The Best Things To Do In Glendale CA And Beyond
Here are the best things to do in Glendale Ca and Beyond!
Glendale
Alex Theatre – For more than 80 years, Glendale’s Alex Theatre has been the centerpiece of the City’s arts, culture and community programming. The Theatre’s diverse schedule boosts roughly 250 events and attracts more than 130,000 patrons per year. Program offerings range from classical, contemporary and world music concerts, to film screenings, lfive theatre and stand-up comedy. In addition, the Alex Theatre also hosts award shows, fundraisers and a variety of other special events and requently serves as a location for television, commercial and film productions. AlexTheatre.org Check out it out on 3D Scan of The Alex Theater
Centre Theater –When Ruth and Nathan Hale moved to Glendale, California from Salt Lake City in 1943 with the aspirations of beginning a career as actors, they quickly alized that the only way to pursue their dream was to open their own theatre. In 1947 they rented a small building in Glendale, and the Hale Centre Theatre was born! The theatre is not huge but is still a good size and the seating is theatre in the round. The stage is in the center and the seating options surround the stage on all four sides which makes for a very intimate feeling. glendalecentretheatre.com
Neon Museum – MONA serves as the anchor for Glendale’s new Cultural Arts District which will span from Colorado Boulevard on the south to the Alex Theater on the north. Designed by the Shimoda Design Group, the building’s focal point is the dynamic glass light box and the soaring iconic Diver sign perched atop it that will become a landmark on Brand Boulevard. neonmona.org
Brand Park Library –In the midst of the City of Glendale’s verdant Brand Park sits Brand Library & Art Center, the art and music section of the Library, Arts & Culture Department. This cultural resource serves an ever-widening public interested in the arts, and is a unique destination for art, music and beyond. Facilities at Brand Library & Art Center include an Art and Music Library, Art Galleries and Recital Hall. Activities in the Center’s Art Studios are programmed by the Community Services and Parks Department. Check here for more info.
Friendship Teahouse at Brand Park –It was designed by noted architect Hayahiko Takase and is a unique blending of western and eastern design. The Whispering Pines Teahouse is number #46 on the Glendale Register of Historic Resources and is one of the few traditional Japanese Teahouses open to the public in the U.S. Although the Teahouse itself is open by reservation only, the grounds are open Monday-Thursday from 10-3. The lovely and peaceful koi pond makes a nice place for quiet contemplation or an ‘al fresco’ lunch. Check here for more info.
Doctor’s House Brand Park –The Doctors House Museum is an authentically restored Queen Anne-Eastlake style home built around 1888. The two story house originally stood at 921 East Wilson Avenue in Central Glendale. Four early physicians owned it in succession, giving the house its name. Subsequently, Nell Shipman, silent screen icon, occupied the house at the height of her fame. Threatened with demolition in 1979, community activists organized to save it and formally incorporated The Glendale Historical Society on October 24, 1979. Thirty years after the re-opening of the house, Project Coordinator Marie Luft recalled the gargantuan effort in “Memories of the Doctors House – a Labor of Love”. Check here for more info.
Americana at Brand Trolly – The Americana has a free trolly that rides around the perimeter of the property. Styled after the open air street cars of yesteryear, every detail on the trolly is finely designed and crafted. Little known fact, the trolly was designed by Glendale Resident, George McGinnis. Mr. McGinnis also designed the trolly at the Grove and helped design the Monorail at Disneyland. Click here
Americana at Brand Fountain Show – Have you ever seen the world famous Water Fountain Show at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas? Well, you don’t have to go to Vegas anymore! The Americana Fountains put on a show every hour, on the hour. Music, lights and carefully choreographed, computerized fountains sway, squirt and blast their way into an intricate dance for your (free) enjoyment. Click here
City Views – LA residents and tourists think the best city views are had on Mulholland Dr. They haven’t been to Glendale. Take a drive up to Wonderview Drive. There are large gaps between million dollar homes where a casual driver, or a pair of starry-eyed love birds, can ponder a tapestry of city lights, seemingly at their feet. Or, one fold of the mountain over is Rimcrest Dr.- breathtaking. My favorite city view, however, is driving down Camino San Rafael Dr. From Emerald Isle in the fall. The air is completely crisp and clear and you can see lights and mountains and the shimmer of the ocean at dusk.
Glendale Train Station –The Glendale Amtrak/Metrolink Station, often referred to as the Glendale Transportation Center, is an Amtrak and Metrolink rail station in the city of Glendale, California. This station used to be known as Tropico.
La Canada
Descanso Gardens – Descanso Gardens is a unique Southern California landscape distinguished by its specialized botanic collections, historical significance, and rare natural beauty. Their mission is to practice exemplary stewardship of Descanso’s distinctive character and assets; offer people an experience close to nature; and cultivate understanding of the natural world and people’s place in it through inspiration, education and example. Click here for more info.
Hahamongna Regional Park –Hahamongna Watershed Park is a 300 acre park which provides a transition from the urban land uses in Pasadena and it’s neighboring foothill communities to the vast open space areas of the Angeles National Forest. Here, one can find an interconnected system of hiking trails, prime oak woodland, picnic facilities, restrooms, equestrian gathering areas, a multi-purpose playing field, and the world’s first disc golf course. The flood basin behind Devil’s Gate Dam supports water conservation, a rich diversity of plant habitat, and a refuge for numerous wildlife and bird species. Click here for more info.
UA La Canada Flintridge – If you’re more on the “old married couple” side of life, the La Canada movie theater is just the ticket. You still get your super luxury seats that are reserved. Full recline foot rest, blanket, place to stow your purse and such- but at nearly the same ticket cost as before and no food/drink service. All in all a great value. Click here
Hiking
Brand Park Fire Road – This trail starts at the Brand Park. Take the fire road that leads to the right of the Doctor’s House and follow it all the way until it meets up with the Beaudry Loop at the top. Look for the cool private cemetary in the first third of the hike. Best views are about halfway up looking over the valley toward Burbank. Word of warning- this trail gets very little shade. Make sure to bring lots of water for you AND your dog if you go in the summer. I wrote a detailed post on this hike Hiking In Brand
Brand Park Ridge – This is my preferred hike in this area. At the upper right-hand corner of the upper parking lot at Brand Library it the American Green Cross Statue (I wrote about the history here). Go around and you’ll see a trial marked “the ridge”. This slightly wicked trail is steep and follows the ridge of Brand Park. The views are awesome and the hike is interesting and challenging. After about 45 min (I am a slow hiker) you’ll get to a huge flat place. Like, big enough for a helicopter to land. The views, here, are incredible.
Beaudry Loop– To get to Beaudry Trail, take Canada north to Country Club and then to Beaudry terrace. The trail head is where the debris basin meets the road. If the homes all of sudden transform from 1940’s character homes to 1970’s split levels you’ve gone too far. (yes, I am always the Realtor). All the guides on the interwebs label this as a moderate hike. Um, I guess so- but some of the steep sections (and there are quite a few) are short but killer. The entire loop took us 2.5 hrs with a lot of time dallying at the top for pictures. Click here for more info.
Deukmejian Wilderness Park – Located far up into the La Crescenta area is this awesome wilderness park. I once had an encounter with a wild fox and a coyote in the parking lot! Right off the parking lot is a restored stone barn and vineyard that dates back to the 1930’s. The hiking is moderate to difficult with interesting views and a nice woodland stream. Click here for more info
Whiting Woods Trail – One of my favorite neighborhoods in Glendale is Whiting Woods. There are ranchers and English Manors and, best of all, a few Neutra homes. At the end of Whiting Woods Rd there is a trail head to a lovely, and shaded, trail. It is one of the easier trails out there… until you hit the 30 min mark. Then it gets more sunny and steep. Click here for more info.
Best Parks
Nibley Park – Most parents agree- Nibley is very nearly a perfect neighborhood park. Located in the Rossmoyne area, Nibley park is mostly flat, has lots and lots of shade and is exactly the right size. Kids can run EVERYWHERE and you can still see them. There is a great play area, a couple of tennis courts and a decent number of picnic tables. Parking is a bear, though. Many of the residential streets are permit only parking, so if the spaces in front of the park are gone… it’s tough. Click here for more info.
Brand Park – Lots and lots of soccer games happen, here. The play are is awesome, but there are two different ones. This means parents and nannies are constantly on the move, watching the little tykes as they race from one set of swings to another. Down the hill (yeah, another place to have to follow the kids) there is a charming 1920’s wading pool that has water during the summer camps. Brand is a very pretty park, but I remember being too exhausted, as a mom, to chase the kids around all that space. If your kid is into wheeled toys, though (scooter, skates, bikes) this is the park for them. Click here for more info.
Two Strike Park – You won’t find a prettier setting for a park. Tons of lush, undulating green hills against the backdrop of the Verdugo mountains… it is breathtaking. The play structures are new and interesting. Two Strike Park
Glenoaks Park – This little park rivals Nibley for the title of perfect park, but it’s tucked away location deep in Glenoaks Canyon means only locals really know about it. Flat, shaded and lots of paved pathways for wheeled toys make it a great place to go after dinner on a lazy summer night. Tennis courts, basketball courts and, of course, an awesome play structure make the Glenoaks Canyon residents pretty lucky, indeed. Click here for more info.
Montecito Park – This large park has two distinct levels. The lower level is ruled by the Little League and the upper level has an amazing play structure, really nice grounds for picnics and two tennis courts. There is nothing enticing to little kids along the path to the lower area and I had no real problems keeping an eye on everyone. Click here for more info.
Verdugo Skate Park – I know next to nothing about skate parks. So, I asked my neighbor’s kid. He said it is “rad”. There you have it, from the mouths of babes. Click here for more info.
La Crescenta Regional Park/Dog Park- There are two vitally important things you need to know about this park. One. The firefighters do a morning training run around the perimeter at about 7 AM. In the summer they are not wearing shirts. Two. There is a dog park. An awesome, shaded, delightful dog park with separate small dog and large dog areas. #BOOM Click here for more info.
Now that you know the best things to d in Glendale, Ca and beyond you might want to buy a home and live here full time!
