Old Pasadena : Attractions

Attractions

Old Pasadena is one of the West Coast's most vibrant shopping, dining, and entertainment destination districts featuring an authentic downtown experience combined with all of the modern conveniences.

One of the best examples of downtown revitalization in the country*, Old Pasadena features over 200 specialty boutiques and exclusive national retailers in a charming historic setting. Treat yourself to one of over 100 diverse restaurants, including award-winning fine dining and sidewalk cafés. From museums to movies, sports pubs and wine bars to late night live music and dancing, there is always a variety of entertainment options for people of all ages!

Nestled beneath the mountains, flaunting sun-drenched rose gardens, and showcasing turn-of-the-century architecture, Pasadena is a unique and unforgettable city. Only 15 minutes from downtown Los Angeles, Pasadena provides easy access to Hollywood, Disneyland, the beaches, and other Southern California attractions. Boasting a dry sunny climate with an average daily temperature of 76 degrees, Pasadena is an excellent year-round destination.

The following are just some of the highlights that make Old Pasadena a unique experience and wonderful combination of old and new, culture and spectacle:

Historic Buildings
Cultural Institutions & Museums
Pasadena Traditions
Walking Tours

Historic Buildings
	Old Pasadena Historic District covers more than 22 blocks of restored buildings spanning 1875-1949, as cited in the National Register. See the Walking Tours maps below. 65 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena CA 91103 626.356-9725
	Pasadena Heritage works to identify, preserve and protect the historic, architectural, and cultural resources of the City of Pasadena. Quarterly tours of historic Old Pasadena are hosted on the first Saturday of the month. 651 S. Saint John Ave., Pasadena CA 91105 626.441.6333
	Castle Green, built in 1898, is one of Pasadena's great turn-of-the-century hotels, now repurposed for residential housing, filming and events. Festive open houses are held in the spring and holiday season allowing a fascinating peek into the homes of many residents. 99 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena CA 91105 626.793.2268
	Pasadena City Hall, which recently underwent a major restoration, is an exquisite 1927 landmark exhibiting Italian Renaissance and Spanish influences. 100 N. Garfield Ave., Pasadena CA 91199 626.744.4000
photo courtesy Alexander Vertikoff	The Gamble House, designed in 1908, is the most complete and best-preserved work of American Arts and Crafts architects Charles and Henry Greene. Docent tours are available. 4 Westmoreland Place, Pasadena CA 91103 626.793.3334
photo courtesy Petrea Burchard	Fenyes Mansion is an elegant 1905 Beaux Arts style building that is one of the few remaining grand homes on Pasadena's former "Millionaire's Row". The property also houses the Pasadena Museum of History. Docent tours are available. 470 W. Walnut Street, Pasadena CA 91103 626.577.1660
	Wrigley Mansion, the official home to the Tournament of Roses Association, was once owned by chewing-gum pioneer William Wrigley Jr. and is open to the public on Thursdays most of the year. 391 S. Orange Grove Blvd., Pasadena CA 91184 626.449.4100
Cultural Institutions & Museums
	Armory Center for the Arts is a community arts center that offers innovative approaches to creating, exploring, and presenting the visual arts to students of all ages providing an outlet for contemporary art exhibitions and performances. 145 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena CA 91103 626.792.5101
	Kidspace Children's Museum features world-class exhibitry and 2.2 acres of outdoor learning environments designed to encourage children to discover the excitement of learning while engaging in the creativity of play. 480 N. Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena CA 91103 626.449.9144
	Huntington Library, Art Collections, & Botanical Gardens is a research and educational center set amidst 120 acres of breathtaking gardens. Three art galleries and a library showcase magnificent collections of paintings, sculptures, rare books, manuscripts, and decorative arts. The botanical collection features over 14,000 different species of plants. 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, CA 91108 626.405.2100
	Levitt Pavilion for Performing Arts presents an annual summer series of 50 free music concerts, under the stars, at the historic Memorial Park band shell in the heart of Old Pasadena. 87 N. Raymond Ave. #250, Pasadena CA 91103 626.683.3230
	Norton Simon Museum of Art holds one of the world's finest and most prestigious collections of art and boasts a truly beautiful garden. 411 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena CA 91105 626.449.6840
	Pacific Asia Museum is one of only four institutions in the United States dedicated exclusively to the arts and culture of Asia and the Pacific Islands, including paintings, prints, sculptures, ceramics, jades and textiles. 46 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena CA 91101 626.449.2742
	Pasadena Civic, dating from 1931, is one of the most revered performance halls in the nation having hosted Broadway musicals, world-class ballet, symphony orchestras as well as the Prime Time Emmy Awards, and the People's Choice Awards. 300 E. Green Street, Pasadena CA 91101 626.449.7360
	Pasadena Museum of California Art is dedicated to the exhibition of California art, architecture, and design from 1850 to the present. 490 E. Union Street, Pasadena CA 91101 626.568.3665
	Pasadena Museum of History was founded in 1924 to preserve and share the rich history, art, and culture of Pasadena. Housed in the 1905 Fenyes Estate, this landmark contains its original furnishings and paintings. 470 W. Walnut St., Pasadena CA 91103 626.577.1660
	As one of the great institutions of the American theatre since 1917, Pasadena Playhouse features Tony and Pulitzer award-winning plays as well as outreach and artistic programs. 39 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena CA 91101 626.356.7529
Pasadena Traditions
	Tournament of Roses Parade runs through the heart of Old Pasadena. First staged in 1890, it is now televised to millions of viewers around the world every New Year’s Day. 391 S. Orange Grove Blvd., Pasadena CA 91184 626.449.4100
	Rose Bowl Stadium is home to the New Year’s Day Rose Bowl Game, a sellout attraction every year since 1947. 1001 Rose Bowl Dr., Pasadena CA 91103 626.577.3101
	Rose Bowl Flea Market, held at the historic Rose Bowl stadium, features over 2,500 vendors and 20,000 buyers every month for over 39 years. 1001 Rose Bowl Dr., Pasadena CA 91103 323.560.7469
	Doo-Dah Parade is a popular farcical and flamboyant parade held the end of January as a response to the traditional formality of the Rose Parade. Light Bringer Projects 626.205.4029
Walking Tours
	Old Pasadena Walking Architectural Tour [PDF] offers a 60-minute walk through Pasadena’s oldest commercial area, featuring the old Santa Fe station, Central Park and the former Green Hotel.
	Cultural Affairs Old Pasadena Public Art Walking Tour provides an interesting and varied walking tour featuring some of the jewels from Pasadena’s innovative Public Art collection.