"A Bit of Local History Echo Mountain has a great deal to offer, from the switchback trail, which will give you a great workout on your way up the mountain (start early to avoid the blistering afternoon sun), to the views—on a clear day you can look out over Pasadena, Los Angeles , Santa Monica, and all the way to the Pacific. Next, there's the history. Take time to explore the ruins of the old resort and railway—small plaques post intriguing details and old photographs of what life was like for visitors on Echo Mountain (before it was destroyed by fires and mudslides). Trail access begins at the north end of Lake Avenue at the Cobb Estate Gate. Take lots of water, a picnic, and do be sure to give a good holler through the "Echo Phone" while you're there."

"Eaton Canyon Eaton Canyon has a great nature center if you want to learn about the local plants, animals, geology, and ecology. The exhibits and nature walks are kid-friendly. Hiking trails are also easily accessible from the nature center. The Eaton Canyon Falls trail is a fun and easy hike; it's cooler and more shaded than many of the local trails, and it follows a creek to a wading pool and waterfall—a great place to relax and cool down on a hot day."

"Botanical Gardens in Pasadena Upon arrival try to snag the free daily garden tour! The gardens are divided into different ecosystems/themes such as the Australian Garden, Camellia Garden, Children's Garden, Chinese Garden, Desert Garden, Herb Garden, Japanese Garden, Jungle Garden, Lily Ponds, Palm Garden, Rose Garden, Shakespeare Garden and the Subtropical Garden. Once you've finished the Garden tours, you can go to the Huntington Library, which is one of the largest research libraries in the United States. This is a nice escape from the big city if you have a day to spare while in Southern California. There is also a slew of different local restaurants to choose from including some found in Old Town Pasadena which is worth its own visit! By Stephanie Ordonez"

"Botanical Gardens in Pasadena Upon arrival try to snag the free daily garden tour! The gardens are divided into different ecosystems/themes such as the Australian Garden, Camellia Garden, Children's Garden, Chinese Garden, Desert Garden, Herb Garden, Japanese Garden, Jungle Garden, Lily Ponds, Palm Garden, Rose Garden, Shakespeare Garden and the Subtropical Garden. Once you've finished the Garden tours, you can go to the Huntington Library, which is one of the largest research libraries in the United States. This is a nice escape from the big city if you have a day to spare while in Southern California. There is also a slew of different local restaurants to choose from including some found in Old Town Pasadena which is worth its own visit! By Stephanie Ordonez"

"The Largest West Coast Flea Market On the second Sunday of every month, bargain hunters, collectors, designers, tourists, and other curious shoppers head to the historic Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, where 2,500 vendors of furniture, accessories, clothes, crafts, vinyl, and more line the perimeter of this 92,000+ seat venue. The sheer size may be overwhelming, the sun may be beating, and it may be early in the morning—but if you come prepared in sneakers, a hat, and with coffee in hand, you'll be ready to hunt for treasure."

"Greene & Greene's Gamble House Gamble House is an architectural gem. The glass-work of the front door, chandeliers, and dining room windows is mesmerizing, and the carved frieze in the Burmese teak living room is a decorative treasure. Each room showcases a different kind of wood, and the beautiful furniture unifies the various elements of the architecture, design, and decor. I was also delighted by the concept of "sleeping porches." If you have the chance, don't miss this house tour."

"Euro Pane Start your morning at this local bakery (and then come back for lunch). They have a great wake-me-up environment, with lots of natural light from the floor-to-ceiling windows, and the aroma of coffee and fresh breads is heavenly. For lunch, try their Famous Egg Salad sandwich—the rosemary-currant bread is a perfect match for the delicious greens and eggs."

"It's a Front Porch Kind of Morning This cozy little restaurant is the perfect place to start your day. Enjoy your morning coffee on the front porch, and try the French toast—heavenly. Marston's has all sorts of options for breakfast and lunch, and—if you call them in advance—they'll even make you a picnic basket to go."

"City Hall You may recognize the façade of Pasadena's City Hall from a number of TV shows and movies. It's a beautiful building with an open courtyard; find a bench and relax by the fountain, and take time to smell the roses as you pass through. The view from upstairs is nice, also, and check out the Jackie & Mack Robinson Memorial across the street when you leave."

"Coffee Cupping at Copa Vida Copa Vida is the newest of Pasadena’s gourmet coffee shops, and the unique tastes and aromas of their coffees are surprising (and impressive). They have three primary menus: “steep” is a menu of specialty teas; “pressure” includes coffee-house favorites including espresso, macchiatto, and cortado; “brew” has an “on tap” selection and a rotating selection of their special hand-poured brews. If you’re struggling to narrow down which brew to choose, stop by on a Friday or Saturday evening for a coffee tasting and cupping class; you can buy a flight, sample the specialties, and learn how different processing methods affect the flavor of coffee."

"Jewelry Store for Entomologists Gold bug is a decidedly unique Pasadena boutique experience. Despite feeling a little creeped out by some of the bizarre displays, I must say I find the store remarkably intriguing. Gold Bug carries everything from high-end, designer bug jewelry to taxidermy to beautifully framed butterflies and beetles to decorative plates and decoupage. Whether you're a collector, gift-giver, or store-display-gawker, this place is well worth a visit."

"Juice Farm Smoothies go great with warm weather. This cozy little place is tucked in the back of the building—look for the cow by the front door on the little lane called Mills Place just before McCormick Alley. Juice Farm's organic, cold-pressed beverages use the freshest and best raw ingredients, from fruits and veggies to cacao and bee pollen. They have a creative selection of smoothies, cold-pressed juices, wellness shots, and juice cleanses."

"Bird Pick Bird Pick is my favorite place for tea. They have a lovely tea bar with specialty teas and creative drink options, and they have beautiful hardwood tables in their cafe. The shelves are lined with loose-leaf teas, and the windows display colorful tea pots and drink ware. Bird Pick is the perfect place to enjoy a refreshing beverage or pick up a last minute gift for a friend!"

"Amara's is a cozy cafe, perfect for a chocolate-lover's outing, or a romantic date night. Amara offers a bakery-style breakfast, fondue, a lovely assortment of chocolate truffles, and, my personal favorite, churros with dark dipping chocolate. The Venezuelan sipping chocolates are exquisite, and Amara uses Pasadena's best coffee, Jones Coffee, to prepare unique espresso drinks, such as their Cacao Latte (you pick the type of chocolate for your latte) and the Aztec Xoco-Latte."

"Pasadena Playhouse The Pasadena Playhouse has exciting productions and a rich history. If you're keen to see a show, and tickets are sold out, don't worry—you can still enjoy a fun theatre experience by setting up a private tour. They offer complimentary tours, covering the history of the theatre school (which has produced many well-known actors), the old light board, and fun facts (like how the beautiful tile work on the ceiling is actually painted burlap). If you're a theatre buff, they can also tailor tours to your personal interest. Architecture, theatre education, Shakespeare, or production history—any of the above can serve as the focal point for your tour. The bottom line: don't miss an opportunity to visit the Pasadena Playhouse, the official state theatre of California."

"Asian and Pacific Art in Pasadena The Pacific Asia Museum's collection includes art and artifacts from the Pacific Islands and Asia, and the museum offers free cell phone audio tours in multiple languages. The audio tour includes a curatorial tour, a family-friendly tour focusing on animals and legends that appeal to kids, and a poetry series featuring original music and poetry relevant to the collections. Even if you're not a shopper, don't miss the gift shop as you leave. One of the highlights of my visit was discovering the gift shop's collection of old photographs (certified, authentic, and matted for sale)—most are originals taken in Asia during the 1800s and early 1900s."

"Historic Vroman's Bookstore The historic Vroman’s Bookstore opened in 1894 and is still a favorite with the locals. Beyond their large selection of books, they still have an old-school newsstand, an excellent café, and a gift shoppe with home décor, locally made cards, and literary trinkets. The list of events they host includes lives music, book clubs, classes, story time for kids, and lots of guest lectures and book signings. My favorite thing about Vroman’s is how knowledgeable the staff is; hand-written employee reviews are shelved with the books, and they’re also happy to provide recommendations. Whether you’re shopping or looking for a place to get a snack and relax, Vroman’s is the place to be."

"The Cheese Store of Pasadena I love this cheese store. They have great customer service and a large counter space where you can sample their selection of cheeses, as well as a small cafe area if you want to have a sandwich or something from their coffee bar. For shoppers, they have an assortment of high-end items, from handmade pastas to cheese boards to locally-made chocolate. Whether you're shopping for unique cheeses, or just want a quick bite for lunch, stop by and you won't be disappointed."

"Trattoria Neapolis is one of the most beautiful restaurants in Pasadena, with high ceilings over the bar, deep booths with mirrors and tile-work adorning the walls, a decorative wrought-iron railing along the balcony overlooking the bar, and a bright garden room entrance for weekend brunch. They serve many Italian favorites and have a great selection of Italian and Californian wines, local artisan beers, and creative craft cocktails."

"Haven features unique craft cocktails, and full beer and wine menus. Try a few of Haven's own brews, such as "Disco Pants" (a light and flavorful black ale), "Performance Enhancing Drink" (a coffee brown ale), or "Glass Elevator" (a nitro chocolate wheat beer). This gastropub also has the best lamb burger I've ever had in my life, and the ambiance is great—friendly and cozy without feeling crowded. ** July 2014 Update: Sadly, the Pasadena location is now closed; however, their Orange location is still open."