This experience is incredible. The river isn't the cleanest but it is still beautiful. Amazing to…read moresee all the wildlife and plants thriving here. The Sepulveda Basin section is a really easy kayak. The guide was fun and full of information. He knew where to get some great photos. He will also film the participants in cool videos.

I recently came here with my aunt, at first kayaking wasn't something I was very open and…read moreinterested in doing. Coming here definitely changed my perspective on kayaking and when I tell you that I had one of the funnest times with LA River Expeditions, I mean it! From the moment I arrived, the friendly and knowledgeabl staff made me feel right at home. They provided such detailed instructions and safey guidelines. ( that were also super beginner friendly! ) The LA River itself was honestly such a surprising journey. i was immediately captivated by the stunning urban landscapes surrounding the river. The juxtaposition of nature and the cityscape created a unique and surreal atmosphere. It felt like we were exploring a hidden gem right in the heart of Los Angeles. The equipment provided by LA River Expeditions was topnotch. The sturdy rafts and safety gear gave me confidence throughout the journey. It was evident that they prioritize customer safety and comfort, ensuring a memorable and worryfree experience.The equipment was very well kept, sturdy, and overall super clean! Cleanliness is super important nowadays and seeing the quality and cleanliness of the rafts honestly made me feel super safe! Throughout the journey, the guides displayed a remarkable ability to balance professionalism with a friendly and personable approach. They were attentive, ensuring everyone stayed safe and engaged throughout the trip. One aspect that truly stood out was their ability to cater to different experience levels. Whether someone was a seasoned kayaker or a complete beginner like myself, the guides were patient and understanding, providing individualized attention and guidance when needed. I cannot recommend LA River Expeditions enough. Whether you're a nature enthusiast, adventure junkie, or simply looking for a unique way to experience Los Angeles, this expedition is a mustdo! I highly recommend La River Expedition to anyone seeking a memorable adventure guided by a team of remarkable individuals who go above and beyond to ensure an outstanding experience for their guests. Trust me, you won't regret it. Prepare for an unforgettable adventure that will leave you craving more.

We had a great tour today with Mark. So informative and fun. Mark is a great guide and…read morephotographer. His media presentation really makes this tour better than any other tour. His tour vehicle is clean and comfortable. Do yourself a favor and take this super fun tour! Highly recommended.

This was amazing I got to see George kastanzas house and the building from Seinfeld our tourguide…read moremark was great would do again

The ship's customer care is more important about their functionality than customer service.read more

This is long.  We were very excited for this trip.  This was to celebrate early anniversary and…read moremilestone birthdays.  The cost was a bit high but since these were special occasions, we went ahead and planned it.   First of all, a bit disappointed- for the price we paid.  1 out of 2 of our suitcases did not make it to Munich.  I don't know how that happens when the flight is only 1 1/2 hours from Paris to Muncih.  This is of course not Uniworld's fault - it was Air France.  At first, I couldn't find the person who was going to pick us up.  The staff at the airport is also not very helpful.  We were not the only ones that didn't get all our luggage.   We went to the meeting place they said and the man at the cafe told me to go downstairs.  Well when you go downstairs, you can't get back up without walking all the way down to take the escalator back up.  Then we went to find the lost luggage desk - which in most airports - has been near baggage claim.  noooooooo - this one is all the way down at the other end of the terminal.  We finally caught up with the rep that was supposed to pick us up for the ship.  She tried to help.  We had walked back and forth in the terminal at least a dozen times because people were sending us to the wrong place. We finally found the desk.  The flight rep told us it might take 3-4 days to get my suitcase.  Well - we were going on a cruise.  Who knew where we would be in 3-4 days.  The uniworld rep that I was with was on the phone between the ship's director and her counterpart at the airport.  After what seemed like hours, she told me that the other rep lived near the cruise port and would pick up my suitcase and bring it to the ship.  The cruise kept saying 'no' we were on our own.  Like I am the first person to have this happen to.  After a lot of back and forth, I thought everything was settled - the other rep would bring my suitcase to the ship - it was coming in a few hours on the next flight - 6pmish.  I was planning on a huge tip for the inconvenience and just for the niceness of it all. I thought 'wow' - what service.  What a great gesture on the employee's part. We get on the bus and we are driving away and on the freeway and my phone rings.  I was not about to answer it because I didn't know the number but I did.  It was the first rep - she then proceeds to tell me that I will be charged for him to bring my suitecase.  $400.  Do I agree she asks.  Well that's a fine time to ask me.  Was I going to have the bus driver stop and drop us off on the side of the highway to go back to the airport and wait for the suitcase?  What if I didn't answer my phone?  So I reluctantly agreed I felt I had no choice - so much for the tip. They kept saying the Airline would reimburse me - guess what - it's been over a month and I just got my denial from the claim to the airlines.  really?  bad information.   So that started the cruise badly.  One of our stops, it was non stop raining.  We spent the day in town etc.  We got back to the ship (and it was raining all day long) - my husband slipped at the entry way coming back in and landed on his back.  They had no rug, no sign etc.  1 of their employees was standing nearby and ran over to help but that was it.  Then you hear him telling everyone to be careful as they enter.  Nobody else checked on us. The food was pretty good and there was a lot to choose from.  What we weren't told (our first river cruise) - was that dinner/lunch etc was served according to the excursions for the day.  It is not a 'set' time and there is only 1 seating.  There was a family that some of their family members missed lunch because they didn't know it started and ended early due to the excursions. I know the times are listed on the daily sheet but it was very confusing - especially first time river cruisers. Breakfast was pretty standard and the same everyday but again, much to choose from.   The TV in the room looked cool as it was in the mirror but that was it.  We couldn't get it to work right - the few times we were in the room. The last few nights, some of the staff were getting ready to go on vacation at the last port.  Well, they were so excited that dinner took extra long and orders were wrong.  The staff was very friendly and nice - however, we wanted to go on top to see Budapest at night with the lights.  Our table was the first one in for dinner and the last one out.  It took forever.  The night before also, the server kept getting our order wrong.  We got a little fed up and just took what she brought.  I understand excitement but that was ridiculous and frustrating.   Although we had onboard credit, we really wanted to get some souvenirs from the ship - well we didn't have many choices.  There was no store and they had limited shirts etc.  No baseball caps or anything we could bring for others. The tours were pretty good with a lot of options.  They even had some for those that had mobility issues and walked slower so it was nice.   When we arrived i

During the pandemic I started to dig deeper and explore more San Fernando valley area where I live…read more Did you know that Tarzana was part of a ranch owned by author Edgar Rice Burroughs and named after its famous character Tarzan? A bit of Valley history here! When I found out about Tarzana Safari Walk I got excited. Unfortunately it's nothing exotic about the area. It's part of Ventura Blvd. with generic stores on it and chain coffee shop. Sometimes they might do a small street fair (maybe that was years ago). Now it's just a regular block in the Valley. No exotic walks or hikes. Just yiur regular urban jungle!

Today my kids and I enjoyed the annual Safari Walk/Sidewalk Fair in Tarzana. Many activities take…read moreplace while you dine and shop along Ventura Blvd at Yolanda Ave. Activities included: face painting, balloon twisting/animals, music, drum & dance performance, martial arts performance, lectures on Tarzana history & more! Face painting & balloons: it was super hot today so my son opted for having something painted on his arm other than his face and sweating it all off and looking crazy. He wanted a skull and the lady did a great job. She was very fast and you can tell she's been doing this for a while! My daughter got a flower on her leg and it was very pretty and done in literally 15 seconds. She also got a flower balloon bracelet that was really cool. Thanks to the 2 wonderful ladies working the booth :) Performances: Sensei Ash Martial arts performed and the kids showed off their martial arts skills. (I wish I took pictures) I noticed it was a mixture of all levels: green belt, orange, blue etc. I was super impressed and my 9 year old now wants to sign up and join. You can tell those kids carry great discipline and confidence as they were doing high kicks and karate chops as well as cool ninja rolling/tumbling on the mat. African Drum & Dancing: this was really fun! I love how they included and interacted with the crowd and taught us the meaning of their dance moves and some of us had the guts to get in front of everyone and dance along. We even learned the words to their chant but I can't remember anymore. They also let kids come up and play drums and other instruments. Pretty awesome :) Live animals: this was scheduled for 2:30pm so we arrived in front of Chase bank where it was taking place but had to wait a while because they were running late. Now when I heard "live animals" for some reason I thought elephants, lions, tigers and bears lol. My kids were pretty disappointed when the "animal show" showed up in storage bins. Reptiles and some birds I believe. After my son pet a snake we left. Oh well. Even though it was just super hot out today that didn't matter. You can see the families enjoying themselves and the kids were happy and having a great time. Looking forward to next year.

(Corrected "top" versus "back", in the third paragraph)…read more The tour is given in a 12-passenger bus that is open air. You'll drive past many historic structures, and past the homes of many stars (though you'll be going too fast to get a good look or photo). And you'll go up in the hills along Mulholland Drive. About halfway through the tour, at the Beverly Hills sign, you get out for a break and use the restroom. Unfortunately, you never get a good view of the Hollywood sign. Our driver was very knowledgeable and entertaining, and gave anecdotes about every site we passed. There a screen-like sheet covering the top of the van for shade, but you should use sunscreen as you will be in the sun for two hours.

The Hollywood bus tours have two departure locations, Hollywood and Santa Monica. The tour bus I…read moretook started from Hollywood, and equipped with open air van for fourteen passenger seats. They have two hours, five hours, and full day rides open to general public bookings, and you can book your own private tour buses with customized routes. The driver and staff I've encountered were super friendly. The cost varies from $40 to $100+, and they often have promotions on their website.

We had a great time with David. He was an excellent tour guide, very friendly and knowledgeable…read more Thank you for making our trip memorable.

We have never done a similar tour but as our friends from AZ were looking for a true Hollywood…read moreexperience, we chose this company for the good ratings and also a great Groupon deal.... we met at the location a bit early and were able to use the restroom before leaving for our tour. Our tour guide Dave was awesome - engaging, informative and also inquisitive as we were all an active part of the tour. What more to add? Yes, book the last tour of the day as the tour guide may not feel as stressed to get back to the Hollywood Blvd location on time and you may see some of the local celebrities, either driving their vehicles or briefly walking outside. Great company and ditto experience.

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.

Loved walking around Greystone Mansion. You haven't seen all…read moreof LA until you take the time to walk around Greystone Mansion. My review is so bad compared to Adrian F. review down below.

Murder, oil money, swordplay, and Beverly Hills pretending to be tasteful…read more You haven't really seen Los Angeles until you've walked through Greystone Mansion and felt the ghosts of oil barons judging your credit score. I toured Greystone as part of the Sword Experience led by Adrian Paul, and let me tell you--learning blade work on the grounds of one of the most infamous estates in Beverly Hills hits differently. There's something poetic about practicing controlled violence on land once shaped by very uncontrolled wealth. A little history, because this place doesn't whisper--it broods. Greystone was built in 1928 for the Doheny family, oil dynasty royalty. Think: early 20th-century American excess, but make it Tudor Revival and drop it on a manicured hill above Sunset. The house is enormous. 55 rooms. Limestone imported from Indiana. Details that scream, "We had oil money and zero chill." And then, of course, the tragedy. Ned Doheny Jr. was found dead inside the mansion only months after moving in. Official story: murder-suicide involving his secretary. Unofficial story: Los Angeles in the 1920s was a cocktail of scandal, politics, oil contracts, and secrets thick enough to butter toast with. The house was barely broken in before it became legend. So yes--training with swords on those grounds feels cinematic. Because it is. Adrian Paul doesn't just walk you around; he contextualizes movement, presence, and discipline in a space already heavy with narrative. You're not just touring a mansion. You're standing in a monument to ambition, downfall, and architectural flexing. Greystone has since been used in everything from classic films to modern blockbusters. If it looks familiar, it's because Hollywood has been borrowing its drama for decades. It's a location scout's fever dream. The gardens are immaculate. The interiors are grand without being tacky. It's the kind of place where you instinctively lower your voice--even if you don't believe in ghosts, you respect the acoustics. Los Angeles loves shiny new money. Greystone is old money with a body count. And yet, it's beautiful. Stunning, actually. The kind of estate that makes you question your life choices while also appreciating the craftsmanship of a bygone era when wealth was expressed in stone and timber instead of Instagram posts. Walking those grounds with a sword in hand, guided by someone who understands myth and movement, feels like stepping into layered history--cinema, tragedy, power, and discipline colliding under California sun.

This place was so amazing great place to get close to ostrich. The own himself gave my family a…read moreprivate tour it was so informative and all the details he gave us have me so amazed. The location it self it's beautiful near mountains. They also have restrooms and playground for kids. They also have little shop they sell ostrich eggs which are huge and they even have home made honey. Amazing place would definitely be going back!!

Such a great little place! We did a tour in the morning with five kids under 7, and the gentleman…read moregiving the tour was so accommodating to antsy little bodies needing to move around. I'm so sorry I didn't catch his name, but he was very knowledgeable and so kind. I'll absolutely be recommending Quail Run Ranch to every one!