Go Metro

Metro operates four light rail lines (Blue, Green, Gold and Expo). Light rail is similar to a tram, it may operate on or parallel to surface streets, but with a right-of-way.  Metrolink/Amtrak trains are: larger, travel longer distances, have a lower frequency of service, and connect suburbs with urban centers.  Metro light rail trains cover the more urban areas, operate more frequently, have a greater number of stops, and if you are traveling with a bicycle you must stand with it.

My previous post was mainly centered around commuter rail lines (Amtrak/Metrolink/COASTER).  A map of the activities I listed there is shown below, and linked here.

State/National Park Destinations via Commuter Rail

I absolutely love the guide Metro has put together of things to do at (or near) its stations http://media.metro.net/docs/metro_destinations_guide.pdf 

The only thing is that many of the destinations marked on there are for shopping or have high cost of admission.

Ideas for Bicycle/Pedestrian Tourism

(1) Lake Balboa (6300 Balboa Bl) is off the Balboa stop on the Orange Line, which is actually a bus.  Riding a bike all the way there is possible, but the subway (red line) to the NoHo station and bus (orange line) to Balboa is also possible.  Maybe we could ride public transportation one way and ride bikes back.

(2) LA County Arboretum (301 North Baldwin Ave, Arcadia, CA 91007) is off the Gold line at Sierra Madre Villa.  A 2 mile walk East on Foothill Blvd. then South on Baldwin Ave will get you there.  Adults are $9, students with ID are $6.

(3) Norton Simon Museum (411 W Colorado Bl) is off the Gold line at Memorial Park. Less than 1 mile West on Colorado Blvd and $12 will get you in. Admission is free for all visitors the first Friday of every month from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.

There is a cool exhibit at the museum right now that echoes the theme of "National Chemistry Week"
it's called "A Revolution of the Palette" and shows how chemists created colors for artists
The exhibit is on display through January 4th, 2016

(4) Old LA Farmer's Market (every Tuesday from 3PM to 7PM) is off the Gold line at Highland Park. Barbeque pits are available at Sycamore Grove Park (6150 Piedmont Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90042).

(5) Historic Downtown Farmer's Market (every Sunday from 9am-2pm) 2 blocks from the Pershing Square station on the Red or Purple line.

(6) Grand Park Farmer's Market (Tuesday from 10am - 2pm) off the Civic Center station of the Red or Purple line.

(7) Hollywood Farmer's Market (Sunday from 8am-1pm) off the Red Line station at Hollywood/Vine.

(8) Central Avenue Farmer's Market (Thursday from 10am-3pm) off the Blue line at Vernon.  Walk West on Vernon to North 2 blocks on Central.

The "National Chemisty Week" theme also deals with the chemistry of natural pigments in foods

(9) Barnsdall Farmer's Market (Monday from 11am-4pm) off the Red line at Vermont/Sunset.  Walk NorthWest to the Barnsdall Art Park.

(10) Watts Healthy Farmer's Market (Saturday from 10am-2pm) is West from the 103rd Street/Watts Towers station of the Blue line.

(11) Mar Vista Farmer's Market (Sundays from 9am-2pm) Grand View at Venice Blvd.  Take the Expo line to Culver City, ride toward the beach (downhill) on Venice Blvd. Market will be on your left. Culver West Alexander Park (4162 Wade St, Los Angeles, CA 90066) has 3 barbeque grills.

(12) The Grove Farmer's Market (6333 W.3rd St. Los Angeles, CA 90036) has Pan Pacific Park nearby, which has BBQ pits. Taking the Purple line to Wilshire/Western and biking North on Western, West on 4th St, North on S Cochran Ave, and West on 3rd St will get you there.  The Grove is open 7 days a week.

Destinations via Bus, Bike & Light Rail

(13) Glassell Park Farmer's Market (3150 North San Fernando Road, Los Angeles, CA 90065) is on Saturdays from 10am-3pm at the Goodwill Community Enrichment Center. There is a pretty big park called Ernest E. Debs Regional Park (4235 Monterey Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90032) that has barbeque pits.  From the Glendale Metrolink, you would go down San Fernando Rd and take Eagle Rock Blvd to York Blvd.  Then Ave 50/52 South towards the park entrance.

(14) Burbank Farmer's Market (N 3rd St & E Orange Grove Ave, Burbank, CA 91502) is Saturdays from 8am-12:30pm.

(15) Toluca Lake Farmer's Market (4500 Sancola Ave, Toluca Lake, CA 91602) is open Sunday from 9:30am-2:30pm.

(16) Echo Park Farmer's Market (1125 Logan St, Los Angeles, CA 90026) is Fridays from 3pm-7pm.

(17) Glendale Farmer's Market (Chess Park, 227 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA 91203) Thursdays from 2-7pm.

(18) South Pasadena Farmer's Market (Meridian Ave & El Centro St, Pasadena, CA 91101) off the Gold line at South Pasadena Station. Open Summer Hours Thursday 4-8pm.

Burbank Farmer's Market

(19) Old Pasadena Farmer's Market (E Holly St at Fair Oaks Ave, Pasadena, CA 91103) on Sundays from 9am-2pm. Accessible from the Gold line Memorial Park Station.

(20) Montrose Harvest (2300 Honolulu Avenue at Ocean View Boulevard) Sunday from 9am-2pm.

One of our crazy ideas is to take people to a farmer's market to buy produce.  Then we could find a park and set up a camping stove or use publicly available outdoor BBQ grills.  We would have a picnic/cookout with the items purchased at the Farmer's Market.  All of this could be accomplished using public transportation together with bicycles!

A map of these locations is here: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=z6UqgDHbmMJY.kzQ7uL5jQXps&usp=sharing

More Farmer's Markets HERE http://projects.latimes.com/farmers-markets/

National Chemistry Week (NCW) is celebrated the week of Mole Day (10/23/15)