Pasadena - Southeast Houston City Guide

Strawberries and geography are essential to this city.

History

Founded in 1893 by John H. Burnett, the 44.5 square mile area was originally inhabited by the Karankawa and Atakapan tribes. It was named after Pasadena, CA due to similarities in greenery and landscape. The newly formed Red Cross donated millions of strawberry plants to Pasadena and other regions affected by the 1900 Hurricane. Those plants revitalized the community and helped restart its economy. They were cultivated over time, which turned Pasadena into a major fruit producer for many years. At one point, the city would ship 28 train carloads of strawberries out every day. The annual Strawberry Festival is held every year to honor this fact.

Entertainment

The Strawberry Festival is arguably Pasadena’s biggest event, with around 45,000 visitors annually. Held in the Pasadena Convention Center and Municipal Fairgrounds, the festival celebrates the city’s strawberry-filled history. The main attraction is a world-record holding 1,905 square foot strawberry shortcake that is made every year. Festivals such as this are a great place for people of all ages. Walking around all day can get tiresome, so renting a limo or party bus brings sweet feet relief right to you.

Pasadena is also home to one of the largest wilderness preserves in the nation, the Armand Bayou Nature Center. This 2,500-acre area is on the edge of Clear Lake and was established to protect the wetlands, forests and prairies of southern Texas. A “Discovery Loop” stretches through a portion of the area with educational descriptions of the local flora and fauna along the trail. Wilderness preservation is one of the most important topics in the world today, so it’s great to learn about local efforts in the field.

Dining

There’s really no shortage in terms of food in Pasadena. If seafood is your game, check out Sudie’s, a popular local restaurant located on Spencer Highway. Or perhaps you’re craving Mexican (who isn’t?) Mamacita’s and Don’key’s Mexican Food are two fantastic places to satisfy your need for fajitas and a large Margarita..

There’s also Buca di Beppo, a delicious family Italian restaurant with a spectacular Chicken Parmesan and a vast selection of Italian imported wines. Each one of these restaurants is local and is the perfect way to spend time with family or a group of friends.

Pasadena’s diverse history and attatchement to a delicious fruit make it a must visit for anyone near the Houston area. And if you can’t find anyone to drive, a limo makes every trip more memorable and enjoyable.