Author: Lena Smith
Only in the city of Angels can a trip on the bus make a rider feel both right at home and mildly out of place. The bus, like most public forms of transportation, is much cheaper than driving, and saves the commuter valuable time from making endless circles looking for parking. Take heed, though, as bus routes can be confusing and no one wants to end up in Compton when she was aiming for Beverly Hills. With a little help from the guide below, any Occidental student can successfully traverse L.A. without breaking the bank. Check if a transfer requires crossing the street and make sure to know the name of the right stop. There is also a very useful iPhone app called Nextrip, which gives the time of the next arrival of any L.A. Metro bus. During the trip, keep an eye out the window in case the bus passes somewhere worth visiting that is not described below.
Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood is one of those places that must be visited to earn bragging rights to friends out of town. The street is crowded; the shopping is mainstream, typical of nearly every American mall; and one of the most prominent sites is Madame Tussaud’s wax museum. Grauman’s Chinese Theater shows blockbusters and has on display the hand prints of the stars.
With its combination of glamour and dusty sets, Old Hollywood can be seen just a few blocks away at the Hollywood Heritage Museum. The museum is housed in the barn where the first Paramount films were created a hundred years ago.
The 180 and 181 lines go directly from Eagle Rock and Colorado to Hollywood and Vine. Approximately one hour each way.
Melrose Avenue
Melrose combines funky and alternative shopping with delicious food. Shops to look for are Crossroads Trading Co. and American Vintage, both of which can supply a closet full of clothing appropriate for a Macklemore concert. For food, Pink’s on the corner of Melrose and LaBrea sells hot dogs that are legendary in L.A. The establishment is also a good location for celebrity-spotting. But if the line is too long, other delicious meals can be found in the eclectic assortment of restaurants lining Melrose.
On Sundays, Melrose offers a flea market called the Melrose Trading Post. It is stocked with every trinket and piece of vintage clothing imaginable. When thrift shopping becomes exhausting, the crepes and sweet potato chips also at the Melrose Trading Post are mouth watering. All worth the $2 admission fee.
To get to Melrose Avenue, walk on Sunset Blvd from Hollywood. On the way, stop at Amoeba Records and explore the selection of discounted music in every genre from bebop to indie rock.
Take the 180 or 181 lines to Hollywood and Vine, then walk or take the Dash Hollywood. Approximately 1.5 hours each way.
Exposition Park
Exposition (Expo) Park is the site of a sports and concert arena, three museums, an IMAX theater and a rose garden. If it takes more than a day to see everything in a museum, it would take weeks to see everything at Expo Park. During the day, the museums offer a chance to see petrified wildlife foreign to L.A. at the Natural History Museum and learn about space at the Science Center or African American heritage at the African American Museum; all offer discounted tickets for students. The Coliseum hosts sporting events and concerts. Even without visiting any of these venues, Expo Park is a nice place to go for a walk and just enjoy being off campus.
Take the 84 bus from Eagle Rock Boulevard and transfer to the Metro Silver Line. Get off at the 110 FRWY/37th Street, USC station. Approximately 1.5 hours each way.
Downtown L.A.
Downtown L.A.’s sidewalks are mainly shaded by skyscrapers and peppered with suit-donning business people with little in way of diversion. The exception is Grand Central Market, where the starving college student can taste affordable food from numerous vendors who represent the different cultures characteristic of L.A. Many of the offerings are close to the quality of a home-cooked meal. Some possibilities are pot-stickers, curries and tamales, as well as burgers and frozen yogurt. Fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts and beans are among many products that may be good to stock up on for healthy snacking.
Pershing Square is just a few blocks away surrounded by cafes and shopping that caters to the worker on his or her lunch break. Also close by is Spring Street, good for fancy dining and delicious coffee at Spring for Coffee.
Take the 83 line from Eagle Rock Boulevard directly to Grand Central Market. Approximately 45 minutes each way.
The Grove
Trendy shopping and delicious local food are all under one (figurative) roof at The Grove shopping center and the attached farmers market. The newest store is Topshop Topman, a very British clothing store that highlights, exaggerates and overstates its Britishness. The clothes are adorable – along the lines of H&M; – but with a heftier price tag.
At the farmers market, there is a permanent collection of stalls and restaurants that are open daily. Bennett’s makes ice cream on site, The French Crepe Company not only makes delicious crepes, but an animatedly largest jar of Nutella, and there is an abundance of toffee, fudge and other candy.
Take the 180 or 181 lines towards Hollywood to the end of the line then take the Metro Local Line 212 to LaBrea and 2nd streets. Approximately 1.5 hours each way.
Santa Monica
It is possible to get to Santa Monica on the bus. But it does take about two hours each way.
The Third Street Promenade is a good stop for mainstream shopping and hosts talented street performers. Close by, the Santa Monica Pier is a baby theme park, ideal for munching on kettle corn and of course the beach is always just a few steps away.
Only 1.5 miles south, Santa Monica becomes a real beach town. On Main Street, the shops and restaurants are mostly locally owned. As a result, there is a wide selection of unique products and the service is personal and friendly. Urth Caffe is especially good for breakfast and lunch with a unique selection of perfectly roasted coffees.
Take the 83 line to Downtown L.A. and get off at Spring and 7th streets. Then take the 20 line west to Colorado and Ocean avenues. Approximately 2 hours each way.
Arts District
Explore the Arts District to get a sense of what L.A. could look like without its ban on street art. Practically every wall is covered with a mural or has been tagged hundreds of times. Expressive art adorns every block and alley and offers something new to look at each visit. There is also an interesting collection of local art establishments and stores, some of which are similar to museum gift shops and clothing boutiques. Stay within the district’s few square blocks because taking in the street art captures the city’s urban expression in an inimitable way.
Take the 83 line to Spring and 3rd streets. Approximately 45 minutes each way.
Glendale and Pasadena
Glendale and Pasadena are close to Occidental, perfect for shorter trips. For a day in Pasadena that is not just one more pass up and down Colorado Boulevard, walk one block over (away from the freeway) to Green Street. This street hosts a refreshing selection of restaurants and shops, most of which are local and carry unique selections of food, clothing and trinkets. Best of all, on the section of street close to the Colorado Boulevard Target, there are vintage clothing stores.
With the Galleria and the Americana adjacent to each other, Glendale covers all bases for popular stores: Anthropologie to Barnes and Noble to The Cheesecake Factory to an 18-screen movie theater.
Take the 180 or 181 lines toward Pasadena or toward Hollywood for Glendale. Approximately 20 minutes each way.
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