Reservations are needed for this lovely little garden tucked into the middle of the CSULB campus,…read moreso we made ours the night before and grabbed a 12:00 PM Sunday spot. One thing to know before you go: check the operating hours. The garden was closing at 1:00 that day, so our visit was shorter than we would have liked. About 15 minutes before closing they started rounding everyone up, which was completely understandable, but next time I'd definitely book earlier. We brought Billy's mom and dad with us, and his father is 92 amazing years old, so we're always paying attention to how much walking, stress, parking drama, or general nonsense an outing involves. This one was about as easy as it gets. There's paid parking right next to the garden. I think we paid around $6.50, and the payment system was simple enough. Once you're inside, it's just beautiful. Little bridges, waterfalls, colorful koi everywhere (bonus! tons of baby koi this time!) lilies on the pond, flowers, and these bright red dragonflies flying around that completely caught my attention. There were families, students, people sketching, people feeding the fish, just a really nice mix of people quietly enjoying the space. What I especially like is that you don't have to make a whole production out of it. You can stroll, sit for a while, watch the koi, cross a bridge, look at the water, and just enjoy being somewhere pretty. Small, peaceful, easy, and genuinely lovely. It makes for a really nice family outing, and it's one of those places that's good to keep in your back pocket when you want to do something without committing to an entire day.

Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden is a peaceful hidden gem tucked inside California State…read moreUniversity, Long Beach. I walked into a space that is smaller than some larger Japanese gardens, but the layout feels carefully planned with winding paths, traditional landscaping, a koi pond, waterfalls, bridges, and quiet corners throughout. It is the type of place where taking your time matters more than trying to see everything quickly, and the smaller size actually makes the experience feel more intimate. The garden feels like a world apart from the campus surrounding it, and the transition from the university grounds to the garden is immediate and effective. The koi pond is easily the centerpiece of the garden and one of the most enjoyable parts to spend time around. I found myself lingering by the water, watching the fish move through the pond as the sunlight filtered through the trees. The fish are large and active, and the surrounding greenery, stone features, and water elements create a very relaxing atmosphere. The garden does a good job balancing natural scenery with traditional Japanese design, with each section offering a slightly different view and feeling as I walked through. The bridges and stone lanterns add to the sense of place, and the sound of the waterfalls creates a calming background that stays with you as you move through the space. What I liked most about this garden is how calm it feels despite being located on a college campus. It feels separated from the surrounding area once you enter, making it a nice place for a quiet walk, photography, or just taking a break. The landscaping is well maintained, and the entire space has a slower pace that encourages you to actually stop and appreciate the details rather than rushing through. The garden's design rewards a slow approach, with each turn in the path offering a slightly different perspective on the pond, the plants, and the stonework. The visit is fairly quick since the garden is compact, but it works well as a relaxing stop rather than a destination that takes up an entire afternoon. Reservations are required, so it is worth checking availability before going. Admission is free, although parking is an extra cost and can be the main inconvenience, especially during busy campus hours. The garden's location on campus makes it accessible, but the parking situation can require a bit of patience. Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden is a beautiful spot if you are looking for a peaceful escape rather than a large attraction. The koi pond, thoughtful design, and quiet atmosphere make it a place worth visiting, especially on a nice day when you can take your time walking through the garden. It offers a brief but meaningful pause from the surrounding city and campus life, and the care that has gone into maintaining the space is evident in every corner.

You know how it goes... I find something on TikTok and the next thing you know, I'm driving over to…read morecheck it out! That's exactly how I ended up at Rancho Los Alamos in Long Beach. It was literally right down the street from where I was, so convenient, and absolutely beautiful! We started by having lunch at the park benches, which was such a nice way to enjoy the grounds. Then we managed to catch the very last tour of the house with the sweetest man ever! He was so kind and gave us so much wonderful information about the ranch and its history.Walking through the house honestly felt like stepping back into the 1930s. Everything has been preserved so beautifully, and because it's a museum, they work hard to keep the house looking just the way it did back in the day. It is absolutely pristine! I loved looking at all the old furniture, decorations, and everyday things people used. Just seeing the way people lived back then was fascinating. Imagine getting to live in a house like that... amazing! The only downside was that you're not allowed to film inside the house, but I completely understand because they have to protect and preserve everything. Unfortunately, we only had time to see the house before they closed, so we are definitely going back! There are still gardens, animals, and so much more to explore. It looks like such a great place to spend the day. Convenient, beautiful, educational, and a fun little trip back in time. I can't wait to return and see the rest! Five stars!

A historical landmark, close & free to visit…read more Originally part of the ancestral village of Povuun'nga, the traditional place of origin of the native Gabrielino-Tongva people of the Los Angeles Basin, named Rancho Los Alamitos when the land was conceded to Manuel Nieto, and finally to Fred & Florence Bixby, whose children donated the family ranch to the City of Long Beach in 1968. To enter, visitors proceed to the Bixby Hill residential security gate at the intersection of East Anaheim Road and Palo Verde Avenue. Entrance is strictly at 1pm, as the guard will not allow entrance prior to that. Operating hours are 1pm - 5pm Wed - Sun. Initial visit, the barn area w/ the livestock was closed off due to a water main break. Tours of the Adobe Ranch is via a docent-led tour, which can be made at the Rancho Center. No photography is permitted. Tom was the docent, and he was quite knowledgeable of the history of Rancho Los Alamitos, allowing passage into each room on the first floor. Second floor was closed to visitors. My favorite room was the kitchen, as I marveled at the various appliances, such as the still operational refrigerator, with the condenser on top, instead of bottom. Also, the heavy, built to last stove, which probably served a countless number of meals for the family & staff working the ranch. There were a few objects which were available to touch, such as an early proto version of a View-Master. The cherry on top of the Adobe Ranch visit was pulling the rope attached to the dinner bell, signifying everyone to "come & get it!". The handsome, well-maintained garden landscape surrounding the property provides natural beauty & plenty of photo opportunities. Second visit was more fun, as the barn & livestock areas were open to the public, again! Preston, a magnificent Shire horse, towers over almost all visitors, and stuns with his majestic beauty. In the world record books, a Shire horse named Sampson is the largest recorded horse ever, at 7' 2.5" tall & 3,360 lbs. Not to be outdone, Fred the donkey bombastically greets people with his hee-haws. A few rescue horses, sheep & a coop full of chickens provided plenty of enjoyment. A pleasurable afternoon can be had at Rancho Los Alamitos. Visitors gaze back in time upon a working ranch, experience how things were built to stand the test of time, opposed to planned obsolescence of most machinery & appliances, today. Visiting Preston, Fred & the other animals, alone, is worth the drive. I look forward to coming back & I highly recommend giving Rancho Los Alamitos a visit.

Love it here! There are two buildings. It's the building on the right…read more The computers were down on the Saturday I visited, so admission was free. Otherwise, general admission is $15 and admission for seniors is $10. I visited during the Robert Williams exhibit. Great, comprehensive collection of artwork, past and present. Paintings and sculpture, large and small. There's a small gift shop located immediately next to reception. The basement exhibit was artwork created by middle school, up and coming artists. The second floor was an exhibit surrounding paper and books. Although visitors are not allowed to go outdoors, awesome ocean view from the second floor window and patio. You can either take the stairs or elevator. Parking: I parked on the next block. Free, residential street parking.

This museum is in a really nice location. It's right next to the beach and you can't beat that. I…read morebought my tickets online and they had a special for 50% off. There's also free parking next to the museum which is a plus. It was my first time at this museum and it's a pretty small museum. When I went, the second floor was closed because there was an event that night. I went to see the Robert Williams exhibit which is on the main floor and there was a lot to see. There's also a lower level with an exhibit for local high school artist which is cool. Although the museum was small I was there for almost an hour. I thought the description of the pieces were very detailed and helped me understand what I was looking at.

Tucked deep inside Cal State University Long Beach (CSULB). This mini museum might be small but the…read moreart holds weight. Interesting, unique sculptures and paintings to adore. Friendly staff and a great environment so that's why I'm giving it 5 stars. It's worth a visit!

That isn't an online art commission. It's social‑media overuse turning into attention‑seeking…read morebehavior and using online pressure to secure space in galleries. I can't lie! too much time online can fuel entitlement, blame‑shifting, and distorted narratives, and that pattern showed up here. Two associates who've known Dana Do since high school reported ongoing hostile behavior at CSULB, including mockery of peers' artwork, age‑based remarks, and misleading stories shared with professors. At the Kleefeld Museum, the same human‑behavior patterns appeared. Dana relied heavily on open social‑media commissions, narrative‑shaping, and online monitoring to maintain visibility. Her painting showed color theory and value issues, yet she made elitist comments about who "belongs" in the university. Calling older students "bullies" and "unprofessional" while engaging in exclusionary behavior herself is contradictory. the issue is the interpersonal behavior, not age. The mix of technical inconsistencies in the artwork and the surrounding conduct created enough discomfort that we left. Signs of Drawing and Painting department favoritism only reinforced a dismissive atmosphere. As a museum experience, it felt psychologically unsafe and unsupportive of developing artists. Not recommended!

This exhibit "experience" was more then a forensic analysis, very sad to see how Titanic faltered…read moreand then sank. Here at the exhibit, true stories of most of the passengers were told. Artifacts and images , jewelry, furniture , life jackets, letters helped to tell real stores of the passengers who decided to board the titanic . I found it to be very interesting. Although if I could change one thing it would be the headset and earbuds, kept falling off ( due to excessive wear ) I enjoyed this experience, I feel you will too !

This was my first visit to any Titanic show and it was such a fantastic event!…read more According to their Yelp event, Titanic in Photographs is "The in-depth story of the world's most famous ship, told through an exhibition of unique, period photographs, brought to life with a world-class display of priceless original artifacts & images. Located near the engine room on the famous RMS Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA." The photos that have been blown up to mega sizes are a real treat. They are not grainy and there's a ton of detail to pour over while walking through the exhibit. John White and his small crew of tireless workers setup the entire display in a matter of a few weeks and their efforts show. After the exhibit, take a stroll around the Queen Mary. From the bridge to the bilge, you can spend literally all day aboard this massive ship (bigger than the Titanic even). Gift shops, restaurants and a few of bars make the tour much more enjoyable too.

Super disappointed on the lack of customer service flexibility, it leaves such bad/sad taste in my…read moremouth. I was just at the aquarium and when I checked in we realized my membership was expired I was there with my daughter and I had 1 more parking pass, I thought my membership expired on the last day of the month since my parking pass expires next month. I'm not the type to ever ask for an exception, so I asked for a curtesy, there was no exception made. There was only a few hours left before the aquarium closes, and I didn't want to disappoint my daughter after we already drove down here and parked I asked if they could make the exception, they said no but that I could buy a ticket for today at the membership price (which wouldn't make sense because the aquarium closes soon). And with this economy it's just not feasible to buy a whole new ticket esp if my membership just recently expired. And we can't renew because we can't make it down here as often as we would like due to logistics. Sad there's no curtesy, my daughter was really excited to go and we supported the aquarium by initially buying the membership to see but now to see the lack of flexibility when asking for a curtesy of a few hours is really disappointing my daughter was really sad and cried. Sad that the aquarium can't provide a curtesy when the membership expire that same month it doesn't cost anything to let a child be there who already paid through a membership for a few hours esp if they are already there in person. Most people who visit the aquarium are kids, they are your main customer m

​I was torn between visiting the zoo or the aquarium, and I am so glad we chose the aquarium!…read more​Staff: Incredible! Everyone was so genuinely nice, welcoming, and clearly passionate about what they do. ​Exhibits: Impressive and beautifully maintained. The habitats are spotless and naturalistic, housing a fantastic diversity of marine life--including several species I had never seen in person before. ​Parking: Super easy and accessible at just $8 for the entire day, which is a fantastic deal. Ticket prices are very good considering the cost to keep such a huge conservative effort running. ​Highly recommended! There is plenty to see and do for all ages.

After a decade or more of not visiting MOLAA, despite living about a 15-min walk away, I went two…read moreweekends back-to-back. On August 16th, a friend invited me to check it out on their free-admission day (Sunday). Since my daughter was with me, I brought her along. There was this very interesting exhibit with work by Mercedes Gertz. I was so fascinated and pulled into her world, from her pieces revolving around the societal expectations of women and marriage and how that shows up in certain "fairy tales" to the part of the exhibit that delves deeper into dreams being a connection or road to the unconscious and the psychology behind it and how that all shows in her work. I was in awe and felt so drawn, I knew I had to go back and spend more time to admire her work without being rushed through by my daughter. Little did I know, her exhibit was taken down that same evening/the next day. I was so sad finding this out when I returned the Saturday after with a friend whom I knew would appreciate the subject her art touches on, especially the part about dreams and psychology. We still enjoyed the rest of the art, and even saw the small room at the rear of the gift shop and got to appreciate some time in the Sculpture Garden. It had been forever since I'd gone back there as well. Since a large portion of the museum was closed off due to the Gertz exhibit being taken down, they did offer us admission tickets for a future date. I guess I'll start paying closer attention to their events and exhibits again. It felt good to get out of the outside world and get lost in the art.

This museum was SO disappointing! The building is huge so I figured it would be able to house large…read morescale exhibits. Inside there were four gallery rooms for exhibits but the rooms, although fairly spacious, severely lacked art. I mean, the walls were very bare and I felt like they didn't have enough inventory to fill up the wall space. It was weird. Here you have this massive building and barely any art worth viewing. It was ridiculous. The entire experience was pretty lame and left me feeling unsatisfied. I should have known better when their website wasn't allowing patrons to purchase tickets online. The entire museum feels and looks mismanaged to me. It's such a waste of a good building, I honestly don't know how these folks keep the lights on because the exhibits are laughable. One thing I will say, the Guillermo Bert exhibit is definitely worth checking out but that's the only interesting art MOLAA has to offer right now. The people who run this museum need to get it together because the Cheech in Riverside is amazing and a true inspiration to Latin American artists everywhere. Sorry MOLAA, I'll never come back and I'll never recommend this place to anyone.

I love that they exist and they have so much that cannot be found or seen anywhere else. I am so…read morehappy we have them in Long Beach. All that being said, they have definitely downsized in order to move from their 4th Horseman location to the Arts District location. Cool staff and now they have T-shirts, smaller prints, and other merch at lower price points, so it makes some of the art more accessible if you are not in the market for a larger piece. I hope they have a long life at their new location. We need you in Long Beach!

STEPH JUDGEMENT: Awesome gallery dealing with all art macabre, bizarre, and beautiful…read more I'd been a fan since their 3rd & Elm days, but their new location behind the 4th Horseman takes everything up to another level! Everything you loved about the old place is more and better here, and it's really a must-visit when you're in downtown Long Beach. The quality of work they show here is really great, and I try to see everything that comes through. Shows change about once a month, so check their Instagram or Facebook to see what's the latest exhibit. In addition to original art, they sell a variety of prints, books, and other merchandise so check them out!

This is a small museum with a huge heart. Its focus for preserving the cultural heritage of many…read morepacific islands, respecting the connection and need for conservation of indigenous cultures is an incredible undertaking They had a lot of modern pieces here by local artists, an impressive collection of books to browse through and reference. Many Micronesian island represented here. We were also able to catch the last day of an installation about Mauna Kea which was very moving. I appreciate the conversation we had with the director and could feel her passion for this work and the museum.

This museum is small but mighty! After our visit to MOLAA across the street was cut short since…read morehalf the museum was closed, our group ventured here. We're so glad we did! The young woman who greeted us at the door was so enthusiastic, knowledgeable and friendly. She gave us a great introduction to the mission of and exhibits at the museum when we entered, and as we looked around she'd pop in just the right amount to encourage us to touch things or to give us more information. She showed us around the outdoor garden, and helped us to understand so much more than we would have on our own. I learned a lot, and recommend that you visit!!

Beautiful and clean library. Spacious area and plenty of electrical outlets. Cute gift shop with…read morereasonable price, also section of used books that organized and well maintained. Big water features inside the library. I enjoy working here. They also dont have restrictions to bring food or drinks like some public library.

This is my favorite library. The building is very spacious, well-maintained, and has plenty of room…read morewhether you're looking to study, read, or just spend a quiet afternoon. Weekdays it is open from 9 AM to 9 PM, but closed on Sundays. Huge lot for parking. The library itself is beautiful. There's a large fountain in the center of the building that gives the space a unique, open feel, and it makes the library feel more like a community gathering place with an air of nostalgia and calmness that comes with a spa day. There are lots of tables and study areas spread throughout the library, so it's never difficult to find a place to sit. The collections are plentiful, with a wide selection of books across different genres, mixed media, and materials for everyone including a dedicated children's area. One feature that was new to me was the Makerspace. It's available by appointment for library card holders, and you'll need to bring your own design or project idea. An instructor is there to guide you through the process, which makes it less intimidating for anyone interested in learning something new. It lives next to a café located on the lower level, which is convenient if you plan on spending a few hours studying or working. Overall, this is an amazing library with great amenities, plenty of space, and resources that go beyond books. This is somewhere I recommend everyone checks out when they're in the area - pun intended.