Rancho Los Alamitos,
6400 Bixby Hill Road, Long Beach, Ca 90815 (Enter through residential
security gate
at the intersection of
Anaheim and Palo Verde).
This is an actual California rancho open to the public as
Rancho Los Alamitos
museum.
Tel: 562-431-3541
Open Wednesday through Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is free.
rancholosalamitos.com
Long Beach, CA--There isn't cell phone in use among the 2 to 12 year olds at the Harvest Festival at Rancho Los Alamitos in Long Beach. What the costumed kids dressed like Thomas the Train, Alice in Wonderland, a lion, a lamb, and princess do
during this and other exciting kid-friendly events is use was their imaginations
and little arms to power a music machine (a mechanical organ) which was one of the
old-fashioned activities at the Bixby rancho.
Rancho Los Alamitos is a an historic place atop a hill next to Cal State Long Beach where visitors can come and explore the gardens and grounds,
gift shop, and take guided tours inside the house and barns.
Special events throughout the year provide unique activities reflecting the simplicity of life in not so distant times.
Throwing balls into hoops, kicking balls through a pumpkin maze, participating
in a costume parade, and watching a juggler and a clown are a few activities
that provided entertainment for kids and adults. An historic Calliope provide
music as guests entered the rancho grounds, listening to festive sounds once
played at carnivals and on riverboat rides.
A Day of the Dead tribute dedicated to Cesar Chavez brought the reality of
the rancho era into clearer focus for new generations as docents described the
meaning of the event and tribute items.
