How to Plan a Vacation in Pasadena, California

Planning a vacation in Pasadena allows access to world-class museums, hiking in the mountains, plus restaurants and shopping for all budgets.

#1 Choose the time of year

The last week of December includes all the activities surrounding the Rose Bowl parade and game. Prior to the parade there are band competitions, equestrian shows (usually nearby at the Burbank Equestrian Center) and viewing the floats as final preparations are made.

Hotel and motel rooms are at a premium in the immediate Pasadena area during the Rose Bowl parade but there are plenty of other options in surrounding cities.

January and February are the two months when most of the year's rain falls. Rain frequently falls hardest at night and storms often leave the surrounding mountains capped with snow.

April, May or June weather can have hot streaks with temperatures occasionally reaching the mid-90s. But normally days are in the upper 60s to low 70s and nights are pleasant.

Mid-July through mid-September are hot with day temperatures in the mid-90s to low 100s. Nights can cool off to the upper 60s.

#2 Outdoor Activities

Hiking

There are plenty of options for hiking, running and walking within the city limits or in the local mountains.

• The road around the Rose Bowl and the golf courses is a 3.2 mile loop with a gradual slope which is popular for walking, running and bike riding.

• Visit Eaton Canyon off Altadena Drive and New York Drive for a relatively flat walk through the canyon east of the city which also has a nice nature center.
• Mt. Lowe Trail at the top of Lake Avenue is a steep, narrow mountain trail which leads to the ruins of a hotel resort built in the mountains in the late 1800s. This becomes a steep, strenuous trail for the out-of-shape but the views are worthwhile.
• Millard Canyon is at W. Alta Loma Drive and Chaney Trail. There's a waterfall at the end of the trail that's worth visiting. This is especially fun and colorful in November and December.
• JPL Trail. Popular with mountain bikers, hikers and runners. This trail is off the 210 freeway, one mile north of the Arroyo / Windsor exit.

Golfing

• Brookside Golf Course at the Rose Bowl which was the site of PGA tournaments from many years back.
• Altadena Golf Course. This is a 9-hole course off of Hill Avenue, 2 miles north of the 210 freeway, that's suitable for the recreational golfer and families. The course is pleasant and well-maintained.
• Eaton Canyon. Near New York Drive and Sierra Madre Boulevard is another course which has sloping fairways and is more challenging than the Altadena Golf Course.

And, during football season, the Rose Bowl is UCLA's home field.

#3 Museums

Huntington Library, Norton Simon Museum and the LA County Arboretum in nearby Arcadia are world-class choices for art, horticulture and traveling exhibitions.

• The Huntington Library and Gardens is worth a full day or even two trips to see the magnificent Chinese gardens, the children's garden and the art galleries. Hours are restricted so it may take two trips to see the Huntington in full.

• Norton Simon - art on the main floor covers the Renaissance era, Impressionism, and modern art. The lower floor has traveling exhibits and early Asian sculptures. Allow up to 3 hours to see the Norton Simon. There is an outdoor garden and walkway which is remarkably landscaped.

• Los Angeles County Arboretum - the Arboretum has several different gardens that are worth the stroll. Gardening and landscaping tips are available to visitors as well.

• Pasadena History Museum - is a nicely presented local museum with local exhibitions. It's near the Norton Simon Museum and the Gamble House.

• Gamble House - the famed house built around the turn of the century for the Gamble family by the Greene Brothers of Pasadena is certainly worth a visit.

Check the museum web sites for the Huntington, Norton Simon, LA County Arboretum for the one free day per month.

#4 Shopping and Restaurants

There are four main areas for shopping in Pasadena:

• Old Town Pasadena - Colorado Boulevard between Marengo Avenue and Pasadena Avnue. The trendy stores include the Cheesecake Factory and Victoria's Secret. More of Pasadena's trendy night life is in the Old Town area.

• Paseo Colorado - an outdoor mall on Colorado Boulevard between Marengo Avenue and Los Robles Avenue. The Paseo is directly north of the Pasadena Convention Center.

• South Lake Avenue - well-known stores include Macy's, Corner Bakery and Border's Books.

• Hasting's Ranch - Sears, Whole Foods and many more stores are clustered in this popular shopping center about 4 miles east of Pasadena City Hall.

A suggestion for getting a flavor of Pasadena and what the area offers:

Select one different activity each day.

Example, start the day with a morning walk or run around the Rose Bowl, have breakfast in Old Town, see one of the museums or gardens through the afternoon and then either go on a late afternoon hike or twilight round of golf in the summer.

The activities in Pasadena are fairly close to each other so the need for driving is minimal. The variety of activities in a short distance means a vacation can be planned for the family to satisfy different ages.