16+ Unique Ways to Experience Pasadena

If you're looking for unique things to do in Pasadena, fun attractions to explore, or spots to capture the perfect Instagram photo, this guide highlights can’t-miss experiences for your visit. Iconic architecture, craveable bites, gorgeous trails, and more all add to Pasadena’s effortlessly cool vibe.

Places To Go

Activities

Food & Drink

Outdoor Recreation

Photos to Snap

Events

Places To Go

Get to know Pasadena through the unique places that give it character. These iconic landmarks, hidden gems, and one-of-a-kind spots are well worth a visit.

The Gamble House

A masterpiece of American Arts & Crafts architecture, the Gamble House was built in 1908 by Greene & Greene as a winter home for the Gamble family of Procter & Gamble. The home is remarkably well-preserved, down to its original furniture, and offers guided tours that reveal the craftsmanship in every detail. | Location: 4 Westmoreland Place

The Bunker Experience

Step into a post-apocalyptic world at The Bunker Experience, an immersive escape room meets live-action storytelling experience like you've never seen before. Spread across three levels, each chapter unfolds with high-stakes puzzles, shifting environments, and live role players that keep the tension (and the fun) running high. Play one room or take on the full storyline if you're up for the challenge. | Location: 20 N. Raymond Ave

Mount Wilson Observatory

Sitting high above Pasadena, Mount Wilson Observatory offers panoramic views and a peek into astronomical history. Visitors can explore the historic 100-inch telescope and enjoy free public access daily. In warmer months, the site hosts special events, lectures, and night sky viewings. | Location: 100 Mt Wilson Circle Rd

Activities & Things To Do

These activities are a great way to explore and get to know the city. They're fun, enjoyable, and anything but ordinary!

Get Crafty

Pasadena has plenty of ways to get creative and take your masterpiece home as a souvenir! Make your own plushie at a hands-on Plushumi workshop or try DIY projects like candle pouring or resin art at Lumee. At Bean and Butter Bakeshop, cake decorating classes are a delicious way to spend an afternoon. For something a little more playful, head to Tail Town Cat Café for Meow n’ Paint or stretch out in a Kitty Yoga class surrounded by adoptable feline friends.

Shop for Treasure

Pasadena’s shopping scene is full of character, with spots that go well beyond the usual. Browse surreal art, insect taxidermy, and handmade jewelry at Gold Bug, a boutique that feels more like a curiosity cabinet or a museum than a store. Dig for vintage finds at the legendary Rose Bowl Flea Market, where on the second Sunday of every month, over 2,500 vendors draw collectors, designers, and treasure hunters. And don’t miss Vroman’s Bookstore, Southern California’s oldest indie bookseller, offering a thoughtful selection of page-turners and a steady lineup of author events, book clubs, and workshops.

Take a Tour

Whether self-guided or with a group, weekend-long or just an afternoon, Pasadena offers tons of unique tours for visitors to explore and learn more about the city and its culture. Explore the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, see the spots where your favorite movies were filmed, sample culinary hidden gems, or explore more tour options here.

Flavors To Savor

Pasadena’s food scene is full of surprises. These standout spots bring exciting flavors, passed-down family recipes, and creative twists to the table.

Uovo

Located inside Pasadena Commons, Uovo serves up a refined pasta experience with handmade noodles flown in from Italy daily. With just 18 seats at the pasta bar, it’s an intimate setting for savoring traditional dishes and wine pairings. It’s a fun spot to pick for a fancy date night. | Location: 146 S. Lake Ave. #103

Bodegon No. 69

This cozy spot brings Peruvian comfort food to life with dishes rooted in family recipes and traditions. From citrusy ceviche to savory lomo saltado, Bodegon No. 69 offers an authentic taste of Peru and a unique spot to get a bite to eat. | Location: 69 N. Raymond Ave.

Agnes Restaurant and Cheesery

Agnes offers Midwestern hospitality right here in SoCal in a space that feels like home…if your home had a cheesery and killer cocktail program. The menu puts modern flair on comfort food, and the curated selection of cheeses, wines, and seasonal drinks makes every meal feel like a little celebration. | Location: 40 W. Green St.

Views To Take In

Need a change of scenery? Pasadena offers plenty of ways to get outside, stretch your legs, and take in the landscape from a fresh perspective.

Pasadena Roving Archers

Inside Lower Arroyo Park, Pasadena Roving Archers hosts free weekend archery lessons that are popular with locals and first-timers alike. It's a great way to try something new in a peaceful, woodsy setting that’s close to downtown. | Location: 415 S Arroyo Blvd

Angeles National Forest

Need a nature fix? Just north of Pasadena, Angeles National Forest offers dramatic mountain views, pine-covered trails, and quiet pockets for a midday recharge. With hundreds of miles of hiking routes, it’s a cool spot to escape to if you’re craving fresh air and big scenery. | Location: 12371 N Little Tujunga Canyon Rd

The Arroyo Seco

Wander through Pasadena’s lushest stretch of green space, where native oak groves, trickling streams, and distant mountain views create something beautiful and unexpected. Once home to the Tongva people, the Arroyo, as the locals refer to it, is a living landscape with history and natural beauty. | Location: 415 S Arroyo Blvd

Photos To Snap

No trip is complete without a few great photos. If you’re all about capturing the moment, these spots deliver the kind of vibe and aesthetic that make memories (and Instagram feeds) pop.

Neon Retro Arcade

Step into a neon-lit throwback that’s practically made for your Instagram grid. Neon Retro Arcade brings the ‘80s and ‘90s back to life with over 40 restored vintage games, pinball machines, and next-gen consoles. Snap a photo under the glowing lights, challenge your friends to a game, and don’t leave without checking out their fun, retro merch. | Location: 28 S. Raymond Ave

Pasadena Murals and Sculptures

Pasadena’s artistic roots are everywhere, from Craftsman-era homes to modern public installations. While you wander through Old Pasadena or near City Hall, you’ll spot striking murals, sculptural work, and historic architecture that show off the creativity and talent in the city, and look great in your camera roll!

Colorado Street Bridge

This sweeping Beaux Arts bridge is a cinematic backdrop here in Pasadena. Famously featured in La La Land, the Colorado Street Bridge is a must-see for its arched elegance and panoramic views of the Arroyo Seco. Go at golden hour for the best light! | Location: 532 W. Colorado Blvd

Pro Tip: For a stunning angle of the Colorado Street Bridge, take photos from below in Desiderio Park. 10 N Arroyo Blvd.

Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden

This serene Japanese garden offers a peaceful escape in a picture-perfect setting. Initially designed in the 1930s, the space offers historic charm with stone paths, koi ponds, and tea house details that create a flawless frame for your next photo, and a unique place to spend an afternoon. | Location: 270 Arlington Drive

Events To Experience

Glowing lanterns at Moonlight Forest, colorful street art at the Chalk Festival, and indulgent bites during Cheeseburger Week are just some of the exciting events you can experience in Pasadena. These standout events offer something to look forward to year-round and are well worth the trip!

Check out what’s coming up and plan to join in.

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