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Shaded by century-old oaks and lined with Craftsman bungalows, South Pasadena feels like a small town tucked between Pasadena and Los Angeles. Incorporated in 1888, the city of about 26,000 sits beside the Arroyo Seco, and its tree-lined streets and walkable center have made it a favorite filming location for movies and TV for decades.
The historic heart is Mission Street, where antique shops, cafes and a 1915 soda fountain cluster around the Metro rail station at Mission and Meridian. Close by, the Meridian Iron Works houses the local history museum, and the Adobe Flores recalls the final days of the Mexican-American War in California. Architecture fans seek out Greene and Greene works such as the Oaklawn Bridge and the house built for President Garfield's widow, while horror fans pause at the house used in the original Halloween.
Thursday evenings bring a popular farmers market, and green spaces range from Garfield Park to the restored nature park along the Arroyo Seco. Old Pasadena, Highland Park and downtown Los Angeles are each just a few stops away by train.
The town's historic main street around the Mission and Meridian rail station, lined with early 1900s buildings holding antique shops, bookstores, cafes and boutiques. It is compact and very walkable. Ride the Metro A Line in and spend an unhurried afternoon browsing and people-watching.
An 1880s brick building that has served as a grocery, hardware store and foundry and now houses the South Pasadena Historical Museum. Exhibits cover the town's ostrich farm era, early rail lines and life along Route 66. It is small and free, with limited weekend hours, and sits steps from the station.
An adobe home from the Mexican era, traditionally linked to the last stand of Californio forces in early 1847, just before the treaty ending the fighting in California. It is one of the oldest buildings in the San Gabriel Valley. It is a private residence, so admire it respectfully from the street.
The winter home built in 1904 for Lucretia Garfield, widow of President James Garfield, designed by the famed architects Charles and Henry Greene. Its shingled walls and wide eaves hint at the Craftsman style the brothers later perfected. It is privately owned, so view it from the sidewalk only.
A graceful concrete bridge and stone waiting station designed by Greene and Greene in 1906 for the Oaklawn neighborhood, spanning the rail line near Fair Oaks Avenue. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Walk across it and continue through the leafy streets of grand homes beyond.
The city's library opened in 1930 in a handsome Spanish Colonial Revival building, set in a small park with old trees. Inside are high wooden ceilings and quiet reading rooms. Visitors are welcome to look around, and the shady lawn is a pleasant place to pause between Mission Street stops.
The modest wooden house used as the Myers family home in John Carpenter's 1978 film Halloween, later moved and restored and now used as offices. Fans come from around the world to take photos, especially in October. It is a working business, so photograph it from the street and keep noise down.
A working pharmacy since 1915 on the old Route 66 alignment, with a restored soda fountain counter serving phosphates, malts, root beer floats and diner lunches. The shelves also hold nostalgic candy and gifts. Weekends get busy, so come midweek for a seat at the counter.
A well-loved weekly market on Meridian Avenue beside the rail station, held Thursday afternoons into the evening. Stalls sell California produce, flowers, bread and hot food, and local families make it a social night out. Arrive early for the best fruit, then stay for dinner from the food stands.
A tree-filled city park with open lawns, a playground, tennis courts and picnic tables, popular with local families and dog walkers. Shaded benches make it a calm break from sightseeing. It hosts seasonal community events and sits an easy walk from the shops and cafes of Mission Street.
A small restored natural area beside the Arroyo Seco, planted with native oaks, sycamores, sage and wildflowers, with short trails and birdlife including hummingbirds and hawks. It shows what the Arroyo looked like before development. Visit in the cooler morning hours, and stay on marked paths.
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California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
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