15 Best Things to Do in Bell Gardens, CA

Bell Gardens is a city in Los Angeles County, California, conveniently located within a stone's throw from glamorous central Los Angeles.

Bell Gardens is part of the Gateway Cities Region, a primarily urbanized region in southeastern Los Angeles County.

The city got its name from James George Bell, an American businessman.

The "Gardens" derives from the many Japanese who established vegetable gardens and rice fields early in Bell Gardens' existence.

Although incorporated into the a in the 1960s, it has a long history and was once an important Native American community.

To this day, Bell Gardens is exceptionally diverse, known for its Native American, Hispanic, and Japanese populations.

Despite its relative obscurity, this area has a rich history and fascinating cultural heritage.

Below are the best things to do in Bell Gardens, California:

Have a Picnic and Play at John Anson Ford Park

Gorgeous, spotless, and serene best describe John Anson Ford Park.

Many people bring their dogs here to get some fresh air and exercise.

Many individuals prepare roast meats for their families to enjoy together on weekends.

As long as you reserve the party room in advance, you can also celebrate birthdays there.

Playgrounds and open spaces are available for use with pets.

There's a pond where you can watch and feed turtles and ducks.

The entire park is an excellent location for a picnic, so spread out your blankets anywhere you choose.

Do you enjoy sports?

The Bell Gardens Sports Center in the park is the most excellent spot to hang out with friends and family and take in a game or two.

It features natural and synthetic soccer fields, baseball and softball diamonds, a basketball court, a children's play area, and more.

There is a snack bar in John Anson Ford Park for your convenience.

Restrooms are available at John Anson Ford Park for your convenience.

Pass through the Historic Woodworth House

Wallace Woodworth, a prosperous Los Angeles businessman, commissioned the construction of the Woodworth House.

This historic home is one of the most recognizable buildings in the area.

Although you can't come in, you can check it out outside as you tour the Bell Gardens neighborhood.

The Woodworth family became wealthy in the 19th century by selling orange orchards and livestock and introducing early gas lights to Los Angeles.

Check out the rusted old trams parked outside the stunning Victorian mansion.

The El Rancho San Antonio Historical Society calls Woodworth House its home.

Practice Your Swing at Bell Gardens Golf Course

Besides the gorgeous pond and abundant animals, Bell Gardens Golf Course also features a soccer field.

This area, part of a larger park complex, sees a lot of action on the weekends and offers activities for people of all ages and interests.

Bell Gardens Golf Course, located just behind the Bell Gardens Sports Center, is an excellent place for golfers of all skill levels to practice their short game.

The 9-hole course plays to a par of 27, with a maximum distance of 1,017 yards from the longest tees.

The course has a rating of 44.0 and a slope of 113. This golf course first welcomed players back in 1976.

The course's hole lengths span from 83 to 124 yards, making it ideal for expert players to hone their wedge skills while being friendly for novices.

Learn the Art of Wrestling at Santino Bros. Wrestling

Attention, WWE fans! Did you know that you can take wrestling lessons?

The Santino Bros. Wrestling Academy is one of the region's best professional wrestling training facilities.

In addition to people with the right skills and experience, it provides access to various production resources, such as rental equipment, venues, and Live Events.

Its instructors are well-versed in multiple areas relevant to the professional wrestling business, including wrestling moves, wrestling for television, nutrition and fitness, character development, marketing and promotions, and more.

Santino Bros. Wrestling Academy is the place to go if you want to make a career out of wrestling.

Test Your Luck at Parkwest Bicycle Casino

The Parkwest Bicycle Casino, also known simply as "The Bike," is a legendary gambling establishment.

There are more poker tables at the Bell Gardens poker room (185, to be exact) than at any other global location.

The Bicycle Hotel & Casino's Live at the Bike initiative pioneered the online broadcast of a live poker cash game from a land-based casino.

Poker pros, A-list celebs, and regulars gather five evenings weekly to play for cash.

Card visuals and expert commentary have been staples of the show, helping it become one of the longest-running pokers shows ever.

At "The Bike," you may play juicy cash games, compete in exciting tournaments, and watch a popular livestream cash game program.

Parkwest Bicycle Casino is among Southern California's few remaining card rooms, mainly because they host many limited Texas hold 'em games.

In addition to its plush rooms and suites, the hotel boasts a spa, dining options, a coffee shop, and a bar.

Other Things to Do Nearby

Catch Live Performances at 1720

This music venue in Los Angeles, California, is hidden for the time being among that maze of brick buildings and fortresses enclosed by barbed-wire gates.

1720 derives its name from its location at 1720 East 16th Street.

In addition, locals will know that this is the last section of the Warehouse District to be colonized by trendy cafes, art galleries, and specialty stores.

The Warehouse District was "the pre-gentrified war zone," as one of the owners, Brett Powell, puts it.

The building, located 15 minutes from Bell Gardens, was designed by Alex Alereza, Powell, and Travis Richter and was formerly a clothing manufacturer.

L.A.'s best party-throwers, the Brownies and Lemonade group, inaugurated the facility in late 2017.

Since then, 1720's schedule has rapidly filled up with events from underground to popular genres.

Hike or Bike the Whittier Narrows Recreation Area

The City of South El Monte is home to one of Los Angeles County's largest and most frequented parks, Whittier Narrows Recreation Area, which spans an impressive 1,492 acres.

This park, 18 minutes from Bell Gardens, is one of the largest and most frequented in all of Los Angeles County.

Renting bicycles, canoes, or kayaks allows guests to explore the surrounding area.

There are several paved airstrips for radio-controlled hobby aircraft, several routes for walking and cycling, a tether car racetrack, and various softball and soccer fields with picnic tables.

The Whittier Narrows Nature Center, located within the Recreation Area, features static and interactive displays highlighting flora and fauna of the area.

Visitors can also participate in ranger-led excursions, educational presentations, and more at Whittier Narrows Recreation Area.

Watch a Baseball Game at Dodger Stadium

The Elysian Park area of Los Angeles, California, is home to Dodger Stadium, a major league baseball venue, an 18-minute drive from Bell Gardens.

It's where the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball play their home games.

Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda gave it the moniker "Blue Heaven on Earth" to describe the park's heavenly atmosphere. Take a tour to witness what goes on behind the scenes (and on the field).

Hear interesting anecdotes about the team's history.

The tour guides are experts in their fields and know how to make even the most casual fan enjoy themselves.

Pick from various pre-game tours (game tickets offered separately), including the clubhouse, a tour with photo opp, a hands-on experience tour, a tour dedicated to Shortstops, a tour dedicated to Jackie Robinson, a tour of the onsite botanical gardens, and even private tours.

Hit a Strike Gage Bowl

Bowling at Gage Bowl in Huntington Park, California, nine minutes from Bell Gardens, is an excellent activity for the whole family. It marked its 60th year of service to the Huntington Park area in 2020.

Gage Bowl aims to ensure that its customers have a fun and memorable time bowling so they and their friends and family will return.

The bowling alley hosts parties, group outings, open bowling, and leagues for all skill levels.

There are automatic bumpers for younger bowlers (under 12) to help them knock over pins.

An arcade with various games is available, allowing visitors of all ages to test their mettle and experience the thrill of victory.

Gage Bowl is great for the whole family because it has billiards and a kitchen.

Bring Your Kids to Learn from the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County in Los Angeles has become a cultural, educational, and entertainment mecca.

One of the oldest cultural institutions, it features exhibits including "Age of Mammals," "Dinosaur Hall," "Gem and Mineral Hall," and "Our Favorite Dioramas."

It doesn't only tell stories about Earth's past; it also delves into present-day changes.

The outdoor Nature Gardens and Nature Lab and the indoor "Becoming Los Angeles" explore the historical and contemporary interplay between the city's natural landscape and its diverse human population.

When visiting Bell Gardens or the L.A. area, bring the whole family to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

Take Selfies at the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Celebrities who have left an indelible mark on the entertainment business are honored on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, 21 minutes from Bell Gardens.

It occupies 15 Hollywood Boulevard blocks and 3 Vine Street blocks.

More than ten million people a year visit the promenade to take pictures with the stars and read the names of their favorite actors, musicians, and filmmakers.

Around 2,690 stars on it represent the recipients' various achievements.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce manages the Walk of Fame, which typically installs 20 new stars each year.

Taking a photo next to the star of their favorite actor or actress is a bucket list item for many tourists visiting Hollywood.

See a Rodeo at Pico Rivera Sports Arena

With an annual average of 25 rodeos, Pico Rivera Sports Arena opened in 1979 and is the largest rodeo ring in Mexico.

The Hispanic community in Pico Rivera and Los Angeles enjoy spending time there.

This multi-use arena is only 16 minutes from Bell Gardens.

It can hold anywhere from 5000 to 6250 guests depending on the setup.

Pico Rivera Sports Arena also serves as a music hall, often featuring acts from Mexico and the rest of Latin America.

Learn about Dinosaurs at The Museum of Jurassic Technology

In 1988, David Hildebrand Wilson and Diana Drake Wilson opened what would become known as the Museum of Jurassic Technology on Venice Boulevard in the Palms neighborhood of Los Angeles, 22 minutes from Bell Gardens.

In its mission statement, the museum states it is "an educational institution dedicated to the advancement of knowledge and the public appreciation of the Lower Jurassic."

It evokes the 16th-century cabinets of curiosities as forerunners to the contemporary natural-history museums.

The museum's collection features various objects from several disciplines, including art, science, ethnography, history, and even those that defy categorization.

The Museum of Jurassic Technology has instituted a new policy requiring all guests to schedule visits in advance using its online ticketing system to safeguard the safety of all museum-goers and employees.

Walk along the Shores of Dockweiler Beach

With its 3.7 miles of coastline and 288 acres of sand, Dockweiler Beach in Playa Del Rey, 27 minutes from Bell Garden, is a popular destination.

It features volleyball nets, fire pits, picnic tables, bathrooms, and showers.

It's easy to get to the Marvin Braude Bike Trail, also called the beach bike path, which many vacationers use for biking, inline skating, and running.

The fishing jetties at the north end of the beach are the best in the area.

A fenced-in beach area caters to the western snowy plover, a shorebird protected by federal law.

Dockweiler Beach may grow crowded during the summer as people look for a spot to sit around one of the many fire pits.

There are over 1,200 parking spots nearby, plenty of places to go, and things to do, all of which make up for the constant roar of planes overhead.

Explore the Exhibits Los Angeles County Museum of Art

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), 28 minutes from Bell Gardens, is the largest art museum in the western United States.

Over a million people visit LACMA annually to see the museum's world-renowned collections, public programming, and cutting-edge research facilities.

The paintings and artifacts housed at LACMA come from all corners of the globe and span nearly the entirety of human creativity.

The museum's collections of Asian art include the Bruce Goff-designed Pavilion for Japanese Art.

It also has sections for Islamic art and Latin American art, including pre-Columbian masterpieces by leading modern and contemporary artists like Frida Kahlo, Jose Clemente Orozco, and Diego Rivera.

Final Thoughts

Bell Gardens may not be the first place that comes to mind when planning a vacation, but the city and its surrounding areas offer a lot to do and see.

Bell Gardens is proud of its many amenities, including stunning parks, lush green soccer fields, a lake full of fish and ducks, and a community golf course.

To guide you on your visit, use our guide to the best things to do in Bell Gardens, California.