Many times people have a long layover in Los Angeles, or they have the chance to spend a day checking out the city but are hesitant. They think the city is too expensive and difficult to maneuver. But you can spend a day in Downtown Los Angeles without having to deal with traffic or spending too much money. The next time you find yourself in Los Angeles, check out these options:
LAX FlyAway Bus
If you’re flying into LAX, one of the best ways to start your adventure is to hop on Lax FlyAway bus. LAX FlyAway can take you to Van Nuys, Union Station, Westwood, Santa Monica, or Hollywood in style. With air conditioned buses and leather seats, they take the stigma out of bus travel, providing you a quality service for a very low price. After exiting your terminal, hop on, pay $8 and head to Union Station to start your adventure.
Union Station
Union Station is a tourist attraction in and of itself. The Bus Plaza is absolutely beautiful with palm trees all around. Be sure and take a few pictures as the architecture and greenery is worth a look.
The lobby may look familiar to you; it has been used in countless movies, TV shows and commercials. If you are hungry and want to grab a bite before you head out, be sure to stop at Traxx Restaurant located in the entrance of Union Station. It’s the perfect blend of old and new.
Stanley Mosk Civil Courthouse
Once you exit Union Station you have several options. You can walk to Chinatown, Olvera Street or start walking south and head into downtown Los Angeles (DTLA). If you’d like a cheap meal with a great view, walk less than a mile to the Stanley Mosk Civil Courthouse in DTLA; it has a café on the ninth floor with outside seating and views of the city. You can also get a birdseye view of Walt Disney Concert Hall which is always a treat.
The Music Center & Disney Concert Hall
From the courthouse, spend some time enjoying The Music Center and the Disney Concert Hall (they are across the street from each other). You don’t have to pay to visit these places, and you don’t have to go inside as the outside architecture of Disney is enough to make you swoon while the fountains outside of the Music Center are beautiful.
Figat7th & LALive
From Disney Music Hall, you can make your way down to Figat7th and/or LALive which are just a couple of blocks from each other. Figat7th offers free art classes for kids over 3 every second and fourth Saturday of the month. The third Wednesday of every month there is a free movie screening at 6 p.m. with happy hour an hour before the film starts. A little further down is LA Live which is the mecca for sports and entertainment in DTLA.
Pershing Square
Next stop? Pershing Square, an “outdoor concert, event center, and public park.’’ Throughout the year there are a variety of events for you to enjoy, including food trucks and a weekly farmer’s market.
The Last Bookstore
Right down the street is The Last Bookstore, a mecca for anyone who loves vinyl records and books. It’s the largest of its kind in California, and you can take your time as you browse their enormous selection.
Grand Park
If you want to relax and soak in a bit of sun, head to Grand Park and enjoy the beautiful pink chairs on pristine grass. Take in the variety of social fabric that DTLA has to offer. There are interactive splash ponds to be enjoyed be people of all ages.
And there you have it, a day in Los Angeles that won’t break your budget!
