Today we’ll embark on an easy day trip to Pasadena. Start with specialty Colombian coffee at The Boy & The Bear, a stylish café known for its minimalist design and freshly roasted beans. Enjoy a plant-based lunch at Sage Plant-Based Bistro, and then spend the rest of the day immersing yourself in the breathtaking beauty of the Huntington Library’s 120 acres of botanical gardens.
Drink specialty Colombian coffee at The Boy & The Bear
📍 951 E Green St, Pasadena, CA 91106
Known for their emphasis on freshly roasted Colombian specialty coffee, this minimalist, plant-filled café offers a quality coffee experience, with beans roasted three times a week and the expansive space equipped with wifi, charging outlets, and comfortable seating options. This particular location recently won the Coffee Design Award for Interior Design from the Specialty Coffee Association.
Know Before You Go
✔ If you’re feeling experimental, get a Stockholm Fog. Chai tea, mocha, your milk of choice (and an added shot of espresso if you want to make it ‘dirty’) complete this one-of-a-kind drink.
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Enjoy a plant-based lunch at Sage Bistro
📍 41 Hugus Aly, Pasadena, CA 91103
Sage offers a wide range of entirely vegan dishes – from tacos and tostadas to burgers and banh mi, along with pastas, pizzas, and a variety of bar food options such as cauliflower-based wings. They also brew their own craft beer in-house.
Know Before You Go
✔ Make a reservation on their website.
✔ 8 minute drive from The Boy & The Bear.
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Get lost in 120 acres of botanical gardens at the Huntington Library
📍 1151 Oxford Rd, San Marino, CA 91108
The Huntington Library, a treasure left behind by entrepreneur Henry E. Huntington, is nothing short of remarkable. In addition to a mesmerizing collection of art and rare books, the Hungtington’s main highlight lies within its expansive and diverse botanical gardens, widely regarded as the most magnificent in the entire LA area. Covering 207 acres, with 120 acres accessible to the public, these gardens are categorized into various themes, including the century-old Desert Garden filled with cacti and succulents, the enchanting Shakespeare Garden reminiscent of English charm, the engaging Children’s Garden offering both education and entertainment, the subtly magical Japanese garden, and the recently added Chinese-themed Garden of Flowing Fragrance, crafted with the skill of Chinese artisans.
Know Before You Go
✔ Get tickets on their website.
✔ Plan to spend about 3 hours here to really see everything.
✔ It wouldn’t hurt to bring bug spray & sunscreen, just in case.
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