Old Town Pasadena, a popular area home to many small shops and restaurants along a recently renovated stretch of Colorado Blvd (between Pasadena Ave and Arroyo parkway) and its adjoining streets, which can get crowded on weekends. This is a great place for young people, with many clubs and a great vibe! Get off the Gold Line at Memorial Park and walk south to Colorado.
Paseo Colorado is a fun, outdoor shopping area about a block east of Old Town on Colorado near Pasadena's Civic Center. This outdoor mall is great on warm evenings and a great place to eat and catch a movie.
The Huntington Library, Art collections, research library, and 150 acres of botanical gardens make this a popular stop in the nearby city of San Marino. The library is home to some of the most important manuscripts and rare books of Western culture, including a Gutenberg Bible, the Ellesmere manuscript of Chaucer, and thousands of historical documents. Free admission on first Thursday of the month (Ticket required. Free tickets can be obtained from the library's website). Adult admission $15. (626) 405-2100
Pacific Asia Museum, Hosts a permanent collection of some 14,000 pieces of Asian art along with temporary exhibits. Admission is $7. Operates daily until 5PM with extended hours on Fridays. Bargain hunters can get in for free the fourth Friday of each month. (626) 499-2742. Make sure you try the authentic gelato in the garden.
The Gamble House, this National Historical Landmark is an example of American Arts and Crafts style architecture designed by Charles and Henry Greene in 1908. Admission $10, students & seniors $7. (626) 793-3334
Pasadena Museum of California Art, Open Wed-Sat until 5PM. Admission is $6 with the first Friday of the month being their free day. (626) 568-3665
Pasadena Museum of History, Hours vary for exhibits and a Fenyes Mansion available for tour. A library containing a large collection of documents is also open for researchers. Fee varies from $5-$7 depending on what you wish to see. (626) 577-1660
Norton Simon Museum, hosts a private collection of art from various places and times. Open until 5PM with extended hours on Friday. Free admission on the first Friday of the month. Free admission for all patrons with a valid student I.D. Adults $8. (626) 449-6840
California Institute of Technology , this world-renowned science institution is worth taking a morning of your visit: interesting architectures, laid back atmosphere and colours displayed by ever-lasting blooming flora. Free entrance, facilities, restaurant, bookshop.
Jet Propulsion Laboratory has an open house (see space craft being worked on in the clean rooms!) on a Saturday and Sunday in May, and tours are also available on a call-ahead reservation basis a few times a week, for free. (818-354-9314)
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Pasadena
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Pasadena - updated May 2024
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Pasadena Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.
