A Pasadena day trip from Westlake can center on a museum visit and a ride on LA Metro’s Line 180, which connects Hollywood and Pasadena via Los Feliz Boulevard and Colorado Boulevard. This Los Angeles itinerary keeps the plan flexible: choose one cultural stop, then check transit schedules and any reservation requirements before setting out.
- Route option: LA Metro Line 180 connects Hollywood and Pasadena.
- Museum choices: The Huntington or the Norton Simon Museum.
- Rose Parade: an annual New Year’s event along Colorado Boulevard and Sierra Madre Boulevard.
- From Casa Bella, Westlake/MacArthur Park station is about a 15-minute walk or 3-minute drive.
Why Pasadena works as a day trip
Pasadena offers cultural stops and a direct Metro connection from the Los Angeles area, so you can shape the day around one main visit rather than trying to fit in several attractions.
The Huntington brings together botanical collections, rare books and manuscripts, and art across a 207-acre cultural destination in the San Gabriel Valley. Its origins are as the private estate of railroad magnate Henry Huntington. Among the collections are Thomas Gainsborough’s “The Blue Boy,” a Gutenberg Bible, and a First Folio edition of Shakespeare.
For an art-focused visit, the Norton Simon Museum is at 411 West Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, California 91105. Pick one museum as the anchor for your day, leaving the rest of the itinerary open around its visiting requirements and your return trip.
How do you get from Westlake to Pasadena?
LA Metro’s Line 180 connects Hollywood and Pasadena by way of Los Feliz Boulevard and Colorado Boulevard. Check the line’s schedule and map when planning your journey, since public-transit schedules can change.
If you’re comparing routes for the wider trip, getting around Los Angeles from Westlake covers the local transportation context. For this day trip, use Metro’s current route information to work out the connection that fits your starting point and timing.
LA Metro’s fares page provides current fare information and says children under age 6 may ride free with a fare-paying adult. Before you go, check the official LA Metro site for current schedules, maps, and fares.
Plan a day around Pasadena sights
Choose either The Huntington or the Norton Simon Museum as your main stop, then organize the rest of the day around its visiting arrangements and your transit schedule.
The Huntington
The Huntington combines gardens, rare books and manuscripts, and art, with historic roots as Henry Huntington’s private estate. Its collection includes “The Blue Boy,” a Gutenberg Bible, and Shakespeare’s First Folio. Reservations are required on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, and during various peak seasons.
Norton Simon Museum
The Norton Simon Museum is at 411 West Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena. Its website provides admission and ticket information; admission is free for museum members, students with ID, and visitors age 18 and under.
These two stops have different visiting and admission details, so check the relevant museum’s official site when choosing which one to visit. Keep the day’s plan focused on the selected museum rather than assuming both fit the same schedule.
When does the Rose Parade take place in Pasadena?
The Rose Parade is an annual New Year’s event in Pasadena, with a route that includes Colorado Boulevard and Sierra Madre Boulevard.
The route runs along Colorado Boulevard from Orange Grove Boulevard to Sierra Madre Boulevard, then north on Sierra Madre Boulevard to Paloma Street. On parade day, vehicle closures on the route begin at 10:00 p.m. on December 31 and continue until 2:00 p.m. on January 1.
If your Pasadena visit coincides with the parade, plan your route around those closures. Visit Pasadena’s Rose Parade guide points readers to a road-closure map and route-planning tools including Google Maps, Apple Maps, Transit, Moovit, and Metro’s website.
Check opening hours and return transport
Check the museum’s current visitor information and Metro schedules before you leave, especially if your plans depend on a specific admission time or a parade-day route.
For a broader one-day plan in the city, this one-day Los Angeles itinerary from Westlake provides a different route to consider alongside a Pasadena outing.
FAQs
Which Metro line connects Los Angeles and Pasadena?
LA Metro’s Line 180 connects Hollywood and Pasadena via Los Feliz Boulevard and Colorado Boulevard. Check its current schedule and map before traveling.
Does The Huntington require reservations?
Reservations are required on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, and during various peak seasons. Check The Huntington’s official visitor information when planning your visit.
Where does the Rose Parade route go?
The route follows Colorado Boulevard from Orange Grove Boulevard to Sierra Madre Boulevard, then continues north on Sierra Madre Boulevard to Paloma Street.
Who can get free admission to the Norton Simon Museum?
The museum lists free admission for members, students with ID, and visitors age 18 and under. Check its official ticket information for current details.