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Descanso Gardens

Nature & parks
In La Cañada Flintridge, California
5.2 mi from Route 66

Covering 150 acres, Descanso Gardens is a botanical garden in La Cañada Flintridge, CA, set where the San Rafael Hills begin on their northern side. Much of the ground is wooded, broken up by lawns, ponds and man-made streams. It sits about 5 miles off the old road, which makes it a green, unhurried break for Route 66 travelers who have spent days on hot highway and want a long walk before reaching the coast.

What is Descanso Gardens?

This is a large garden rather than a formal city park. Most of its 150 acres are covered in trees, with open lawns, ponds and artificial streams spread between the wooded areas. The fruit tree collection is broad: oranges, peaches, pears, pomegranates, crabapples, grapes and passionfruit all grow here, along with trees from the plum and cherry family.

Visiting Descanso Gardens: tips

Plan on a couple of hours to walk a good part of the grounds. The garden has wheelchair access, and food is sold at The Market at Descanso Gardens, about 0.2 miles from the listed location. The detour is about 5 miles each way from the old road.

Lanterman House, a historic house museum, is only about half a mile away and pairs well with a garden visit. The Doctors House museum in Glendale is roughly 4 miles off, and Kidspace Children's Museum is about 4.2 miles away for travelers with children.

Practical info

Address: 1418 Descanso Dr, La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011
Phone: +1 818-949-4200
Website: descansogardens.org
Hours: Daily 9–7
On site & nearby

Sources: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · official site — may be outdated. Suggest a fix

Where to eat near Descanso Gardens

All diners →

Diner & restaurant
Twohey's
South Pasadena, CA · 6.5 mi from Descanso Gardens
A 1950s-style diner in South Pasadena, founded in 1943 and known for a burger called the Little Stink-O.
Diner & restaurant
Fair Oaks Pharmacy
South Pasadena, CA · 6.8 mi from Descanso Gardens
A 1915 pharmacy with an old-fashioned soda fountain, on the corner where Route 66 ran down Fair Oaks Avenue.
Diner & restaurant
Musso & Frank Grill
Los Angeles, CA · 9.8 mi from Descanso Gardens
Hollywood's oldest restaurant, operating on Hollywood Boulevard since 1919 and named for its two founders.