I have written about visiting the city of Redlands in the past, describing the Orange Street Alley where visitors can view hundreds of colored umbrellas offering shade for those passing below or look at the loving memorial, Hannah’s Wings, in memory of Hannah Ahlers, one of the tragic victims during the 2017 Route 91 Harvest Musical Festival in Las Vegas.

Redlands is a wonderful town to visit, but I have not spent much time there. I have a purpose in mind, such as the Orange Street Alley, and go there to experience it.

Once I have a destination in mind, it’s time to go.

Laureen, my loving wife, says that it is simply a hunting adventure when I go on a mission.

“You want to buy a shirt,” she will say. “You go to Kohl’s, see the shirt you want, shoot it, bag it and bring it home.”

That always confused me, but then later, I understood her meaning. When she goes shopping, and there are plenty of examples, she will spend hours looking at this and peering at that.

“You have to take your time when shopping,” she said. “A blouse needs the right pair of pants or skirt. Those then need the right pair of shoes, and then there are the other items to tie the outfit all together.”

All these years, I still don’t understand that logic. I need a shirt; I buy a shirt. I don’t go to the car lot and choose a vehicle that matches my shirt — though that sounds cool, that could get rather expensive.

So, not long ago, I had a bit of business to do and found myself with hours to meander through the town of Redlands.

Driving up this street and down that street, I finally realized what my lovely wife meant after hundreds of years of marriage.

I took my time. It was an eye-opening exposure to what towns can offer someone who will take a moment to slow down and take a breath.

Driving up a road south from somewhere in Redlands, I enjoyed the sights of majestic old homes bordering the roadway and soon was at the end of Prospect Drive.

I saw the gorgeous Kimberly Crest House high on a hill.

Of course, I was not sure what house I was looking at until I got out of my vehicle and walked to a sign that informed me that it was, in fact, the Kimberly Crest House.

Research requires getting out of the car and walking most of the time to locate information, usually written plainly on a post or placard.

It turns out the house is not a house but more of an estate since a house is where the family gathers during celebrations and then complains there isn’t enough room to gather — often knives or guns come into play at that point.

No, the Kimberly Crest House is one of those estates that is a vast, stunningly crafted structure where the visitor expects a lord or lady to saunter down the billion stairs in the front garden to see who is approaching.

“I say there,” says the lord. “Who is sauntering on our grounds when the rules say we are the only ones allowed to saunter here?”

The lady would sniff into her expensive handmade kerchief. “By the odor, lord, ‘tis, a commoner.”

One of the first pioneers of Redlands, Cornelia A. Hill, built the estate in 1897. I don’t know who she was, but she had to come with some serious cash to build such a marvelous place — so, she must have been important.

Then in 1905, John Alfred Kimberly of the Kimberly-Clark paper company purchased the property.

Yes, that family brought the world the products that make us all much easier to be around. Facial tissues, hygiene products, toilet paper, disposable diapers, baby wipes, and so much more that we need to take a moment to thank them. If not, perhaps the lady of the house would have been correct about the commoner and the odor — just saying.

The mansion sits atop a high hill in the area, which allows refreshing evening breezes to naturally cool the house's interior.

After purchasing the property, the Kimberly's had Italian gardens installed around the property.

Yet, as much as I wandered the property, I could not locate any arugula, fennel, or portobello mushrooms anywhere, and I did look since I had not had any lunch yet.

The family lived in the house until 1979 when Mary Kimberly Shirk died, She was the widowed daughter of John Alfred Kimberly.

It seems Mrs. Shirk had a strong sense of community and purpose. Before her passing, she challenged the city of Redlands to find the cash to purchase the land around the estate and turn it into botanical gardens for the citizens to enjoy.

“If you do that,” Ms. Shirk said, “I will bequeath the mansion and the remaining six acres surrounding my home to the city.”

It is rumored that one of the city council members was seen the following weekend collecting aluminum cans along Interstate 10.

The city fulfilled Ms. Shirk’s wishes, and upon her passing, the estate and surrounding area were left to “the People of Redlands.”

As I wandered the estate's grounds, I was a bit nervous in case I was approached by the Royal Guard or a security officer.

“Are you from Redlands?” would come the intimidating question.

“Well, would you look at that,” my response would be while I pointed into the distance and then bolted for the wrought iron gates at the entrance.

It turns out there would not be any need to run away. Kimberly Crest House and the adjoining Prospect Park are open for all to wander through and enjoy the beauty and peaceful environment.

The sun was up, the wind was down, and it was a perfect day to explore a place I had never visited.

Research reveals that the three-story Victorian mansion was designed in the "Chateauesque" style by Oliver Perry Dennis and Lyman Farwell, a Los Angeles-based partnership. A near-replica, now known as the Magic Castle, was designed by the same architects and erected in Hollywood in 1909.

Laureen and I have been to the Magic Castle – it is an awe-inspiring place where the lucky few get kuduffled by magicians.

“Your name is John,” said a magician after scanning a deck of cards.

I was puzzled until I turned around and saw Laureen holding a placard with my name on it.

I made that up. The evening at the Magic Castle was a truly magical experience.

The Kimberly Crest House has been used in films, documentaries, and music videos.

In 1981, Linda Blair starred in a film called Hell Night which used the Kimberly Crest House, but I won’t write about that since the movie sounds rather hellish. Then the band Fleetwood Mac used the place for the setting of ‘Fleetwood Mac’s Big Love’ video, but I won’t write about that since this is a family-friendly column.

As I walked up to the mansion entrance, I noticed large water-filled ponds with dozens of beautifully colored koi, which most people know as nishikigoi.

These fish were swimming and enjoying themselves among the lily pads floating on the water's surface.

They had smiles stretched across their gilled faces.

The entire grounds of the Kimberly Crest House are gorgeous. Only photographs can prove what I mean, which is why there are a couple in this article.

This house also serves as an event venue; company functions, birthdays, weddings, divorces, and more can be celebrated here and tours with appointments.

As I completed my walk-about, I sauntered across the parking area to Prospect Park. That is the area that Ms. Shirk had the city promise to preserve for the people of Redlands when she donated her family’s home.

The nearly 12-acre park offers spectacular views of the city of Redlands and the surrounding San Bernardino and San Gabriel Mountains.

There are hiking trails, covered picnic areas, large grassy areas to sit and relax, and the Avice Meeker Sewall Theatre, which hosts the annual Redlands Summer Theater Festival.

And, of course, like many early Southern California cities, there are plenty of citrus trees to admire and walk among.

It was so peaceful, a few people jogging, a woman painting, and a few doing something that looked like yoga but could have been a cult ritual, that I decided to park it at a picnic table and enjoy my lunch.

An older couple was sitting at a nearby bench, and I nodded at them.

“You’re not from here, are you?” the woman asked.

“No, just a visitor,” I replied.

“We know,” replied the man.

I noticed my insulated red lunch container with Duff Beer's black words on it.

The woman sniffed into her kerchief.

Email John R. Beyer at beyersbyways@gmail.com.