About Sierra Madre
The “Foothill Village” of Sierra Madre is a charming town in the foothills of the
San Gabriel Valley, just below the southern edge of the Angeles National Forest.
To its west lie Altadena and Pasadena, with Arcadia to the east and south.
The northern and northeastern parts of Sierra Madre are comprised of the Upper and
Lower Sierra Madre Canyons. The charming communities are renown for their narrow,
winding roads, plush vegetation, breathtaking views of the valley, and quaint bungalows
and cabins. The entrance to Bailey Canyon Wilderness Park is located here and offers
plethora of opportunities to enjoy the stunning environment.
Downtown Sierra Madre has rows of small restaurants and unique shops. You'll find
a historic company that still makes their gourmet and specialty olives, jams, and
syrups from their own citrus groves. Such long-standing, unique shops add history
and community pride that are an integral part of Sierra Madre.
The quaint storefronts are reminiscent of the 1920's and 30's. Sierra Madre is renown
as a community full of and welcome to artists, poets, and other creatives. Locals
are often found strolling the town nightly, visiting the many cafes, restaurants,
and shops.
This variety of residents is also reflected in its varied styles of homes. A tour
of the well-kept neighborhoods reveals California Bungalows, Victorian estates,
Spanish, Ranch, and American Traditional houses.
Sierra Madre's link with the old mountain resorts of the San Gabriel Mountains and
San Gabriel Valley extends far back in history. The Sierra Villa Hotel pioneered
summer resorts in the San Gabriel Valley back in the late 1800's. Today you can
still find Lizzie's Trail Inn at the head of Old Mountain Trail, a landmark kept
by the city.
Many people know Sierra Madre for its annual Wisteria Festival. This popular event
celebrates its Chinese Wisteria vine, a huge vine nearly 120 years old. Guinness
Book of World Records names it the largest blooming plant. It was also declared
one of the seven horticultural wonders of the world. The vine is on private property
and can only be viewed by the public on the day of the annual Wisteria Wine Festival.
Student in Sierra Madre are served by the Pasadena Unified School District. This
award-winning school district draws many families for whom quality education is
a priority. Sierra Madre Elementary serves student up to eighth grade. After that,
they attend Pasadena High School. Several private schools are also available in
the area.
|