Living in Southern California

Caltech occupies a beautiful campus in the center of Pasadena, a pleasant suburb of Los Angeles nestled in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. A community of 135,000, Pasadena sits in a comparatively serene and gracious corner of the lively and diverse Southern California landscape. The climate in Pasadena is moderate, ranging from an average temperature of 56°F in January to 75°F in July. Rainfall is infrequent and limited mostly to the winter months.

Recreational Opportunities

Pasadena overflows with cultural offerings, including the world-famous Norton Simon Museum of Art; the Huntington Library, Art Gallery, and Botanical Gardens; the Pasadena Playhouse; and numerous movie theatres. Musical and dramatic performances are also available on the Caltech campus. The recently renovated Old Town Pasadena district has many boutiques, cafes, and world-class restaurants, making it a popular spot for evening outings. Lake Avenue, located just two blocks from Caltech, has a shopping district with everything from trendy restaurants and Starbuck's Coffee to fashionable clothing stores and Tower Records, making it a favorite spot for retail therapy. It's easy to get to these locations even if you don't have a car. And a whole host of other attractions are available only 10 miles away in downtown L.A., easily reached by car, bus, or Metrolink.

Recreational opportunities in the Pasadena area are also abundant. The San Gabriel Mountains, practically in Pasadena's backyard, provide dramatic hiking, camping, hang gliding, rock climbing, downhill and cross country skiing, and mountain bicycling opportunities. For those who prefer fishing, scuba diving, sailing, swimming, surfing, or just plain sunning, the world-famous Southern California beaches are only 35 minutes away.

When you really want to get away from it all, short trips to Mexico, San Diego, San Francisco, Las Vegas, the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Death Valley, and the Mojave Desert are easy to arrange.

For more ideas about things to do in Southern California, click here.

1. Hiking in the San Gabriel Mountains.
2. Skiing in the Angeles and San Bernardino National Forests.
3. Internationally famous beaches.
4. The desert with Palm Springs and Joshua Tree National Park.

Housing

Finding a place to live at Caltech is not an ordeal. Caltech has guaranteed student housing, and many of our students live in a Caltech graduate apartment complex conveniently located next to the campus. Caltech's Housing Office assists all students looking for non-Caltech housing near the campus.