Getting to the Hollywood Bowl from Downtown LA

If you're staying with us in the Downtown LA area and will be attending an event at the Hollywood Bowl, well lucky you!  The Hollywood Bowl is one of our favorite music venues, so you're in for a treat if it's your first time there.

Fortunately, getting there from the Downtown LA area is simple.

Rose Parade: Getting to Pasadena on New Year's Day

Every year, we have guests stay with us who will be attending the Rose Parade in Pasadena. For those international guests unfamiliar with the Rose Parade, it is a popular parade that has been running annually on January 1st for more than 125 years. It travels a 5 1/2 mile stretch of spectators, showcasing floats made out of - you guessed it - ROSES, as well as marching bands, cultural dance performances and more.

Options For Watching the Parade in Person:

1) Purchase official grandstand seats at Sharp Seating.

2) Watch curbside for free. Just note this will require waking up very, very early if you want secure a good viewing location.  Keep in mind some locals even camp out the previous night!

Getting There

1) Drive and park at one of the public lots.  Just get there very early because they will fill up.

2) Drive and purchase parking in advance at Sharp Seating.

3) Take public transportation by following these steps from our hotel:

• Catch Bus #16/316 right across the street from our location at 3rd St and Lucas Ave. 

• Get off at 6th St. and Hill St., which leaves you right in front of the Pershing Square Metro Station.

• From Pershing Square, catch the Metro Red or Purple line train toward Union Station.

• Get off at Union Station.

• From Union Station, catch the Metro Gold Line train toward Sierra Madre Villa Station.

• Get off at the Del Mar, Memorial Park, Lake or Allen stops.  

Trains begin running at 5am on January 1st, with extra trains on the Gold Line toward Pasadena. This is an excellent option if you want to avoid driving and being stuck in traffic in the Pasadena area.

Enjoy the parade!

Street Food Finds: Chopped Fresh Fruit With Chili Powder

Around the Downtown LA and surrounding areas, you will see Latin American fruit carts loaded with watermelon, cantaloupe, mango, jicama, cucumber and other seasonal fruits.  You get to customize your fruit selection and get only the fruits you want.  What makes these fruit carts special is that you can top your fruit with chili powder and/or lime.  We personally always get both because there is something really great about that sweet-meets-sour bite.

Downtown Eats: Langer's Deli

If you are a pastrami fan, you cannot visit Los Angeles without eating at the historic Langer's Deli.  Open since 1947, this deli offers the BEST pastrami sandwich you will ever eat in your life. Guaranteed.

We recommend you try The Original #19 Pastrami Sandwich, which includes hot pastrami, Russian dressing, cole slaw and swiss cheese on double baked rye bread.  Trust us when we say it's A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.

Getting to the Fashion District By Bus

The Los Angeles Fashion District is great for business travelers (buyers, designers, wholesalers), as well as leisure shoppers. Most transactions are wholesale but there are plenty of retail opportunities for every shopper.

There is an abundance of affordable clothing, shoes, perfume, knock off designer purses, toys, trinkets and more.  Looking for Gucci?  You won't find it here but you may find "Guchi."

The famed Santee Alley is reminiscent of weekend markets in Paris and South East Asian night markets. Need textiles, hair accessories or evening gowns?  No problem.  You can check out this website to see a detailed map of the Fashion District.  There's even an app you can download and use as a guide.

GO CARD Los Angeles: Is It Worth Buying?

Several of our guests invest in the GO CARD Los Angeles in order to save on sightseeing. It works great as long as you do some pre-planning and determine exactly what you want to see and do.  Just make sure you don't try to do too much in one day.  Since Los Angeles is huge and spread out, cramming too many activities into one day can rush you too much and ruin the experience.

These are the two most popular types of GO CARD's: