About Pasadena

Pasadena, California, might be best known as the home to the college football's Rose Bowl Game and the Tournament of Roses Parade. Southern California football fans also know it as home to the UCLA Bruins.

The city has a troubled past, but it has actively worked to overcome its limited image in the past several decades. In the 1970s, the population of the city began to decline. More people were moving from Pasadena, California, for the suburbs of four other major southern California cities: Riverside, San Bernardino, Ontario, and Palm Springs; however, beautification and gentrification programs have enlivened the city, and more people, especially members of the fine arts community, are returning to Pasadena.

Pasadena is situated in the southern region of California. The city is located about 3 miles south of Altadena, California, and six miles due west from Glendale, California. Ten miles southwest of Pasadena is Los Angeles, the closest geographical metropolitan area to the city. The total area of Pasadena is 23 miles and it falls in the Pacific Standard Time zone. The city’s hottest month is August, its coolest month is January, and its wettest month is February.

Pasadena is located in Los Angeles County. It is the headquarters of several well-known technological firms including the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which is an outpost of the National Aeronautic and Space Administration. Other noteworthy companies include Kaiser Permanente, a managed-care consultation group, the California Center of Technology, AT&T and Bank of America.

Visitors to Pasadena may notice an unusual amount of free-flying parrots. These fowl are not native to Pasadena, but they inhabit the city all the same. Visitors can find plenty of recreation and activities for all ages. For little ones, the Kidspace Children’s Museum offers indoor and outside activities, and the Los Angeles Zoo is only a short car trip from Pasadena. People interested in art can visit the Art Center College of Design, engage in an art-centric walking tour of the city, or visit the California Museum of California Art.

Pasadena offers a wide variety of accommodations for travelers. Depending on trip budgets, hotels range from the ultra-posh five-star Hilton Pasadena and the Langham, Huntington Hotel and Spa to less-pricey other options for those looking for a comfortable and economic place to rest their heads. Pasadena has an advanced network of public transportation option. Keep this in mind when booking a hotel room and save yourself from renting a car.

Written by Michael Paul Maupin