Location: Pasadena
Top Things to do in Pasadena
10 Things to do Good for Kids in Pasadena That You Shouldn't Miss
Most famous for hosting the annual New Year's Tournament of Roses Parade and Rose Bowl, Pasadena is more than just a football town. Its extravagant City Hall boasts a beautiful Baroque dome, a courtyard garden and relaxing fountain. On South Orange Boulevard, known as Millionaires' Row, there are landmarked mansions to rival the most opulent homes of Beverly Hills. That chattering in the air is probably the local population of naturalized Red-crowned Amazon parrots.
Restaurants in Pasadena
1. Vroman's Bookstore
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 221 reviews
Reviewed By CalBearsFan2013 - Berkeley, United States
Just came back from a long weekend in Pasadena. I have to say that Vroman's is a local gem. Warm and inviting. I really appreciated how the various sections were set up with related materials. Awesome fountain pen and ink selections - with staff that are both knowledgeable and friendly. The ink colour choices were outstanding. They opened a wine bar area last week. Fun to have a nice glass of wine and a munchie after making your purchases. Once again the staff super friendly and welcoming. I wish we could have a Vroman's in the East Bay!
2. Rose Parade
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 198 reviews
Reviewed By Jenlynnjack - Euless, United States
I have just returned from an amazing trip to LA with Al Brooks Rose Parade Tours. The tour company, tour guide, and bus driver were all exceptional. Our tour was called the Pacific Rose and included a 4 night stay at the Hyatt Long Beach. Each day we were treated to wonderful sights and tours including Warner Brother’s Studio, the Queen Mary, Huntington Library, and a Long Beach Harbor cruise. The cherry on top was a visit to a float construction barn and the excellent grandstand seats at the Rose Bowl Parade. Our tour also included transportation to these fabulous places, breakfast and lunch each day. I would recommend Al Brooks Rose Parade tour company to anyone looking to sit back, relax, and enjoy the historical parade and beautiful Southern California.
3. Colorado Boulevard
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 251 reviews
The site of the Rose Parade in Pasadena.
Reviewed By terrihK9755MZ - Phoenix, United States
We walked up and down Colorado Ave shopping and exploring. It was a beautiful day. The streets are clean, great stores and restaurants too. We had a lovely day taking in Pasadena.
4. Eaton Canyon
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 183 reviews
Reviewed By 922valentinaz
Family fun hiking trail. We went hiking with 4 children and they had so much fun. I would like to go at least twice a week.
5. Eaton Canyon Natural Area
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 82 reviews
Reviewed By GaBee3 - Los Angeles, United States
Eaton Canyon Falls is about a 25min drive from the Downtown, LA hustle and bustle. The trail is well marked and easy to follow. Along with a powerful waterfall, spring brings a bountiful bloom to the park, but winter doesn't stay behind. The cool weather shining sun, and the pleasant smell of wet earth, makes this a marvelous hiking experience! What to bring with you: water, snacks, hiking boots or any shoes will do BUT bring extra socks. It is very easy to accidentally dip a foot or two in water ????
6. Kidspace Children's Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 153 reviews
One of Southern California's premier family destinations, Kidspace Children's Museum is located on over 3.5 acres in Pasadena, CA, with more than 40 hands-on exhibits, as well as daily interactive activities and programs. The mission of Kidspace is to nurture the potential of all children through kid-driven experiences, inspiring them to become joyful, active learners. Admission is $14.95 for adults and children, infants under 1 are free.
Reviewed By snootchiebootchies
We've visited many children's museum and this is definitely one of the better ones. Our favorite by a fairly large margin is still the one in Indianapolis but our children certainly loved this one as well. We made our visit to Kidspace in February on a Friday. It was a nice day, which was fortunate as most of the best stuff was outdoors (the physics park, Arroyo Adventure area). Our kids are 7 and 6 and I thought they were the perfect age for this museum. We spent about 5 hours there and they could have kept going. Only drawback was that the adults have to pay the same admission price as the kids. I know adults have to pay at the Indianapolis museum but I would argue there is more for adults to do at the Indianapolis museum besides just supervising their children. Kidspace does allow folks to bring in their own food and snacks, which helps those on a budget.
7. Old Pasadena
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 681 reviews
Old Pasadena is the downtown historic business district of Pasadena, a lively and diverse city located just ten miles from downtown Los Angeles. This eclectic old town area features entertainment and activities for kids and adults alike: museums, galleries, and music events, as well as movies, shopping, restaurants, and outdoor cafes. Families often stop by after sports events at the Rose Bowl; this clean and safe district is pedestrian friendly and provides convenient parking and easy access to public transportation, served by major bus lines and two Metro Gold Line stops.
Reviewed By Voyage558877 - Pasadena, United States
Often compared with the Westwood area of Los Angeles, I find the variety of the offerings and the patronage much more to my liking. Parking can be a challenge.
8. Arlington Garden in Pasadena
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 86 reviews
Arlington Garden is a community-built climate-appropriate habitat garden offering learning inspiration and enjoyment for all.
9. City of Pasadena City Hall
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 260 reviews
Reviewed By andrew-s-wood - Santa Monica, United States
This is the kind of grand "palace" that would be the centerpiece of a charming European city... it's that beautiful. Quite amazing that it's an actually functional city hall. Looks great in photos, which is why so many people getting married have their pics taken here. It got to the point it was kind of annoying how many bridal gown trains you'd have to trip over to check out and appreciate the stunning architecture and scale of this place. They now make you get a permit to take photos, which has helped winnow down the crowds. Definitely worth a visit if you're in Pasadena.
10. South Lake Avenue Shopping & Dining
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 56 reviews
Considered to be a Rodeo Drive for the middle-rich.
Reviewed By KenPa24 - Pasadena, United States
Lake Ave was once the shopping center area for Pasadena. With Macy’s still located in the center in one of the most beautiful architectural buildings of its time, the avenue has become more of a restaurant row. From several fine dinning experiences to fast food and everything in between. Duper’s is even open 24 hours a day! They have trending bars with a good night life too. Just drive down and enjoy yourself.
