Kid-friendly guide to Pasadena

Time travel doesn’t exist yet, but until then we have South Pasadena. It has all the charm of sitcom-style suburban living with the added benefit of being just 20 minutes from downtown Los Angeles. It’s even better with kids. Let’s go on a four hour tour, starting with a hearty breakfast at Mike and Anne’s.

(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

April 15, 2019 3:33 PM PT

Lemon Ricotta Pancakes at Mike & Anne’s in South Pasadena. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

A little something for parents to indulge in, responsibly, of course: the Bloody Mary at Mike & Anne’s in South Pasadena. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

Not to be missed at Frank & Anne’s in South Pasadena? The latte.

(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

SOUTH PASADENA, CA APRIL 11, 2019: The entrance to the library community room at the South Pasadena Public Library in South Pasadena CA April 11, 2019. According to Steve Fjeldsted, South Pasadena City Librarian the South Pasadena Public Library [is] an expanded and remodeled version of the original 1908 Carnegie Library. (Francine Orr/ Los Angeles Times) (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

SOUTH PASADENA, CA APRIL 11, 2019: Cindy Ringo and Gary Ringo both of Riverside read to their grandson Jovian Greenhouse, 3, of South Pasadena, as they sit outside South Pasadena Public Library in South Pasadena CA April 11, 2019. (Francine Orr/ Los Angeles Times) (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

Micah Freeman, 10, of South Pasadena plays around a Moreton Bay Fig tree next to the South Pasadena Library. It was planted in 1930, the same year the library was relocated here. South Pasadena is known as the “City of Trees.” (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

A customer browses the DVD collection at Videotheque in South Pasadena on April 11. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

SOUTH PASADENA, CA APRIL 11, 2019 Zoe Nungesser, 6, of Seattle shows her mother trinkets as they are searching for items to make a necklace at Kidd’s Jewelry Heist in South Pasadena CA April 11, 2019. (Francine Orr/ Los Angeles Times) (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

Zoe Nungesser, 6, of Seattle, picks out some beads for her necklace.

(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

SOUTH PASADENA, CA APRIL 11, 2019 Zoe Nungesser, 6, of Seattle is enjoying herself at Kidd’s Jewelry Heist in South Pasadena CA April 11, 2019. (Francine Orr/ Los Angeles Times) (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

If you’re feeling hungry again, or just because, head on over to Fair Oaks Pharmacy, one of the last old-school soda fountains in the Los Angeles area, where Clara Barlow, 6, of Burbank, enjoys a kid-size sundae with a cherry on top.

(Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

You could probably spend four hours here, just enjoying the charming decor at Fair Oaks Pharmacy.

(Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

There’s something to marvel at inside Fair Oaks, everywhere you look.

(Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

SOUTH PASADENA, CA APRIL 11, 2019: Tristan Yi, 24, is making a hot fudge Sunday at the old fashioned soda fountain inside the Fair Oaks Pharmacy in South Pasadena CA April 11, 2019. (Francine Orr/ Los Angeles Times) (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)