Nestled beneath the San Gabriel Mountains, minutes from downtown L.A. on the Metro Gold Line, Pasadena is both charming and cosmopolitan. The Tournament of Roses and institutions such as NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the California Institute of Technology make it much more than a typical suburb. Idyllic neighborhoods are filled with Craftsman-style homes. Nearby are Glendale, Arcadia, Eagle Rock and the San Gabriel Valley.

Old Pasadena
It is a pleasure to stroll through the 12-block district known as Old Pasadena, bounded roughly by Walnut and Green streets, Arroyo Parkway and Pasadena Avenue. The district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and many of its charming buildings date to the turn of the 20th century. Today, they house trendy boutiques and eateries; foresighted city planning has integrated parking structures into the old façades. The flamboyantly designed Castle Green apartments (99 S. Raymond Ave.) were built as a grand resort in 1898.

Brick-lined alleys lead into the One Colorado courtyard, where a diverse collection of restaurants offer alfresco dining. Gold Class Cinemas is a state-of-the-art movie-watching experience with meal and beverage service to patrons' seats. Among the plethora of Old Pasadena restaurants are Yujean Kang's for gourmet Chinese cuisine and Tre Venezie.

Just east of Old Pasadena, Paseo Colorado offers movie theaters and upscale shopping at stores such as Coach amid garden promenades. Ample dining is located in the complex, and Ruth's Chris Steak House is across the street. Nearby is beaux arts–inspired City Hall (100 N. Garfield Ave.), a stunning landmark restored to its original grandeur.

Playhouse District
The Boston Court and Furious theaters are highlights of the Playhouse District. Neighboring museums include the pagoda-crowned Pacific Asia Museum and the contemporary Pasadena Museum of California Art. Foodies refuel post-museum-going at Elements Kitchen. The Ice House Comedy Club lightens up the scene.

Just east of the Playhouse District, South Lake Avenue offers a concentration of shops and restaurants. The Commons, the Colonnade and Burlington Arcade set boutiques around European-style courtyards. Dining gems include French favorite Bistro 45 and Caltech standard Pie 'n Burger (913 E. California Blvd.). To the south is The Langham Huntington, Pasadena, a lavish historic hotel.

Orange Grove Boulevard
Some of Pasadena's most magnificent historic homes line Orange Grove Boulevard just west of Old Pasadena, and the immediate vicinity offers a legacy of great architecture from masters such as Wallace Neff and Frank Lloyd Wright. The meticulously restored Gamble House is the crowning achievement of architects Greene & Greene, leaders in the Arts & Crafts movement for which Pasadena is famous. The spectacular Wrigley mansion is now the Tournament House, the offices for the Tournament of Roses.

The Norton Simon Museum, at Colorado and Orange Grove boulevards, is one of the nation's finest small art museums. Its collection ranges from Renaissance to 20th century and features Impressionist masters such as Monet, Degas and van Gogh. The venue is also known for its Eastern art, notably a superior collection of Indian works, and its lovely sculpture garden.

PASADENA ADJACENT
Just south of the Langham is the renowned 150-acre Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens in posh San Marino. The Huntington features more than a dozen botanical environments, including a Chinese garden and the flora of the Australian outback. Amid the magnificent gardens is the recently refurbished Italianate mansion of railroad magnate Henry Huntington, which has an extraordinary collection of 18th– and 19th–century art and a library of rare books and manuscripts. Families enjoy the Rose Hills Foundation Conservatory for Botanical Science and the innovative Helen and Peter Bing Children's Garden.

Fair Oaks Boulevard runs south to charming South Pasadena. Mission Street in the Mission West Historic District has antique shops, eateries and boutiques like Lady Bird and Saturday's Child.

EAGLE ROCK
West of Pasadena along the Ventura Freeway is Eagle Rock, a college town that's rapidly morphing from quaint to cool. Colorado Boulevard is alive with eateries including legendary pizzeria Casa Bianca (Black Boar pub, next door, is also popular) and Larkin's, a contemporary soul food joint. Students from Occidental College, where President Barack Obama studied, hang at Swork coffee bar.

GLENDALE
The next exit is Glendale, Los Angeles County's third-largest city. Most visitors head directly to the Americana at Brand, the spectacular shopping development where international offerings such as H&M mingle with locally based boutiques like Kitson; there are also a movie theater and several restaurants. Attend free outdoor yoga classes on Sunday mornings, hosted by Lululemon Athletica. Sprawling Glendale Galleria is adjacent.

But the foothill city's personality runs much deeper. The diverse population includes one of America's largest Armenian communities, reflected at restaurants such as Phoenicia (343 N. Central Ave., 818.956.7800), where you can feast on shawarma while being entertained by belly dancers.

For entertainment, the Alex Theatre (216 N. Brand Blvd., 818.243.7700) is an art deco treasure featuring international headliners. Restaurant/club Minx, also on Brand Boulevard, is a hot spot. In a park with hillside views is the Moorish-style Brand Library & Art Center (1601 W. Mountain St., 818.548.2051).

Just north of Glendale is Montrose, where shops and eateries lining Honolulu Avenue exude a Mayberry-like vibe. Also nearby is Descanso Gardens, world-renowned for its camellia forest.

ARCADIA
Arcadia, east of Pasadena, is best known for historic Santa Anita Park, one of the world's premier thoroughbred racing venues. Adjacent to the track is Westfield Santa Anita, a shopping center with department stores, boutiques and restaurants. The Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden is known for its free-roaming peafowl. To the north is Sierra Madre, whose cafe- and shop-filled downtown doesn't have a single stoplight.

SAN GABRIEL VALLEY
The rich history of the San Gabriel Valley has been shaped by early Spanish missionaries and recently arriving Asian immigrants. The city of San Gabriel is home to San Gabriel Mission (1771), monumental whether one's perspective is historical, architectural or religious. Burgeoning Chinese populations in Alhambra and Monterey Park are reflected in massive dim sum palaces and Chinese boutiques.

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