Southern California has a rail system that connects our beach cities in Los Angeles County with our inner cities and downtowns. The train ride we took started in Long Beach, which is about fifteen minutes from our home. Once there, we boarded the Blue Line which took us into the heart of downtown Los Angeles. That ride took us about an hour and fifteen minutes. We then changed trains to the Red Line which then took us to Union Station. Union Station is the main hub where the Amtrak and other rail lines meet in L.A. It is directly across from the famous Olvera Street, the Children's Museum, and other great L.A. attractions. We left the station and walked three blocks north into Chinatown.
We had some friends along for the trip. Wyatt invited Bryant and his mother, and I invited two family friends. They are sisters and love going on excursions with us. We all enjoyed riding the rails and seeing the menagerie of people that depend on this form of transportation. It certainly was an adventure! Business people on their cell phones and lap tops, mothers with babies in strollers, students studying on their way home, fathers bringing home groceries from the market, and of course the performers trying to make some change shared the cars with us as we made our way into Chinatown.
Once there we used a map to see the local landmarks and did some window shopping. The picture of us on the staircase was taken in the front of a famous alleyway. It turns out that Jackie Chan filmed part of the movie "Rush Hour" in this alley as well as in other parts of Chinatown.
We walked along the residential streets and admired the eclectic styles of the homes in the neighborhoods. We made our way through the marketplace and went into several stores selling all sorts of touristy items. It turned out to be a great day!
Helpful Hints- Pack a backpack with extra food and snacks.
- Charge cell phones and have emergency numbers programmed in speed dial.
