Since I grew up in Arcadia, I know some of the attractions that visitors of all ages can enjoy. Here’s a quick list of things to do during your stay.
1. Shop at the mall
The Westfield Santa Anita Shopping Mall has over 200 stores and services that are bound to have something interesting for you. The two-story shopping mall has notable department stores like JCPenney, Macy’s, and Nordstrom. It has a Borders book store, a Sport Chalet, and a Dave and Buster’s. If you’re feeling hungry, the mall has a food court with a number of fast food chains, as well as restaurant companies, like California Pizza Kitchen and The Cheesecake Factory, situated at different locations. The mall also features an indoor merry-go-round for younger visitors.
Recently, Westfield Santa Anita was remodelled to include an outdoor expansion named the Promenade that hosts a variety of high-end retailers like Banana Republic, Coach, and Chico’s. If your wallet stretches that far, you can take a stroll around this outdoor extension.
The mall is currently undergoing indoor construction that may include more walking space for the second floor as well as more space for more stores in the future. The mall is still open during this time, though some walking space has been blocked off.
The Westfield Santa Anita Shopping Mall is open from 10:30am to 8:30pm Monday to Friday. On Saturday, it is open from 10am to 9pm. On Sunday, the mall opens at 11am and closes early at 6pm.
2. Go to the movies
The city’s shopping mall also hosts an AMC movie theatre. Complete with 16 theatres and a concession stand, the AMC is a great place for friends and family to catch a current flick. The theatre plays the most recent movies, as well as a few independent films. There are also special showings of various interests, such as anime or the X-Games. The theatre is also known to show Metropolitan Opera plays. This AMC occasionally plays IMAX and/or 3D films as well.
The AMC at the mall utilizes both in-person ticketing booths as well as electronic ones, so lines are generally not too long.
The AMC Santa Anita 16 movie theatre is located on the second floor of the Westfield Santa Anita Shopping Mall, right above the Borders bookstore.
3. Visit the Arboretum
Whether you’re looking for a quiet family activity or are interested in seeing where all the peacocks in Arcadia live, the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden is the place for you. With over 100 acres of plants from all over the world and various historical landmarks of California history, one trip to the Arboretum may not be enough.
The Arboretum is separated into different themed areas, much like an amusement park. On the western side, you have The Americas and Asia. On the eastern side, you have Africa and Australia. There is also a lake and a waterfall, as well as a Victorian-styled cottage, that you can visit. And, of course, there are the vast numbers of plants and animals that you can interact with, including flocks of colorful peacocks.
The Arboretum also hosts many events and classes throughout the year, including anything from wine festivals to gardening sessions to outdoor concerts courtesy of the California Philharmonic. There is also a library, a cafe, and a gift shop for souvenirs.
Taking a nice stroll through the Arboretum is a great way to clear the mind and refresh the body. Because Arcadia is pretty much sunny for most of the year, any time is a good time to visit the Arboretum. Just remember to not feed the peacocks.
The Arboretum is generally open from 9am to 4:30pm. Visit their website for further details on opening hours and entrance fees: http://www.arboretum.org/index.php/visit/
4. Hike around Chantry Flat
A few miles in the northern direction of Arcadia lies Chantry Flat, a recreation area that’s part of the Angeles National Forest and the start of many hiking trails into the beautiful San Gabriel Mountains. Bring the family and enjoy a picnic at the Picnic Grove, which features over 30 picnic tables and charcoal BBQ equipment. If you feel like exercising, wear some comfortable shoes and start walking one of the many trails that lead into the mountains. Bring a camera with you if you like taking pictures of animals, as you may run into some deer. If you’re looking for something more thrilling, there’s a waterfall not too far away that you can go cliff-diving in. Also, Chantry Flat is open for a while during the night, the perfect time to bring your significant other or a few friends with you to check out the stars and city lights.
If you feel like getting some fresh air, or getting your hike on, or just having some fun, take a quick drive up to Chantry Flat. It’s very possible to spend a whole day there.
5. Eat
Don’t worry if during your stay in Arcadia you become hungry. The city is stocked quite well with a large variety of food. There’s pretty much every kind of food you can think of, and if it’s not in Arcadia, then it’s probably not too far away. There’s everything from frozen yogurt stores to fast food to family-styled restaurants. There’s also a large amount of Asian restaurants with affordable prices all over the city. You can wake up, get breakfast at the International House of Pancakes, grab lunch at one of the many Chinese restaurants, get a quick snack at Fruit Island, then finish off with a three-course meal at Olive Garden. If it’s your first time in California, then you must go to In-N-Out and grab yourself a double-double cheese burger with grilled onions and an order of fries. For you vegetarians, there’s also a Souplantation, where you can get endless soup and salad and pasta and baked goods. If you’re looking for a snack, there are plenty of yogurt places around. You can also get a fruit smoothie or tapioca milk tea and just hang around and relax until you’re hungry again. Whatever you’re in the mood for, there’s a good chance it’s in Arcadia.
Check the Arcadia website to find a larger list of dining locations.
http://www.ci.arcadia.ca.us/home/index.asp?page=1461
Some restaurants, however, are not listed, so just driving around or asking locals is another way to find yourself something good to eat.
The next time you find yourself in Arcadia, refer back to this list for days and days of entertainment.
