The Bissell House is located on the border of two cities, South Pasadena and Pasadena. South Pasadena is a Norman Rockwell painting come to life. This residential town provides an impressive selection of antique and specialty shops, including unique gourmet food and wine stores. A restored 1950's soda fountain and a large 1920's movie house create a warm small town atmosphere, often used by film companies. Father of the Bride is a recent example.

Pasadena, home to The Tournament of Roses Parade and Rose Bowl, offer a plentitude of culture, gourmet dining, shopping and entertaining. The Bissell House is located just one and ¼ mile from Old Town Pasadena. Old Town's buildings have been beautifully restored to recapture the charm of its original early 20th Century architecture. Within a four-block area guests can walk to dozens of gourmet restaurants, including Italian, Thai, French and Southwest. Two large movie complexes offer choice first-run films. Clothing stores, specialty boutiques, home stores and bookstores, which include J. Crew, Banana Republic, Crate & Barrell and Barnes & Noble provide sophisticated shopping. Guests can spend exciting evenings in Old Town dining and dancing, and Sunday mornings at a gospel brunch. They may stop for a drink at a sports bar, a pub, or a night club, or work-out in a state-of-the art gym.

Pasadena is known for its cultural riches, one being the Norton Simon Museum of Art, located in Old Town. The Pasadena Playhouse, The Huntington Library art collection and botanical gardens, the Pacific Asia Museum, and the Gamble House draw visitors from around the world. The greater Los Angeles area offers the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and the J. Paul Getty Museum, as well as many specialty museums. The Bissell House is 10 miles from Downtown Los Angeles, 20 miles from Westwood and Santa Monica, 25 miles from LAX and 15 miles from the Burbank Airport.