LA Arboretum and Botanic Gardens

Marisa Parks | Gardens, Pasadena, Play

THE GET DOWN


I’m from the Midwest (Chicago specifically) and my family has always kept a small cottage house in Michigan City, Indiana which is about an hour drive from the city.

Here you can attest to the beautifully colorful and ever changing foliage that nature provides each change of season. Fall is my favorite. Memories of raking and playing in big piles of leaves remains fresh in my mind, as does a certain smell that goes along with it.

I preface this post,only to allude to the fact that the LA Arboretum brought me back to that place. To the good ol’ Midwest; To memories of my childhood. With the exception on an occasional Redwood, the LA Arboretum is bountiful with trees, beautiful leaves and paved walkways just like a nature preserve.

The walkways in fact make a perfect place to bring a scooter or go for a jog. The LA Arboretum is not as large as some of the other botanical gardens or as well kept, but it has everything it needs. Pack some extra popcorn and feed the ducks. Take your time and walk around. Heck, maybe the tots will even relax and take a nap in the shade. Those trees though… So calming and beautiful.


DETAILS


(First timer? Scroll down to check out the rating system below.)

  • WHERE

    Pasadena

  • GO FOR

    Nature walk

  • SOCIAL SCENE

    Well-Cultured, Multicultural

  • TODDLER RATING

    Easily Forgiven

  • NEARBY

    Pie n Burger, The Raymond

  • CONTACT INFO

    Website: arboretum.org
    Phone: (626) 821-3222

The Spotted Cloth
Rating System:

It’s our goal to make exploring LA either with the kids or with grown ups as easy as possible. Click through the tabs above to check out our rating system.

For those with little
runners & screamers:

Easily forgiven:

Here, you can forget the fact that it’s your rambunctious child that’s screaming and STILL enjoy most of your meal.

Not promoted, but you should take the chance:

If your toddler is at the stage when an iPad or some other colorful distraction can be used for an un-interrupted 20 minutes, then go for it.

Uh-uh, NO WAY, don’t even think about it!:

I don’t care how cute your toddler is. Pop your head in… turn around… walk away. PERIOD.

No contained area:

A place you cannot leave your toddler alone, not even for a second.

Enclosed, but space is tight:

If YOU can’t fit between the tables then you know you couldn’t catch your toddler if they tried – this isn’t Norm’s.

WHAT’S CLOSE


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LA Arboretum and Botanic Gardens
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