RESOURCE
Best known for its annual Tournament of Roses Parade and Rose Bowl, Pasadena’s climate and renowned cultural institutions make it the perfect locale for families needing a retreat from severe winter weather.
Kidspace Children’s Museum is ideal for families with children 10 and younger. Located at 480 N. Arroyo Blvd., the museum is tucked away in Brookside Park, minutes from The Rose Bowl. Exhibits allow kids to unearth simulated fossils, examine insects’ feeding habits, investigate the night sky, explore 14 gardens and have fun scaling two enclosed 40-foot climbing structures.
Art lovers must visit the Norton Simon Museum, 411 W. Colorado Blvd. Filled with European and Asian art amassed by industrialist Norton Simon (1907-1993), the museum houses masterpieces by Picasso, Degas, Rembrandt and others. There’s also a sculpture garden. At the information desk, pick up the Family Guide, which will bring to life the galleries and garden for children. Audio tours are also available for children-admitted free-and adults.
The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens is another must-see. Located at 1151 Oxford Road in neighboring San Marino, the 120-acre Huntington campus boasts beautifully landscaped gardens, art galleries and a library containing rare books. The hands-on exhibits about plants and ecosystems found in the Rose Hills Foundation Conservatory for Botanical Science will fascinate pre-teens, while 2- to 7-year-olds will enjoy the water bells, pebble chimes, magnetic sand and fragrance garden featured in the Helen& Peter Bing Children’s Garden.
The Pasadena Museum of History, 470 W. Walnut St., offers a docent-led tour of the Fenyes Mansion and history of “Millionaire’s Row” (Orange Grove Boulevard).
