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LOCAL INFO
Parks & Libraries
City of Pasadena
Parks (This a list of a few of our favorites. For a complete list please visit the link to the city above.)
Tournament Park: This is a small park with limited parking off Wilson Ave, just South of California on the Cal Tech Campus. There are no swings.
Cal Tech Campus: This isn't exactly a park, but a park like setting with a sculpture, a pond and fountains. Bring crackers or bread crumbs for the turtles!
Maranatha High School Campus (Formerly the Ambassador Campus): This is another park like setting located between Green and Del Mar, just West of St. John. It has many fountains and ponds to wander amongst including: a huge koi pond, water falls and Japanese Gardens. It is a real hidden gem.
Orange Grove Park: Located at 815 Mission Arroyo Seco Park @ Stoney Dr. Pasadena.
Allendale Park: This is right next door to the library! It’s small but nice. *It does sometimes have high schoolers hanging out. Located at 1130 S. Marengo.
Central Park: This big park near Old Town has lots of equipment. It’s also right across from a fire station so sometimes you get to see firetrucks. Bring coins for the parking meters. *There are some homeless people, but they stay on the other end. Located at 275 S. Raymond Ave.
Eaton Blanche Park: This is a big park with different areas for big and little kids. It was recently redone so the equipment is in nice shape. Located at 3100 E. Del Mar.
Grant Park: Small & oldish, but fun. It has lots of tall slides and an o.k. toddler structure & 4 baby swings. Located at 32 S. Michigan.
Rose Bowl: This is a nice sized park by the Kidspace Museum. It has plenty of parking and two separate areas for different aged kids.
Singer Park: This is good in the morning – equipment is hot on summer afternoons. Recently redone, it’s got lots of nice equipment. *It’s on a busy street with freeway exit traffic, so stay alert. Located at California & St. John.
San Rafael Park: A nice quiet park with play equipment, only 1 infant swing and 1 regular swing. Shady in the afternoon. Located at Colorado and Melrose.
City of South Pasadena
Garfield Park: This is a popular park with mommies. It has lots of picnic tables, good equipment for toddlers, a sand area, & lots of grass. *It only has 2 baby swings. Located at Mission & Park Ave.
City of San Marino
Lacy Park: This is totally isolated from the street so kids can run safely. There’s a large grassy area and 2 walking/wheel tracks around the perimeter. There’s all kinds of equipment for all ages and several baby swings. *Due to afterschool programs, it’s crowded after school. **Lacy charges $3 admission per person on the weekends for non-San Marino residents. Located between Virginia & St. Albans.
Schools
Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD): The schools within the Pasadena area are improving every year. In fact, some elementary schools have started to need waiting lists. It is worth checking out what your neighborhood school has to offer. If you don't like your neighborhood school you should be aware that Pasadena has an open enrollment process which allows you to apply to up to five schools. Admission through the open enrollment process is done by lottery. Look for the district zoning map at the above link.
Pasadena Education Network (PEN): A resource for families of preschool age children to learn about options within the Pasadena School System. They provide credible information in the form of speakers, parent panels and school reviews to help parents make an informed decision about education for their children. They also arrange group tours of the schools.
GreatSchools.Net: A guide for area schools.
Farmer's Markets
South Pasadena: Thursdays from 4-7 Meridian at Mission This one is small and has a grassy area for kids to play and grownups to rest. They can watch the Goldline train station too. It has fruits, veggies, bread, flowers, and lots of food for dinner/snacks, as well as the very best kettle corn.
Pasadena: Saturdays 8:30-1 at N. Sierra Madre & Paloma This one is the big one & sometimes you have to park a bit away. They have lots of fruits & veggies. Tuesdays 9-1 at Villa Park 363 E. Villa
Monrovia: Fridays 5pm-9pm, Olive and Myrtle. Large Farmers market with fruits, vegetables, crafts and food vendors.
Montrose: Harvest Market 9-2pm rain or shine. http://www.shopmontrose.com/harvestmkt/index.html produce, giant slide, bounce house and many special events, check website
Indoor Playgrounds
Under the Sea: Located at 2525 North Lake Ave, Altadena.
Amy’s Indoor Playground: Located at 1115 Mission Street, South Pasadena, 626.799.0304 -Offers MOMS Club discount for groups of 5 or more.
Kids Fun Town: Located at 2100 N. Verdugo Blvd., Montrose 818/249-0888.
Kids Island: Located at 1313 S. Baldwin Ave Arcadia 626/447-8003. in the Santa Anita Mall.
Zoos and Animals
LA Zoo in Griffith Park
Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific http://www.aquariumofpacific.org
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium with tidepool touch tank (and Cabrillo Beach)
Montebello petting zoo - http://www.laavenue.com/barnyard.htm
Great Outdoors
Descanso Gardens in La Canada tram tour http://www.descanso.com
Eaton Canyon Nature Center & hiking trails http://www.ecnca.org
Huntington Gardens in San Marino - http://www.huntington.org Great children’s garden, koi pond and lots of space to run around.
LA County Arboretum in Arcadia - http://www.arboretum.org
Millard Canyon http://tchester.org/sgm/trails/millard.html
Monrovia Canyon Park tchester.org/sgm/places/monrovia_park.html
Museums
Exposition Park in Los Angeles includes Aerospace Museum, California Science Center, 3-D IMAX Theater, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles
Mission San Gabriel www.californiamissions.com/cahistory/sangabriel.html
Petersen Automotive Museum with hands-on Kids Corner Discovery Center http://www.petersen.org
Queen Mary self-guided tour (3+) http://www.queenmary.com
Zimmer Children’s Museum on Wilshire http://www.zimmermuseum.org
Kidspace http://www.kidspacemuseum.org
FREE MUSEUM DAYS
(Some conflicting reports: be sure to check the day & time for free admission!)
LA County Arboretum 3rd Tuesday of the month, 9am-4:30pm
Autry Museum of Western Heritage, 2nd Tuesday of the month, 10am-5pm
Getty Center at the 10 & 405, always free
Huntington Library & Gardens, 1st Thursday of the month, 12pm-4.30pm. You must reserve your free tickets in advance.
LA County Museum of Art, 2nd Tuesday of the month, 12pm-8pm
Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), Thursdays, 11am-8pm
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, 1st Tuesday of the month, 9.30am-5pm
Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena 3rd Saturday of the month, 10am-5pm
Page Museum at La Brea Tar Pits, 1st Tuesday of the month, 10am-4.30pm
Annual Family Friendly Events
Wiggle Waggle Walk-annually in October -Pasadena Humane Society- http://www.phsspca.org
Rosebud Parade-annually in November -Kidspace Museum - http://www.kidspacemuseum.org
Bridge Party annually in July- Pasadena Heritage - http://www.pasadenaheritage.org
Other
Watch donuts being made before you eat them at Krispy Kreme http://www.krispykreme.com (there’s one in Burbank)
Neither the MOMS Club of Pasadena nor the International MOMS Club endorsed any ads, links to local businesses or groups or pop up ads that may appear on our site. They are provided only as a courtesy.
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