What a great city!

Spent just a few days this past week on business and will hit the highlights.

The Westin on Los Robles is a great location and their concierge services/guest are exemplary. They have a shuttle and give free rides within a 3 mile radius, which includes old town and everywhere else I neneded to be suring my stay. The drivers were very helpful and gave great recommendations.

I had a corporate rate of $169.00 but the room was quite small and there were times you could hear the neighbors. On the other hand, the room itself was nice, although not wireless and not free internet, which I think should be standard these days for business hotels.

On the second day, when I got out of my conference early, we spent a leisurely afternoon at the Pasadena Library just walking through and ended up having coffee in the courtyard... for a couple hours! it was incredible. The on to a movie and later to dinner at the Arroyo Chop House.

The Arroyo Chop House is a must for anyone looking for a great dinner in Pasadena! I loved it! The restaurant itself was very crowded for a Thursday night and very loud... but we were seated on the back patio which seemed like a different place altogether... quiet, and we were magically seated at the table right in front of the fireplace. (The other side of the patio had a huge waterfall wall thing on it and it seemed nice as well.)

We had the New York, sirloin tips, caesar salad, asparagus and wine... a nice Zaca Mesa Syrah. Everything was perfect and you can see their whole menu at arroyochophouse.com.

Yummm... I need to find a reason to go back!

Did you mean the Huntington Library? It is so beautiful there. I love Pasadena, too, and have stayed at the Westin and the Ritz Carlton. It is a lovely little town with nice shopping and dining. Thanks for the trip report!

No... just the regular Pasadena Library... I think it's on Walnut Street.

We'd been to the HUntington many times before and of course, would have loved to go again but didn't really have the time. The library we went to was just the public library and it was beautiful.. the courtyard ( and coffee stand) was an unexpected treasure.

ttt for neopolitan, rjw lgb ca, easytraveler and hsv who helped me out... thanks again!

Glad you enjoyed your trip! Pasadena is indeed one of my favourite destinations, too - and I sometimes think it would deserve more attention from travellers, but then, probably it's better the way it is ;-)!