No Car Necessary: A Weekend in Claremont, California

No need for a car during a weekend in Claremont, California, because everything is within walking distance in this upscale village. Restaurants, shops, art galleries, day spas, and the beautiful campus of the Claremont Colleges are all within a few blocks of each other. Philadelphia TravelingMom stayed at a downtown boutique hotel for the weekend. She avoided all California traffic because there was no need to drive.

We recently spent a weekend in Claremont, California. My husband and I enjoy visiting this upscale village with its boutique shops and good restaurants. Claremont is home to a gorgeous college campus where our daughter attends school. The pretty campus is fun to explore.

Campus of the Claremont Colleges

The shared campus of 5 different colleges is walking distance from the village of Claremont, California. The college campus has an art museum and a schedule of concerts, talks, and special events. It also has lovely gardens, fields, fountains, and other good places for kids to stretch their legs. Another perk is that exploring the campus is free.

Boutique Hotel for a Weekend in Claremont California

Casa 425 is a boutique hotel in the heart of Claremont village. This hotel combines a casual California vibe with simple elegance. Every room has a glass wall facing the open-air courtyard. During the day, the courtyard is full of guests eating breakfast outside or just enjoying a quiet moment. At night, the courtyard becomes a popular restaurant and bar. Comfy chairs surround fire pits. Surprisingly, we didn’t hear any noise from the courtyard in our 3^rd floor room.

Each room at Casa 425 also has glass doors that open to a terrace overlooking the courtyard. We sat outside our room so we could soak up the California sunshine. For a weekend in Claremont, California, this hotel is an excellent choice.

What works for families:

• Cold breakfast buffet, plus hot oatmeal, is included.
• Eat breakfast outside on the kid-friendly courtyard, or inside the lounge.
• Rollaway beds are available for kids in most rooms, in addition to the king-sized bed. Arrange in advance.
• The hotel made the curious choice to put a deep soaking bathtub in the bedroom (rather than the bathroom). We didn’t use it on this trip. But when my kids were little, they would have gotten a kick out of a tub in the bedroom.
• The hotel is centrally located, within walking distance of restaurants, the college campus, and a movie theater offering an eclectic variety of films.
• The hotel courtyard connects to a family-friendly shopping area, with a bakery, cafes, restaurants and a fun fountain that was a magnet for little kids.

Challenges for families:

• Each hotel room is one big room. If you are sharing with the kids, managing different bedtimes might be a challenge.
• This hotel is a splurge.

Spa Treatment in Claremont, California

My weekend in Claremont included a massage. It turns out you’re never far from a spa treatment in Claremont. I decided at 5 pm that I wanted a back massage. Within 15 minutes, I found three places within walking distance, picked one, booked a treatment, and arrived at the location.

I’m so glad I chose Accupressure Massage Health Center, a Chinese business, because I enjoyed this serious, deep tissue massage. My eyes were closed but I could feel the masseuse’s elbows digging into the muscles in my shoulders and back, proving to be the perfect cure for a nagging pain in my neck. A full hour cost only $45. While the Chinese masseuse and I did not share many words, “yes,” “no,” and “softer, please” were all the words I needed.

Where to Eat During a Weekend in Claremont, California

Our weekend in Claremont included a lot of good eating. Le Pain Quotidien is located on an open-air courtyard next to a fountain where little kids were splashing. While this is a national chain, each location is unique. This breakfast and lunch place has sandwiches, salads, breads, and pastries that are consistently fresh and good.

We’ve enjoyed dinner outside at the patio tables at Union on Yale. This is an upscale eclectic restaurant with a relaxed pace. It’s great for lingering over a glass of wine with good people-watching of passersby on Yale Street. Although this is fine dining, it is friendly to kids. We’ve seen kids getting up to stretch their legs and toddlers playing with the pebbles on the walkway. Does anyone use the bocce court in the middle of the patio? Maybe, but I haven’t seen it.

Our family has had dinner several times at Il Mattone Trattoria when we’ve spent a weekend in Claremont, California. We always enjoy this casual Italian restaurant. It has a variety of pizzas, pasta, meat, and fish. It’s consistently delicious. On a recent visit, it was chilly outside, and we appreciated that they rearranged the entrance to the restaurant to avoid a breeze into the dining room.

The Village Grill is a traditional old-fashioned diner, with a counter and booths. We’ve had the omelets, cheeseburgers, and salads. We go here for fast, inexpensive food in a friendly atmosphere.

Sweet Treats in Claremont, California

Every time we spend a weekend in Claremont, California, we visit Bert & Rocky’s. It has ice cream and homemade chocolate and feels like an old fashioned candy shop. We get ice cream to go, and then walk around the Village of Claremont or wander on the college campus.

Claremont loves its bakeries. The name tells the truth at the I Like Pie Bakeshop. It has all types of pies, including savory ones, like pulled pork or carmelized onion and potato; and sweet pies, like mixed berry, chocolate chess, key lime, or strawberry rhubarb. It’s got your pie needs covered. Some Crust Bakery has been in the Claremont Village for decades. It’s a local favorite. We stop by to ogle the delicious looking cakes, cupcakes, and pastries.

For budget and family friendly things to do in California, click here. Check out these tips for mini-vacations in Southern California.

Have you ever spent a weekend in Claremont, California or another college town? What did your family enjoy? Tell us about it in the comments.