Great mountain biking trails! I had a fantastic time there. I highly suggest checking them out.read more

This park is an incredible birding hotspot and a true sanctuary for nature lovers. The semi-wild…read morelandscape, filled with native oak trees and hardy scrub, provides a diverse habitat that attracts birds of all sorts--especially in the early morning. It's a great spot to see a variety of species of birds against the beautiful backdrop of the San Gabriel Mountains. The park is peaceful and well-maintained. Whether you're a serious birder or just looking for a tranquil place to hike and enjoy the local wildlife, this park is a local gem that shouldn't be missed! Note: There is a frisbee golf course there if that is your thing.

Background On Visit: Last Sunday (4/12/26), the venue hosted the Pasadena Festival Of Tea. We were…read moreone of the participants for this event. Hours Of Operation: They welcome visitors to the garden on many Friday and Saturday evenings and during the day on Sundays. You can check out their schedule of events and admission cost on their website: https://japanesegardenpasadena.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/japanesegardenpasadena/event.jsp?;=&event=1612& Admission Cost: Mostly, $15 on Friday and Saturday. Sunday, it's $12. For other events, they post the cost on their website. Location/Parking: Located across from the Arlington Gardens (Free). It's kinda hidden, but just use the gps on your phone to guide you. Parking can be found along Arlington. For special events, they encourage you to park at Westridge School (Orange Grove and W. State St.) and walk up to Storrier Stearns. Ambiance/Decor: The Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden is a beautiful and charming retreat with a quiet and tranquil elegance. The place is small which contains many of the much admired design features found in the most lavish of Japanese-style gardens of its era. As Kendall Brown states in his book, California Japanese-style Gardens, "this is the genius of Kinzuchi Fujii: this was once a flat area of two tennis courts; now it is a masterwork. 1) Classic Niko-an Teahouse, the garden landscape offers a variety of other beautiful details. 2) Numerous gathering points, seating areas & vistas 3) Four original bridges plus the original cedar log Japanese Waiting Bench 4) Two large interconnected, irregularly shaped koi ponds 5) The sounds of two waterfalls, one cascading down a 25-foot hill 6) An artful dry riverbed for rain overflow winding through the garden 7) Cooling shade everywhere from spreading sycamores & old oaks 8) Many tons of boulders & stones 9) Granite statuary & stone lanterns Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden For Thought: Wouldn't mind coming back to re-center myself. I did a have nice time.

This is the most difficult Botanical Garden to get in touch with…read more The hours they have posted on their website are wrong, no one picks up the phone after calling several times and leaving several messages. I went in person last weekend, and it was closed despite their online hours posted. The lack of clarity even upon walking up to the venue is not clear. They have no signs stating they are closed and it's clear they do not care to return voicemails. Please do not waste your time going there.

A mere three miles past the despair and human detritus that is the cavalcade of Eaton Canyon…read morewaterfall-bound imbeciles carrying Bluetooth speakers blaring DMX and coolers full of glass bottles that will be "deposited" in shards amidst the tagged and grafitti'ed rocks and trees, Henninger Flats is a much more peaceful representation of the San Gabriel mountains. Thankfully, the elevation gain involved in the short but steady uphill keeps the majority of idiocy far below. The hike itself is about three miles on the Mt. Wilson Toll Road, a wide dirt path with very little shade by midday. Just past the sign welcoming you to Henninger Flats, pine trees provide shade over picnic and camping areas. Pit toilets, a tree farm, a nature trail, and the nature center are also featured here. The visitor center is variably open most days, and has some historical and natural displays that are showing their age, but are still as interesting as they were when I was a kid coming up here with my dad. A soda machine offers cold drinks for a buck, but it only takes quarters. Be sure to sign the guestbook on the counter, and on the rare opportunity that someone is staffing the front desk, stop in and say hi. Note well: while a project is currently underway to bring potable water back to Henninger, as of September 2018, there is STILL NO DRINKING WATER AT HENNINGER. Bring plenty of drinking water, especially if you are continuing deeper into the mountains on a longer hike. Most of the times that I visit, there are Boy Scout group camping on the weekend. Camping is free here, but you need to reserve the spot.

This hike is a segment which is a steep tangent from Eaton Cyn in the San Gabriel mtns. If you're…read moregoing to do this, be an extremely seasoned hiker. Like we hiked for a total of 10 miles, an entire day later, 2 sandwiches, trail-mix and extensive water-bottling. It's an awesome workout. And yes and mentioned by others, the recreational hikers stay far, far below. This hike is steep, and winds for miles. Once you arrive at the nature center, there is a cool centuries old restroom. I found this lovely, don't ask why. Vintage is my vibe. The nature center is educational. There are diagrams of tree and forest history. Stuffed wild animals, of the smaller variety: squirrels, birds, and the like. And the three-dimensional map of the forest range is cool. You feel like such a tiny fragment of a massive universe. Of which, we are regardless. It just places you in this perspective, at that very moment. The forest rangers are cordial. Yes, not park ranger bc it's this Rustic. Also, note you can buy water bottles at the nature center. This is vital bc the hike is extensive and you may need like 10 refills. So here you are. There isn't a filtered water supply elsewhere. These are also camp grounds, and pine trees nestle together here for miles. And the vista is gorgeous.

Perfect hike for a hot day…read more I love waterfall hikes and listening to the sound of calm, running water. The added challenge on these hikes is the multiple stream crossings. I brought some hiking poles which helped with balance and probing for loose rocks and logs. If you want to get parking in the lower lot, it's best to come before 8AM. We found parking in the second lot. An Adventure Pass or Day Pass is required. Parking is enforced. A car received a ticket for being in a No Parking zone. The start of the trail is nicely shaded. The second half is a hilly, narrow, sun exposed path which routes back into the canyon toward the Lower Switzer Falls. I'm glad they had fencing on some narrow and steep parts of the trail. We encountered an active rattlesnake which headed down the mountain, so be on the lookout. Overall, the hike takes about 3 hours for 5.5 miles. The additional hike back up to the parking lot was about 1/4 of a mile. Note: if you need to use the restroom, it's best to bring your own toilet paper and to go before you start your hike. It was kind of smelly, but if you gotta go... you gotta go.

This place is great for fully appreciating nature! The trail is around 5-5.5 miles round trip,…read moredepending on where you park. What impressed me most about this trail is that it's almost fully covered by shade. We went in the late afternoon, and I'd say probably 80-85% of it is covered. Very impressive! Here are some useful tips: 1. There are three parking lots: two are next to the highway, and one is near the hiking entrance. I'd recommend getting a parking pass if possible. 2. There are only three restrooms at the beginning of the trail, so use them when you see them. 3. If you're aiming to go to the waterfall, make sure to look for the signs. Some signs aren't very clear, so we had to stop and ask other hikers frequently. Luckily, people there are super friendly and happy to help. Just pay attention to your surroundings. 4. The trail is dog-friendly, but dogs must be on a leash. 5. Waterproof hiking boots are recommended. All in all, it's a fun trail. It's a great place for a picnic and camping, and it's very close to the stream. Great for kids, families, and pets!

Brookside Park, Pasadena, CA., was hosting another vendors filled event a few months ago. This was…read moreanother Community event I learned via my professor from taking a technology course at PCC this 2024 year. The Pasadena City came up with this event honoring the victims of a hate crime that did take place some time ago. Vendors were friendly to talk to and generously shared a lot of their business swags with us attendees. This was a complimentary event as well as parking. My professor's booth called 'Peace Over Violence,' was handing out this super cute Brown Peace Bear, and it was my lucky day, I got one. I named her after Amazon tablet, 'Alexa.' What a great cause I supported this was!!!!

Spanning over 6 acres of land, Brookside Park is a wonderful place for day trips & family…read moregatherings. It's home to Jackie Robinson Baseball Stadium, has two softball diamonds, a multi-purpose field for flag football & soccer, a small stage with seating, an aquatic center, numerous picnic tables, and three play areas. At the center of the park is the Rose Bowl. The Gamble House is at the South end and the Brookside Gold Course is to the north. Kid Space Museum is also located here. Music Festivals such as Cruel World, other big events, and the monthly Rose Bowl Flea Market also take place. Another main attraction is the 3.3-mile loop trail that goes around the Rose Bowl & Gold Course. Occasionally, I'll come here for an early morning run and I'm here once a year to participate in Pasadena Human's annual fund raiser - the Wiggle Waggle Walk. The park is spacious and there is plenty of room for vendor booths, demonstration areas, and doggie costume contests. Participants have the option of walking the 3.3-mile loop or the one-mile route around the multi-purpose field. The park is nicely maintained as are the restrooms and parking is plentiful.

A little bit of everything for people, dogs, horses etc. my favorite part was the horse ranch…read more There's fly fishing though the pond appears empty and archery too. Scenery was nice, dry basin overall. Had a good time walking around with dogs and people alike.

The trailhead is located at the north end of the San Pasqual Stables parking lot. The Lower Arroyo…read moreis also a tourist attraction and park that's good for kids and dogs. Walking, hiking and jogging are the most common recreational activities in the Lower Arroyo. Connecting many miles of equestrian trails, the Lower Arroyo trails are permitted for mixed use by foot traffic of humans, horses and dogs. No bicycles or motor vehicles are permitted in the area.

Coach Jill is extremely patient and kind and was so sweet with our kids. She is a great teacher for…read moreour young children. We put our kids in her Saturday activity night which is from 4 pm to 7 pm. It allows parents to get out for a date night. Her prices were extremely reasonable and our kids really enjoyed themselves. We look forward to enrolling our kids in her program moving forward.

Miss Jill is not only a fantastic teacher of children all ages but she is a legacy unto herself in…read morethis community. My wife brought our eldest here over 20 years ago and today our 3 year old is lucky enough to enjoy the very same space with the same awesome coach! Miss Jill works with each child at their level and personally works with each one to develop balance and functional body mechanics. I believe this is an excellent place if you are a parent and want to give your child a strong foundation for all future physical activity and sports.

I lived next doors to the park on Dabney Street for many years and made full use of the park for my…read morepersonal use and the company I worked for held their annual alumni picnic there. I also exercised my horse in the arena. I remember riding horses through the park before it was a park, only a bunch of dirt and vegetation. Either way it was always a wonderful place for outdoor activities.

Such a cool park, the kids loved it! A lot of fun little surprises and random noise makers,…read morebeautiful setting, plenty of parking, and soft spongy base to minimize injuries.

The trail was pretty easy. I showed up at 6am on sunday 3-29-26 and parking was already getting…read morefull. When i left at 9:30am the parking was completely packed and people were parking on the side of the road. Mostly shaded hike besides beginning/end

It's been years since I've been to this hike. I was always hesitant to return to sturtevant falls…read morebecause parking is super packed on the weekends unless you go there super early. I made it a mission to arrive there by 6 AM to guarantee myself a parking spot and it was still a little dark so I brought my flashlight. The view of the falls was so pretty! I was the only one there by 7 and a lot of people were hiking to the falls when I was returning to the parking lot. Glad I revisited this trail again.

I've lived in LA for years and somehow never realized you could kayak the river until a friend…read moresuggested trying LA River Kayak Safari. We booked a weekend morning tour, and it ended up being one of the most unexpectedly fun things I've done in the city. I was a little nervous at first since I'm not super experienced with kayaking, but the guides were patient and gave clear instructions before we got on the water. Once we started, it felt calm and surprisingly peaceful. We even spotted birds and fish along the way, which I definitely didn't expect in Los Angeles. The whole experience felt safe, well-organized, and relaxed. It's such a cool way to see a different side of the city. I'd absolutely do it again.

This is the only place in Southern California, except for the Kern River and it's not worth it…read more When I was in College, during the Summer I worked as a White Water Rapid Class V Instructor on the North Fork of the American River. If you look that up or really want to raft, take a drive up to Northern California for some excitement- you are able to do Class III, Class IV, or Class V, including an overnight rafting trip. It's not exactly like "A River Wild," but it can be if you're not experienced. I grew up river rafting with my Daddy all the time and have been on more than 300 trips in my lifetime. It's one of my favorite activities, but it's boring and lame in SoCal.