Replying to Los Angeles train station and luggage and walk of fame

The Red Line is really easy to use, as are the Blue, Gold, Green, and Purple. You can also trust the Metro Rapid bus line down Wilshire if you want to go further down Wilshire, though they are jam-packed. Check LA Metro for schedules.

And Expo!!!

Sorry, just had to add that. And hey, it could be useful to tourists. The museums in Exposition Park are amazing and easily accessible from the line.

Warning: the staff at the baggage check (which is the room opposite the baggage claim) in LA have a somewhat "Mediterranean attitude" and sometimes just walk off and leave the baggage check locked and unstaffed for an hour at a time. You'll want to leave at least an hour to check or retrieve your bags.

The Red Line is really easy to use, as are the Blue, Gold, Green, and Purple. You can also trust the Metro Rapid bus line down Wilshire if you want to go further down Wilshire, though they are jam-packed. Check LA Metro for schedules.

Is getting back to LAUS on the red line just as easy? How late does it run on weekdays? We will be in LA twice on an upcoming trip. Once on 6/29 and once on July fourth. Does anyone know if the red line will run a full schedule on the 4th? How about seeing any good firework shows from the Metro Plaza Hotel?

The red line runs until at least 12:30am, seven days a week. On July fourth, it will be running a Saturday/Sunday/Holiday schedule, with trains every ten minutes in both directions during the evening hours. I'm sorry that I don't have any information about fireworks shows. I suggest you try checking out the Los Angeles Times website.

We arrive in LAX at 8:15am and are spending the day in Los Angeles. Can I store 3 small carry on suitcases in the lounge if I have finished my train journey? Is there somewhere to lock up our luggage? Also, how far is it to the Walk of fame? Taxi ride? Bus? How do I want to get around in the city until after dinner. We are doing: walk of fame, Grauman's theatre, El Capitan, disney studio store, Farmer's market. Is that possible to do in a day? Or have I planned too much.thanks, Sue

Los Angeles is a very big city with huge distances and basically useless public transit. You could do the walk of fame, Grumman's, etc., but that would be a very expensive cab ride. There is a metro station in Hollywood, and there is metro at LAUS, but you'd have to check the map for that--don't know what lines/where and what not. Farmer's Market is not really near Hollywood and would be another expensive cab ride. (No metro there, either.) For the day, I could see Hollywood happening-especially with the subway-but not Farmer's too. To see LA properly, you really should rent a car.

I think the quote above about "basically useless public transit" is way out of date. The Los Angeles metro area has made great strides in improving public transit in recent years, and many people who are not familiar with the area are not aware of that.

Thanks for setting the record straight Sactobob. I was wondering what Braniff747SP was talking about since it didn't match up with anything I've read or heard in at least a decade.

In my most recent half dozen or more visits to Los Angeles, all of which involved arrival by train or plane, not by car, I was able to get around fine without ever renting a car, and only used a taxi on one occasion. I got around by walking, taking Amtrak Surfliners, Metrolink commuter trains, Metro rapid Red, Purple, Blue, Gold, Expo, and Orange lines, as well as the red Rapid buses and orange local buses. I got to the airport by using the non-stop express Flyaway bus direct from Union Station.

We arrive in LAX at 8:15am and are spending the day in Los Angeles. Can I store 3 small carry on suitcases in the lounge if I have finished my train journey? Is there somewhere to lock up our luggage? Also, how far is it to the Walk of fame? Taxi ride? Bus? How do I want to get around in the city until after dinner. We are doing: walk of fame, Grauman's theatre, El Capitan, disney studio store, Farmer's market. Is that possible to do in a day? Or have I planned too much.thanks, Sue

Los Angeles is a very big city with huge distances and basically useless public transit. You could do the walk of fame, Grumman's, etc., but that would be a very expensive cab ride. There is a metro station in Hollywood, and there is metro at LAUS, but you'd have to check the map for that--don't know what lines/where and what not. Farmer's Market is not really near Hollywood and would be another expensive cab ride. (No metro there, either.) For the day, I could see Hollywood happening-especially with the subway-but not Farmer's too. To see LA properly, you really should rent a car.

I think the quote above about "basically useless public transit" is way out of date. The Los Angeles metro area has made great strides in improving public transit in recent years, and many people who are not familiar with the area are not aware of that.

Thanks for setting the record straight Sactobob. I was wondering what Braniff747SP was talking about since it didn't match up with anything I've read or heard in at least a decade.

Is getting back to LAUS on the red line just as easy? How late does it run on weekdays? We will be in LA twice on an upcoming trip. Once on 6/29 and once on July fourth. Does anyone know if the red line will run a full schedule on the 4th? How about seeing any good firework shows from the Metro Plaza Hotel?

We arrive in LAX at 8:15am and are spending the day in Los Angeles. Can I store 3 small carry on suitcases in the lounge if I have finished my train journey? Is there somewhere to lock up our luggage? Also, how far is it to the Walk of fame? Taxi ride? Bus? How do I want to get around in the city until after dinner. We are doing: walk of fame, Grauman's theatre, El Capitan, disney studio store, Farmer's market. Is that possible to do in a day? Or have I planned too much.



thanks,

Sue

I'm not sure about bag storage, but about your plans: Los Angeles is a very big city with huge distances and basically useless public transit. You could do the walk of fame, Grumman's, etc., but that would be a very expensive cab ride. There is a metro station in Hollywood, and there is metro at LAUS, but you'd have to check the map for that--don't know what lines/where and what not. Farmer's Market is not really near Hollywood and would be another expensive cab ride. (No metro there, either.) For the day, I could see Hollywood happening-especially with the subway-but not Farmer's too. To see LA properly, you really should rent a car.

I think the quote above about "basically useless public transit" is way out of date. The Los Angeles metro area has made great strides in improving public transit in recent years, and many people who are not familiar with the area are not aware of that.

The subway is super easy to use, the redline will take you out to Hollywood no problem. The stations on that line around that area are really cool, interesting decorations.

I visited the Farmers Market via a bus tour that my friend and I took. It was one of the hop on hop off buses and did a big loop. We saw a bunch of stuff that way and it was easier than working out the buses on a first visit (I'm fine with the buses on subsequent visits, but I've never used them to get to the Farmers Market). I'm used to public transport but LA is huge, you have to be super organised.

The hop on hop off bus went from Hollywood, somewhere near the Kodak theatre. They should be easy to find, if you want to get one.

Also wander around LA Union Station, it's really pretty.

Have a great trip!

Like other people have mentioned it is super easy to take the subway!! Just go downstairs and get on the Redline and get off at Highland. You'll be right at the Kodak Theater (well maybe they changed the name but I'm talking about where the Grammys etc. are televised from). You''ll step right onto the Walk Of Fame and Graumann's is a few doors down. I don't know about making connections to Farmer's Market but I guess you can take the Melrose Bus straight back to Union Station when you're done. I'd go to Hollywood Boulevard first and then make a gametime decision as to whether I had time to go elsewhere.

The Kodak Theater has all but been replaced by the Nokia Theater across from Staples in Downtown. However, I was lucky enough to have watched the Rockettes there when I was about 9 for Christmas with my grandma.

Anyway, the best stop to get off at if you would like to be touristy is Hollywood/Highland. It is only a 22 minute ride, not that big a deal. They run every 12 minutes during most of the day, and are very convenient. You should have no problems on it. It will be easy to find the entrance to the subway, right at either side of the tunnel. In your case, it is right next to the Wetzel's Pretzels and Starbucks. The Red Line and Purple are identical. Make sure to look at the signs on the top of the car. If you don't see the color listed, then look for the train that says North Hollywood, which is in the San Fernando, valley, not where you want to get off at. If you still can't find it, there are now electronic boards indicating the next departures on both lines.

You can get everything done in a day. I promise. While you;re at the Farmer's Market, head right next door and just quickly check out the Grove, an upscale outdoor shopping and entertainment venue. The double-decker tram and the fountains can keep you entertained for a good while. I am not sure about the buses, but with just a little effort, you should not have a hard time figuring out what to do. The LA bus system is pretty developed, reaching all corners of the area and being pretty frequent along the more well-traveled corridors.

I hope you can figure out everything you need to, and have a good time in SoCal!

Like other people have mentioned it is super easy to take the subway!! Just go downstairs and get on the Redline and get off at Highland. You'll be right at the Kodak Theater (well maybe they changed the name but I'm talking about where the Grammys etc. are televised from). You''ll step right onto the Walk Of Fame and Graumann's is a few doors down. I don't know about making connections to Farmer's Market but I guess you can take the Melrose Bus straight back to Union Station when you're done. I'd go to Hollywood Boulevard first and then make a gametime decision as to whether I had time to go elsewhere.