Discover Glendale

Glendale offers several ways to shape your stay: nature, neon art and historic sites feature among the attractions presented here. You can tailor your trip to the themes that interest you most.

Natural Areas and Trails

At the city’s northernmost edge lies Deukmejian Wilderness Park, a rugged 709-acre area in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. Chaparral and sage scrub dominate the landscape. From the trails, you can look out over the Crescenta Valley and the Los Angeles Basin.

Glendale’s open-space network includes more than 30 miles of fire roads and 7.5 miles of singletrack trails. Hikers, joggers, dog walkers and mountain bikers use the trails. Another way to get to know the park is through the community program GO! Outdoors!, which invites the public to a guided interpretive hike in Deukmejian Wilderness Park once a month. Dates are subject to change.

The park is also home to a historic site: the Stone Barn Nature Center is located in the park’s central area and was originally known as Le Mesnager Barn. The park thus brings together natural surroundings and local architectural history, while leaving visitors free to explore the trails in their own way.

Neon Art and Performing Arts

The Museum of Neon Art (MONA) collects and exhibits electric and kinetic artworks as well as historic neon signs. At the Glendale facility, visitors can watch neon artists at work and take hands-on classes. Both the artworks and the craft are central to the experience.

The ALEX opened on September 4, 1925, as a vaudeville theater and movie palace. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. Its program includes film, music, dance and comedy. Those interested in the history of a theater can learn about its historic opening date as well as the range of programming offered today.

Historic Buildings and Local History

Catalina Verdugo Adobe is the oldest structure in the city of Glendale and is recognized as California Historical Landmark No. 637. The construction date of Casa Adobe de San Rafael is disputed; one historical account dates it to 1865. The Hacienda-style adobe building was built by Tomas Avila Sanchez and Maria Sepulveda. On the first Sunday of each month, docents offer tours from 1 to 3 p.m. Visits are also available by appointment.

Brand Library is housed in a mansion built in 1904 as Leslie C. Brand’s residence, under the name Miradero. A free tour focuses on the Brand family and Miradero; registration is required, and dates are subject to change. Doctors House adds another specific date to the historic sites: it was built in 1888.

For research on local history, you can visit the Glendale History Room by appointment. It collects, preserves and makes materials on Glendale’s local history available to the public.

Shoseian Teahouse was established in 1974 through the joint efforts of the sister cities of Glendale and Higashi-Osaka, Japan, and is recognized as an official teahouse. The Friendship Garden and Shoseian Teahouse host family-friendly events on Japanese art and culture on the third Sunday of each month. The program includes cultural ceremonies, lectures, hands-on activities, demonstrations and festivals; individual offerings vary.

Visitor Information and Getting Around

The Friendship Garden is open to the public Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Shoseian Teahouse itself is not open outside the public event program. For GO! hikes, the Brand tour and Shoseian events, it is advisable to check the latest dates, as program schedules may change.

Brand Park has ample free parking. On the east side of Brand Library, there is an accessible entrance and accessible parking for vehicles displaying a disabled parking permit or corresponding license plate. Beeline bus route 7 runs along Glenoaks Boulevard and Western; from there, it is 1.2 miles, or about a 20-minute walk, to Brand Park. As route details may change, check the current route before traveling.

Discover more destinations: South Gate, Gorman, San Marino, Pasadena, Marina Del Rey, Gardena, Lawndale, Downey

For the broader travel overview: Los Angeles.