Shaded playgrounds and parks in Pasadena

A giant pirate ship with cannons and a plank, plus a sand pit with running water so the castles actually stay up.

Separate toddler and big-kid sections on a soft rubber surface, with toy stores and ice cream a short walk away.

A quiet pocket park under an old arched bridge, with modern play equipment, grassy meadows and a view straight up at it.

The splash pad is the main event here, with shade, a small skate area and a library branch right on site.

Three and a half acres of hands-on everything: a stream to splash in, a physics forest to climb, a muddy farm to dig in.

Three acres of winding paths, citrus trees and butterflies. Made for slow wandering, and easy with a stroller.

Arts and Crafts architecture on short tours led by teen docents, which lands better with kids than an adult guide would.