My husband and I spent a week here. The steep, driveway approach announces you are somewhere secret, special. We loved being removed from the bustle of the world below. And once you open that big old front door and enter the house, you feel like you have somehow acquired your own magnificent, historic Pasadena home.

Guests have free reign to paddle about the place, sustained by coffee, tea, water and soft drinks, homemade cookies and muffins at any hour. There is wine and cheese each evening. Not formal but gracious living at its best. Breakfast is at your convenience and to your own taste. One might prefer yogurt and granola to go with the fresh fruit and fresh squeezed orange juice, or have the excellent chili and egg pie with salsa and guacamole, or french toast, sausages - everything is housemade by the owner, Pat, a fine cook and considerate host. For our 5 am departure there was a breakfast to go secreted in the fridge.

There are a number of spots to sit outside to enjoy the view of the San Gabriel Mountains amid the sound of rushing water and the scent of eucalyptus. Some rooms have porches - we would ask for No. 2 next time. Some have showers or baths or both. This is a magnificent property perfectly located to enjoy the riches of Pasadena and it's proximity to Los Angeles, by car or on LA's growing metro. The nearby Gold Line will take you into the heart of LA in 30 minutes. There are excellent walks and hikes nearby, good restaurants, important architecture, museums and lots of history. We had a splendid time here. Thanks, Pat.

We have stayed in a lot of B&B's over the years and the AV Inn sits near the top. The owner, Pat, has restored this property beautifully. So many B&B are a hodgepodge of poorly executed "remodels" and piecemeal interior/exterior "improvements", leaving the guests wondering why they left their decent homes only to pay money to stay in a place that doesn't hit the mark. The AV Inn hits the mark-it looks great and is run well. If you want to avoid the big LA/Pasadena hotels, then the AV inn is the perfect choice.

We arrived at 5 pm after a stressful trip in rush hour freeway traffic and were greeted in the living room of this beautiful, quintisential California craftsman home with wine and cheese. A lovely welcome! Our room was spacious and nicely furnished, with beautiful views of the grounds and nearby mountains. Breakfast with fresh fruit and yummies like huevos ranchero was delicious. The Inn is located off a main street and the noise does travel to the outdoor spaces, but central air conditioning and heavy draperies on the windows made for restful sleeping. The location allows for easy access to LA proper and the downtown area of both South Pasadena and Pasadena are close by.

During a family crisis, I stayed there pretty frequently--had a number of rooms, etc. Not is the architecture beautiful, a nice combination craftsmen an modern, with lovely colors, furnishings, but the key point: the rooms are extremely comfortable, many with a view of the mountains and valleys, the hospitality superb, it is also peaceful and QUIET. Not once did I hear a TV! Silence! a rare treat. Could go on: endlessly thoughtful small touches, incredibly comfortable beds, etc. Owner takes great pride in making sure things are right.