Guide To The 6 Fun Things To Do in Monterey Park, CA

things to do in monterey park california
Lorrie
Lorrie 
Updated
| 3 min read

Monterey Park, a suburb of Los Angeles, was named after the Monterey Pass, a trail route used by the army mail worker Richard Garvey, who developed the area in the 1900s. The settlement became a city in 1916. By 1920, Asian settlers were starting flower nurseries in the area, so what is today known as Monterey Park earned the nickname “Little Taipei” or “Chinese Beverly Hills”. Since 2000, redevelopment has been responsible for bringing in many new businesses and overall growth to the city.

Read on to find out about the top things to do in Monterery Park, CA.

Museums & History

1. Vincent Price Art Museum

Student Art Show 2017 applications are available at VPAM's front lobby and will be available online June...

Posted by VincentPrice ArtMuseum on Thursday, 1 June 2017

Vincent Price was an actor and collector of art who opened this gallery in 1957. Donating art from his own collection, the gallery has since been enjoyed by many, including the students of East Los Angeles College. Over the past 50 years, the collection has grown to more than 9,000 works of art with 100 exhibits. The museum houses seven art galleries, which can accommodate temporary rotating exhibitions; student shows, permanent collection shows, as well as artist and community projects. There is also a specially designed vault for the permanent collection, named after professor Thomas Sillman. Art at the gallery includes works from African, Mesoamerican, Native American and European artists.

Vincent Price Art Museum

Address: 1301 Avenida Cesar Chavez, Monterey Park, CA

Open HoursClosed Sunday and Monday, Thursday noon to 7 pm. Tuesday, Wed, Friday and Saturday noon to 4 pm

Rates: Free to Public

Website: Vincent Price Art Museum

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2. Monterey Park Historical Museum


The museum was once the residence of Richard Garvey, a Monterey Park founder. As a cattle rancher, he helped with the development of the area and also donated the property to the city. This donated land is now home to Monterey Park Historical Museum.

Monterey Park Historical Museum

Address: 781 S. Orange Ave.Monterey Park, CA

Open Hours Saturday and Sunday 2 to 4 pm Closed Weekdays by appt only

Rates: Tours are Free

Website: Historical Museum

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3. Midwick View Estates & El Encanto

Midwick View Estates

Midwick View Estates was intended as a garden community along the lines of other wealthy neighborhoods such as Bel Air. El Encanto is the focal point of the estates and is also known as Jardin Encanto, a Spanish style building that was originally intended to be an amphitheater. Unfortunately, as a result of the Depression, the amphitheater was never built. However, an observation terrace is still available to view the area and water.

Midwick Estates & El Encanto

Address: 700 El Mercado Avenue, Monterey Park, CA

Website: Midwick Estates

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4. Huntington Library, Art Collection & Botanical Gardens

Huntington Library Art Collections and Botanical Gardens
Source: Photo by Flickr user Smart Destinations used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Henry Huntington, who worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad and lived in San Francisco as well as Los Angeles, announced his decision to retire at 60. Huntington planned to devote time to writing, his art collection and the landscaping of this 600-acre ranch. Today the mansion and property are now the Huntington Library and Gardens. Huntington’s wife, Arabella Huntington, helped with the collections as well as the development of the mansion. The land was left to a non-profit group in 1919.

The library holds about 6 million items. Among the treasures are the Ellesmere manuscript of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, a Gutenberg Bible written on vellum, the double-elephant folio edition of Audubon’s Birds of America, and a world-class collection of the early editions of Shakespeare’s works. It is also among the nation’s most important information centers on the history of the American West, with historical records on the American western settlement, the overland pioneer experience, the Gold Rush, and the development of Southern California.

The Art Collections are set in three separate galleries on the Huntington grounds.The collection includes French and American art works from the 1690s through to the 1950s. The gardens cover 120 acres and more than a dozen specialized gardens are arranged within a park-like landscape. Included among these is a rose garden as well as a Japanese garden. The camellia collection is among the largest in the country. There is also an education center and a conservatory on the grounds.

Huntington

Address: 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, CA

Open Hours Closed Tuesdays, Mon-Saturday 10 am to 5 pm

Rates: Children 4 under Free, 4-11 13 USD, Seniors 21 USD and Adults 25 USD Weekends Children Same , Seniors 24 USD, Adults 29 USD

Website: Huntington

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Outdoor recreation

5. Monterey Park Golf Club

Posted by Monterey Park Golf Club on Sunday, 12 July 2015

Monterey Park Golf Club, located in southern California, offers a number of great golf amenities such as a driving range, golf academy, pro shop and cafe. There is a rebuilt course and renovated facilities to give players an improved experience.

Monterey Park Golf Club

Address: 3600 W Ramona Blvd, Monterey Park, CA

Rates: Monday to Friday Before 4 12 USD, After 4 14 USD, Seniors weekdays Before 4 10 USD, After 4 12 USD, Juniors weekdays Before 4 8 USD, After 4 10 USD, Weekend & Holiday 16 USD, Senior Weekend/Holiday 14 USD & Junior weekend/ holiday Before 4 10 USD After 4 12 USD

Website: Monterey Golf

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6. Splash Zone Aquatic Center


The Splash Zone Aquatic Center features a 25-yard pool with 13 competition swim lanes, water polo facilities, diving boards, instruction, covered bleachers, and a picnic area. It is currently open for lap swimming, aqua aerobics, and is home to the Rosemead Rapids Swim Team.

Aquatic Center

Address: 9155 E. Mission Drive Rosemead, CA

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 12:30 to 3:30 pm, Tuesday/Thursday 6 to 8 pm, Saturday Sunday noon to 4 pm. August to Sept Tuesday Thursday 6 to 8 pm, Saturday Sunday noon to 4 pm, Till End Sept 12:30 to 3:30 pm

Rates: Adults Daily 2 USD, Season Pass 35 USD, Under 17 Daily 1 USD, Season Pass 25 USD, Family of six 75 USD.

Website: Aquatic Center

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Have an adventure in Monterey Park

Monterey Park January 2013 002
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user King of Hearts used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Have an adventure during your visit to Monterey Park by exploring the history of the area, enjoying plenty of outdoor activities and experiencing the beauty that this city has to offer.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
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