Out and About Tours

Great Tour! Great Info! I had a great (and really informative) time on our tour. I had heard about a number of the places we visited, but I had no point of reference or ‘why you want to know this’. I learned so much and had a great time while doing it.

This is an AWESOME experience. Gay, straight — doesn’t matter… you will learn so much about LA and have an awesome time.
Jim, the owner of the company, did our VIP tour in a comfy SUV. He is an absolute DELIGHT. And such a wealth of knowledge about LA and it’s history. Yeah, it’s geared towards the LGBT side of things, but I learned so much about the city that I now call home and found lots of places I want to explore later.
There is champagne and snacks on the smaller VIP tours… and lots of time to ask questions and get to know Jim, who is simply a gem!
It took me some time to book this tour but Jim was amazing at making things right and taking care to resolve any issues. This is an owner that takes care of customers and runs a solid local business.
I cannot recommend this tour enough… again whatever your persuasion or interest, you will LOVE spending some time on any Out and About Tour. I can’t wait to take another one!

This tour was packed with history that we would not have known on our own. Jim was an amazing guide and very gracious. His knowledge of LGBTQ history will blow your mind. The hidden Hollywood Gay History was so interesting as well.
We did the walking tour and walked quite a bit so make sure you have good shoes if you do that tour.
We will definitely return for the «Sungay Brunch» tour.
Thanks Jim!

We did the Saturday walking tour of downtown LA and let me tell you, this is no ordinary tour. We learned about the rich history of the city and about all the different cultures, not just gay, that inhabited areas of LA that we would simply drive through on an ordinary day. I have to saw that you can’t help but feel proud by the end of the tour, since when it comes to gay culture, LA usually seems to fall behind under places like San Francsico and New York. Overall, we were very happy with the tour and would love to catch up with Jim again. BTW, I don’t care what Jim says, Runkeeper says that we walked about 4.5 miles, so it’s a good workout!

Jim is an amazing fount of knowledge, not only the LGBT history of LA, but the city itself. This tour is a must for LGBT persons, those who love them and those just curious :-) We were amazed at the things we learnedWe had the most wonderful time — THANK YOU JIM!!! xxoo

I did the Downtown L.A. History tour. This is a great way to see downtown L.A. on foot and also learn some fascinating LGBT history at the same time. I’ve lived here for fifteen years and still saw new places and learned about new things (learning about what used to be in certain modern buildings places is really cool). A nice mix of history, juicy tidbits and funny anecdotes. Definitely worth it.

My friend gave me this tour as a bday gift and it was a great way to spend our Saturday morning. Jim was our tourguide — funny, informative, and never dull. We did a nice loop starting from Union Station and ending with a (strong) margarita on Olvera Street –kindly bought for us by Jim. In between we toured the Biltmore Hotel lobby, the Grand Central Market, the Bradbury building and rode Angels Flight — all downtown essentials that I’ve never done — and I’ve lived here for 13 years. If you are ready to learn about some history while getting some exercise at the same time, this is a unique way to spend a few hours. Wear walking shoes! We covered about 4 miles and were a little sore near the end.

Well, I just read Vanessa’s review – I guess I was on her tour and am FAR lazier than she, so all I’ll say is that I agree 1000% with all she wrote. I’ll add that I found Jim incredibly knowledgeable and fun, and I plan on taking his downtown walking tour, and maybe even this one again. So much to learn about the community and its history.

I took the Out and About Tour on Sunday, and had a superb time! When we arrived, we were welcomed by our host Jim, who offered us a glass of champagne. Jim then squired us around Los Angeles, offering tale after fascinating tale. The tour was packed with information without ever being boring, it was interactive, without ever getting too off topic, and it covered a huge swath of the city, where I had originally thought it would be centered around West Hollywood. Jim was an incredible host, and took really great care of us… and I left feeling like I’d learned an awful lot.
I took the tour with 3 friends, only one of which, is gay. So it really is a tour that can be enjoyed by gay and straight alike. I would take another tour with Out and About in a new york minute.

Tourists, locals, LGBTQ folks, and straight supporters: This is a tour for YOU!
I found the LGBT Gay History Bus Tour on Goldstar, and got a friend to come with me to spend a Sunday in LA. A day or so before the tour, I got a message that the tour was actually going to be held in a different vehicle because of the smaller group we had that day — no problem, as I figured that we would be in close quarters with really fun people.
We arrived at the ONE Gallery on Robertson, which was relatively easy to find — and parking wasn’t as bad as I had feared; a nearby (paid) structure had plenty of space. We started with a glass of champagne, some brief introductions, and were on our way in our chariot for the day, which turned out to be a minivan (how long has it been since I’ve been in one of those?!). Our tourmates, as expected, turned out to be really fun and friendly people, and we even shared their company after the tour was over and we were looking to continue enjoying the day.
Jim, who is the owner/​chief operator of Out and About Tours, was incredibly friendly and welcoming. He took us immediately out of WeHo («it may be a gay mecca now, but it actually has the LEAST gay history in, like, all of Los Angeles»). We went through Silver Lake, Downtown, and other parts of Los Angeles that I had no idea existed (Google «Edendale,» and «El Pueblo»!). Jim was talking almost nonstop throughout the 3-​hour tour — I was astounded at how much information he shared with us. There were a couple stopping points, including the last remaining gay piano bar in Los Angeles, where we got to enjoy a cocktail.
More than anything, you get an appreciation for the LGBT pioneers who really were the revolutionaries of their time. It’s hard to imagine, but there was a time when police were actively entrapping people at gay & lesbian bars, using wannabe actors as bait, and patrons could be imprisoned for six months and literally lose everything they had in the process. We’ve come a long way, but there is still much work to do.
The tour begins and ends about a block away from the Abbey. It’s the perfect place to enjoy drinks (and the view!) on a gorgeous afternoon and appreciate the vibrant energy of this city!

Fascinating, fun, and extremely informative.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
*I’m probably going to do it again with friends!

Great tour of gay LA. Jim really knows his stuff about the city and it’s gay history. I never knew where Tom of Finland was and why the community settled in West Hollywood and Silverlake. And that PRIDE actually stood for something. And where bath housed came from. So much to see. It’s hard to take it all in on the 3.5 hour tour. Jim was talking non-​stop. It was fun to stop in downtown LA and see the festival square, the original Chinatown, and the first porn theater. The Otherside bar was a great place to stop for a drink, unwind, and sing some tunes. Great fun!

We were the happy couple who had a private tour with Jim because the larger group changed their tour date! We loved every minute of the time together! Celebrating our 27^th anniversary with all the caring attention that Jim gave us was fantastic!
We recommend Out and About to anyone who wants a great LGBT history of L.A. and a fun time!

This was by far one of the best times I have ever had in Los Angeles! It was a trip down memory lane and I learned so much about being gay in LA, The Gay Leaders and the ups and downs of how this community has been treated here in our own city! Jim treats every detail with love and fun!
If you want more than a typical tour, something that will change your life… then get on this tour! It is something you do not want to miss! I give it Two Thumbs Up and a shake and a shimmy! Loved Loved Loved it!

Great tour with so much information! I loved the history of the gay leaders in Los Angeles and all the crazy bar stories from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. The trip through West Hollywood, Silver Lake, Edendale and Downtown LA allows you to see much of the city very quickly. Of course, the champagne and singing just adds to the FUN.

I had a board retreat for a non-​profit and needed an activity. I called Jim asking if it would be at all possible to arrange a walking tour downtown, something not even on the normal Out and About menu. Lo and behold, he created a fascinating tour chock-​FULL of startling history, gorgeous architecture and gossipy tidbits! He was charming, helpful and unbelievably flexible. We love him and will do it again!

Jim has done a ton of research into a history that most people don’t even know about, much less give tours for. In addition to gay history, he also delves into some basic Los Angeles history, especially downtown where some of the earliest LA settlements were. Highly recommended.

Excellent. Jim has done his homework and it shows. Very entertaining, curious, and fascinating. Truly knowledgeable about LA and local gay history. Yes it’s a little bit dark, but very inspiring and keeps you interested in knowing more. Micro history buffs will find it detailed enough for tourists and locals alike. Even as a local, I found it enlightening and entertaining. Who knew?! Lots if good info that will change your perspective. Perfect for your out of town guests, but again, if you’re local you’ll also be entertained. Truly a good and exceptional deal. Would do it again!

What a great afternoon. We went in with reservations (heh) and were dazzled by the knowledge and friendliness of our hosts, and fellow passengers. I thought I knew a lot — but I think every Gay and Lesbian resident of LA has a responsibility to learn more about the places and people that shaped our community.
It’s put together in an upbeat — sometimes campy — style. Just the right mixture of facts and fun. Some facts not so fun — but it’s still our history.
Stopping downtown for a quick walk-​around — a cocktail and a serenade at The Other Side — drinks and snacks provided — well worth your time and money.
Take it, I think you’ll like it.