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Next time you’re in the City of Roses, you may want to linger.
Key Points
- The Wrigley Mansion, a historic family home that now serves as the headquarters for the Tournament of Roses, offers tours for guests to see original furnishings and an extensive collection of Rose Parade memorabilia.
- The vibrant Arroyo Seco ecosystem connects the Angeles National Forest with South Pasadena, featuring natural beauty and outdoor activities.
- Visitors can explore art museums, visit architectural landmarks, and meander through picturesque gardens.
Perhaps best known for its 90,000-seat Rose Bowl Stadium, which hosts the annual Rose Bowl football game and Rose Parade every New Year’s, Pasadena is often overlooked once all its big festivities have passed. Although I’ve lived in Los Angeles for more than 50 years, I admit that the city—just 30 miles from my home in the South Bay—is not often in my travel plans. But after a recent museum exhibit debut spurred me to make the drive, I found a city teeming with charm and things to do.
Just driving through Pasadena took me past examples of stunning vintage architecture, including City Hall, the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, and Colorado Street Bridge. Pasadena sits right on Route 66, which celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2026.
“Pasadena is a place filled with culture, history, and beautiful surroundings,” says local realtor Brigham Yen, who works in Pasadena. “It’s home to Vroman’s Bookstore, Southern California’s largest and oldest independent bookstore, dating to 1894, as well as Canterbury Records, L.A.’s oldest record shop, and the legendary Ice House comedy club.”
Pasadena also benefits from a convenient location just northeast of Los Angeles proper. Michael Cimarusti, the chef and owner of the Michelin-starred restaurant Providence and a resident of South Pasadena, says he couldn’t love the tree-lined streets of his hometown more.
“We enjoy great proximity to Highland Park, Los Feliz, downtown L.A., and the wondrous and sprawling restaurant scene of the San Gabriel Valley,” he says. “The winding, joy-to-drive—sans traffic—110 South opens the door to the rest of L.A.”
I learned so much about the City of Roses during my recent visit, and a major lesson was this: One day in Pasadena is not enough.
Here’s what you need to know before planning a trip to Pasadena, California.
Best Things to Do
Take a tour of the Wrigley Mansion, one of the few remaining elegant homes that once lined Pasadena’s Millionaire’s Row. Previously owned by the Wrigley family (of chewing gum fame), the opulent mansion is now the headquarters for the Tournament of Roses, a nonprofit organization that produces the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl game every year. Accordingly, the house displays impressive collections of Rose Bowl memorabilia and photos.
“The Rose Bowl is the crown jewel in Pasadena’s many assets,” says Wrigley Mansion docent Jim Gruettner.
You could easily spend days making your way around Pasadena’s museums, including several specifically for children. For art aficionados, Norton Simon Museum is just the right size for spending a few hours, with exhibition halls spanning six different centuries and a verdant sculpture garden.
If you want to spend more time outdoors, Pasadena has 22 miles of hiking trails in the Arroyo Seco watershed, as well as parks and gardens throughout town. Golfers can tee off at the Brookside Golf Course, a 36-hole complex next to the Rose Bowl. On that note, you can’t miss visiting the stadium itself. Opened in 1922, it’s now a National Historic Landmark with guided tours on select dates. Depending on when you visit, you could even shop while visiting the Rose Bowl Flea Market, held on the second Sunday of every month for more than 50 years.
Pasadena also has an array of performing arts venues. Opened in 1925, Pasadena Playhouse puts on live theater and musical shows, and at Ambassador Auditorium, visitors can catch concerts from the Pasadena Symphony Orchestra. Theater fans should also check out the schedules at Parson’s Nose Theater, A Noise Within, and Boston Court Pasadena.
When it comes to Hollywood history, set-jetters might recognize the Colorado Street Bridge from the 2016 film “La La Land” and the Gamble House as Doc Brown’s home in “Back to the Future.” More recently, the California Institute of Technology, aka Caltech, made a cameo in the Academy Award-winning movie “Oppenheimer.” If you want to learn more, you can take a self-guided tour through town to learn more about Pasadena’s many other historic landmarks.
Where to Eat and Drink
Pasadena is widely recognized as a culinary destination, and restaurants are the primary attraction for countless visitors. It’s the birthplace of chef Julia Child, and the cheeseburger is said to have been invented here. There’s even a plaque commemorating the first cheeseburger, and the city holds an annual Cheeseburger Week.
Considering all that foodie history, it’s no surprise that many of Pasadena’s popular dining spots have stuck around for decades. Café Santorini has been a local favorite for Mediterranean dishes since 1993. Parkway Grill, a Pasadena institution for more than 40 years, serves seasonally focused fare that includes produce and herbs from the restaurant’s organic garden. And in the heart of Old Pasadena, Mi Piace has served up New York-style Italian cuisine since 1991.
I recommend starting your day with breakfast at Marston’s Pasadena, a homey spot in a Craftsman cottage just across the street from Memorial Park. Amara Café is another great place for your morning meal. Lunch at Agnes Restaurant & Cheesery is equally excellent, served in a bright room with friendly staff and an appealing cheese selection for sale. Open for lunch, dinner, and happy hour, Agnes is beloved for its creative menu and, naturally, charcuterie appetizers.
To sample multiple restaurants in one outing, treat yourself to a Melting Pot Food Tour of Old Pasadena. You’ll walk from one independently owned eatery to the next, all while learning about the city’s history, architecture, and hidden gems. With five to six stops along the way, participants get to sample a wide range of toothsome cuisines, from Indian to Mediterranean and more.
Where to Stay
Between luxury hotels and historic motels, Pasadena has a solid variety of places to stay.
Those with upscale accommodations in mind should book a room, suite, or cottage at the elegant The Langham Pasadena, which also has two pools and a spa. Around two miles from the Rose Bowl stadium, The Westin Pasadena has a rooftop pool replete with panoramic views and an easily accessible, central location. If you’re looking for a hotel with a view, Hilton Pasadena has a straight line of sight to the San Gabriel Mountains and an outdoor pool.
For a cozy stay close to Old Pasadena, reserve a night or two at Hyatt Place Pasadena, where your canine companions are welcome. There’s also Hotel Dena, a Marriott Tribute Portfolio property that’s crafted a unique atmosphere via street art and movie screenings in a retro theater.
Anyone seeking a classic motel stay will also be well served in Pasadena. The Saga Motor Hotel, built in 1957 along Route 66, is near the Playhouse Village neighborhood. Also on Route 66, the 28-room Astro Hotel Pasadena showcases midcentury, Googie-style architecture.
Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
