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.

Yes I would recommend they are honest and they treat you very well I think so far this is the best…read moredental office I have attended

Wonderful FIELD trip! Came with 4th grade and got to do activities and learn about the adobe and…read moresome So. Cal History. The docents are well informed and very organized. They split our group into 6 smaller groups so that we could rotate through the exhibits with ease. Lasso, black smith, arts and crafts (wildflower seeds), making adobe bricks, "museum" of home life and a history talk. The kids LOVED the adobe brick making. This is kinda messy. Kids are to take off shoes and socks, roll up their pants and mush around in mud. Then they take the mud, mix it with hay and make bricks. After they are done, the students get help with rinsing off the mud and drying off. Great place for 4th and 5th graders.

First about logistics if you haven't been here before (because we had difficulties):…read more - go to gate 17 at the fair ground. Not wherever Google takes you (to a sheriffs place?), Not gate 1 (if you call the listed number it says To go to gate 1 and proceed to the security but the security at gate 1 laughed at us and said the event was closed early and we almost turned around). Plenty of parking. Really cool to see a bunch of trains up close. You can climb aboard some. The kids really loved it. You probably could go through the whole thing in an hour or less. Everyone working there, maintaining the trains and working the store were friendly. This event isn't open every weekend but specific weekends only. Check their website or call the phone number (voicemail says the dates) before you head over.

Such a great free activity to attend with kids or family. Railgiants is only opened once a month…read moreand everyone that works there donates their own personal free time to keep this place up and running. You can tell everyone who volunteers there genuinely enjoys the train and the mesuem and are always happy to provide demonstration, the history, and explanations behind the trains. My kids love that they can ring the train bell and it's great way to kill some time on the weekend.

It is surprising what temporarily retiring can do for you…read more So i have a week off between job change. To say the least, the last 2 years and 10 months had been "intense". Between breaking up with my ex, working every single US holidays, i have not been paying attention to anything else. Since my ex lived in this area, i drove by this street alot in the past 6 years and i have never noticed this GEM until now. Full disclaimer: my favorite mechanics is just down the street. i did not visit my ex on purpose. This little village preserved alot of historical buildings. It is nice to see how things were started, how do people used to live. Garden Grove had a humble beginning for sure. Thanks

This was an amazing tour with so many cool artifacts from the late 19th century and on. Our tour…read moreguide was funny, very knowledgeable about the history of all the buildings, and had great stories to tell. If you're into the history of 19th century farm life, baseball, Disney, or firefighting there's a building dedicated to each of these tied to the story of the people who once occupied it. Out tour took about 2.5 hours. The museum is run purely by volunteers who dedicate their time to running and maintaining it. If you're looking for something to do in Orange County, this is it!

I heard about the Walking Tours on NPR and decided to check them out this month since it piqued my…read moreinterest. I've been trying to do more local things just to get more acquainted with the IE. I sent out an email to uplandwalkingtours@gmail.com to get more info and Ann (she's the guide) responded very promptly. All I had to do was show up at the steps of the Cooper Museum by 10 am on the day of the tour (which is usually the 2nd Saturday of every month). The day of the tour I arrived 20 minutes beforehand because I was worried about parking, but there was no need to worry, there is plenty of parking there. There is street parking and a lot next to the Museum. You can also bike (it is near the Electric Trail), or take the Metrolink (the station is across the street from the Museum). Getting there is very convenient. The weather was slightly overcast, so it was a perfect day. We walked for about a mile making stops at various locations to get historical information and for some minor reenactments that we all got to participate in. What I loved the most was learning about all of the people. Ann had put together some quotes with a picture of a person. We each picked one out and read them aloud. It really brought the history to life. The stops included a very beautiful Victorian house, the Carnegie Library, a historical fire department building, a bakery (where there is time to grab a snack), and various other locations. I enjoyed all of the gardens and architecture I saw while walking. Ann pointed out a beautiful stained glass window in an empty location that just screams for restoration. After the tour I enjoyed walking around the Cooper Museum. It's small, but has a lot of good exhibits. They had a comic book superhero one that was pretty awesome. I'm definitely going back again and explore some more.

My mother, my dog and I attended the Historic Upland Walking Tour last Saturday at 10 am hosted by…read moreAnn Lara. Ann Lara has done a lot of historical research to put this on, she is amazing. The tour lasted about 2 hours and I was intrigued the whole way. I would love to go on the tour again. Loved it and would highly recommend this tour.

I'm actually surprised that it is as nice as it is with all the people who go there's not one stone…read morevandalize which is pretty cool

My family moved into walnut in 1964 on Divonne Dr as kids we would push our motorcycles across…read moreValley Blvd Then fire them up and ride down the railroad tracks into Pomona to the cemetery. Not even a road into it. But back then it hadn't been vandilized Jerry Andrade

This place was pretty affordable with a Groupon, but the experience reflected the price…read more The lighting was very dim inside and all the toys were sticky to touch. One of the workers made a broadcast to keep the toys in their designated area perhaps because my son brought the clothes from the front to the washer/dryer toy in the back. I think they should have left some clothes in the back to allow the kids to play with the washer/dryer in the back. It was a great one time experience, but I wouldn't be back.

My 21 months old enjoyed. Great price. Clean and no "weird" smell. Great family time.read more

This was my second time visiting this beautiful house. It's so beautiful and the docents are so…read morefriendly and welcoming to everyone. It's great to see history restored and appreciated. Great motivation to keep the community alive. If you have not been able to visit yet, add it to your list and visit multiple times because each docent presents a different view and different perspectives so no tour is really the same. I still have to go back to visit the Gift shop.

This is such a nice piece of history. If you are in the area please give the nice staff a visit and…read moretake a tour!! It's such a amazing experience seeing all the rooms and old fixtures

Working with the Kimberly Crest House & Gardens team was probably the most wonderful experience in…read moremy wedding planning process. First of all, the venue itself is STUNNING. If you are ever in the area (which you definitely should be at some point), stop by this beautiful house. You will genuinely feel as if you are transported in time, it's an ethereal experience. The grounds are gorgeous and secluded, you feel like you should be in Europe. This place is a hidden gem in Redlands, CA. This was the first place I looked at for wedding venues, I couldn't stop comparing everything else I looked at to Kimberly Crest. Once it was booked, Tanya and her team were so on top of managing Venue related wedding necessities from beginning to end. They did such a fantastic job at communicating and promptly replying. They worked with my budget needs and gave me amazing recommendations and ideas for the wedding. They let me come by the venue as much as I needed to. I never felt like I was annoying them (with all of my questions, as a bride usually has), they remained patient and kind throughout the process. The Kimberly Crest House & Gardens team really did go above and beyond for me and my now husband. They took on responsibilities outside of their assigned roles to ensure my wedding day ran as smoothly as possible. I, unfortunately, had entrusted a wedding coordinator that did not meet my expectations and neglected several of her duties. But, Tanya and her team quickly picked up the slack and ensured my day turned out as magical as I ever dreamt it could be. I have so much love for this venue and the team! Don't be afraid to book it for your wedding or any event. I promise, the pictures will turn out stunning - you will feel like a true princess!

The entrance and garden are open for guests to explore, but the real highlight is the history…read moreshared during the guided tour inside the house. Be sure to arrive a little early as they start right on time. The Kimberly Crest House offers reserved tours for small groups, which makes the experience feel more personal. Our docent was incredibly knowledgeable and had even worked closely with the family's descendants, so she shared lots of fascinating and heartfelt stories along the way. While photos and videos aren't allowed inside, the tour includes a walk through the living room, dining room, kitchen, second-floor common area, a remodeled bathroom, and several bedrooms. The interior was beautifully preserved, and the whole house was comfortably air-conditioned, which made the hour-long tour very pleasant. The gift shop is currently under construction, so only pop-up cards were available for purchase during our visit. I do wish we had been able to take photos for keepsakes. This was a lovely example of women's leadership and education throughout history.

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

My first trip was Dubai & Egypt from Signet Tours in Feb. 2023 just recovering from COVID, it was…read moreamazing & marvelous trip which we stayed first class hotels for entire itinerary, Jason-Signet guide provided excellent service. Since done with first trip and I couldn't have a a trip without joining Signet. And now I have 3-4 trips every year from Signet Tours. They are providing the best service from Demi-sales & reservation to all tour guides.