Daytrip to Pasadena and San Marino

About an hour west on the 60, the San Marino and Pasadena area has more history and green space than most Inland Empire folks ever think to explore. Karina and I packed a picnic and made a full day of it — four stops, each worth it in its own way. If you're lucky, you may just make the right choice at the Fork In The Road. Here are the places we stopped.

El Molino Viejo — The Old Mill

Built in 1816 to grind grain for Mission San Gabriel, this is the oldest commercial building in Los Angeles County. It's small and quiet — you could see the whole thing in 15 minutes — but standing there puts Southern California's history in a different kind of perspective.

Arlington Garden

Pasadena's only dedicated public garden, free to enter, and easy to overlook if you don't know it's there. A calm, unhurried space — worth 20 minutes of your afternoon, and a nice warmup before the Huntington.

Huntington Library & Gardens

The anchor of the trip. Over 120 acres of botanical gardens, a world-class art collection, and more to explore than any single visit can cover. We spread out the picnic blanket and stayed longer than planned — which is exactly what the Huntington does to you.

Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden

A 1935 Japanese garden that was privately held for generations and only recently reopened to the public. Serene, beautifully kept, and still flying under most people's radar — the kind of place that rewards a little extra research.