose our own walking pace. We went through mostly old town Pasadena. The guide, I forgot her name, was wonderful and knowledgeable. I've lived in the area most of my life and learned a lot about Pasadena's history during the tour. Was hard to hear at some points because of the cars passing by. It did run a bit long so be aware if you get tired early like me. Overall great experience.

Last weekend we enjoyed an amazing tour of Pasadena's Saloons and Speakeasies. This tour was very…read morewell researched; and the tour guide, Julia, presented two hours of fascinating tidbits about the history of pre-and-post Prohibition drinking establishments in Pasadena. The walking was easily paced, and covered a lot of different locations. Julia provided lots of historical photos on her iPad that supplemented what she was telling us, which made the tour that much better. Most of the tour guests were from Pasadena, which goes to show how much we can still learn about our beautiful city's history. I would highly recommend this tour; and you can find out how The Blind Donkey on Union Street owes its name to this interesting period in our history.

Thanks again to our food guide Nancy for the K Town food tour! Delicious and minimal walking as…read moreeverything yummy is so close by & learned some new Korean facts (like the silverware!) It was a memorable work outing & will be back! The only tricky part was figuring out parking nearby but it all worked out. Thank you!

We had an awesome Six Taste Tour today with Darlene in Downtown LA!! We learned a lot of history…read morethroughout our walk and had so much tasty food along the way! Love the commitment to family-owned businesses! For five people who all grew up and live in LA - we re-discovered DTLA today! Can't wait to check out which Six Taste Tour to try next!

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.

I'm totally into anything paranormal. Ghost, aliens, Bigfoot, La Llorona.....I like! Don't get me…read morewrong I will sleep with my night light on. After watching stuff on TV I decided to Google, not expecting to find a group in my backyard! (practically) So I jumped at the chance to go on a local History & Haunt Tour with them. We walked around the Mission museum (behind the Playhouse), HS, church, cemetery and ending at the doors of the Playhouse. As we were walking up to the doors of the Playhouse their was a strong floral scent. As the organizers thanked everyone for attending they walked towards the sidewalk. My daughter, Michelle (organizer), and myself stayed behind. I love old buildings so I asked my daughter to take a few pictures. As we walked away we heard the Playhouse doors open and slam shut!! Now these doors are huge. So you can imagine how loud that was. Before the tour ended Michelle had pulled on the doors and they were locked. We stood still for a second, turned around expecting/wishing someone to be standing there. The 3 of us ran up to the doors, we tried pulling on the doors again and they were locked and now the inside lights were on. My daughter and I stared at each other and then at Michelle. It was the weirdest feeling. We eventually caught up with everyone else and told them what they missed. We've also attended their Scary Movie Night at Savannah Cemetery. That was cool. We also made it to Paranormal Night II which I convinced my husband to attend. We're planning on going to the meet-up at Devils Gate Dam. I listened to Michelle's GB session on Facebook, can't wait! On the car ride home from their events I always tell my daughter...."we found our people"! So believers and non-believers attend one of their local events. You may never know what you'll see/hear/experience.

From the owner: Ghost Tour Dates: Sept 28, October 5, October 12, October 19, and October 26…read more This tour is centered around the Historic Mission San Gabriel Ditrict. This is a two hour tour that is designed to amaze you. Fisrt, you will see actual photos of ghosts on a big screen. This presentation takes place in one of the historic buildings that is actually haunted. After this you will walk through the Historic Ditrict to the most haunted buildings where some of the ghosts still reside. Most guests capture orbs, mists and other unexplained phenomena! Keep that camera handy! Book early. We only take about 20 guests at a time. San Gabriel Ghost Seekers Private tours upon request.

We had a great day with our guide, Paul! Very informative filled with a chock full of interesting…read morefacts! We are native Los Angeles peeps and never rode Angel's Flight. Paul treated us to a ride which made it special! I definitely recommend this tour company!

We booked the Hollywood Speakeasy Tour for Valentine's Day 2025. On the day of, they cancelled it…read more Nice. Don't rely on these guys. While I appreciate things come up, a professional operation has contingencies in place to manage those risks. I guess not here. A suggestion: if you're going to cancel at the last minute, at least offer the customer something so that working with you wasn't a complete waste of time.

If you're looking for a fun group to hike with that is led by an experienced knowledgeable person,…read moreNaturalist For You is your stop. I found them by accident while looking up trails to hike on when I moved to the area and have been going on hikes with them ever since. Joel, the organizer, loves to talk about the areas the hikes are in and gives extensive historical information and has an encyclopedic-like knowledge of the plant and animal life. Talk about a modern day John Muir! They have hikes weekly all over the Orange County mountains and other local places, you can find them on Facebook or Meetup to get in on hikes and the best part is they do hikes from easy to difficult so whatever level you are on there are hikes for you. There are also hikes to study birds, edible plants, owling, and much more.

Mr. Joel Robinson is an Orange County naturalist who leads educational hikes in and around the…read moreSanta Ana Mountains. He works with schools and individuals to create awareness of the diverse flora and fauna of the local mountains. Joel is a leader in the protection of natural habitats that are always under threat from land developers. I encourage you to go to one of his classes or to participate on one of his hikes! You will love it!

Enjoyed the Bungalow Heaven Home Tour a couple of times now and will definitely be back in future…read moreyears to see more beautiful historic homes from the early 1900s... 5 stars!!!!! If you live in an older home and/or you are a fan of historic homes, the Bungalow Heaven Home Tour in late April every year is an event not to be missed. Be ready to be amazed with the exterior as well as the interior of 6 to 7 featured homes in Pasadena. Most of the owners of these homes have meticulously restored their home's historic glory, and their commitment and dedication to their homes will definitely make you think twice about today's cookie cutter modern homes. Thank you so much to the Bungalow Heaven Home Tour committee for organizing such a wonderful event for the home showcase volunteers for letting strangers see their beautiful homes! Buy tickets online ahead of time to get a discount. A map of all featured homes will be given to you at Check In at MacDonald Park, and this park is the perfect check in area since it's pretty much in the middle of Bungalow Heaven. You set the pace and the route since the tour is completely self-guided. Bring a lot of water and snacks, and make sure to wear comfortable shoes. Yes, you can also drive yourself from home to home, but part of the charm is walking through the beautiful streets of Bungalow Heaven. Walk and enjoy the views of this historic neighborhood if you are able. Several food trucks are at McDonald Park for a lunch break, and there are also different opportunities to enjoy live music performances along the route. In the 2023 tour, the first one to take place after the pandemic, the tour also featured craftsmen who live in the area along the route, from quilt makers to painters to furniture makers.

From reading the other reviews, it seems that the tour continues to grow each year. Dear Hubby saw…read morean announcement about it in the L.A. Times. As he loves the Craftsman style, we decided to go today for the annual event; our first time. The opportunity to go through up to 8 of the Arts and Crafts period gems inside and out is the draw of the tour. Adding flavor and value, the organizers have included live music being performed at some of the houses. There was also a section of one street blocked off, with food trucks offering food for sale, with seating available in the shade. Meanwhile, several residents set up refreshment / mercantile booths in multiple locations. They offered free cookies, lemonade, and water. Or for a dollar you could purchase cold bottled water to go. T-shirts, mugs, aprons, and more were also for sale with the tour logo. Everyone was friendly, and patient. Some chill was required, as most of the homes had a wait to go inside. They would stage a group of up to 15 guests or so to go through the homes. A docent would check in tickets on the front porch and give an intro to the house, offering its general history. From there, once inside, another volunteer would intro the living / dining areas. On through bedrooms, dens, kitchens, and baths. Each home showcased various levels of details in built-in benches with storage, fireplaces, crown molding, hutches, and other cabinetry. Some of the pocket doors were works of art in their design. Today was quite warm, and several of the dwellings became stifling inside with so many guests and no air conditioning. Only a few had fans going. It became oppressive by 3:30 in the afternoon, so we skipped the last two places. While walking between the homes, various displays were offered around the neighborhood. One was on stained glass. Another was an amazing collection of quilts. The organizers packed value in for the $30 same day admission fee. We could have saved $5 each by pre-purchasing online. A trolley ride was also an option for another $10 apiece, but they sold out before noon. Put this on your list for next year if you enjoy historic houses, especially Craftsman ones. Most homeowners also follow through with the theme with their furniture and accessories, so it's like a journey back in time. Wear comfortable, low-heeled shoes!

Went canyoneering with Pete and Kyle this past weekend plus another 11 people. I wasn't sure at…read morefirst because our meeting place was in a shopping complex. But after the briefing, we're told we were the most on time or even early group that arrived for many trips they had, even the day before, they started at 11.30, instead of 9.30am. The briefing took about 15-30minutes to make sure everyone knows about the safety and addressed any concerns that they might have before heading up to the mountain. We're then followed them to their car to get the gears for each person. Once everyone got their gears and everything is cleared, we all got our cars lined up behind their Honda Fit and drove up to Mt Baldy. We got there like around 9.30-9.45 ish, and started hiking around 10. It was a pretty steep hill to hike and lots of rocks, so better wear shoes with good grip. Also, this was actually a beginner canyoneering so don't worry about bringing your own rock climbing shoes. Just make sure you bring sunscreen, hat and make sure your bag is waterproof or water resistant, because you'd be going down a waterfall. After climbing for about maybe 45minutes or so, we finally reached the top of the San Antonio waterfalls and both Kyle and Pete started setting up the ropes. They also told us what we need to do and watch out for before sending the first person to go down. There were a total of 4 waterfall to traverse, but the 2nd and 4th were the best, we really got soaked!!! They were also the tallest ones, so if you have a gopro or camera, it would be best to take them during that 2 rappels. I got stuck on the last rappel and I wasn't scared or anything, just curious how to get down and somehow they managed to do something with the ropes, got me down safely. I would totally recommend them if you want some adventure around LA. They're very credible and they have many levels of canyoneering to try as well. They recommend us to try the second level, which is at Eaton Canyon but we have to hike about 10miles round trip, which made me guess myself if I want to go. At least if I'm looking for something fun to do, now I know who to look for. If they're nice and you feel they give you good service, please tip them. It was an awesome Sunday for me last week!

I'm (almost exclusively) an indoor, top-rope climber - not really the adventurous type. But a…read morefriend who is new to the sport wanted to try climbing outside. Since we don't own any gear we decided to try a guided trip. This was fun. The hike into the climbing area was easy and beautiful. The climbs were difficult but achievable. The day was just about perfect. I think my favorite thing was that the guides let us set the pace. Pete would give us options and say "What sounds like fun next?" There was no pressure to follow a specific agenda - and when one in our group was done climbing and just wanted to hang around - that was cool too. When I read some of the other reviews here about 200ft rappels I was worried I would be outside my comfort zone all day - I can be really difficult when I get scared - so I told them what I wanted and that's exactly what I got. An easy, fun day outside with some cool people and no pressure. The guides were friendly and funny, they were more than prepared, and they definitely made the day for me. Next time I go climbing outdoors - it'll be with So Cal Adventure Co. They know what they are doing.

Very cool in every way even for locals and natives of L.A…read more The tours for Destination DTLA are no longer available, but a lot of similar groups have taken it upon themselves to emulate and offer great experiences. We stumbled into two and enjoy our day, but also made our own tour based on DDTLAT. Lot of amazing architecture, art, history, and fun/ From the Spring Arcade to Saint Vincent Court, views from the Westin, eats at Garo's, a stroll near Angel's Flight and loaded more. Your LA Tours seems to have taken over - but they also do tours throughout greater Los Angeles https://www.yourlatours.com/ Parking is easy with several paid lots throughout. If staying at a hotel or closeby you can't go wrong with getting some extra steps in to the start of the tours.

What a fabulous walking tour! I was doing a good friend a favor by taking his friend, who came to…read morevisit from New York, to walk around LA since my friend was working all day. I thought it would be a cool idea to do a walking tour in downtown since it has so much history and great restaurants. We met at the Arcade in the Spring Arcade Building. The tour was about two hours with a mini break at the grand central market. Our tour guide did such a great job at telling the history, of the beautiful buildings and streets around the downtown of LA. This tour was Totally worth it. Thank you Carmen for helping us set up our tour!

Yikes, this is an expensive tour but it is a rarity to see a period house with most of the original…read moreoccupants furnishings etc. The tours are docent led and very informative. If you like these types of tours, this one is quite worth it.

I came here for an event today so really my review is tailored more towards the events that Casa is…read moreholding but also to acknowledge the fabulous grounds and building though I admit I don't have full context for the history or background. I would definitely come back here to learn about the house and to take the guided tour. This wasn't the purpose for me coming today but the gentleman who works here noted that it's a great tour and I know friends who have enjoyed learning about the family and the history of the house, getting a deeper dive of information. I came here with some friends for their first hosted event Sound Bath. A wellness day if you will. From start to finish everything was very organized and thoughtful. The staff hosting the event and the spiritual wellness guide and sound healer was wonderful. Everyone was nice and you felt welcomed. Not pretentious and just very positive and good vibes. We had a nice group and everyone was respectful and on time for the sound bath so it went off without issue. It was a relaxing experience and the grounds were very nice to hold this outdoor event. The birds were chirping, the sun was shining, we found an area with shade, very nice. Very faint sounds of cars in the distance here and there which wasn't ideal but out of their control and once things settled in you really couldn't hear much external noise. After the relaxing sound bath we were offered tea and light pastry snacks. I opted for a water and began exploring the grounds instead of partaking in the refreshments. The grounds are lush and lovely, very zen. Loved the beautiful trees and walkways with small fountains and running water. It was green and pretty all around from the recent rains. Definitely a great location for events and to learn a little SB history. I will definitely do my research and come back again soon.