The Huntington is one of the most beautiful places in Southern California. Every garden is…read moremeticulously maintained, and you can easily spend an entire day exploring the different landscapes. The Chinese Garden & Japanese Garden was especially stunning, with peaceful ponds, traditional architecture, and incredible views around every corner. The Japanese Garden, bonsai collection, and conservatories were equally impressive. The grounds are spotless, the staff is friendly, and there are so many quiet places to slow down and appreciate nature. If you enjoy photography, this place is a dream--there are beautiful photo opportunities everywhere you look. I also enjoyed browsing the gift shop before leaving. Whether you're looking for a relaxing afternoon, inspiration, or just a break from the city, The Huntington is absolutely worth visiting. I'll definitely be back.

Pro tip: Book in advance and try to get the 10am when it just opens…read more You will need the entire day to actually see everything. I unfortunately got in the noon section. Wasn't able to 1/3 despite spending 3 hours there. You will need to bring sunscreen and water especially during the summer. Of all things would recommend going to the Chinese pavilion and European house/ rose garden. Both of them are by far the most spectacular especially the Chinese pavilion. It so zen and rich with beautiful architecture and biome of life and gardening is spectacular. If you become filthy rich this is the garden you would want. Haha The European house and grounds is beautiful and lush. Great place to enjoy the old money vibes and get your pics at the rose garden.

I really love this garden but today I brought my service dog with me. She was wearing her service…read moredog vest and the guy at the entrance said "no dogs are allowed" despite her wearing a vest that clearly said "service dog". I then told him that she's a service animal and he asked what task she performs as is customary. But once I said her task, he laughed at me and said he had never heard of a dog who "does that". I told him I have a disability that requires her and he eventually let me in. But he had an overall negative rude condescending demeanor and didn't seem to like working there. This was highly triggering for me and actually triggered my CPTSD because it never feels great to have your disability or needs not taken seriously. Not everyone's disability is visible and for it to be laughed at felt very insensitive. It makes me not wanna go there that much in the future now because I know it's always gonna be triggering for me if that worker is there. I couldn't relax the whole time I was there cause I felt so distressed by this.

Came here with the hubby to celebrate a friend's 50th birthday…read more The celebration was held at the old house in the hill, it's a great setting for special events and intimate weddings. It's a compact garden but it's a nice little refuge from the city. Nice and easy walking paths.

Angel, his son Diego, and their team are exceptional. From my very first interaction with them they…read morehave been highly communicative, professional, courteous and are extremely knowledgeable. Angel is a horticultural expert. I use many of the services they provide: tree cutting and trimming, ongoing maintenance, landscaping, planting fruit trees, and many more projects to come. I highly recommend

I've been using these guys for over 10 years. Very reliable and professional. I'd highly…read morerecommend them.

This is the most difficult Botanical Garden to get in touch with…read more The hours they have posted on their website are wrong, no one picks up the phone after calling several times and leaving several messages. I went in person last weekend, and it was closed despite their online hours posted. The lack of clarity even upon walking up to the venue is not clear. They have no signs stating they are closed and it's clear they do not care to return voicemails. Please do not waste your time going there.

Background On Visit: Last Sunday (4/12/26), the venue hosted the Pasadena Festival Of Tea. We were…read moreone of the participants for this event. Hours Of Operation: They welcome visitors to the garden on many Friday and Saturday evenings and during the day on Sundays. You can check out their schedule of events and admission cost on their website: https://japanesegardenpasadena.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/japanesegardenpasadena/event.jsp?;=&event=1612& Admission Cost: Mostly, $15 on Friday and Saturday. Sunday, it's $12. For other events, they post the cost on their website. Location/Parking: Located across from the Arlington Gardens (Free). It's kinda hidden, but just use the gps on your phone to guide you. Parking can be found along Arlington. For special events, they encourage you to park at Westridge School (Orange Grove and W. State St.) and walk up to Storrier Stearns. Ambiance/Decor: The Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden is a beautiful and charming retreat with a quiet and tranquil elegance. The place is small which contains many of the much admired design features found in the most lavish of Japanese-style gardens of its era. As Kendall Brown states in his book, California Japanese-style Gardens, "this is the genius of Kinzuchi Fujii: this was once a flat area of two tennis courts; now it is a masterwork. 1) Classic Niko-an Teahouse, the garden landscape offers a variety of other beautiful details. 2) Numerous gathering points, seating areas & vistas 3) Four original bridges plus the original cedar log Japanese Waiting Bench 4) Two large interconnected, irregularly shaped koi ponds 5) The sounds of two waterfalls, one cascading down a 25-foot hill 6) An artful dry riverbed for rain overflow winding through the garden 7) Cooling shade everywhere from spreading sycamores & old oaks 8) Many tons of boulders & stones 9) Granite statuary & stone lanterns Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden For Thought: Wouldn't mind coming back to re-center myself. I did a have nice time.

Miguel and his team are seriously the best -- I worked with them on a large project involving tree…read moreremoval, tree bracing, landscaping, serious weeding (months of overgrowth from last residents), mulching, gutters, trimming fully grown palm trees requiring harnesses etc, sprinkler/irrigation system planning and repair, hauling, hardscaping, planting and more I don't have the words for how awesome they are -- I feel like I have a brand new front, back and side yard and my place finally feels like a home and manageable with their expertise, wisdom and experience. THANK YOU! Appreciate the time, effort and incredible value they bring as a team -- every dollar was hard-earned by them and money well-spent. Miguel came to give estimate and walk through strategy, plan, timing to make sure we were aligned from the beginning -- and he made sure he and team could meet timeline I needed given some constraints on my side. He and his team are a true pleasure to partner and do business with, insightful and kind and deeply knowledgeable. I was really impressed and humbled by how much they can do in such a short time, all the more amazing given how high-quality and comprehensive their work is. I am so grateful to Miguel and his team and can't wait to work with them again, hope to work together going forward.

He and his crew did a fantastic job. I highly recommend Miguel. He was on time and did exactly what…read morewe spoke about. Hire him, you won't be sorry!

This is such a convenient and gorgeous location for an intimate wedding ceremony. We stayed in the…read morethe airbnb located behind the venue. We had to just walk a few steps to the venue when it was time for the ceremony. The airbnb and venue are gorgeous. We also had sandwiches made by Kim for guests following the ceremony which were delicious. We loved our wedding ceremony and this was the perfect location for what we wanted.

Kim is very approachable and friendly. Her artistic talent made this place a beautiful location for…read moresmall to medium sized parties. This placed saved our wedding during COVID - we live streamed our wedding to 300+ guests from here and it was extremely memorable to all. It also helped that they have 2 airbnbs adjacent available to rent for our wedding preparations. I then had my baby shower at this location, hosting up to 25 people. The conservatory is a beautiful backdrop, and there are many niche spaces that are wonderful for photographing. Highly recommend.

Ambassador Mansions & Gardens is a very quiet, peaceful, and truly beautiful place. It's hidden…read morebetween buildings, and if you don't know it's there, you might easily miss it -- which makes it feel like a secret garden in the middle of the city. The territory is incredibly well maintained, with huge mature trees, beautiful flowers, fountains, mini waterfalls, and small ponds where you can see fish and turtles. There is also a lovely grassy area in the center where you can sit, relax, or have a small picnic. Geese walk freely around the gardens, and colorful parrots fly overhead, adding even more charm to the atmosphere. In April, the garden looks especially stunning -- the pergola and trees are in full bloom (I wish I remembered the names of those gorgeous flowers!), and the whole place feels alive and magical. Honestly, this garden is beautiful in any season of the year. You can come here with dogs, which is a big plus, but it's important to respect the property rules: pets must be on a leash, owners are responsible for cleanup, professional photography requires a permit, and activities like skateboarding, drinking alcohol, or organized sports events are not allowed. These rules help preserve the calm and cleanliness of the space. There is also a secondary school located on the property, which adds to the unique character of the place. Parking-wise, we were able to find free street parking nearby without any issues. This is a perfect spot to slow down, enjoy nature, and escape the city noise for a while. Highly recommended for a peaceful walk or a quiet moment surrounded by beauty.

What a beautiful place to walk around and enjoy the grounds. It is a private property so make sure…read moreto follow the rules and don't litter. Ambassador gardens is a luxury residential community with beautiful homes and condos. The grounds are beautiful with big trees, water features and seating areas. We even saw turtles and big birds by the waterfall. Really lovely place to take a stroll at. We parked on Green Street and walked towards the ambassador auditorium... see my videos and pictures. So pretty.

he grassy open areas, shady tree-lined paths, and landscaped garden spaces make it feel peaceful…read moreand scenic--even on busier days. It's clean and family-friendly, with plenty of room for kids to run around and for dogs to stretch their legs (on leash). The walking loops are great for a casual stroll or a longer walk, and there's a nice mix of open lawn and shaded areas to relax. Be aware that it can get packed on weekends--especially midday--so if you're looking for a quieter visit, heading over earlier or on a weekday helps. Overall, it's exactly what you want from a neighborhood park: pleasant, clean, and easy to spend a couple of hours in.

The city recently remodels the play structure! It's much bigger and the kids love it…read more Also, this place is ideal place to take photos (family, engagements, kids, etc.) It does get crowded at times, especially during the weekend. They also have open fields where you can play catch or have a picnic. They have some pave roads where kids can bike, scooter or rollerskate. They also have tennis courts on the side of the park and they also have lessons for those who were interested. Unfortunately, they recently implemented charging non residents during the weekends. I don't support this charge since public parks should be for everyone. Whether or not you are living in the city. Other than that come to visit during the weekdays when it's free!