Pasadena, California
Wild parrots and space missions, eleven miles from LA.Located 11 miles from Los Angeles, this city houses Caltech, JPL space research centers, and the Rose Bowl stadium. Tree-lined streets lead to 19th-century buildings and wild parrots nest above Old Town's cafés.
Just 11 miles northeast of Los Angeles, Pasadena welcomes you with tree-lined streets where wild parrots nest and 19th-century buildings house independent shops. You can watch the Rose Parade on New Year's Day, explore the Norton Simon Museum's extensive art collection, or hunt for vintage treasures at California's largest flea market at the Rose Bowl. Scientists work on space missions at Caltech and JPL while locals enjoy coffee at sidewalk cafés in Old Pasadena.
Walking Through Old Town Pasadena
You'll find more than 200 shops and restaurants within Victorian and Art Deco buildings across 21 blocks. At One Colorado, shop owners have transformed 19th-century structures into modern retail spaces and restaurants. After 6 PM, join locals on Colorado Boulevard for comedy shows at Ice House Comedy Club ($15-25 cover), craft beers at Lucky Baldwin's pub, or dinner at one of the many sidewalk cafés.
Museums and Art Collections
The Norton Simon Museum holds 12,000 artworks, including Van Gogh's "Mulberry Tree" and several Degas ballet paintings. Walk through the sculpture garden to see 40 bronze and marble works placed among Mediterranean plants and reflecting pools. The USC Pacific Asia Museum welcomes you into a Chinese courtyard with koi ponds, leading to galleries filled with ceramics, paintings, and textiles from across Asia. Step back to 1906 at the Pasadena Museum of History's Fenyes Mansion, where you can see original furniture and decorative objects from the early 20th century.
The Rose Bowl Experience
Visit the Rose Bowl for more than just the New Year's Day football game. Every second Sunday, 2,500 vendors set up at the flea market (entry $12, 9 AM-3 PM), selling antiques, vintage clothing, and handmade items to 20,000 shoppers. Play a round at Brookside Golf Course's two 18-hole courses or swim laps at the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center's Olympic-sized pools ($10 day pass).
Getting Around Pasadena
Take the Metro A Line from downtown Los Angeles to any of Pasadena's six stations. Trains run every 7-12 minutes during rush hour (6-9 AM and 4-7 PM) and every 15-20 minutes at other times. From Hollywood Burbank Airport, 16 miles away, catch a shuttle to major Pasadena hotels. Local ARTS buses ($1.50 per ride) connect shopping areas and cultural sites along main streets.
Scientific Legacy
Walk through Caltech's 124-acre campus to see 80 buildings, including architect Bertram Goodhue's Spanish-style designs. The public can visit the Athenaeum club's exterior and the distinctive Beckman Auditorium. At the nearby Jet Propulsion Laboratory, free public tours (book 3 months ahead) take you through mission control and space exploration exhibits. You'll see where scientists guide Mars rovers and plan deep space missions.
