Great experience for children. Great value for your money. Staff very friendly. The virtual part…read moremay be not the best thing for kids that are to young.

Jurassic Con is a fun and free, little convention that's taken place in the Ralph B. Clark…read moreInterpretive Center for the last couple years. They've gathered props, costumes, and special effects pieces from different movies and shows, most particularly the Jurassic franchise, obviously. This year, unlike last, there was more going on outside with all the different tents dedicated to paleontology, local indigenous tribes, and environmentalism. They also had science presentations using liquid nitrogen. This year there were more cosplayers, and several Jurassic Park jeeps in the motor pool. Since they hold it in a place loaded with fossils, it sort of blurs the lines between cinema and reality. You get done looking at studio molds, animatronic dinosaurs, and Ray Harryhausen's claymation figures, and go look at Ice Age mammals, take pictures pretending to be eaten by a megalodon, and ask the resident scientists about the latest finds.

There are 3 parking options: Tower Plaza Parking Structure (602 Anton Boulevard), Irvine Parking…read more(3201 Avenue of the Arts), and The MET Parking (535 Anton Boulevard). I chose the Tower Plaza Parking Structure (near the Westin Hotel), which was just a short walk to the museum, while the other options are a bit farther. Parking is paid, about $6 per hour. Once you arrive, check-in is quick and no reservation is needed. Admission is free, and they provide a sticker that you'll need to wear throughout your visit. The museum is two floors, featuring a variety of sections and artists. The architecture itself is beautiful and perfect for photos, and the artwork is unique and enjoyable to explore. Overall, it's a great experience, especially since it's free. Tip(s): - Park at Tower Plaza Parking Structure (near Westin Hotel) and just walk to the museum - Free entry - Restrooms available - No appointments needed

When I went, desire then having lots of space very little was out to look at. It was free, so not…read moremuch room to complain. You do get more than you pay for lol. They have an area where you can add your art too which is cute. The immersive experience at the time was cool. It's worth the trip, I'm assuming certain exhibitions are more with your gas + time than others so maybe check before you trek

Man I love this park it's my family's go to place plenty of activity's for the whole dayread more

Staff is very informative & friendly! It was an educational experience for myself and my little…read moregirls.

The Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden is a beautiful spot if you are looking for a peaceful walk…read moresurrounded by Japanese foliage and well-maintained landscaping. The garden features a large pond filled with koi, including around 30 big koi and what looks like hundreds of smaller ones they are raising. It is a relaxing place to watch the fish swim by and enjoy the scenery. One of the best parts is that visiting is free, but you do need to make a reservation ahead of time. They allow up to six people per reservation, and they typically do not take walk-ins, so plan ahead before coming. The garden itself is on the smaller side, and the walking path takes about 15 minutes at a casual pace. Still, there are plenty of places to sit and enjoy the surroundings. You will find charming bridges, small waterfalls, lily pads throughout the pond, and even a little Zen garden area. Even though it is compact, the peaceful atmosphere and the well-kept grounds make it a great visit. I highly recommend stopping by if you are in the area and want a quiet, refreshing escape.

Beautiful, yes. Quiet, yes. But the staffs really do make people uncomfortable. As if they're the…read morestrict parents or mall cops, telling you to move, to not stand there too long, no picture setup, don't stop for more than 30s, don't talk too loud The garden is the size of a small practice soccer field and there are at least 10 staffs

Nice place for a stroll. It's no LA Arboretum but this 26-acre garden is free and more of an…read morearboretum on a college campus than a standalone. I met up with a friend that I hadn't seen for awhile and it was the perfect place to catch up during a walk around of the garden. I loved the pond with the lily pads and turtles, and the Heritage House surrounded by orange trees and roses. I was impressed by the amount of orange trees. It reminds you of why they call it Orange County. If I went to school here I'd be here probably once a week. Otherwise it's great to come if you live in the OC.

Another great visit on a very hot Easter Sunday!…read more Great place to touch grass and had free parking!

We had a great time visiting this beautiful presidential library. I don't know much about Nixon…read moreexcept Watergate that led to his resignation. Glad I learned a lot about him from our visit. The museum is very organized and the garden is very beautiful. I liked the replica of the Oval Office the most. Great place to spend a couple hours and learn a lot of history! Ps. Hubby had only visited this library once before for his high school dance decades ago!

Definitely a cool place to visit. I took my 14 year old and…read morewe spent about an hour + here. We learned a lot, saw a lot, and the staff was all super knowledgeable.

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.

Noguchi gardens is a gorgeous spot to just relax for a little, enjoy a break from the hustle and…read morebustle of the world. It's a small space but the artwork is nice and instills a sense of calm that is appreciated

Fun and interesting little place to visit if you are in the area by South Coast Plaza mall…read more Not the easiest place to find since you can't see it from the street. It is behind the Mastros restaurant. There is a parking structure nearby that is like $3 or $4 for 15 minutes and you can probably run through in 15 minutes, but 30 minutes to be safe. You can also walk from the mall parking lot, it is a little bit of a stroll but manageable. There are plenty of pictures so you can see what you are getting into before you make the drive, pay for parking, and walk over. When we went there on a Sunday morning, there were only 2 or 3 other people, so it was very quiet and zen. I enjoyed the write-ups and the exhibits. If I worked right there I would probably visit all the time.

Such a great way to spend a couple hours checking out California inspired artwork. There's so much…read moreto experience when viewing some subjective art. I also appreciate the historical value portrayed with it. There are two buildings- the north and south. The north side has the permanent exhibits- Disney, stone and scene, radio museum, Maynard Dixon and the Oregon trail, and contemporary paintings. The south has the Emigdio Vasquez art work, Route 66, and Ralph Massey exhibits. I appreciate local museums so much and hope to see so much more of it!

Spent a couple hours at the Hilbert and thought it was a lovely experience. The staff are so warm…read moreand welcoming, and very knowledgeable about the artists and the collection. Tip: for kids (or anyone) ask for the scavenger hunt and get a little prize so fun!

YiYa Formosa, located on the 3rd floor of the Garden Walk, is trying to recreate the feeling of a…read moreTaiwan night market, and you can tell there was a lot of intention behind the concept. For a Friday evening, the crowd inside is very light...so I hope this establishment survives. Inside the store, the "stall" set up area feels incomplete or semi-vacant. Most of the vendors are selling knick-knacks rather than food, which wasn't what I expected from a night market-inspired space -- more food stall or hot bar please. The area is sub-divided into sections that seem to try to create a little of everything -- there are spaces for gatherings, worship, paintings and a small gift shop. Food options are limited to just a couple of snack bars, which don't really compare to as much options like 99 Ranch. There is also offering to learn mahjong! One bright spot, though, is the wishing tree, which is a very welcoming and thoughtful touch. Too bad, the paper was out.

There is nothing worth seeing; some of the products sold there were knockoffs; I was expecting…read morethere to be some tasty snacks or food items from Taiwan Republic of China, but the place was practically dead.