Pasadena and surrounding communities offer many obscene budget hike and dinner date ideas. Here I’m sharing two ideas.
Mt. Lowe and Mexican Food
Enjoy exercise and time together with a hike up the Mt. Lowe toddle at the top of Lake Avenue in Pasadena and then have an inexpensive but tasty dinner after at Puebla Tacos #3 at the corner of Los Robles and Woodbury Drive in Altadena.
Mt, Lowe offers a gorgeous view of the greater Pasadena area with views to downtown Los Angeles. There are some romantic lookouts but the places to hug and kiss are at the summit which is 2.25 miles from the trailhead.
The trailhead is at the top of Lake Avenue at the corner of Loma Alta Drive. The trail is collected enough that sturdy running shoes will be attractive. It is narrow in many parts so use caution.
Cost: $0
After hiking Mt. Lowe, drive south on Lake Avenue for 1.9 miles to Woodbury Road, turn right and drive a half-mile to the corner of Woodbury Road and Los Robles Avenue.
Puebla Tacos is in a small plaza with a restaurant that also serves roasted chicken dinners and a neighborhood market.
My wife and I shared a chile relleno burrito for $ 7.95 and a can of soda for $ 1.00. The burrito was mammoth enough for the two of us.
While the restaurant is off the “beaten path” of places like Old Town Pasadena, that’s why it has charm. The chairs are unique and allow diners to relax.
Cost: $12 to $17 for two.
Time: 1.5 hours for the hike and 1 hour for dinner.
Eaton Canyon and Coffee
Eaton Canyon is off Altadena Drive, about 100 yards north of New York Drive. Most hikers start on the trails that are at the north end of the parking lot past the Nature Center.
However, the basin has wonderfully secluded areas and picnic tables starting at the south end of the parking lot with trails following the hill behind the Nature Center. The hiking is flat and the area around the Nature Center is filled with rabbits and birds and a clear trail is marked.
A short hike taking only a half hour is enjoyable. Go for a longer hike by following the path out of the parking lot and across the stream bed. Stay on the well-traveled wide road under the trees and toward the bridge 1.5 miles away or veer off one of the trails that head into secluded areas that are hidden by tall grasses and trees.
To get maximum exercise, head to the bridge and up the fire road leading two miles to Henniger Flats.
Cost: $0
After hiking, turn left on Altadena Drive and go south and stop immediately before Washington Boulevard. Café Cuture is on the right hand side.
It’s a popular local coffee shop that has a comfortable feel for those who like a change from the chain coffee shops.
Make the point of a hike and dinner date or coffee house stop the chance to talk and listen to each other.
