Conference Location

The Westin Pasadena
191 N. Los Robles Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91101

TFAWS 2012 will be held at the Westin Pasadena Hotel, located in Pasadena, CA.  Nestled at the base of the San Gabriel mountains in northeastern Los Angeles, Pasadena has easy access to a wide variety of cultural attractions, amusement parks, varying outdoor landscapes and parks, and dining to fit any budget and palate. 

To make your reservation at the Westin Pasadena Hotel, please click here.

Should you wish to instead reserve your room by phone, please call (866) 837-4181. Kindly mention that you would like to reserve a room blocked under JPL TFAWS 2012 for the per diem rate of $125 per night. Reservations must be made by July 23, 2012 in order to guarantee the group rate of $125 per night.  Note that only a block of 60 rooms have been reserved at this rate, so guests are encouraged to make their reservations sooner rather than later.  The $125 rate also applies to both weekends before and after the conference in order to encourage guests to come earlier or stay later. 

Pasadena is 10 miles north-east of downtown Los Angeles and is a short drive away from all the Greater Los Angeles area has to offer including Hollywood, numerous theme parks and museums, beaches, mountains and so much more.  Although best known for the Tournament of Roses Parade and Rose Bowl football game, the “Crown City” has plenty to offer within its own borders including fine dining, shopping, and a number of cultural sites awaiting your visit!  Pasadena is extremely pedestrian friendly, has a light-rail that can serve as your ticket into Old Town Pasadena and even into the heart of Los Angeles, and a network of buses that can take you where you want to go.

The Westin Pasadena is within walking distance of Old Town Pasadena.  Within a few blocks of the Westin are museums, movie theaters, shopping, and plenty of restaurants.  A few quick highlights are shown in the map below and can be found here:

TFAWS 2012 MAP

Airport Information

There are a number of airports that are accessible to Pasadena, with the closest four being:

Los Angeles International (LAX)

Burbank Bob Hope Airport (BUR)

LA/Ontario International (ONT)

Long Beach Airport (LGB)

BUR, ONT, and LGB are much smaller airports than LAX which can mean much faster airport experiences, but flights are limited in comparison to LAX. 

Airport Transportation

There are a number of ground transportation options available from each airport from shuttles, taxis, buses and even trains and it is encouraged to investigate your options to what suits your travel style best if you are not renting a car.

LAX Transportation
BUR Transportation
ONT Transportation
LGB Transportation

Local Information

Pasadena has a wide variety of food options condensed into a few square miles; aside from the standard cuisines, Pasadena boasts rare like Himalayan/Nepalese and Ukrainian.  

Pasadena Restaurants

For the true foodie or if you just have a little more time you are willing to spend on a meal, Los Angeles is your mouth’s playground.  Some of the top chef’s (including many Top Chef winners) in the country have restaurants for you to experience.  There is an even wider variety of ethnic foods than Pasadena (Thai Town, Little Ethiopia, etc) and if you can name it, a place probably exists for what you crave.  It could be said that LA invented the food truck craze that is taking the nation by storm, so chase one down (LA's Food Trucks).  There are a number of places to eat where the ambiance is enough to draw you in until you fall in love with their food (think of rooftop dining in Downtown LA or mere feet away from the beach and crashing waves).  Maybe LA food critic Jonathan Gold has something to tantalize you?  

Amusement Parks

There are a number of theme parks within driving distance to Pasadena (30 minute drive up to 2 hours).  From Universal Studios to Disneyland, weeks could be spent exploring all the amusement parks available without exhausting the supply. 

Cultural and Arts

Pasadena:
Though the town of Pasadena is small, it still hosts a few good museums.  The TripAdvisor article does a good outline of the available options, with The Huntington Gardens definitely being the star attraction.

Los Angeles:
The number of museums, historic sites, and gardens range far and wide (type ‘Los Angeles museums’ in Google Maps and see how many dots pop up) and there are a number of review sites that can digest this for you to cut down on the leg work  (unless going to the less traveled place is more appealing in which case you may have to work a little harder to find the specific gem you are looking for).  For most with limited time, the following ‘heavy-hitters’ should satisfy your cultural cravings:
 
California Science Center
Getty Center
Getty Villa
Griffith Park Observatory
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Museum of Contemporary Art
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles
Peterson Automotive Museum
Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits

Other Attractions

Hollywood and Performing Arts
Los Angeles is probably most known for Hollywood and the film industry.  Ever want to be in the audience of your favorite TV show?  Or maybe you would just like to tour a studio?  Make sure to reserve your tickets early and if you score the ones you want, follow all the directions provided and show up early.

The ‘Hub of Hollywood’ can be thought of as the Hollywood and Highland Center.  While this is mostly a large outdoor mall, it is next to many historic and popular Hollywood sites, probably has the most bustle, and who can forget the opportunities to take pictures with characters such as Batman and Darth Vader (keep in mind these characters are not agents of the studios).



The performing arts are extremely active in Los Angeles and often discount tickets to shows (both small and large) can be bought from Goldstar.  There is also a Cirque Du Soleil show, Iris, at the Kodak Theatre located in the heart of Hollywood.

If comedy is your tickle, then head to the Laugh Factory where you are sure to get your giggle’s worth.  The ‘All-Star Comedy’ is there signature series.  Be sure to get there early as seating is first come first served unless you purchase VIP tickets. 

 
Music
Much like Hollywood, the music scene is huge in Los Angeles and many famous bands and artists got and continue to get their start here.  There are numerous historic venues that still host shows and due to their size, they often give a very intimate experience.  The best option is to see if there are any artists that will be playing a show while in-town.  Or you can just visit a historic venue and pop in to see who is up-and-coming!  Two great outdoor venues to experience if possible are the iconic Hollywood Bowl and The Greek Theater.

Pasadena also hosts its free summer concert series for you to enjoy during one of the evenings.  Just show up, layout a sheet or towel, bring a snack if you like (or visit one of the vendors), and enjoy!



For more of the classical feel, visit the unique Disney Concert Hall, home to the LA Phil.

Beaches
LA has a number of beaches, near and far, calm and busy.  From north to south, Malibu (lots of beautiful, un-crowded beaches), Santa Monica (The Pier), Venice (The Boardwalk), and the South Bay (Manhattan, Hermosa, and Redondo all great for just a day at the beach or some volleyball).



Local News
Pasadena Star News
Los Angeles Times