Walkability is one of the most important terms in the real estate industry today—so important, in fact, that it’s driving certain aspects of the market. According to Huffington Post, it’s both Baby Boomers and Millennials who are increasingly seeking out places to “live-work-play in an area where most of this can be done without getting into the car.” That walkability is one of the reasons that living in Pasadena in communities like Terraces at The Ambassador Gardens is increasingly popular with luxury buyers.

Living in Pasadena means having exceptional walkability to great shops, restaurants, and cultural hotspots.

Living in Pasadena means having exceptional walkability to great shops, restaurants, and cultural hotspots.

“What we have repeatedly seen at Terraces is buyers who love living in Pasadena, either because they already live here or because they want to, and who want to be in the center of all the action,” said Patrice Quishenberry, Vice President of Sales for etco HOMES. “Many of our buyers have been living in large estates in Pasadena, La Canada, and San Marino, and are looking to downsize to something with less maintenance while still surrounding themselves with luxury features and amenities. They have their pick of locations, but are insistent on being in Old Town’s ‘two-mile zone,’ a preferred area in which they can enjoy their favorite restaurants, go shopping, see a movie or a play, or take in the local scenery without having to get in the car.”

Terraces’ location in Ambassador Gardens puts them in the heart of the two-mile zone, with easy access to a whole host of dining, shopping, entertainment, cultural, and recreational opportunities, with many just a few blocks away. The following spots are easily walkable from Terraces:

Shopping and dining

One Colorado: Four blocks away

Some of L.A.’s best restaurants and shops are here in this popular outdoor destination designed “in the tradition of European town squares” and featuring an “urban environment of 17 historic buildings with 40 contemporary fashion and dining attractions,” said Old Pasadena.

Here, you can shop at Patagonia, Kate Spade, or MAC, see a movie at iPic Theaters, and enjoy a meal in any number of great restaurants, from Sushi Roku to the Italian hotspot Il Fornaio, to local fave Café Santorini.

Cross Colorado Boulevard and the Apple Store, Tiffany & Co., and several additional restaurants including Cheesecake Factory, Café 86, Green Street Tavern, and Poke Salad Bar await. Footsteps away is also a full-service Burke Williams Spa.

Paseo Colorado: Six blocks away

Head across Fair Oaks to Paseo Colorado, home to everything from West Elm to Equinox to the Arclight, and even more eateries.

Union Restaurant: Six blocks away

Union was called one of Pasadena’s best restaurants by L.A. Weekly and renowned chef Jacques Pepin took it a step further, saying it’s his favorite restaurant in L.A. Even better—it’s a half-mile walk from Terraces, just long enough to make you feel better about devouring the “staggeringly good cacio e pepe” and gobbling up their “star dessert,” olive oil cake.

Culture and Entertainment 

From art to architecture to museums, there is an array of cultural opportunities in the two-mile zone and an easy stroll from Terraces.

  • Norton Simon Museum: Two blocks away
  • Castle Green: Five blocks away
  • Pasadena Museum of History: Six blocks away
  • Gamble House: Seven blocks away
  • Pacific Asia Museum: 1 mile away
  • Pasadena City Hall: 1 mile away
  • Pasadena Playhouse: Just over a mile away
  • The Pasadena Museum of California Art (PMCA): 1.2 miles away

Recreation

Staying active is also easy when living in Pasadena at Terraces. The gorgeous, historic grounds of The Ambassador Gardens provide a beautiful opportunity for walking for fitness and pleasure, and it’s right outside your door. It’s not the only recreational option nearby.

  • YogaWorks: Less than a block away
  • Annandale golf club 1.2 miles away
  • The Rose Bowl: 1.4 miles away
  • Brookside Golf & Country Club: 1.7 blocks away
  • San Pasquale Stables 1.9 miles away

Terraces’ three-bedroom residences offer open, airy floorplans with up to three baths with two powder rooms in 3,040 to 4,430 square feet. Gourmet kitchens include professional Italian Linea Quattro flat-panel, European-style cabinetry in designer-selected finishes and featuring soft-close doors and drawers, Caesarstone® countertops, islands with eating bar (per plan), Wolf and Asco appliances; and built-in Subzero refrigerators. Additional features include entertainment rooms, home office/retreats, and rooftop decks or outdoor terraces with glass railings to maximize views.

For more information about living in Pasadena, offering luxury townhomes and flats priced from the mid $2 millions, visit Terraces at The Ambassador Gardens or call 866-387-6212. You can also click here to be added to the VIP Interest List.