Earth Day is Every Day

Explore Pasadena’s charm by traveling on foot or bike in the pedestrian-friendly city. With beautiful public art, urban greenery, and historic architecture, the strong network of public transportation within the city makes it is easy to go Car-Free in Pasadena. On Earth Day, Pasadena Transit, Metro, and Dial-A-Ride offer free rides all day. An alternative mode of travel is cycling on the city's bike paths which connects three popular districts, Old Pasadena, Civic Center, and Playhouse Village.

Pasadena continues to make improvements to the public transit system, aiming to further advance the city’s climate action plans. The city council adopted Pasadena Transit’s Zero Emission Bus (ZEB) Rollout Plan with an aggressive schedule to have full ZEB fleets by 2037. To support the commitment to clean air buses, plans of a new Transit Operations and Maintenance Facility and Hydrogen Fueling Station are scheduled to be completed by late 2027.

Show love to Mother Earth by spending time in the abundance of urban wildlife. Explore the Arroyo Seco, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, to see the thriving natural ecosystems and choose from hiking or bicycling through 22 miles of trails. Slow down at one of Pasadena’s parks to witness gorgeous views and document nature's beauty. Remember to pack out what you pack in.

Head to the Annandale Canyon Park for a one mile out and back pedestrian trail that leads to a beautiful scenic overlook of LA’s skyscrapers. To get a picturesque view of the historic Colorado Street Bridge, visit Desiderio Park. Explore the 1,300-acre Hahamonga Watershed Park, a part of the Arroyo Seco, and enjoy the Frisbee golf course, picnic areas, and extensive network of bridle, bicycle, and hiking trails. For croquet and lawn bowling, the Pasadena Lawn Bowling Club offers free play and lessons on Saturday mornings in Central Park near Old Pasadena. Play tennis at Brookside Park or Brenner Park. Anyone interested to try their hand at pickleball can head to Allandale Park. Walk or bike around the 3.3-mile Recreation Loop surrounding the Brookside Golf Course and Rose Bowl Stadium. Since every day is Earth Day, there are many opportunities to connect with nature in the city year-round.

From hidden gardens to world-renowned attractions, explore Pasadena’s horticultural side and take a stroll through the city’s many beautiful Botanical Gardens. Join Descanso Gardens for a fun Earth Day celebration with hands-on workshops and family-friendly activities. If unable to plan a trip to Descanso Gardens, a simple visit to gardens like Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden and Arlington Garden involve less planning and are equally awe-inspiring.

There’s a lot of history and heritage to embrace when shopping in Pasadena, and shopping secondhand or refurbished helps lowers carbon footprints and reduces items in the landfills. Discover why some of the most renowned interior designers and celebrities shop at the Rose Bowl Flea Market, a treasure trove of repurposed and found vintage goods. Spend the day and shop sustainably at AMT Vintage to find an incredible selection of vintage finds, LA’s oldest record store Canterbury Records, and other fabulous places in Pasadena’s Vintage Vault.

Craft a personal aromatherapy with cruelty-free and sustainably harvested ingredients at Lather's Blending Bar in Old Pasadena. The luxurious skincare brand commits to sustainability that goes beyond ingredients by supporting environmental non-profits and dedicating an exclusive collection packaged in 100% ocean bound plastic. Participate in the zero-waste movement at My Zero Waste Store, where you can refill, reuse, and find unpackaged and responsibly made goods. Blend self-care and care for the earth through a plush spa treatment at All Love Collections, where every product is eco-conscious and created to nurture the skin and planet. Grab tools for an arts and crafts project at Remainders Pasadena, a thrift store that uses the creative reuse model to divert thousands of pounds of usable materials from landfills.

Shopping locally is the name of the game, and the Pasadena Certified Farmer’s Market ensures access to fresh locally grown produce and reduces the transportation footprint. Head to Villa Park (363 East Villa Street) on Tuesdays and Victory Park (2900 block of North Sierra Madre Blvd) on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to find nutritious snacks in season.

Pasadena, California is home to residents that are actively involved in community service, resulting in many charitable philanthropy and nonprofit organizations that support natural lands and open spaces, historic structures, and vulnerable populations.

Contribute to environmental stewardship by volunteering at Arlington Garden for a weekend of regenerative gardening or help with maintenance at The Hahamongna Native Plant Nursery with the Arroyo Seco Foundation.

Eat with the seasons at many restaurants in Pasadena where farm-to-table isn't a trend, it's embedded in the city's ethos. The Italian-influenced restaurant, Marina Pasadena, designs their menu according to what's fresh at the local farmer's market. Chef Thompson commits to sustainability by boasting both sea and farm-to-table at the seafood focused Pez Coastal Kitchen where dry-aging fish is done in house. Indulge at Kaviar Sushi Bar, where eco-conscious principles and refined Japanese technique creates a quietly luxurious omakase. From responsibly harvested caviar to composting partnerships, Kaviar's sustainability practices are of the highest quality just like their A5 Wagyu offerings.

Long before the farm-to-table movement, Parkway Grill led the way over 25 years ago. The fine-dining restaurant harvests organic produce steps away from the kitchen in its on-site garden. Another fine-dining restaurant rooted in exceptional service and local sourcing is The Arbour. The menu highlights the freshest ingredients from local farms. Conserve natural resources by dining with purpose at the top vegan & plant-based restaurants for a delicious veggie-based meal.

Whether choosing farm-to-table restaurants or exploring the city by bike, every action towards keeping the planet green creates real change. Learn more about fighting climate change and protecting the land at earthday.org.