Even though the Metro Purple Line is the shortest rail line in Los Angeles County, there’s an endless amount of places to go and sights to see at every stop. With the help of Metro, you can experience the Purple Line all day for only $5 with a $5 Day Pass.
Continue reading for some suggestions for your trip via the Purple Line:
Civic Center Station:
When you exit the first stop at Civic Center, you are right in the middle of Grand Park, Downtown’s largest public open space. Here you can find Farmer’s Markets every Tuesday and listen to live music from a local band for free. Metro also offers riders a free pair of sunglasses by showing a valid TAP card at the Information Booth at Grand Park events. To see what’s coming up at Grand Park, check out the event calendar. Did you know that there is a museum about how Los Angeles gets its water? Well, there is! At the John Ferraro Building, go to the LADWP museum to learn all about the history of the aqueduct system in Los Angeles. To find other fun places to go off of the Civic Center Station, visit this past post here.
Pershing Square Station:
Bunker Hill offers more than meets the eye. Summer concerts, a plethora of food options, and art studios all inhabit a home off of the Pershing Square Station. For example, grab a bite to eat at LA’s oldest open-air market, Grand Central Market, and then head over to the public venue at the California Plaza to hear live music provided by Grand Performances. To get there, ride Angel’s Flight for only $0.25 with a valid Metro pass. While heading up the hill on Angel’s Flight, look to the left to view Angel’s Knoll. Look familiar? It’s the little hill where 500 Days of Summer was filmed, the perfect place to recreate a favorite movie moment. Like books instead of movies? At the intersection of 5th and Spring lies one of Downtown’s hidden gems: The Last Bookstore. This two-story bookstores stocks traditional books ranging from new to old on the first floor and used books arranged by color on the second floor. It’s a great little place to visit for some down time.
7th/Metro Station:
One of the biggest challenges when going out for lunch with friends is finding a place where everyone can find a dish they like. At the newly renovated Fig @ 7th shopping center, the challenge ceases to exist. At the bottom level, food ranging from chicken curry to grilled cheese to farm-fresh salads are all whipped up for hungry lunchgoers. Also, a Farmer’s Market is also held every week on Thursday on the 1st level during lunch.
Westlake/Macathur Park Station:
Thinly cut swiss cheese. Coleslaw with just the right amount of mayo. Rye bread that’s soft in the middle and crunchy on the outside. The best cut pastrami this side of NYC. Put all that together and you get the legendary #19 pastrami sandwich from Westlake’s Langer’s Deli. This LA landmark serves up some of the best deli meats Los Angeles has to offer, and there’s no doubt that the #19 is the way to go. It’s so good that there’s even a line outside the door starting at 11 a.m. Needless to say, Langer’s Deli is the King of the Deli on the Purple Line. Take your sandwich to-go and then sit at MacArthur Park for a great view of Downtown LA or even a concert provided by the park’s Levitt Pavilion.
Wilshire/Vermont Station:
Take the Purple Line to see one of LA’s cultural enclaves, Koreatown, home base for some of the best Korean BBQ in the LA County. A personal favorite is Soowon Galbi, just one block away from the Wilshire/Vermont station. They serve up a great selection of thin strips of meat and dozens of vegetables dishes all ready to be grilled at the table. After making your stomach happy, head over to Feel Karaoke to sing your heart out.
Wilshire/Western Station:
On the last stop of the Purple Line you’ll find an Art Deco landmark on the corner of Wilshire and Western Boulevard better known as The Wiltern Theatre. This complex hosts concerts and live shows throughout the year. In front of the theatre, you can catch the Metro Rapid 720 that travels through Little Ethiopia and stops at Museum Row. With a valid TAP card, you can save $2 on admission at LACMA and save $1.25 on admission at the Page Museum. The La Brea Tar Pits is a sight to see, along with all of the historic art at the museums.
Categories: Go Metro, Metro Lifestyle