Visiting Rancho Los Cerritos
As you all probably know by now, I love nature and spending time outdoors. Although it’s sometimes tricky to locate these spaces in the city, you might be surprised at what you can find when you search around.
Last year, I visited Rancho Los Alamitos in Long Beach, This led me to discover the very similar Rancho Los Cerritos in Long Beach’s Bixby Knolls neighborhood. Like Rancho Los Alamitos, this is a historical site that has a museum and gardens.
Prior to its conversion into a historical landmark, this land belonged to Native Americans and the Tongva people. The Spanish later “acquired” the land and it was eventually sold to John Temple. In 1844, Temple built the house that can be seen above and started a cattle farm.
To make a long story short, Temple sold the land in 1866 but Rancho Los Cerritos remained a private residence until it was sold to the City of Long Beach in 1955. It was then converted to a museum and eventually a designated historical landmark.
What can you expect on a visit to Rancho Los Cerritos? Besides strolling the grounds, there are tours and exhibits. When my friend Jenny and I visited, there were plenty of volunteers eager to give tours.
However, we opted out of the tour and explored the Rancho on our own. I also want to add that visiting is completely free of charge! Parking is also free and plentiful. Donations are accepted though.
My personal favorite part of the home was the backyard gardens; they were lush and quiet. There was also a magnificent tree that was over a hundred years old
Although Jenny and I did not stay long, our visit was memorable. We saw fauna, flora, insects, and even lizards. If you want to take a step back in time and enjoy nature’s beauty, then Rancho Los Cerritos is a must-see!
Know before you go:
Rancho Los Cerritos is located at 4600 Virginia Road
Long Beach, CA 90807Parking and admission are free but an RSVP is needed to visit; click here to make a reservation
Rancho Los Cerritos is closed Mondays and Tuesdays; you can see the rest of their hours here
For all other information regarding tours and more, check out their website
Remember to stay hydrated (Long Beach is hot AF)
