City Walk: Scenic Views North of Trader Joe's

This month's walk searches out scenic views, so we start at . (Trust me.)

Get to the corner of Grand Ave. and Mission St. (right where Grand Ave. dead ends into Trader Joe's). To maximize scenic views, get there on a Saturday sometime between 8:15 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.  

Look toward the Trader Joe's parking lot as attractive men on bicycles arrive and wait for their biking club to start. Look closely at all that form-fitting Lycra. There you go: your first scenic view. Cool yourself down now. Fan yourself. They're just strong, toned, very fit looking men. In biking shorts.  

Where were we?  

Walking! That's right. Ok. Stay on Grand Ave. and walk north. Keep your eyes straight ahead so that you can intrigue the good-looking biking men with your total disinterest in them. When the really cute guy with a little bit of dark curly hair peeking out of his helmet asks for your phone number, just smile aloofly and keep walking. (This is South Pasadena, not a single's bar, and even cute guys should remember that this is the home of Blue-Ribbon schools.)

Walk until you reach the freeway overpass. Check it out. The relief on the south-east corner of the bridge says it was made in 1938. Interestingly, the freeway itself opened in 1941, making this the seventieth anniversary of the Arroyo Seco Parkway, the first freeway in Southern California. Matter-of-factly share this information with your walking buddy so that you can seem ultra hip and informed.

When you reach Hermosa turn east (right). Admire the spectacular brick house on the northeast corner and head up the hill. Now you are in one of the higher-rent districts of town, as you'll be able to tell by the enormous houses hidden behind gates and the sudden lack of sidewalks (it's to keep the lower-rent districts’ walkers away, but you just stick it to the man and walk anyway).

Hermosa St. will snake left (north) and you will see a fork in the road. Stay to the left so that you can stay on Hermosa St. In a little bit, the street will curve again to the right and turn into Columbia St. Follow it as you head east.

At the corner of Orange Grove Ave. and Columbia St., check out the charming Victorian , South Pasadena’s own Bed and Breakfast. Remember this location the next time your parents come to town. (You don’t want a repeat of last time, and, honestly, neither do your parents. They still have nightmares about “The Wiggles.”)  

Next, cross the street so that you are on the southeast corner of Orange Grove Ave. and Columbia St. (Crossing here is important because of the crosswalk so don't mess this up.)  Turn right (going south) and head down Orange Grove Ave. At Oliver St., turn left (east). Again, you'll find yourself in one of the high-end parts of town. Play it cool and the beautiful people will think you belong. (You're not wearing those raggedly old sweats, are you?)

Turn right (south) at Meridian Ave. and remind yourself that it was you who chose to pursue your passion and not filthy lucre, which is why you don’t get to live in the mansion with the cool bench swing hanging from the big willow. Walk down the hill. Cross over the freeway. Now you have to make a choice. If you’re getting thirsty, continue until you get to Mission St. and get yourself a drink at .  Then, take Mission St. going west until you reach Grand Ave. Voila! You’re done.

If you are not thirsty, turn west one block north of Mission Street (on Magnolia Street). This is quieter and a bit more scenic. The homes are smaller here, but they display the charming earnestness of people who have pursued their passions and not filthy lucre. (Which isn’t so bad, considering that these homes are all still worth way north of half a million dollars.)

If you are taking this more scenic route, turn left (south) on Adelaine Ave. and then right (west) on Mission St. Now you are mere feet from the best fish tacos in town.  Stop at . Order two fish tacos (grilled, so that you can feel superior about your healthy habits) and Ensenada style (with guacamole, so that you feel the smugness of knowing the secret lingo of the cool people).  

Street Directions (to view a map of the walking path, click on the first thumbnail in the photo box above):

1. Starting at Grand and Mission, head north on Grand.
2. Turn right (east) on Hermosa.
3. At the top of the hill, Hermosa will veer left (north). Follow it. When you get to the fork in the road, stay to your left so that you stay on Hermosa. Use caution since there is no sidewalk.
4. Hermosa turns into Columbia and veers right (east). Follow it.
5. At the intersection of Columbia and Orange Grove, cross the street.
6. Turn right (south) on Orange Grove.
7. Turn left (east) at Oliver.
8. Turn right (south) at Meridian.
9. Turn right (west) at either Mission or Magnolia. If you turn at Mission, walk until you reach Grand. If you turn at Magnolia, turn left (south) at Adelaine and then right (west) at Mission and walk until you reach Grand. 
10. Get those fish tacos at Señor Fish. They really are delicious.  

Be sure to check out Margaret's video tour of some of the highlights of this neighborhood. Like the music? It's a 1917 recording of "Yah De Dah" by the Frisco Jazz Band.  

Download the movie