The Langham Huntington Hotel is a Must-See Travel Destination

 

In January I attended the PBS Winter Press Tour and had the fortune to stay at the lovely Langham Huntington, Pasadena Hotel which is situated at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains.  I always enjoy going to the PBS events because it reminds me how much I love their programming,  but this Winter Tour was extra special because of the accommodations courtesy of The Langham Huntington, Pasadena Hotel.

 

 

Driving through the gorgeous older Pasadena neighborhoods you are taken back in time. These neighborhoods were most likely built in the 1940’s and I can only imagine all the hustle and bustle of Hollywood during that time. To provide a visual, imagine the scenery out of the movie LA Confidential.  The homes are quite vast with driveways that are bigger than my home! It is luxury at it’s finest. The walkable neighborhood surrounding the hotel really are some of the most impressive residences in the city, and nearby top cultural venues include the famed Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens and Norton Simon Museum. A couple miles away, Old Pasadena dining and entertainment district boasts over 90 restaurants and renowned boutiques.  What a wonderful place to take the family or weekend get-away with your significant other.

 

 

The Langham Huntington, Pasadena Hotel Celebrates It’s 100th Anniversary:

 

The Langham Pasadena Hotel has gone through some interesting changes over the years which I found quite fascinating.  It originally opened as Hotel Wentworth on February 1, 1907 with a temporary roof above the 4th floor and several of the rooms were still unfurnished.  Due to a heavy rain that delayed construction, the hotel filed bankruptcy that following July and it’s doors remained closed until Mr. Henry Huntington purchased the Wentworth Hotel in 1911.  Over the course of a few years, they finished the construction, built the Japanese Gardens and Horseshoe Garden and officially reopened as The Huntington Hotel on January 8, 1914.

 

 

 

Over the years, ownership of the hotel has gone through several hands but in 2008, the Langham Hospitality Group purchased the hotel and renamed it The Langham Huntington, Pasadena.  Millions of dollars were spent in 2010 to update the spa, The Royce Wood-Fired Steakhouse, The Tap Room and five of the hotel’s eight cottages and what we have is an absolutely breathtaking hotel that caters to business people, locals and families.

 

 

There are so many fun activities to do for families, I can’t wait to bring my daughter back to The Langham!  There is so much interesting history tied up in this hotel and surrounding area.  The Huntington Library was named after Mr. Henry Huntington, the gentlemen who took it out of bankruptcy back in 1911.  Strolling through the Japanese Garden is a treat in itself and the hotels hosts no less than 100 weddings a year in their 23 acres of cultivated gardens and historic ballrooms. This really is the perfect setting for your once-in-a-lifetime dream wedding.

 

During my tour of the hotel, I was told that in one of the ballrooms that the stained glass windows you see were discovered during a renovation after the war.  They had been covered up with wood and when the workers took off the panels, they discovered these gorgeous stained glass that we enjoy today.

 

 

The Spa:

They also offer a fully-equipped fitness facility and rejuvenating spa. Their award-winning Chuan Spa, provide treatments inspired by Traditional Chinese Medicine and cutting-edge skin care technology. I was impressed with the treatments that are inspired by Chinese Medicine as I have been interested in TCM for many years now but have never found a resort that offers treatments like they offer.  What a unique and wonderful experience!

 

 

Their gift shop has a great selection of skin care products, gifts for the kids and some gorgeous clothing and jewelry.  The Langham Huntington, Pasadena is really encompassing and all your needs and wants will be taken care of by the very friendly staff.

 

For the Kids:

Families can opt to enjoy the The Langham Huntington Kids Program for just $30 your children (12 & under) will receive the following items at check-in including the “Theodore” teddy bear backpack with a Little Junebugs crafting kit that includes

• Crafting supplies curated by Little Junebugs to decorate and customize their teddy bear backpack
• A journal from Little Junebugs to jot down memories from their stay at The Langham and much more!  Read more about what the kids program entails here.

 

All of the Langham Hotels around the world cater to families.  You can read more about what they offer at their different locations here.  Families can enjoy room stays with a daily delectable breakfast on them, discounts on an extra bed, welcome gifts for your kids and more holiday treats for your family!

 

 

You can find some cute bla bla kids dolls and lots of fun books as well in their gift shop. They really do cover everything for their guests. There is a large Olympic-size swimming pool that was the first of it’s kind back in the 1950’s.  I can only image the Hollywood stars who use to and continue to frequent this grand hotel.

 

The Rooms:

Elegantly decorated and classically furnished guest rooms, suites, and cottages. Each designed to reflect the grace and beauty of Southern California. All with expansive views of the surrounding landscape and nearby mountains. Each room a quiet haven and an escape from bustling city life.  There are 380 rooms, 38 Classic Suites and 8 Private Cottages.  I fell in the love with the walk-in shower and Jacuzzi tub and fluffy white robes and towels.  It was a taste of heaven really!

 

The nice staff at The Langham Huntington Hotel provided me with one of their gorgeous  Huntington Suites and when I walked into my room my first thought was that I wanted to stay there at least a week, if not more!  It had everything I might need and more. The room was about the size of our townhome with beautiful views of the Horseshow Garden. I can see why they host so many weddings each year.

 

 

The room service was wonderful and I highly recommend ordering the grapefruit. It not only looked gorgeous it was so delicious!

 

 

They even treated me to some yummy non-alcoholic fruit drink and these delicious chocolate strawberries – what a treat.

Fine Dining:

Their restaurants are fantastic and the views quite surreal.  To read more about your dining options go here.  Anything from The Royce | Wood-Fired Steakhouse which offers quality steak and Kobe beef which I can tell you from experience is amazing, to The Terrace where you can enjoy casual all-day dining, to The Tap Room which is a nod to their history in the Prohibition era. The Tap Room is a stylish space with a mixture of classic wood-panelled walls and contemporary furnishings and offers cocktails and light appetizers.

 

Afternoon Tea with Wedgwood

Enjoy a taste of their classic British heritage at The Lobby Lounge.  Their signature Langham Afternoon Tea with Wedgwood is served with panoramic view of The Horseshoe Garden and San Marino.  Indulge in a variety of sandwiches, fresh scones and pastries along with hand-selected teas.  I plan to have some tea next time on my visit.  The Lobby Lounge is so pretty and quite peaceful.

 

Upcoming Events:

Throughout the year, the hotel hosts a variety of activities for locals and guests. Make sure to check out their Easter Events they have planned on April 5th!

 

You can find The Langham Huntington, Pasadena Hotel on Facebook.  And on Twitter.

 

Note: We were provided accommodations at The Langham Huntington, Pasadena Hotel but this did not affect my opinion in any way.  The hotel is quite gorgeous and I really recommend checking out this wonderful and historic hotel.

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