Arroyo Seco Historic Parkway – Route 110 (original) (raw)
Arroyo Seco Historic Parkway – Route 110By Ways2021-08-24T13:50:44-04:00
Arroyo Seco Historic Parkway – Route 110
State: California
Length: 9.45 miles / 15.1 km
Time to Allow: Allow at least 1 hour to tour this Byway.
The Arroyo Seco Historic Parkway or Route 110 might be the shortest byway to exist in the country at just 9.5 miles. As it’s so short, you can drive the byway in just a matter of minutes or take a few hours to see everything. The route connects Los Angeles to Pasadena through the historic Arts and Crafts landscape of the Arroyo Seco. Close to the water, the byway sits in southwestern California and makes a great trip for travelers to LA.
As the first freeway in the country, the byway is a landmark for the entire country despite its short length. Start in downtown Los Angles right near Dodger Stadium and Chinatown. The area is filled with restaurants like the Eastside Italian Deli filled with meat sandwiches ready to make your mouth water. Buy a few items to take home and stock your fridge, too, like Italian desserts.
Fans of nature can enjoy the Los Angeles State Historic Park for a picnic or bike ride. Check out the Chavez Ravine Arboretum to see over 100 different types of trees right behind the stadium or Elysian Park for a gorgeous brook and bridge or disc golf. Nearby, the Los Angeles River flows for beautiful scenery surrounded by traffic.
Following the Arroyo Seco, as it diverges from the Los Angeles River, the byway heads northeast through housing. Stop and visit the Heritage Square Museum with several buildings like the Octagon House, Ford House, and Perry Mansion. On the other side of the byway is the Southwest Museum, an architectural treasure with significant Native American collections.
Bikers can enjoy the Arroyo-Seco Bike Path through the Montecito Recreation Park with activities for families. On the other side is Sycamore Grove Park, an urban park with places for concerts and parties. Back on the other side, the Ernest E Debs Regional Park takes up a significant portion of land with bike and walking trails. It turns into Rose Hill Park, surrounded by private homes.
Much of the byway is surrounded by rolling green parks making for fantastic views as you head to Pasadena. The byway trails off, leaving the water behind heading up toward the center of town. It’s not a far drive to visit the La Loma Bridge or the Colorado Street Bridget, along with more parks surrounded by houses.
A few more museums dot the town, including the Wrigley Mansion, a renaissance inspired mansion and garden dating back to the early 1900s. You can also visit the Norton Simon Museum for European and Asian art. Check to find out if the Pasadena Museum of History is open to the public before planning a visit. End your trip in Old Pasadena, where you can park, shop, and dine at a variety of unique shops like The Alley for a cup of coffee to end a perfect trip on a classic byway. After a day of shopping, check out the nightlife at a variety of bars or grab a meal from practically any ethnicity, including greek food at Cafe Santorini for kebobs or seafood.
More California Byways
You can check out additional Byways in California by clicking on the list of byways below, or by going to the California Byways home section. To find even more of scenic byways in the United States, visit our scenic byways map.