rancho los alamitos

A pleasant side trip. Hidden in a modern suburban neighborhood is a 1800s hacienda preserved as a little museum. In the summer they host outdoor musical events etc. Worth the trip for a quiet break from a hectic California vacation.

This is a fantastic rancho open free to the public. It is maintained mostly by volunteers. The rancho was the Bixby family estate that was donated to the City of Long Beach, and the family ranch house and barns are still standing today. This is a fun way to spend a Saturday or Sunday with the family exploring the beautiful gardens, either on your own or on a guided tour. The ranch house is open and many items on display were used by the Bixby family many years ago.

Rancho Los Alamitos turned out to be an awesome surprise after I decided to visit after reading about rancho history. I have been living/working in SoCal since 1981, and had no idea this was here. I would recommend a trip here to anyone who is interested in learning about the Bixby family and properties in pre- and early-day Long Beach. It is twice listed on the National Register of Historic Places. [Note: this is a sister property to the Rancho Los Cerritos, also in Long Beach, about five miles to the northwest; see note below and separate review]As explained in the tour, the residential buildings underwent a series of expansions/additions, and the result is an impeccably maintained historic register property. In addition, there are few barns, stables, numerous farm animals (check out the beautiful shire horses wandering around) and an array of gardens that are of “must see” caliber. Although not palatial, the home itself is very well appointed with things the Bixby family members were able to acquire as a result of the oil boom in the 1920s. There’s a really good vibe throughout the “house walk.”The tour I took was more relaxed in the sense that the docent didn’t talk continually to a tightly bunched group. Rather, we were allowed to move around somewhat freely while we were outside, with the docent hanging around to answer questions and unlock doors for us.The gardens are really cool (get a brochure at the Rancho Center). The formally designed areas incorporate “walks” featuring geraniums, oleanders and jacarandas, and a nice balance between vegetation and hardscape. Especially noteworthy is the cactus garden, which is interspersed with many trees and large shrubberies to create a “woodsy desert” environment (contradictory, I know), the likes of which I’ve never experienced before … much different than the [awesome] cactus gardens at the Huntington Gardens or the L.A. Arboretum.Admission is free (donations welcome), but one can see the home only by way of a tour (~ one hour). At the beginning of the tour, the group stops to examine a big wall display of the building expansion chronology, then to tennis-court-sized room where a huge map of the Los Coyotes grant divisions is laid out on the floor. The brochure indicates that the gardens and barn area can be toured in a self-guided manner.For your consideration:* To access the property you must stop at a private residential security gate on Palo Verde Avenue, where a guard will give you a one-day rancho visitor pass. Go up the hill to the end, take a left, then an immediate right. Place the pass on your dashboard. Parking is free.* The Bixby Hill Community Association parking pass says RANCHO ONLY, and contains scary text referring to penal code violations for trespassing on private streets. I’m not sure of the proper course to take if one were to find the rancho parking lot full (about four dozen spaces).* Since part of the tour is outdoors make sure you have a hat and/or sunscreen if you’re sensitive to strong sun on a hot day.* Photography, even without flash, is NOT allowed indoors (bummer).* Check out the two huuuuge Moreton Bay fig trees just outside the screened-in porch.* TRY THIS: Visiting both Rancho Los Alamitos and Rancho Los Cerritos (not as mind-blowing, but still worth a trip) makes for a great afternoon of Long Beach rancho history. Since both properties are open only from 1:00 to 5:00, try to arrive for the 1:00 tour at either location, then venture over to the other rancho (~20 mins drive) to catch the 3:00 tour. I did this; it worked great. I would give priority to Rancho Los Alamitos because the visit is likely to take longer (more to enjoy).

Great place to discover the early history of Long Beach Ca. Too bad the cluster of our present culture has choked this whole place. This place takes you back to a time when things were very different. Old trees...old well restored California buildings and cool stuff. You get to tour the place and it is fun to see how they ranched and lived years ago. I was born In Long Beach and it took me 59 year's to make a visit...please Don t wait that long. Great place. My wife and I had a great visit with friendly people and guides.

My aunt and I visited Rancho Los Alamitos during our CA trip for a break from the hustle and bustle of LA. What a great idea we had! The buildings and grounds are absolutely beautiful. We enjoyed walking through the gardens and seeing the large trees! Tons of historical objects as well to enjoy. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a peaceful retreat from the city.

Our friends who live in Orange accompanied us on a visit to Rancho Los Alamitos. We hadn't checked the open hours, and arrived too early. There is a gatehouse and a guard on duty who advised us to return at the correct time. I'm glad we did so. Our docent guide was excellent. I admire how well they provide information and can answer visitor's questions such as "how old is that stove?". The docent took our group of four people into the map room (the map is on the floor). I was able to point out the Naples area of Long Beach where my grandparents had lived. Then after giving the history of the Rancho, we went directly to the adobe. The docent used pictures of the owners for help in describing the rooms that we passed through, the furnishings, and who used them. The parking was adequate on a Saturday afternoon. There is a gift shop, and my wife purchased an item to give her brother for Christmas. We had a very enjoyable visit. I would recommend this attraction to friends.

We SO enjoyed our visit to Rancho Los Alamitos, tucked into a quiet neighborhood near Cal State Long Beach. The ranch and gardens sit on 7.5 acres, all that remains from a much larger land concession in the late 1800's. The are has been occupied since 500 AD! We started our tour with the Visitor Center and its beautiful Rancho Room: the maps, stories, and pictures are facinating for all ages. Half of our group fell in love with the restored, early 20th C. barns and all of the livestock present; the other half was fascinated with the Ranch House! Contained within the enlarged structure is the original, small 1800 adobe house!All of us fell in love with the expansive and peaceful gardens. For the Seattle-ites on this visit, the cactus garden and the native garden were the most unusal; the huge, towering bamboo plantings were great! We ended our visit in the gift shop, which is full of especially lovely local gifts and artwork. A very special place.

We actually were there in the summer 2012 with a good friend.It is in a very hidden location surrounded by fine homes & a golf course. There is a tour by the wife of the last owner. She is still very young.There is much to learn there, I think, of the ignored basic realities of life.

This is a true treasure in the Long Beach area and it is FREE!!! In today's world, that is almost impossible to find. It is in a gated community near Cal State Long Beach, but there is easy access at the guard gate and free parking. The docent led tours are very informative, but you can just wander the many gardens, barn and stable area on you own. The visitor center has a short movie that gives good background on the Rancho and the area. The area is so peaceful, you don't even realize there is a freeway close by. The gift shop has very unique and interesting gifts that relate to early California, rancho life and the flora of the area.Rancho Los Alamitos also has special events throughout the year. Check their website for operating hours and special events.

Tucked away in a residential neighborhood next to California State University Long Beach this Rancho is one of two in Long Beach. Our docent led tour was very informative about the history of the Rancho and the local area. New visitor center, gardens, stables and the home are worth a visit. You can also arrange to have lunch for a group. Good for kids too.

I love to come here when I'm a little blue and walk the garden paths. It is so peaceful even when its got lots going on like today. Several tour groups were being shown around by the knowledgeable docents but still the paths are beautiful and peaceful. If you walk through the cactus garden you will come across the stream that still runs through the property, cool and clear. A place to draw energy from and feel the presence of God.

Looking for something to do with your family or parents? Come visit RLA and enjoy the beautiful gardens and animals. The visitors center is beautiful and they have a wonderful gift shop. We booked a family luncheon which was delicious and reasonable cost. This is a wonderful place to have your business or club come for an outing. Make sure to call in regards to opening hours because of various special events. They have great programs and family events which are mostly free to the public. I love walking to this place just to get away from the city. This is a non profit organization..so I always bring loose change to place in the donation box. This is a must do and see if visiting Long Beach.

This is one of the few truly historic and nice homes in the area that is still standing and in very good condition. It is lovingly maintained by the organization that operates it and keeps it open to the public. The fee is small. There are tour guides who will bring you through the estate/rancho and they will tell you so much about the families that have lived here as well as how the rancho began. The tour will include the surrounding gardens, as well as the house interior and exterior. It is furnished with many of its original pieces. The tour will also include the yards and the rancho workshops. The Los Angeles area seems to have lost so many of its historical buildings and landmarks but Rancho Los Alamitos is still here and it has so much to reveal about how this multi-cultural region of the country began and grew.

Off the beaten track and not well publicized. My wife found it on the web and we had a quiet weekend to visit.This is an old California treasure. I don't know that it will have alot of appeal to non Californians. We've lived here for years and as a history buff, I found the place fascinating.The house is a wonderful time capsule. The gardens have some surprising plants woth examining. The barn and the animals will make every kid ( and a few adults) feel all warm and fuzzy.Make sure you go early as parking is limited

Do not miss this fantastic treasure of California history. Varied terraced gardens, barns, and tour the grand home. The guides fill you with interesting history lessons of this area and the Rancho, Take time to enjoy a stroll through the gardens, the newly restored barn with a history room and 15 minute video, and end your with a visit at the wonderful gift shop.