City Walk: South Pasadena from End to End

So you ran the marathon. Good for you. We all know you are a fit and superior human being. Go choke on some kale already. 

If you want to try something really cool, trek from one end of your town to the other. It's interesting enough to impress people, but not so interesting that they'll want to shoot you.

Here's what you do:

Get yourself to the corner of Alhambra Rd. and Marengo, which is on the very southern border of town. 

Walk north on Marengo and keep going. You will cross Huntington Drive, you will pass the best tree in town (it's virtually horizontal), you will pass (Go Lions!). 

Finally, you will hit Garfield Park. Follow the path through the center of the park. Feel free to take a turn on the swing, but, just so you know, toddlers can be incredibly bad at taking turns (and their parents do indulge them so). 

Walk until you reach the end of the park at Stratford and Grevelia. Cross Grevelia and turn right. Turn left almost immediately at Garfield Road. Ha! You didn't know there was a Garfield Road, did you? But there is. It is right where Garfield Avenue turns into Grevelia. Garfield Road goes North until it dead ends into the back of Blair High School in Pasadena. 

Walk until you reach Blair. That's it. You have walked the entire length of your town, which is very amazing of you so be sure to tell your friends. (No need to mention that it's only 1.8 miles one way).

Now it's time to head back. Here's what you do: Turn around. Walk south until you return to the intersection of Garfield Rd. and Stratford. You could go back through the park, but you've already seen that scenery, and that one mom may still be mad about the swing incident (stupid helicopter parents). 

Instead, turn left so that you are now on Garfield Avenue Follow Garfield one block until you get to Milan. 

Turn right on Milan and make your way south. You will pass mid-sized houses, and then bigger houses, and then really big houses. Don't get all ninety-nine percent. Just enjoy the scenery. 

At Spruce, turn right. At Marengo, turn left. Cross Huntington. 

Now you have to make a choice. If you want to extend the walk, turn left on Huntington and then right on Milan. Stay on Milan until you reach Alhambra Road. (Be sure to look for the entrance to the White Rabbit's house on the west side of the street. It's about a 5 or 6 houses north of Alhambra Road.) At Alhambra Road, turn right, and walk until you are back where you started. 

If you don't want to trek back to Milan, stay on Marengo and walk south until you are back where you started. But, alas, no White Rabbit's house for you. 

Walking Directions (also see attached map):

1. Start on the corner of Alhambra Rd. and Marengo.  Head north on Marengo.
2. Stay on Marengo until it ends at Mission (the entrance to Garfield Park).
3. Stroll on the path that goes down the center of Garfield Park. 
4. When you reach the end of the path you will be on the corner of Grevelia and Stratford. Cross the street.
5. Turn right on Grevelia.
6. Almost immediately, turn left on Garfield Road.
7. Follow Garfield until it ends at the back of Blair High School in Pasadena.
8. Turn around. Walk until you reach the corner of Garfield Rd. and Stratford.  Turn left onto Garfield Ave.
9. Turn right on Milan.
10. Turn right on Spruce.
11. Turn left on Marengo. 
12. Stay on Marengo until you are back where you started, unless you want to get back to Milan, in which case, at the corner of Marengo and Huntington turn left onto Huntington. Turn right on Milan. Turn right on Alhambra Road and walk until you are back where you started. 

See the above video for a virtual tour of this walk. Where do you walk?

Download the movie