What a beautiful place to walk around and enjoy the grounds. It is a private property so make sure…read moreto follow the rules and don't litter. Ambassador gardens is a luxury residential community with beautiful homes and condos. The grounds are beautiful with big trees, water features and seating areas. We even saw turtles and big birds by the waterfall. Really lovely place to take a stroll at. We parked on Green Street and walked towards the ambassador auditorium... see my videos and pictures. So pretty.

Ambassador Mansions & Gardens is a very quiet, peaceful, and truly beautiful place. It's hidden…read morebetween buildings, and if you don't know it's there, you might easily miss it -- which makes it feel like a secret garden in the middle of the city. The territory is incredibly well maintained, with huge mature trees, beautiful flowers, fountains, mini waterfalls, and small ponds where you can see fish and turtles. There is also a lovely grassy area in the center where you can sit, relax, or have a small picnic. Geese walk freely around the gardens, and colorful parrots fly overhead, adding even more charm to the atmosphere. In April, the garden looks especially stunning -- the pergola and trees are in full bloom (I wish I remembered the names of those gorgeous flowers!), and the whole place feels alive and magical. Honestly, this garden is beautiful in any season of the year. You can come here with dogs, which is a big plus, but it's important to respect the property rules: pets must be on a leash, owners are responsible for cleanup, professional photography requires a permit, and activities like skateboarding, drinking alcohol, or organized sports events are not allowed. These rules help preserve the calm and cleanliness of the space. There is also a secondary school located on the property, which adds to the unique character of the place. Parking-wise, we were able to find free street parking nearby without any issues. This is a perfect spot to slow down, enjoy nature, and escape the city noise for a while. Highly recommended for a peaceful walk or a quiet moment surrounded by beauty.

It's fine for a quick walk, but don't plan your whole afternoon around it…read more Wrigley Gardens is decent enough for what it is. It's definitely nice that it's completely free and open to the public, and the roses and grounds around the Tournament House are well-kept and pretty.

Wrigley Mansion is the owner of Wrigleys chewing gum. We didnt go in because had to reserve and…read morethey were closed. The mansion is huge. The garden area was beautiful.

Well, its just what it says it is. There is a fork in the road at the fork in the road. As long…read moreas you do not set your expectation too high, if you want to see a fork in the road, definitely go check it out. If you're expecting anything more than that you won't get it. We were on our Route 66 journey from Chicago to Santa Monica and while this was a side trip (not on Route 66) we thought it was worth it.

The Fork in the Road, a public art installation located at the roundabout traffic median of…read morePasadena Ave, Bellefontaine St and St. John Ave The story goes that friends Ken Marshall and Bob Stane in 2009 put the fork up in the middle of the night without city approval. The neighborhood residents liked it but the city removed it. The community demanded it be put back and Pasadena did so in 2011 and it's been there ever since

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.

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.

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.

Rodin! I'm in!! First time visit was with a friend who lives here and is a member. I love museums…read moreand this was more than I was expecting. The exterior space if tiered parking lot, shady with trees, and a simple building from the outside. Then came The Thinker (1880) by Auguste Rodin to the left of the entrance path. You had me at this wonder statue that also adorns the courtyard entrance to The Legion of Honor in San Francisco. There is a large collection of Rodin in a dedicated area. That is my most favorite museum. This was a nice association to enjoy. This interior wings of this two story gem are easy to navigate and a nice size to display the collections. Inside seating is in some areas so one can take a rest and spend more time with some pieces. We didn't have time to visit the cafe, but it has outdoor seating in a beautiful interior courtyard which my friend says is so relaxing. If I lived here, I would become a member. I will visit here again when I am back.

Such a cute concept with spaces being utilized throughout the area. Think of the gum alley in…read moredowntown SLO town or Seattle. Here in downtown Riverside, you have Mariposa Alley (Butterflies). During lunch we were trying to figure out what was around the area that was worth checking out. This popped up and was a 2 minute walk away. Just around the corner from Main Street next to a parking structure. It's a small little alley way that house all the fun cute butterflies hanging off the wall. The same concept as Collette Miller with the famous Angel wings scattered all over the place. One side of the wall is a massive mural of butterflies and flowers while the opposite side are butterflies. All different sizes and shapes hanging off the wall. You have the colorful wings lower down for that perfect photo op as well as smaller one hanging off the wall. A cute little walkway that's hidden off the Main Street. It's tucked in between the parking structure and city hall. A fun photo spot that's well maintained and clean. Alleyway was not messy one bit and in pretty good shape and clean.

This was such a cute and cool place to find within Downtown Riverside! Bonus points for the mural…read moreright in front of Mariposa Alley! There are definitely enough butterflies around to take different photos with or of, so it makes for a fun little photo spot. It's also just a nice place to stop by, admire, and take in the different artwork within the alley :)

It is always a struggle to write beyond a cliche. Case in point, I want to express that the…read moreArlington Garden in Pasadena is a green oasis amidst urban noise and pace but that would say little since people consider their backyard and their local parks to be a green space of peace. And they would be right- who am I to judge the green that someone holds precious whether it be jade from feudal China or a patch of blades that are bed for the soul to rest. So I am left with one task: to express the serene beauty of this place that is also engaging in a quiet way, with almost ethereal words to truly defend and display that this, in all its glory, is a green oasis that wins by a short shot. The grounds are not huge, it is small but comes close to being medium. But what I loved is that its green branches and brown barks and twigs were immersive. I had entered a green swirl that moved all around me in stillness of movement but blurs of garden spirits. The place was like an outside museum that honors mother earth and her mantra of tender care that explains how flowers grow best. One of the most engaging experiences was their wishing tree. It was about two to four big trees with hanging wishes written by everyday folk. As I walked the steps to the trees, as I passed between them my skin could feel the words of hope hanging from branches. It was like the cards spoke in lovely whispers that reminded me that days of beauty are created when people do not forget to see that joyous petals that are in the wind and all around in the everyday. And as one note reminded us, joy is not ready made, to find it takes action. Reading the notes was a way in which I elected joy, as an act of resistance toward anger and disapointment. There was also this gazebo with a statue of a greek goddess. These are guesses of mine, I did not find some type of placards to confirm my notions. She was framed in the gazebo by a quasi-window. I entered the small gazebo and sat in the only green bench maybe big enough for two.I did not understand why she was giving me her back, I wanted to face her. But then I realized that Demeter or Gaia (maybe?) was not facing me because she was looking at her creation, like any person would when they have a garden to admire. From that seat I saw a man doing Tai-Chi and being filmed by his partner in all red. I sat and viewed him quietly and ask that whatever he was calling forth with his movements also entered my own person. From this seat, I also saw a pregnant woman taking pictures. She was wearing a white dress with a tasteful floral pops around. At times, she laughed with a wide smile, at times she held the bundle with her hands. It was seeing a place of growth, welcome a being with life about to begin. Her partner joined and they were directed into stances that made sense--- like the one where they look longingly at each other while he held her, and she held the coming boy. I could see their happiness, I could see their true connection, and I knew that the baby was being born into comfort and love. It was great reminder that sometimes life blooms with ease into joy. I also saw a lizard run and move its neck, both in a funny way. I saw a sole butterfly flutter. I saw folks sitting, relaxing, eating, all in with a calm demeanor. So I would like to think that this place is a green oasis or at least a place where rest is each to come by.

The Arlington Garden is a nice, public garden in Pasadena. Admission is free and street parking is…read moreplentiful. It's not a big garden, yet it does a great job at displaying native species, sustainable land scaping, and climate appropriate plants. I came during the hot days of summer, so there's not a lot that's in bloom. I did spot plenty of California poppies, milkweed, and yarrow. The trees, like the holly leaf cherry and eastern redbud, were beautiful on its own. I also had the rare privilege of seeing a flowering agave plant. The citrus area is a standout. They have some dwarf species and trees that were rehoused after being part of an art installation. They use the fruit to make marmalade. What's unused gets donated.

Old town is nice but changes seemed to be happening a lot lately. Same as other places with things…read morecoming and going. It's been a little while since I stopped by here. The shopping used to be great with a very good selection of stores to walk into. Now it's limited with what's still there or they're your little mom and pops type of places. They still have a lot of the restaurants that have been there for quite a long time. Walking along the strip, just seeing what's still there is pretty nostalgic. The days of popping into one stores after another. Shopping was great even when you're not there to shop. Now it's just whatever. Don't get me wrong, there's still shopping but the classic stores are all gone. We came for brunch but had some time to check out the area while waiting for a table. Even the little corner where the movie theatre is has changed. The two restaurants that originally were there is now gone and one was replaced by a chain restaurant. Lots of the common retail shopping are gone as well with one of the higher end furniture store. You still have a lot of fun one to pop into. Shopping isn't the same anymore as everything tends to be online nowadays. Old town still has its charms as it's the main downtown area and known for their main strip. Not sure what their nightlife is like nowadays as it's been a long while since I was last down here. They do have some fun bars but my favorite has to the wine bar, Cellar. It's kind of hidden and if you ever get a chance to check it out, it's worth it. Everything is either street parking which is paid through the kiosk or you have the parking structure behind the blvd. Parking can be crazy during the weekend.

Love Old Town Pasadena, been visiting since the late 90s (think I just aged myself, haha)…read more Definitely seen a lot of changes in the past few decades as many shops and restaurants have come and gone. Even so, there's still something for everyone regardless of age. There use to be a couple of parking structures with limited free parking, but now they're still reasonable at a few couple of dollars. Street meters are still available up and down the street. Some of my top favorites include Waunderlust Creamery and The Pie Hole. There are also mainstream popular brand stores such as JCrew, Madewell, Urban Outfitters, and a few others. A few thrift/consignment stores are also along Colorado Blvd. Traffic can get tricky around the area, please bring your patience. See you next time, Old Town Pasadena! #46/2025

This is awesome public art display of a special tribute to Kobe Bryant and his daughter that…read moreunfortunately passed away in a plane crash in 2020. There are plenty of murals dedicated to them throughout the United States that are popping up over the years. I thought this was a wonderful display that pays tribute to them

The 2024-2025 NBA season kicked off today and what better place to kick off basketball season than…read morewith a visit to the Kobe Bryant Mural located in Torrance! Painted by Mike Trujillo; the mural highlights Kobe's basketball journey via all his jerseys. The mural starts off on the left with a painting showasing when he played high-school basketball at Lower Merion High School and wore #33. The mural then shows how he first wore #8 for the Lakers for when was first drafted and on to when he won three championships in 2000, 2001, and 2002. The mural next highlights him wearing the #10 jersey for the USA men's basketball team at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games. Lastly it shows Kobe sporting #24 starting in the 2006-07 season; all the way till he retired in 2016. I also loved how the mural had purple and gold hues for the background. This is an amazing mural to see and it can be easily missed as it is on the backside of the Burger City restaurant in Torrance. I definitely say though it is one not to pass up seeing as it's a great tribute to Kobe via showcasing all of Kobe's jerseys from the start to the finish of his career. This mural is something Lakers and basketball fans will truly appreciate. I know I certainly did!

Public art in Torrance, California…read more.. My friend, Craig Y., knew that there was a relatively new Kobe Bryant mural in his hometown. He tried to figure out where it was located on Torrance Boulevard. We found it in Old Town Torrance... on the wall of Burger City Grill. It's by Mike Trujillo and is awesome! The gigantic mural has great illumination at night! It includes all of the numbers that Kobe wore: from High School, to the Olympics, and when we was with the Lakers! Look for Kobe's Academy Award! It's very cool - go see it!