What to See and Do

Quick Links

Boddy House | Sturt Haaga Gallery | Enchanted Railroad | The Store | Descanso Café

Boddy House

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Perched high above the Descanso Gardens landscape on the crest of a hill, the historic Boddy House offers a glimpse of a glamorous bygone era. Built as the home of Descanso founder E. Manchester Boddy in the late 1930s, the Boddy House today is a must for every first-time visitor.

In 2007, Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts chose the Boddy House to be transformed into its 43rd annual Pasadena Showcase House of Design. The following year, Descanso Gardens received a grant from The Ahmanson Foundation of Los Angeles to return the house to the visiting public as a house museum, an interpretive center showcasing highlights from the history of the property, and an elegant and attractive location for entertaining. In 2019, the Boddy House was once again reimagined by Showcase House designers.

Admission: Free with admission to Descanso Gardens.

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Sturt Haaga Gallery

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No visit to Descanso Gardens is complete without a visit to the Sturt Haaga Gallery.

Rotating exhibits throughout the year seek to illuminate the intersection between contemporary arts and the sciences represented by the garden — botany, horticulture, biology, ecology, conservation, and the study of gardens as cultural artifacts.

Admission: Free with admission to Descanso Gardens.

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Enchanted Railroad

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Take a light-hearted look at Descanso on our new electric train. The Enchanted Railroad travels a section of the Gardens near the Promenade.

Hours and Schedule

Requirements: Riders must be at least 30 inches tall and able to sit on their own
Schedule: 8:30am-12:30pm and 2:30pm-4:30pm daily* (Tickets are sold until 4pm)
Tickets: Timed tickets are $5 each and must be purchased at the Visitor Center the day of. One or ten-ride train passes can be exchanged at no cost at the Visitor Center for timed tickets

*Please note: The train does not run in the rain.

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THE STORE

Current Hours:

Open 8am–5pm daily

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Descanso’s gift shop features hand-painted murals, a wide variety of new garden-themed products created by talented local artisans, and a line of “private label” items that are inspired by the Gardens, including pottery, vintage postcards, bags, hats and more.

With its focus on high-quality, handcrafted goods, The Store provides a unique opportunity for visitors to bring home a piece of their visit to Descanso. The Store’s focus on artisanal products also reflects the growing interest in sustainable and ethical consumption.

By highlighting handmade items made with care and attention to detail, The Store offers an alternative to mass-produced, disposable items. Visitors can feel good about their purchases, knowing that they are supporting skilled craftspeople and promoting sustainable production practices.

The Store is open every day except Christmas. For information, phone (818) 949-4292.

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The Market and Jones Coffee Roasters

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Current Hours:

Open 7:30am–5pm daily

At The Market, visitors can discover a diverse range of hot and cold grab-and-go items, gourmet snacks, soft-service ice cream, and an assortment of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
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Craving caffeine? Jones Coffee offers an enticing array of coffee blends, delectable pastries, and scrumptious breakfast delights.