Pasadena Walking Tours

05/06/2024

Pasadena is known for its mature trees, proximity to grand gardens and, of course, roses! But what about its lesser known botanical treasures?

This brand new walking tour begins at Arlington Garden, a public oasis built on the site of one of Millionaire’s Row’s lost mansions before a private tour of Storrier-Stearns Japanese Gardens, where our group will have exclusive access to this secluded gem to experience the space as it was in the 1930’s. Finally, each guest will be provided with a guide to our favorite lesser known gardens, secret public spaces, and remnants of the past to continue their exploration.

Please note that a portion of the ticket price for this tour goes directly to support Storrier-Stearns Japanese Garden and Arlington Garden.

04/26/2024

Happy Arbor Day! 🌳 Pasadena’s beautiful trees are an attraction in and of themselves.

Stay tuned next week for the announcement of our new “Secret Gardens of Pasadena” tour that will celebrate all things botanical!

Tickets are still available for Haunted Pasadena tonight as well as other select upcoming Friday and Saturday evenings. These cool, misty evenings are the perfect time to get out and explore 👻

04/23/2024

SCHEDULE UPDATE! 🚨

We have added TWO more spots to our SOLD OUT May 11th Mother’s Day Weekend Dessert Crawl! This is sure to be a fun afternoon adventure.

We’ll also be hitting the streets this Friday evening at 6:30 for our Haunted Pasadena tour! Join us…if you dare 👻

04/10/2024

Our spring “Haunted Pasadena” tours are hitting the streets on select Friday and Saturday evenings at 6:30pm in April and May! Tickets now available now & we look forward to introducing you to the darker side of the City of Roses 👻🥀

Saturday, April 13
Friday, April 26
Saturday, May 4
Friday, May 10
Saturday, May 25

03/25/2024

Pasadena’s spectacular City Hall was looking especially fabulous today but did you know that the design originally lacked its iconic dome?

In 1923, a $3.5 million bond was approved for three Civic Center buildings: a library, a city hall, and a civic auditorium. Ten California firms competed in an architectural contest, with Bakewell and Brown of San Francisco winning the design for City Hall. While the judging panel liked the unique courtyard centered design, the architects were asked to replace the “horrible belfry” with a dome, due at least in part to concerns about the structure looking good from all angles. Several revisions later, construction began on the magnificent 170,000 square foot structure we see today, which officially opened in December 1927.

Interestingly, these architects also crafted San Francisco’s city hall—a stunning municipal edifice that, alongside Pasadena’s City Hall, surpasses the grandeur of many state capitol buildings.

03/25/2024

❤️ our beautiful city after the rain

03/24/2024

There’s still time to join our Explore Pasadena Walking Tour this Sunday at 1pm. Walk the charming streets with Jenny, soak up the beautiful spring weather, uncover fascinating facts about our city, and treat yourself to a sweet surprise along the way. We can’t wait to explore Pasadena with you!

03/15/2024

We’ve got a great group hitting the streets tomorrow evening at 6:30 for our Haunted Pasadena Walking Tour! Tickets still available at link in bio 👻

02/27/2024

Shake off the gloomy weather tomorrow morning (Wed 2/28) as the sun comes out and we hit the streets to “Explore Pasadena” on this rare weekday walking tour!

We’ll dive into the history, highlights, and hidden treasures of the Crown City, where you’ll hear our latest theory on the purpose of this mysterious 120 year old alleyway hook 🪝

If spooky history is more up your alley, join our fan favorite “Haunted Pasadena” tour on Saturday evening (3/2) 👻

Tickets available at link in bio!

02/24/2024

Hi everyone! This tour is officially SOLD OUT! Thank you so much for the overwhelming response! We hope to be invited back by the wonderful stewards of Macy’s for another tour in the future. Until then, don’t miss this one of a kind destination store. We even learned that they even provide appointments for complimentary personal styling services that come with a discount! It’s definitely worth a visit!

02/20/2024

Embark on an exclusive behind-the-scenes journey through Bullock’s Pasadena, the epitome of mid-century California department store elegance!

Our adventure begins at 9 am, before Macy’s opens to the public, granting us unparalleled access to photograph the luxurious interior. For 2 hours, we’ll uncover the stories, style, and secrets of the former Bullock’s store, a true hallmark of design and fashion on Lake Avenue.

Very limited spots available! Please visit our site to book your ticket today! https://www.pasadenawalkingtours.com/bullockspasadena.html

02/15/2024

Thank you to everyone who booked tonight’s Spooky Valentine Haunted Pasadena walking tour! We are now SOLD OUT! However, we do run this tour year round, so if you missed out tonight, we look forward to seeing you on a future date. Please check our website for upcoming Friday and Saturday evenings (next available is this Saturday, February 17) 👻❤️
Happy Valentine’s Day!

02/14/2024

Grab that monster bouquet today and every day! Whether you’re strolling solo, with pals, family, or pets, let’s celebrate LOVE in all its forms! We can’t wait to welcome a group to our “My Spooky Valentine” romp through town this evening!💐❤️

📷: Mary Lou Waddell, 1931 Rose Queen (LAPL)

02/12/2024

Only two days left til our electrifying Valentine’s evening ‘Haunted Pasadena’ walking tour, featuring the enigmatic rocket scientist Jack Parsons. Known for igniting more than just scientific curiosity, Parsons made sparks fly—literally.

Join us for a unique twist on a romantic night out with our 2 hour tour, where we’ll explore hidden corners and unravel takes throughout Playhouse Village and Old Pasadena. It’s an evening brimming with intrigue, history, and the sparks of adventure, topped off with locally crafted chocolates. Join us if you dare! ❤️

02/09/2024

Prefer chilling tales instead of candlelit dinners? Embark on a Valentine’s Night Outing unlike any other in Pasadena!  Join us for a hauntingly romantic journey through the City of Roses.

Hand in hand with your loved one or cherished friends, delve into the hidden corners and storied streets, where chilling mysteries and intrigue await. Explore darkened alleyways, majestic castles, and charming courtyards, encountering the phantoms that linger in the shadows. Unravel tales of spooks and clandestine affairs as we wander through the Playhouse Village and Old Pasadena. Our tour concludes with delightful locally crafted chocolates, the perfect finale to your moonlit Pasadena adventure. ❤️

01/16/2024

Happy 125th Birthday to one of the most stunning buildings in the city! Officially opened on January 16, 1899, the Hotel Green annex, as it was called at the time, was an expansion on the wildly popular Hotel Green, originally constructed on the east side of Raymond. Here’s to another 125 years! 🎉

01/12/2024

It’s a favorite anniversary in Pasadena today! On January 11th, 1949, the place “where the sunshine spends the winter” was blanketed in snow after a record breaking winter storm hit So Cal. The Langham Hotel looks like a winter wonderland!

LAST CALL for Haunted Pasadena walking tour tickets for tomorrow (Fri, Jan 12 @ 6:30). Ticket sales will conclude tonight at 8pm. See you on the streets!

https://www.pasadenawalkingtours.com/hauntedpasadena.html

📷 1: LA Herald Examiner
📷 2:

01/05/2024

A huge thank you goes out to each and every one of you who joined our New Year’s weekend tours! We had a great time showing you the sights of our city!

Join our paranormal expert Heather tonight for a walk through “Haunted Pasadena”! Tickets at link in bio.

12/28/2023

New Year’s weekend festivities kick off tomorrow night with our fan favorite “Haunted Pasadena” tour!

Tickets are also still available for our once a year walking tour celebration of “New Year’s in Pasadena” on Saturday and Sunday at 10am as well as “Explore Pasadena” on Sunday afternoon!

These 2 hour walking tours are perfect for visiting friends and family or a solo adventure! We can’t wait to walk with you 🎉

Tickets available at www.pasadenawalkingtours.com/tours

12/28/2023

Remembering the spectacular day of the 2016 Rose Parade!

Prepare yourself for the festivities with our annual New Year’s In Pasadena tour, just around the corner on Saturday and Sunday. We’d love to have you! 🎉

12/27/2023

Thank you Pasadena Now!! We are getting excited to see everyone!

Walk the Rose Parade Route with Pasadena Walking Tours
---> https://www.pasadenanow.com/weekendr/walk-the-rose-parade-route-with-pasadena-walking-tours

12/22/2023

Out of time? Out of space? Just in time for your last minute gifting needs, we now have digital gift cards available! Give the gift of adventure - perfect for solo explorers, dynamic duos, or a quartet of history enthusiasts. Ideal for the adventurous history lover in your life!

We hope your weekend is as warm and cozy as this undated picture taken on La France Ave in South Pasadena! Join us on New Year’s weekend for one of FOUR available walking tours: New Year’s in Pasadena, Saloons & Speakeasies, Explore Pasadena, or the infamous Haunted Pasadena ⛄️

📷: Huntington Digital Library, Southern California Edison Collection

12/17/2023

Join us two weeks from today as we walk the first portion of the Rose Parade route and learn about the colorful history of the Tournament of Roses, including the cutest Little Free Library on the planet.

12/15/2023

Take a little break from “Ho Ho Ho!” and experience two hours of “Boo!” 👻 as we hit the streets tomorrow night at 6:30 to learn about the dark figures and events of Pasadena’s past! This tour will also be offered on December 29th and is a fun way to entertain visiting friends and family! Ticket link in bio!

12/08/2023

We’re brushing up on all of our New Year’s history and coming across the best pictures! This photo of Colorado Street (now Boulevard) from the 1925 Rose Parade was taken looking west from the block between Broadway (Now Arroyo Parkway) and Marengo. Come learn everything we know about the the historic Tournament of Roses on December 30th and 31st!

12/06/2023

Unveiling our New Year's Weekend lineup – Pasadena takes center stage, and we've curated a collection of experiences for every palate. From New Year's festivities to speakeasies, hidden gems, and the mysterious side of the City of Roses, your perfect adventure awaits this holiday season!

12/06/2023

We hit the streets this week to finalize the route for our once a year New Year’s in Pasadena tour and couldn’t help but feel thankful that we live in this absolutely stunning place.

Join us December 30th and 31st from 10am-12pm as we walk the first portion of the parade route together, sharing stories of the incredible 135 year history of Pasadena’s New Year’s festivities! Ticket link in bio!

11/28/2023

A HUGE thank you to everyone who joined our “Welcome Wander” under the spectacular skies yesterday! It was so nice to meet everyone and to share our love of our city.

Tickets for our “New Year’s In Pasadena” tour are now on sale along with a special New Year’s Eve edition of our “Explore Pasadena” tour on December 31st and “Haunted Pasadena” on select Friday and Saturday evenings. Won’t you join us? ☺️

11/26/2023

We love strolling the alleys of Old Pasadena, especially the ones leading to One Colorado. Today’s “Welcome Wander” tour is sold out, but we’d love it if you’d meet us in the One Colorado courtyard at 2 pm for an informal meet and greet!

Want to learn more about our tours? Partner or collaborate with us? Quiz us on Pasadena facts? We’d love to chat! Also, we’ll have treats to share…

Hope to see you today from 2-3 pm in One Colorado!