If you’re a senior figuring out what to do with your family around graduation, or if you’re newly admitted and visiting Pasadena with your parents, these are the spots I usually take people when they come see me.

We almost always start on Lake Avenue with Mandarin Coffee Stand. It’s my favorite coffee shop in the area and feels very local without being fussy. From there, we’ll sometimes stop by Erewhon. I’m not saying you need to buy anything, but my mom and sister love walking through and looking at the unique food products, which is honestly half the appeal. For dinner, Sugarfish on Lake is an easy win. You just order the “Trust Me” and move on with your life.

On campus, I take my family up to Caltech Hall at California Institute of Technology for the views. My dad loves the beanbag chairs up there, but it’s an active study space, so just be mindful and keep voices down.

One of my favorite off-campus stops is the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens, about a 20-minute walk from campus. You can easily spend a couple of hours wandering the gardens, and if your family is into it, the tea room is a nice add-on.

If we’re doing something in the evening, I usually take people to The Cellar: A Wine Library in Old Pasadena. It’s a cozy wine bar with a speakeasy vibe that feels special without being intimidating.

There are so many ways to spend time in Pasadena, but these are the places I keep coming back to when my family visits.