From Easter egg hunts to theme parks, beaches and museums, Metrolink can take families and out-of-town guests to the most popular and eclectic places in Southern California this spring break while avoiding traffic and parking hassles.
Here’s a brief round-up of venues within easy access of Metrolink stations:
Swallows Day Parade
Take Metrolink to the 60th annual Swallows Day Parade Saturday, March 24, at 11 a.m. in downtown San Juan Capistrano and enjoy a $10 unlimited rides fare. This is one of the nation’s largest non-motorized parades and features marching bands, mariachis, children and adults dressed in colorful swallows costumes and Western wear, equestrian riders, decorated horse drawn wagons, local scouts, and more. The parade theme this year is Diamond Trails & Swallows Tales.
It’s just a short walk to the parade route and mission from the Metrolink San Juan Capistrano train station. Metrolink has direct service on its Orange County and Inland Empire-Orange County lines.
Easter Egg Hunt
One of the largest Easter egg hunts anywhere (15,000 eggs) will be held Easter Sunday, April 1, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.at Grand Hope Park at 9th and Hope streets in downtown Los Angeles. The event benefits homeless families and children. Metrolink riders can transfer for free to the subway at Union Station for a short ride to 7th Street/Metro Center Station within several blocks of the park. The cost is $25 per family (up to seven people). Buy tickets online at http://newcitychurchla.com/easterfest/.
Museums
Keep learning on track for students this spring break by taking Metrolink to small and large museums spread across the Southland including:
· The San Bernardino History and Railroad Museum is just steps away from Metrolink’s downtown San Bernardino Station.
· Riverside Art Museum is about a half mile walk from the Metrolink downtown Riverside Station near the historic Mission Inn Hotel.
· Fullerton Museum Center (check out original Fender guitars) is several blocks from the Metrolink Fullerton Station.
· Bowers Art Museum in Santa Ana is about a mile from Metrolink Santa Ana Station but OCTA Line 53 bus goes part of the distance.
· Southwest Museum of the American Indian, open Saturdays, is steps from the Metro Gold Line Southwest Museum Station. Metrolink riders can transfer free to the Gold Line at Los Angeles Union Station.
· The Broad, a new contemporary art museum with free general admission in downtown Los Angeles, is across from a second modern art museum (MOCA). Metrolink riders can transfer free to the subway at Union Station and go one stop to Civic Center station to visit the museums.
· The California Science Center, Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, and the California African American Museum are in Exposition Park near downtown Los Angeles. Metrolink riders transfer for free at Union Station to the Metro subway and then the Expo Line at 7th Street/Metro Center.
· Movie and television memorabilia, world records and the bizarre are on display at these Hollywood museums: Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, the Hollywood Wax Museum, Hollywood Entertainment Museum, Guinness World Records Museum, and Ripley’s Believe It or Not. At Union Station, transfer free to the Metro Red Line for a short ride to Hollywood. While there check out the famous stars’ foot and hand prints at TLC Chinese Theatre and see the nearby Egyptian Theatre, a World Heritage site. The first Hollywood film premiered here.
· The Nethercutt Collection of classic automobiles has been called one of America’s five greatest automobile collections by Autoweek magazine. Admission is free. It’s located 1.6 miles from Metrolink’s Sylmar Station but auto enthusiasts can take Metro Bus Line 224 from there to the museum.
· Western movie lore and Native American history is housed in a small museum at Metrolink’s Chatsworth depot.
Discover the World via Metrolink
· Olvera Street, where Los Angeles began, Little Tokyo and Chinatown are within walking distance of historic Los Angeles Union Station, a destination unto itself. Metrolink riders also can take a short free subway ride from there to explore Grand Central market and ride the iconic Angels Flight, the shortest railway in the world at just 298 feet.
· The Old West beckons just a few blocks from the Metrolink Newhall Station. See buffalo grazing at William S. Hart Regional Park or tour the famed silent movie cowboy actor’s home or take the kids hiking on easy trails or let them feed barnyard animals. The Western Walk of Stars in nearby Old Town Newhall pays homage to movie and television cowboys from John Wayne to Roy Rogers.
· Sip cool malt at Watson’s Soda Fountain & Cafe, established in 1899. It’s in the heart of the City of Orange Old Towne Historic District, which covers a full square mile and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The city claims it’s the antique capital of California, and dozens of vintage collectibles shops attest to that. More than 1,300 homes and businesses, many built before the 1920’s, dot the historic district. Stroll past them to the Chapman University campus and visit the library that maintains archives and features an exhibit from the popular California’s Gold television series hosted by the late Huell Howser.
· Claremont and Fullerton are fun to explore on foot from the Metrolink stations there. Families can make a day of it as they also can in Hollywood, a free Metro Red Line subway ride from Los Angeles Union Station served by Metrolink from around Southern California. Oxnard and Moorpark also are fun destinations that can be explored by making connections to local public transit at the Metrolink stations.