Pasadena Pride

If the only thing you know about Pasadena is The Rose Parade, you're missing out on a great weekend getaway.

MAKE THE TRIP The Langham :: pasadena.langhamhotels.com Melting Pot Food Tours :: meltingpottours.com The Huntington Library :: huntington.org The Gamble House :: gamblehouse.org Norton Simon Museum :: nortonsimon.org

The first thing we noticed when we arrived in Pasadena was how clean everything was – not just clean-by-default because we weren’t aware of any dirt and debris, but an in-your-face immaculate kind of clean: streets, gutters, sidewalks, windows, buildings, trash cans, parking lots, and garages – everything. In Orange County we often take outdoor grime for granted, so its absence is notable – no easy feat for a downtown urban area.

During our weekend stay, this initial impression was not to change. Founded in the late 1800s by a group of friends from Indianapolis looking to move to a warmer climate, Pasadena enjoyed a reputation as a tourist center and winter resort for the wealthy until the Depression signaled the end of that era. During World War II, Pasadena hotels were used as military command headquarters and the war brought in a turnabout that set the city on the path to modern industrial growth.

In the 1970s, an awakened respect for the city’s architectural treasures led to the renovation and preservation of historic homes and buildings throughout the city, which is divided into three districts: Old Pasadena, Lake Avenue and the Pasadena Playhouse District. The major boost to the renovation occurred when the city offered huge tax breaks to businesses that would participate in the effort. The pedestrian-friendly city is a National Historical Landmark and is widely recognized for its vibrant main street revitalization.

Throughout our stay, Pasadena’s pride and passion for its heritage was evident in the carefully preserved and painstakingly restored original buildings – both commercial and residential. It is not surprising, then, that this loving attention to history and detail are synonymous with the ongoing maintenance, upkeep and pristine condition of the city.

WHERE TO EAT
Old Pasadena spans 22 blocks of historic streets and colorful alleyways, diagonal (!) crosswalks at main street intersections and charming piazzas lined with retail stores, art galleries, theaters and restaurants. There is no better way to see the area than with Melting Pot Food Tours (no relation to The Melting Pot Restaurant chain). This Old Pasadena food tasting and guided walking tour was the highlight of our stay and took us through the charming history, architecture and folklore of the area while we feasted on culinary delights from neighborhood eateries.

As we (literally) ate our way through Old Pasadena, we consoled ourselves that three hours of enjoying the area’s historical riches and delightful cuisine on foot would burn off the calories. We feasted on authentic Mexican tortas at Tortas Mexico and delicious Asian Fusion samplings at Equator, which is housed in the original brick structure that was once the horse stable for the equally historic police station building next door. At Choza Mama we sampled authentic Peruvian cuisine, had some of the freshest falafel we ever tasted at Father Nature as well as incredible chocolate treats at Mignon. We enjoyed an olive oil tasting at Beyond the Olive and delicious teas that turned into beautiful flowers in our cups at Bird Pick Tea & Herb.

WHERE TO STAY
Accommodations in Pasadena range from luxury resorts to modern contemporary hotels. We chose the Langham Huntington, a famed Pasadena landmark located on 23 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds and known for its gracious and understated elegance. Our room overlooked an expanse of greenery so large that it reminded us of an English country estate (with no putting green or fairway in sight) as well as a spectacular view of Los Angeles.

Not to be missed is a visit to the Huntington Spa, an 11,000 square-foot haven of wellness presenting a selection of unique massage therapies, facials and body treatments as well as the Chaun Body + Soul treatments based on Traditional Chinese Medicine. We opted for the Chuan treatment that incorporated the five elemental forces of fire, earth, water, metal, and wood to restore balance and well being. We weren’t sure exactly how balanced we were when we left but we felt so good that we didn’t care.

WHAT TO SEE
Pasadena is the home of many world-famous cultural venues. The Gamble House, built in 1908 by architects Green and Green for David and Mary Gamble (of Proctor & Gamble soap
and toothpaste fame), displays stunning hand craftsmanship and is internationally recognized as a masterpiece of the turn-of-the-century Arts and Crafts movement. The Huntington Library, along with its art collections and botanical gardens, and promoted as one of the world’s greatest cultural, research and educational centers, is the 207 acre estate of the late wealthy businessman Henry Huntington, whose name can be found on buildings and street signs all over the city. The Huntington Art Gallery reopened in 2008 after a $20 million renovation, and houses original artwork from 18th- and 19th-century British and French masterpieces including the famed Pinkie and Blue Boy.

The library includes the original Gutenberg Bible on vellum and Ellesmere’s manuscript of Canterbury Tales, and the Botanical Gardens features over 14,000 varieties of plants. At only eight acres, the Norton Simon Museum is much smaller in size and offerings than the Huntington Library and therefore more manageable on a shorter visit. Business mogul Norton Simon (Hunt Foods Company, Canada Dry Corporation, Max Factor, and Avis car rental) used his intense passion and skilled eye for art to amass a renowned collection of Old Masters, Impressionists, modern art, and masterpieces from India and Southeast Asia.

With its world-class retailers and independent boutiques, many architectural and cultural sites, numerous dining, clubbing, and performance entertainment venues, the Arroyo Seco area for biking and hiking and the Brookside Golf Course noted for its two 18-hole championship courses, one could easily spend more than a weekend in Pasadena and still want to come back for more. Until you get there, try downloading GoPasadena to your iPhone or iPod and from Android Marketplace get a free electronic visitors guide. You can also go to VisitPasadena.com.

We bet you’ll feel like you’ve traveled a lot further than the hour drive up the 5 that it takes for you to get there – and you’ll be very glad that you did.