Pasadena: Trails, Architecture and Culture

Pasadena offers a variety of reasons to visit: trails in the Arroyo Seco, architecture, nature and culture. If you’re looking for a hotel in Pasadena, it helps to decide in advance what you’d like to focus on during your trip. Options range from an extensive network of trails to guided walks of a set duration and cultural events.

Trails and walks

Arroyo Seco Natural Park has 22 miles of trails. They’re open daily, year-round, from sunrise to sunset. These hours help you plan a visit, while the total length of the trail network gives you an idea of its size.

For a different way to explore, take the self-guided walking tour of the Caltech campus. It takes about 60 to 90 minutes. This gives you two different time and distance measures to use in your planning: the length of the trail network in the Arroyo Seco and the approximate duration of the Caltech tour. Caltech also offers a monthly public campus tour that introduces visitors to academic buildings and their architecture.

Architecture and history

Pasadena City Hall was designed by John Bakewell and Arthur Brown. Their work was influenced by the early Renaissance style of 16th-century Italian architect Andrea Palladio. This links a specific building with a historic architectural movement. If you’re interested in architecture, this connection offers another focus for your stay.

Lower Arroyo also has a documented place in the city’s history: the city designated it a historic cultural landmark in 1977. Meanwhile, the monthly public tour of the Caltech campus focuses on the architecture of academic buildings. The self-guided walk and the public tour therefore differ not only in format, but also in timing: the walk takes about 60 to 90 minutes, while the campus tour is held monthly. Check the tour date if you’d like to include it in your plans.

Nature and family visits

Arlington Garden serves as a sanctuary for Pasadena’s native wildlife. General admission is free for visitors and small groups of up to 12 people. Nature and wildlife are the focus here; free admission applies to general visits and the stated group size.

Kidspace Children's Museum was designed specifically for children and families. If you’re traveling with children, its family focus offers a clear point of reference when choosing things to do. Arlington Garden and Kidspace have different focuses: the garden serves as a sanctuary for native wildlife, while the museum is specifically geared toward children and families.

Culture, sports and Route 66

Rose Bowl Stadium hosts the annual Rose Bowl Game. Visitors can also explore its history on tours; dates are subject to change. If a tour is important to your trip, check the current schedule in advance. Founded in 1917, Pasadena Playhouse is California’s official state theater. Pasadena is therefore home to both an annual sporting event and a historic theater institution.

Historic Route 66 runs along Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena. The street name is a specific reference point for finding your way along the route. Another perspective on history comes from a docent-led tour that covers a historic residence, Eva Fényes and her family’s multigenerational story. Reservations and dates are subject to change; check these details before planning your tour. You can organize the different themes—architecture, nature, family visits, sports and culture—according to what you’d like to experience during your stay.

Discover more destinations: Torrance, Valencia, Agoura Hills, Claremont, Monrovia, Bell, Lancaster, Santa Fe Springs

For the overview of the wider area, see: Los Angeles.