Post by Lily Cheng, GIC Peer Mentor 2021
Hollywood, Santa Monica, and Disneyland – there are so many world-famous places of interest you can visit in L.A. In this short blog, I’d like to share places you can explore, asan anteater who does not drive, for a one-day weekend trip to L.A.– the second biggest city in the U.S.
Transportation
Irvine Amtrak Station – L.A. Union Station. Amtrak is probably the most popular way to get to L.A.. You can purchase a one-way Amtrak ticket on the official website for $19 via Pacific Surfliner. There are multiple schedules per day and please make sure you don’t miss the last schedule before you head back. It takes about 15min to Uber to the Irvine Amtrak Station from UCI. Here is the map:
From UCI to Irvine Amtrak Station – screenshot from google map
Tustin Metrolink Station – L.A. Union Station. Alternatively, you could go with Tustin Metrolink Station’s Orange County Line. There is a vending machine right at the station where you can purchase a ticket directly. I usually prefer Metrolink to Amtrak to go to L.A. because it’s closer to UCI, and cheaper (only $10 on weekends, check out this). It takes around the same amount of time (40min) to get to the Union Station as going by Amtrak. Here is the map:
From UCI to Tustin Metrolink Station – screenshot from google map
Union Station
Union Station is a transportation hub of L.A. For example, you can take another train to the old Chinatown which is only 1 station away. There are some good restaurants in the old Chinatown, but more options could be found in San Gabrielle. You can also just walk out of Union Station and visit Little Tokyo, which takes about 15 minutes walking.
Little Tokyo
Food
There are many great sushi bars and ramen restaurants in Little Tokyo. My favorite is Shin-Sen-Gumi. If you plan to go, I recommend getting on the waitlist first, as it could take some time before you are called, and then pass the time by shopping in the Little Tokyo Village across from the street. In general, this is a good strategy for all popular restaurants in Little Tokyo. The first time I went to Little Tokyo, I was with a friend who is half-Japanese, and she told me that the restaurants there was authentic. The bubble tea stores in Little Tokyo are also tasty.
Picture of Shin-Sen-Gumi Restaurant. From website https://shinsengumigroup.com/
Bookstore
There is a popular Japanese bookstore Kinokuniya located in the Weller Court shopping mall. There are many book varieties (esp. comics) and cute Japanese toys.
Picture of Kinokuniya Los Angeles from https://usa.kinokuniya.com/stores-kinokuniya-los-angeles
Haircut
If you are Asian, barbershops in Little Tokyo (e.g., Hair Craft) are also recommended. Please make sure you make a reservation a few days in advance.
Museums
To learn more about Japanese American history, you can visit the Japanese American National Museum right outside Little Tokyo. It’s a well-designed history museum and takes around 40 min – 1 hour to visit. If you like modern art, I really recommend you to the Broad where you can see Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirror Rooms. The museum is free, but I recommend you reserve a ticket in advance because it can easily take an hour to wait in line.
Picture of the Broad Museum from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Broad
Other places
There are some places that are a little further, but you can still reach them with public transportation (e.g., Hollywood and Santa Monica). But if you want to visit Disneyland or the Getty Center, it’s necessary to drive. Be sure to look into car rental options and plan your trip in advance.
Remember to check the train schedules so that you will be able to get back.
Note: The ticket price and schedules of public transportation may change during the pandemic period. Make sure to double-check everything before you set off.