For those of you who have never visited greater Los Angeles, it can be truly overwhelming. What are the best restaurants and destinations? Safest towns? Hottest clubs and bars? More than 85 cities are incorporated into Los Angeles County, but there’s one that encompasses all the answers you’re looking for: Pasadena, CA. Just 15 minutes north of downtown Los Angeles, Pasadena is flourishing like never before and is quickly becoming THE destination, a mecca if you will, for students, artists, entertainers, businesses and the like.

Many people will recognize the name Pasadena, especially in January, as a tourist destination — home to the Rose Bowl and annual Tournament of Roses Parade. And perhaps the 1960’s Billboard chart topper “Little Old Lady From Pasadena” rings a bell of familiarity. However, the area’s sixth largest city embodies sophistication, science, culture, history and a community atmosphere recognized by many residents throughout Southern California.

Here you will find some of the United States’ most respected schools and cultural centers, as well as a smorgasbord of entertainment and events. Not to mention, it’s just a short drive from Hollywood, Beverly Hills, local beaches and mountains, and many other hotspots around Los Angeles. Many people will use Interstate 110 to get there; it’s Los Angeles’ first freeway and connects the city to all of Southern California — a fun, windy drive for Pasadenans, whose median age is 34.

Pasadena’s Civic Auditorium, built in 1931, was home to the Emmy Awards for nearly 25 years and currently hosts the People’s Choice Awards. American Idol tapes its “Hollywood Week” there. The Pasadena Symphony, established in 1931, plays shows regularly and touring Broadway productions bring theatrical productions to the auditorium several times a year.

Pasadena is a visual arts haven thanks to the Art Institute and Pasadena Society of Artists. The world famous Norton Simon Museum houses more than 2000 years of art. For more than 10 years, Pasadena’s cultural institutions have teamed up to host PasadenART Weekend. This three-day citywide, outdoor music event showcases top emerging and nationally recognized talent on multiple stages throughout revitalized Old Pasadena.

Officially established as a historic landmark in 1983, Old Pasadena is now one of Southern California’s most popular shopping and entertainment destinations for locals and tourists. Connected via subway with downtown Los Angeles, Old Pasadena nightlife brings out musicians, theatergoers, shoppers, sightseers and folks of all ethnicities and ages. Shopping malls, movie theatres, upscale, posh cafes and restaurants, pubs and clubs line the strip, where many apartment buildings are found on the top floors, similar to New York’s famous loft living.

The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens — a research and educational institution — serves scholars as well as the public. The Huntington provides research access to rare photographs, books, maps, manuscripts and related materials to an estimated 1,700 scholars. Additionally, The Huntington awards approximately $1,000,000 in fellowships to scholars and educates thousands of young students and their teachers in history, literature, art and botanical science through tours and programs.

Pasadena is home to The California Institute of Technology (commonly referred to as Caltech). In fact, Albert Einstein lived in the heart of Pasadena and would bike to Caltech just three blocks away. You’ll also find LA Music Academy, The California School of Culinary Arts, the Art Center College of Design and the Fuller Theological Seminary. Here for young and old students alike are some of the most respected and sought after schools in the United States. However, admission is more competitive, and students will generally attend these prestigious schools for skill specific training, where they can identify and hone in on the best attributes needed to advance their careers.

For students and families on a tighter budget, many of these institutions of higher learning offer various scholarships and financial aid. For example, LA Music Academy offers scholarships each semester for its four music departments, which include Bass, Guitar, Drums and Vocals. Caltech has a financial aid program and students admitted as a freshman are considered for a merit scholarship where they can receive as much as tuition, room and board (that’s almost $40,000 for one year).

The California School of Culinary Arts offers financial aid in conjunction with Federal and State grants. The Art Center College of Design offers financial aid in the form of grants, loans, scholarships and work-study programs.

There’s also Pasadena City College, the area’s community college, which is a substantial “feeder” school to the state’s University system. Community colleges offer a low cost alternative to traditional four-year colleges. Many financially savvy and cost conscience students secure their AA degree at community college first, and then transfer to a larger institution — saving thousands of dollars in the process.

The schools in the area have had a large part in putting Pasadena on the map. Tens of thousands of students have traveled from all over the world to learn at the schools in Pasadena. For example, every year, more than half of LA Music Academy’s students are from international locations including South America, Europe and Asia.

Pasadena has played host to movie studios' feature films, glamorous awards shows, television sitcom tapings and community and upscale events. Many famous people are from or live in Pasadena, including the Van Halen brothers and David Lee Roth, Beck and music producer Phil Spector; actors Kevin Costner and John C. Reilly; pilot Amelia Earhart and chess grandmaster Bobby Fischer, to name just a few.

Finally, Pasadena’s high profile image throughout Southern California is due to its extensive economic base, significant architecture and prominent cultural, scientific and educational institutions that help draw in customers for many of the city center’s shopping and dining establishments. There’s no wonder why Pasadena is now considered one of the premier cities in all of Los Angeles.