My husband and I with son, 16, and daughter 21 are visiting LA/Pasadena the first week in April. We would love your suggestions for hotels, sights, food, shopping, and more. It's the first time in CA for our kids, though my husband and I visited SF/Carmel ten years ago. We'll be visiting family, but would like to make the most of the days we have to explore the region.

You'll have to read through a lot of insider banter, but the places mentioned in these three threads on the Pasadena GTG were all FABULOUS! Especially Saladong Song, the bistro and the Flamengo place. Your kids will all love them too.

Pasadena is a walking town. Just wandering the main streets is a lot of fun.

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...7&tid=34892886
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...7&tid=34926979
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...7&tid=34994669
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...7&tid=34993790

As a Pasadena guy, here are some of my favorite area restaurants.

Nearby: My favorite local Italian restaurant in L.A.
Girasole in Larchmont (very close to Hollywood, 1/2 hour from Pasadena) is a cute, intimate Italian restaurant.
Terrific pasta dishes
No liquor license, so bring your own. No corkage. Reservations are recommended, especially on a weekend. I love their panecotta dessert, by the way.
225 1/2 N Larchmont Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90004-3706
Phone: (323) 464-6978

In Pasadena, Café Bizou is a good choice.
91 N Raymond Ave, Pasadena - (626) 792-9923
Good food (steak au poivre is my favorite) and only two dollar corkage. It can be noisy, but it is a fun place.

An undiscovered little gem is an Afghan restaurant in Pasadena: Great kabobs and fantastic appetizers. Very affordable.
Azeen's Afghani Restaurant
110 E Union St.
Pasadena
(626) 683-3310

Mojito's
(good Latin cuisine, and, of course, mojitos)
69 N Raymond Ave
Pasadena, CA 91103
(626) 796-2520
(we just had a great dinner there last week)

Bistro de la Gare in South Pasadena.
trés French with waiters actually from France. Take the Gold Line from Pasadena to South Pas (about five minutes - get off at Mission Station). It's quicker to drive, but taking the Gold Line gives we Californian's an urban experience we don't often get to savor.
921 Meridian Avenue
South Pasadena, CA 91030
626-799-8828

Another French:
Crepevine Bistro
36 W Colorado Blvd.,
Pasadena, CA 91105
(626) 796-7250
(when they are not having fires in their kitchen, it is really good)

For terrific Thai food:
Saladang Song
383 S Fair Oaks Ave, Pasadena,
(626) 793-5200

Most Overrated:
Vertical Wine Bar
Food - Underwhelming
Wine - Overpriced
Service - Non-existent

One of my favorite things to do in the Pasadena region (not in Pasadena, but nearby) are the gardens at the LA Arboretum:

http://www.arboretum.org/index.cfm?C...TOKEN=12758329

the Huntington in San Marino is also a lovely spot to walk and see some gardens, but not sure how much the kids would like either of these spots:

http://www.huntington.org/Information/HEHGeneral.html

We are here, and I thank you all so much for your help! We're looking forward to enjoying some of these spots. I appreciate the time you each took to post your replies. Hope I can return the favor sometime, esp if you are in the Cincinnati USA area!

maitaitom - what, no Roscoe's?

"maitaitom - what, no Roscoe's?"

I've been there. You sort of have to be in the mood for chicken and waffles, and I have to admit, that urge does not strike often. But when it does........