Old Town Pasadena

In Old Town Pasadena you will find pristine, restored Beaux Arts storefronts backed by a blue sky. There are sidewalk cafes set in pretty alleys or courtyards. You can find a frozen yogurt store called 21 Choices. There is a European bakery with delicious pain au chocolat and a modern interior with big windows looking out on the street, called Europane. From here you can walk two blocks toward the mountains and see the amazing City Hall, built in 1927 in ornate Mediterranean and Spanish style. It's sheer magnitude is impressive. There is shopping galore, including H & M.

For an easy place to eat lunch or dinner with kids, check out Cheesecake Factory.
BEWARE: If you park using the parking meters along the street, you might get one that runs fast. We got back to our car two minutes early (by our cell phone clock) and voila, there was a $45 ticket. The officer had been sitting waiting for the meter to expire. I can't say that the fairly pleasant walk along the main strip was worth $45.
For a park nearby, skip Central Park which is a homeless hangout and drive to Garfield Park. With lampposts, bridge, deep green lawns, shady trees, and a playground full of kids you can't go wrong! The Kidspace Children's Museum is a high-tech, creative museum with wonderful things for kids to do.
For a wonderful art museum with a Monet-style lily pond and halls of world-class art, check out the Norton Simon Museum.
For a Chinese garden as magical as a movie set, plus an indoor rainforest, rose garden, and stately mansion, art, and statues, definitely do not miss Huntington Gardens and Library. Also, take some time to walk around the gracious neighborhoods in the San Marino area.

Directions

Old Town Pasadena is the main strip along Colorado Blvd, near Fair Oaks Ave.
Starbucks, 93 West Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, call (626) 577-4622.
H & M Clothing, 300 East Colorado Boulevard, call (626) 793-8974‎.
Europane Bakery, 345 E. Colorado Blvd, call (626) 844-8804.
21 Choices, 85 West Colorado Boulevard, call (626) 304-9521‎.
Cheesecake Factory, 2 West Colorado Boulevard, call (626) 584-6000.‎

Click on map for interactive view