Altadena Real Estate

City of Altadena

Altadena is a city close to my heart. My second house was on the popular Mendocino Street, and it was in this home that two of my three babies were born. Altadena, nestled up against the foothills, is a charming and friendly community, abounding with wonderful architectural homes and a wide variety of interesting residents. Altadena, meaning upper Dena or above Pasadena, has really become a popular location to live, with property values to prove it! There are portions of this small community which directly abut the mountains, which does account for a certain fire danger. This locale also creates a unique, woodsy environment, helping you feel like you are away from the big city.

A highlight of the Altadena lifestyle is the fantastic Altadena Town and Country Club, which is located directly adjacent to the 9-hole Altadena Golf Course (no relationship). Although the Country Club is not exclusive to Altadena residents, it is a popular hang out spot for members of the community and features a wonderful summer children's program and swim team, beautiful tennis courts and a lovely dining room for events or a casual Friday night out. The homes surrounding the Country Club are particularly desireable.

I love the beautiful Midlothian Drive, an impressive street with huge properties and even some horse properties. My early morning walking group frequented this street and we all ooh'd and aah'd over the fantastic houses and vast lots. A crowd favorite is the short but adorable Boulder Road. This street is flanked by river rock walls and is filled with story book homes with fantastic gardens. My husband and I are particularly fond of the homes on Pinecrest Drive, which sit right at the edge of the Canyon and boast terrific views. We are always curious when homes on this street come up for sale.

When I was living in Altadena, my staple for shopping was the famous Webster's on Lake Avenue. During the 90's, this store took up almost a full city block and basically carried whatever you needed. It was a pleasure to use the independent pharmacy, where my family's medical needs were personally cared for by a kind staff of pharmacists, who bent over backward for me and always knew my name. The highlight for me was the Post Office, with the children's book section right in front of it. Going to the Post Office was made much easier as my kids could browse the pages of a great book while I took care of my mailing needs. Since that time, the owner has retired and the individual sections have been taken over by individual family members.

With it's close proximity to Eaton Canyon, Altadena is an outdoor lover's dream. There are abundant hiking trails, a beautiful stream and a renovated nature center for a wide variety of outdoor activities. As my kids were growing up, many a weekend were spent hiking around Eaton Canyon, either treking to the famed water fall or searching for polywogs in the stream bed. My husband loved getting up in the morning, jumping on his mountain bike and climbing the trail to Henninger Flats. It was a great workout and a perfect way to start his day. A highlight of my time in Altadena was a horseback ride taken through Eaton Canyon, starting at the Eaton Canyon Stables, located just outside of Altadena. It was pure delight!