Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, Ghid vizitatori și ce de văzut în apropiere

Colorado Boulevard is the main street of Pasadena, California, and the route of the Tournament of Roses Parade every New Year's Day. It runs through the heart of Old Pasadena, where late 19th and early 20th century commercial buildings still line the sidewalks. It is worth knowing because it shows how a Southern California city built its public image around sunshine, flowers and spectacle.

The story behind it

Pasadena's best-known tradition began in 1890, when the Tournament of Roses started as a celebration of California's mild winter weather. The parade of flower-covered floats and marching bands grew into a national event, and Colorado Boulevard became its stage. For one morning each year the street fills with spectators, and many people stake out a spot on the curb well ahead of time.

The boulevard was also a working street. Pasadena took quickly to the automobile in the early 20th century, and the main street became a place for car showrooms and dealerships as well as shops and offices. Its role as a road, a parade route and a business district all explain why the street feels so central to the city.

What to look for

• The brick and stone commercial buildings of Old Pasadena, where upper-floor cornices, window arches and old painted signs reveal the street's age.
• The width of the roadway itself, which makes sense once you picture floats and marching bands filling it from curb to curb.
• The mix of old storefronts and later additions along the street, a reminder of how often the boulevard has changed with each era's businesses.
• The side alleys and courtyards that open off the boulevard, where you can step away from the traffic and see how the blocks were laid out.

Tips for your visit

• Allow an hour or two to stroll the Old Pasadena stretch properly, longer if you stop for coffee or a meal.
• Morning or late afternoon gives softer light on the building facades and a calmer pace than the middle of a busy weekend.
• Around the New Year's Day parade, expect crowds and street closures, so plan transport and check the current parade information before you travel.
• The street is public and free to walk, and a Metro A Line station is close to Old Pasadena, so you can easily leave the car behind.

See it on a quest

Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in Downtown, Pasadena is a good way to see the boulevard as part of a longer walk through downtown. You reach the street on foot as one stop on the route, the app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle in what is in front of you. It suits anyone who likes a mystery theme. One ticket covers the whole group.

Pasadena: Stop the Bomb also passes along Colorado Boulevard and works the same way: you walk between stops, hear the story of each place, and solve a puzzle on the spot. It is a lively option if you want a challenge with a ticking-clock feel while you see the streets around the boulevard. One ticket covers the whole group.