Summer is almost over which means that kids will be going back to school. Organizing a last minute summer getaway does not have to be difficult, time consuming, or expensive. An easy way to jam pack last minute fun is to ride the Metro Red Line which provides family-fun for kids all ages. With the help of Metro, families can ride any bus or rail line all day for only $5 with a $5 Day Pass.
Continue reading for some suggestions to make the end of summer worthwhile via the Red Line:
1. A hidden gem of Los Angeles sits atop of the L.A. City Hall on the 27th floor. The Tom Bradley Room is a place you won’t find on the main website, yet should be recognized for its historic beauty. Portraits of past mayors greet you on the 26th floor as you ascend the stairs up to the 27th floor to a room used for special events and luncheons. The room is surrounded by an observation deck that unveils a beautiful 360 view of Downtown Los Angeles and beyond. It is free to the public during the hours of 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and easily accessible off of the Civic Center Station.
2. Also off of the Civic Center Station lies the Museum of Contemporary Art in the California Plaza. If you show a valid TAP card at the MOCA box office, you can receive 2-for-1 admission. The museum hosts a free family event, Sunday Studio, the first Sunday of the month. For a quick view of public art, just walk through the plaza and look at the sculptures. The Walt Disney Concert Hall has daily audio tours and Saturday morning concerts for ages 5-11 at various times throughout the year.
3. You could probably spend the entire day along Hollywood Boulevard off of Hollywood/Highland Station. With the help of Metro, you can save at participating locations at the Hollywood & Highland shopping center. Along the boulevard, star-struck tourists scan the bronze-and-pink star plaques on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for favorite stars’ names or pose for the camera with Iron Man, Captain Jack Sparrow and other film character look-alikes who hang out in front of TCL Chinese Theatere. In the courtyard of the Chinese Theatere, kids can step into the feet of the cast of “Harry Potter” series and other famous celebrities (Marilyn Monroe’s feet are so tiny!).
4. A family favorite has always been Disney’s El Capitan Theatere, where kids can see Disney movies in 3D. Starting August 9, Planes 3D will be playing until September 18. After watching a movie, grab some dessert at Disney’s Soda Fountain and Studio Store. Kids can choose from a variety of ice cream flavors to compliment a hot fudge sundae. If you have a big family, order “Mickey’s Masterpiece”…only if you dare.
5. Also along Hollywood Boulevard are a series of museums for the whole family to enjoy. Have a kid who loves the wacky and bizarre? Then the Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum is the perfect place for weird family fun. You can also get up close and person with Angelina Jolie and Elvis Presley all in the same room at Hollywood Wax Museum.
6. If you want to spend the day at an amusement park, then the Red Line has you covered. Off of Universal City Station lies Universal Studios Hollywood, the perfect place for a family who loves movies. Families can enjoy movie-themed rides such as Transformers, a studio tour, and more. Across the street from the subway station is a free shuttle bus that will conveniently take you to Universal Studios Hollywood and CityWalk Hollywood. At Citywalk, families can choose from enjoying a comedy club, indoor sky diving (very cool – don’t wear a dress!), and a huge candy store (a personal favorite).
Categories: Destination Discounts, Go Metro
[…] Cuando sale de Civic Center, está justo en Grand Park, el espacio abierto público más grande del centro de L.A. donde puede encontrar todos los martes un Mercado de Granjeros y escuchar gratis música en vivo de una banda local. Metro también le ofrece a sus pasajeros un par de lentes para el sol gratis con sólo mostrar su tarjeta válida TAP en la cabina de información de eventos en Grand Park. Para saber lo que habrá, cheque el calendario de eventos. ¿Sabía que ahí hay un museo sobre cómo obtiene LA su agua? Se encuentra en el edificio John Ferraro y pertenece a LADWP. Para encontrar otros lugares de interés en la estación Civic Center haga clic aquí. […]
The $5 day pass is not a bad deal, but the statement “families can ride any bus or rail line all day for only $5 with a $5 Day Pass” makes it sound as though one $5 pass is good for the entire family, which is not true, correct? Last I checked, it’s $5/person, which quickly becomes less attractive viz. car travel… (4 people x $5 = $20). Too bad Metro’s TAP system requires a card per person, otherwise Metro could do “group tickets” like Metrolink does.
What about Barndall Park?
Get off at the Vermont/Sunset station and walk up to the park. Awesome art gallery/museum inside and outside. Great place to take pictures and take in the views from the hill.
I would add a ride up to the Griffith Park Observatory using LADOT Observatory Dash Shuttle (Red line Sunset and Vermont stop). Not included in the day pass from metro but a ride is just 50 cents and there is a lot to do once you get up the hill. A caveat however is there are concerts at the Greek theater that impact the route to the observatory so often times the published schedule gets out of whack. http://www.ladottransit.com/other/observatoryshuttle/observatoryshuttle.php
Only that LAUSD is already back to school. Is there a way to get a metro pass for a group of people, because buying a day pass for everyone in a large group really starts to get expensive.