2026 Arcadia Travel Guide: must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transport & travel experiences (updated in January)

#hellochristmas Peck Road Water Conservation Park is a 5-acre neighborhood and regional park located on a stunning 180-acre former quarry in Arcadia/El Monte, California. Managed as a "passive-use" facility, it focuses on nature observation rather than organized recreational sports. Key Activities & Amenities Fishing: Catch-and-release fishing is popular at the park's lake. Anglers can expect to find largemouth bass, bluegill, and catfish. While free, a valid California fishing license is still required for adults. Boating is strictly prohibited.

It’s okay if it doesn’t snow in winter, we can light up the city ourselves✨ Recently, Santa Anita Park has become a charming Christmas village. At the entrance, there are huge reindeer welcoming guests, with the sparkling ENCHANT sign nearby. Inside, there’s a tunnel of lights, a forest of Christmas trees, plus an ice skating rink, a maze, and a small market. Walking through the warm yellow light tunnel with artificial snow falling really amps up the Christmas atmosphere. It’s recommended to buy tickets online in advance, including parking and the activities you want to try. The day I went, it was super crowded, and tickets for the snow slide sold out on site. Btw, when I saw Vega in photo 4, I wondered why Santa Claus would care about option volatility, but then I realized it refers to the star Vega. It’s more romantic and fitting to think of it as the star Vega. Lastly, if you love lights + cozy holiday vibe, you’ll enjoy this place🎄

The Victorian Holiday event is taking place at the Queen Anne Cottage and Coach Barn in the Los Angeles County Arboretum. This festive celebration invites visitors to step back into the 1880s and enjoy a variety of Victorian-themed holiday activities. Highlights include a holiday market with over 30 vendors where guests can purchase unique gifts and seasonal treats. Participants can also enjoy traditional Victorian-era dancing, sing along with carolers, and visit Santa Claus for a memorable holiday experience. This event cleverly blends nostalgia with festive cheer, making it an ideal outing for families and friends. Come join the celebration and immerse yourself in the charm of the Victorian holiday festivities!

🌟 Second Visit to Los Angeles: A Wonderful Journey of Museums, Starry Skies, and Cacti Stepping into Los Angeles for the second time, there’s less rush and more immersion. This West Coast "City of Angels" boasts both cutting-edge modern art halls and wild desert gardens. Walking through the Getty Center with its interplay of white walls and light, you might momentarily forget you’re in the bustling heart of Hollywood—this contrast is exactly what makes Los Angeles so charming. 🏛️ **Getty Center: The Art Palace on the Hill** 1200 Getty Center Dr This pure white complex built on the Santa Monica Mountains ridge looks like a giant modern art piece. The second visit is still breathtaking: this free museum, created by Paul Getty with his oil fortune, houses 50,000 treasures from Van Gogh’s "Irises" to medieval manuscripts. Riding the tram up, the panoramic view of Los Angeles unfolding beneath your feet feels like a special "art entrance ceremony" exclusive to Getty. (Tip: Closed on Tuesdays, Saturday night sessions open until 9 PM are perfect for sunset shots!) 🌵 **Hidden Gem: Cactus Garden** On the top floor of the Getty Center lies a surprising delight—the desert botanical garden. Over 300 species of cacti and succulents thrive wildly under the Los Angeles sun. Giant golden barrel cacti look like alien creatures, creating a surreal scene against the distant city skyline. In the morning light, these spiky beings cast interesting shadows on the ground, making it a secret haven for photography lovers. 🔭 **Griffith Observatory: A Night Gazing at the Galaxy** 2800 E Observatory Rd This vintage observatory, a romantic filming location for the movie "La La Land," also offers the best view of the Hollywood sign. On the second visit, I deliberately chose dusk, watching the dome turn golden and then fade into deep blue. When Saturn’s rings came clearly into view through the telescope, I suddenly understood why astronomers of the last century were so fascinated by this starry sky. (Tip: Closed Mondays and Tuesdays, weekends are crowded—better to visit on weekdays.) 🌿 **Getty Center Garden Tour** Details only revealed by a guide: the hedge maze in the central garden hides a water sound installation, and Robert Irwin’s visual trap art is tucked among the azalea bushes. The best part is the pool area—the water surface perfectly reflects the sharp angles of Richard Meier’s architecture, blending reality and illusion like Monet’s water lilies. Los Angeles always brings a sense of freshness, just like the phrase engraved on the porch of Griffith Observatory: “The stars as are the earth, and the earth as are the stars.” Here, art and nature are never opposites.

This is my second time in Los Angeles. This trip mainly visited the Getty Center, Griffith Observatory, and Arcadia Botanical Garden, also known as Peacock Garden. California's coastline is very long, and this time I drove to many seaside attractions. I especially took a small boat here by the sea to have a look. It was quite beautiful. Below is an AI introduction. 📍 Los Angeles County Arboretum Address: 301 N Baldwin Ave, Arcadia 🌵 The giant cactus jungle is super stunning! Instantly transports you to a Western movie scene 📸 Tips: The afternoon light shining through the cacti is super dreamy 📍 Getty Center Address: 1200 Getty Center Dr 🚠 Take the white tram up the hill! Original Van Gogh paintings + 360-degree city view terrace 🎨 Hidden feature: The maze installation art in the top floor garden is great for photos 🌊 Santa Monica Coastline 🚤 Small boat self-driving experience: The sea is sprinkled with golden light at dusk (book 2 hours in advance) 🤫 Secret spot: The carousel at the end of the pier framed with the sunset 🍴 Food Recommendations The Lobster: Seafood platter with Pacific Ocean sunset Urth Caffe: Matcha latte favored by Hollywood stars ⚠️ Tips to avoid pitfalls 1. Getty Center is very crowded on Saturdays! It’s recommended to go on Tuesday morning 2. The sandy area of the botanical garden is very sunny in the afternoon, bring sun-protective clothing

For my return trip to California and let's set up LA is my home is full filled my emotional as before I love to see this guy in the California🇺🇸 before the sunset

Everything was amazing 👏 🤩 I would book again

Springtime in Los Angeles is gently embraced by vibrant colors and flourishing vitality. 🌺 Today, we have carefully selected some amazing spots for you to enjoy the great outdoors. Come and meet spring face-to-face! 1️⃣ Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden Address: 301 N Baldwin Ave, Arcadia This place boasts a wide variety of plants, and the gardens are breathtakingly beautiful. It's the perfect spot for spring flower viewing and photography! 2️⃣ Greystone Mansion And Gardens 🎫 Admission: Free Address: 905 Loma Vista Drive, Beverly Hills A mysterious and elegant castle garden, with blooming water lilies that make you feel like you've stepped into Downton Abbey. The surrounding lush greenery is like a natural oxygen bar! 🌿 3️⃣ Descanso Gardens Famous for its exquisite gardens and plant exhibitions, with cherry blossoms and tulips blooming in spring. Strolling through the sea of flowers, the romantic atmosphere is off the charts! 4️⃣ Griffith Park The urban oasis of Los Angeles, offering panoramic views of the city from its heights. In spring, enjoy hiking and the wildflowers, then head to the observatory to take in the stunning LA sunset. It's truly mesmerizing! 5️⃣ Echo Park Lake A hidden gem in the city center, with lakeside flowers in full bloom. Whether you're walking or boating, you'll feel the strong presence of spring! 6️⃣ The Huntington Botanical Gardens A blend of Chinese and Japanese garden styles, with picturesque scenes of bridges, flowing water, pine trees, and rock formations. There's also a cactus garden and a rose garden, making it a perfect outing spot with friends. Spring is fleeting, so quickly gather a few friends and head to these parks to experience the romance and vitality of spring!

This is the home of Dr. Brown in the "Back to the Future" trilogy, and it is also California's 871st historical landmark, listed in the National Register of Historic Places. In April 1977, the residence was declared a National Historic Landmark in the United States. Today, the house is owned by the city of Pasadena and maintained by the School of Architecture at the University of Southern California. Located in Pasadena, California, the Gamble House is a three-story building with interior furnishings designed by Charles and Henry Greene in 1908 for David and Mary Gamble, of Procter & Gamble. The entire residence is constructed of wood, with a unified color scheme both inside and out. The house features intricately carved wooden interiors, eye-catching wood grain decorations, and custom-made wooden furniture. Today, the Gamble House is considered a masterpiece of the American Arts and Crafts movement, serving as a living textbook for people to learn and understand the style of American Arts and Crafts.

Stroll through the rain to the Huntington Library in Los Angeles. The Huntington Library covers a total of 207 acres and was originally the private residence of railroad tycoon Henry Huntington. It later became a showcase for precious works of art and a gathering place for world-class gardens. It is known as the most unforgettable garden-style museum in the world. It is not only an art gallery, but also a library and botanical garden. The library and art gallery house rare books and one of the most complete 18th century art collections outside of London. The garden has many areas, including Suzhou-style gardens, French rose gardens, Japanese gardens, Australian forest parks, and desert vegetation parks. No matter how many times you have been there, every visit will make you nostalgic for the time spent in the garden. Friendly reminder: It's best to visit Huntington on a rainy day, where there is both charm and fewer crowds.

Most people have two impressions of the rich area of Los Angeles, one is Malibu by the sea, and the other is Beverly Hills. In fact, there is Bradbury with only more than 1,000 residents, which is located under the Los Angeles National Forest. A wealthy small city in the San Gabriel Valley. According to the 2010 U.S. census data, the city has a total of 1,048 residents. Bradbury is divided into three areas: 1) Bradbury luxury residential area: each residence occupies The land area is more than 5 acres (20,000 square meters), there are railings around the community, and all vehicles can enter and exit through the gate; 2) Woodlyn driveway area: each residence covers an area of more than 2 acres (8,100 square meters), There are also railings around the community, and all vehicles enter and exit through the gate; 3) Other residential areas in Baishi, each residential area covers an area of 7,500 feet (700 square meters) to 1 acre (4,000 square meters), and there are no surrounding areas. railing. Forbes Magazine named Bradbury's ZIP code 91008 the wealthiest ZIP code in the entire United States, with an average property value of $4,276,462. Today, I came to my friend in Bradbury. The rich Mediterranean-style architecture, the super-high interior structure, the warm colors of the Latin style, and the super-large garden with a tennis court and swimming pool all show the charm of Bradbury.

In the eastern district of San Dimas in Los Angeles, there is a six-mile long Michael D. Antonovich Trail. It is a safe and interesting hiking spot with few people, and is very friendly to novice hikers. The entire trail is shaded by trees, so it never feels too hot no matter what time you go. Not only is it fun and scenic, but it is also easy on the eyes. You can step on stones and cross small streams, and the trail is safe as long as you don't seek thrills.

#gooutside