Sherri Henkin | Senior Member
Do you have an extra day during your trip to the STC Summit in Anaheim, Californina, 15–18 May? Consider spending that day downtown in Los Angeles!
Getting to L.A.
From Anaheim, you could rent a car and battle the 405 other freeways (we call fast-paced four- or five-lane thoroughfares freeways, not highways). Once in Los Angeles, there are parking structures, on-street lots, or meters.
A more relaxing way to travel from Anaheim is by Amtrak. You’ll arrive at Union Station. From Union Station, there are several public transportation options to downtown neighborhoods, museums, and cultural sites. Use the Metro’s website to plan your trip.
Sites
The closest historical area to Union Station is Chinatown. Explore the history of Chinese culture in Los Angeles at the Chinese American Museum. Take a walking tour to visit the unique shops. And refresh at one of the area’s restaurants.
Perhaps you prefer to learn about “the birthplace of Los Angeles”? Explore Olvera Street, best done by foot. Olvera Street offers ethnic restaurants, shopping, and entertainment.
Another L.A. icon is the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the winter home of the LA Philharmonic—and May is still winter season at the Phil. Check out the schedule for the concerts around the Summit dates. Can’t make it to one of the concerts? Consider touring the Music Center complex and view the striking architecture; perhaps enjoy a picnic lunch on the Plaza.
Downtown L.A. hosts historical, art, cultural, and science museums. Take your pick! Bonus: several museums offer free admission days!
- Japanese American National Museum
- California African American Museum
- MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art)
- The Broad. Opened in late 2015, it features modern and contemporary art
- GRAMMY Museum exhibits show the history of the GRAMMY® Awards and music art and technology
- FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising) Museum and Galleries display historical and contemporary fashion collections
- California Science Center hosts IMAX and the Endeavour
- Natural History Museum
There’s a lot more to see in L.A. We have beaches, a park system, Griffith Observatory, shopping, and of course, Hollywood. The surrounding areas host many attractions: the studios (think CBS, Warner Bros., Paramount), Getty Museum, Huntington Gardens, or the Long Beach Aquarium. But if you only have a day, take Amtrak and visit Downtown!
