Arcadia is known for its lovely neighborhoods, warm character, and suburban feel and the city has numerous delightful spots to spend the day and have a good time. 

Starting off the list at number five is the Gilb Museum of Arcadia Heritage. The Gilb Museum of Arcadia Heritage’s purpose is to collect, preserve, and recognize Arcadia’s most important heritage, a diverse community to celebrate our beautiful city’s rich history. It features many wonderful exhibits and educational programs that are fun for Arcadians to participate in. The museum is small but expertly laid out, and admission is free, but donations are appreciated. The main exhibit outlines Arcadia’s history, which started with the Native Americans.

When asked about the Gilb Museum, Freshman Patrick Park said, “With the free admission and kind staff it’s a great place to be if you’re interested in Arcadia’s history.”

Coming up next at number four is a place we’ve probably all been at some point in our childhood. Jump ‘n Jammin is one of the most exciting spots in Arcadia, guaranteeing children and adults a good time. Jump ‘n Jammin is filled with objects to crawl up and down, including towers, tubes, and web crawls. It also features foam ball blasters everywhere and bounce houses in the back. While it is definitely targeted for kids, adults can still have a very exciting time with a group of friends. Jump ‘n Jammin costs $19 for a regular day pass, which lasts you the whole day. This is the perfect spot for a larger family, as the cost is very affordable.

“I love Jump ‘n Jammin; my friends and I go there every once and a while and it’s a total vibe,” said sophomore Chloe Chan. 

Next up at number three is the Arboretum. The Arboretum is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with the last entry at 4:30 p.m. However, members can enter early, starting at 8:00 a.m. The Arboretum is a botanical garden and a historical site that is known to all within the Los Angeles County area. It is located on the remaining portion of the Rancho Santa Anita and founded in 1947. The Arboretum is home to some of the most beautiful plants, natural landscapes, wildfire, and historic buildings. Admission is $15 for adults and $11 for students and senior citizens. The Arboretum is nice and really refreshing for students stressed out by school work. 

“The Arcadia Arboretum is a chill place to walk around every once and awhile, and the tours are very well organized,” said freshman Eisen Chang. 

In the runner-up position is The Santa Anita Park. Santa Anita Park is a thoroughbred racetrack that offers some of the biggest horse racing events in the United States. Events take place during early fall, winter, and spring. The track is home to well respected races such as the Santa Anita Derby and the Santa Anita Handicap, as well as hosting the Breeders’ Cup, several times in the past. There is free admission for all along with free general parking. This is a very vibrant place, so come with some friends and enjoy an exciting experience, potentially watching history being made. 

A regular attendee at all of the horse races Travis Redding said, “My friends and I like to come and bet on the horses amongst each other. They have good snacks, drinks, and I love coming here for good fun.”

The number one spot to visit in Arcadia is The Shops at Santa Anita. This is a huge shopping mall that I’m sure all of us are familiar with. It is open from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and open from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Sunday. Formerly known as Santa Anita Fashion Park and Westfield Santa Anita, this spot offers 132 stores to shop, With the most popular being Nordstorm, Macys, and JCPenney. It also offers 59 places to eat, such as Chipotle, Potato Corner, and McDonald’s. On top of all of that, it also has a 16 screened movie theater known as the Santa Anita 16 and would also make for a great day out with friends and family. 

“My friends and I go there a lot on minimum days and weekends, and we get lunch and watch a movie,” said freshman Jack Chen. “I love the Santa Anita mall, and I’ve had some of my best memories with friends there.” 

Arcadia is a wonderful city with several great spots to hang out with friends and family. Next time you want to go out, be sure to check out one of these amusing places and have a great time!

Photo by Supriya Thapa