Plan Great Train Trips
in Los Angeles with LA Adventures
Did you know that Los Angeles has 87 miles of rail lines that run through the center of the city, and connect Los Angeles to Hollywood, Pasadena, Culver City, Long Beach and Universal Studios? In fact, many of Southern California's world famous tourist attractions such as Grauman's Chinese Theater, The Disney Concert Hall, and the Space Shuttle Endeavour are accessible by rail.
True, you can't get to the beach by rail but that will change in 2015, when the expanding Expo Line reaches Santa Monica. And for travelers in search of the unique, hundreds of hidden treasures and LA insider destinations are just a few minutes walk from a metro rail station.
But LA's a big place. How do you decide what to see and where to go? How can you best take advantage of the Los Angeles area's eclectic mix of theaters, restaurants, museums, nightclubs and sports venues? How can you see the sights without the stress of scheduling and planning? How can you save money on gas, rental cars, parking tickets while enjoying Los Angeles from sunrise to sunset? By taking one of the 15 train trips in LA Adventures - the first travel guide to exploring the Los Angeles area by rail. The 278 page full color paperback book gives you lots of ideas for planning great train trips in Los Angeles.
Here are a few tips to get you started on your LA train trips:
1) Download a free metrorail map. The map will give you an idea of how extensive the rail system is in the Los Angeles area, which includes Pasadena, Culver City, Long Beach and North Hollywood.
2) If you are visiting LA for the first time or really want easy access to the rail system, consider staying in a metro-friendly hotel. We found the best hotels in the Los Angeles area that are 1) Highly rated on Trip Advisor AND; 2) Close to a train station (within a five to ten minute walk).
3) Get a TAP card with a day pass. You can only ride the metro rail system with a TAP card, there are no paper tickets. A TAP card is a blue plastic card that functions like a metro debit card. You add value to your TAP card by buying a single one-way fare, a day, weekly or monthly pass at any self-service ticket machine. A day pass is a great deal, for $5 you can ride all day, and save money on your train trips.
4) Plan your museum visits on Free Days. Many of LA's finest museums have special discounts if you visit on Thursday. MOCA is free on Thursday after five, so are the Geffen and The Japanese American Museum. Museums that are free on Tuesday include; The California African American Museum and The Natural History Museum is free on the first Tuesday of every month. In Pasadena the California Museum of Art and the Norton Simon Museum are free the first Friday of every month.
5) Put the metro helpline number on your cellphone 1-323-466-3876. The helpline is one of MTA's great resources. You can actually talk to a live human being who can help you navigate the train system and let you know when the next train is due to arrive.
6) Visit MTA's "Exclusive Discounts for Metro Riders" page to find out who offers discounts to metro rail riders. For example, many museums, restaurants, theaters, stores, tour guides and other family friendly businesses offer special deals and discounts when you show your TAP card.
For more insight on best attractions in Los Angeles, see our Top Ten List and start planning your great train trips through the city.
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