I lived in Pasadena for three years and to my surprise I loved LA. It has great restaurants, lots of fun ethnic neighborhoods, several good art museums. In an hour you can be at the beach, in the mountains or in the desert. I also went to high school in the DC area and it’s a great town in terms of things to do and stuff to see. I think either town would be a great place to go to college.
And seeing that the OP has made a decision, I wish her daughter the best! (I think the point that UCLA students are mostly from CA is a good one.)