1scs1

We will be staying at the Marriott Downtown LA and will need to get to the Tournament of Roses Parade. We will be renting a car and I was planning on buying a parking pass, but we were just told that there is a train that goes from LA to Pasadena. What would be the best way to get to the parade? Thanks for your help!

Miranda

There's a Gold Line light rail service which runs between downtown and Pasadena. Are you buying tickets to see the parade from an assigned seat, or just winging it? If you are buying seats, the Gold Line may or may not leave you off near where you want to be since the parade route is fairly long. Depending on where you want to end up, you might be better off to drive and purchase a nearby parking space with your parade tickets. As for the Gold Line, check out their website for more details (sorry I don't know it, but you can Google to find it). I seem to recall they ran a lot of extra trains last year to help accommodate the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl folks.

1scs1

Thanks for the info on the Gold Line, Miranda. We do have seats assigned and purchased already. They are at 1500 E. Colorado Blvd. I will check out Gold Line's website, but please let me know if you have any knowledge of the area where we will be. Thanks.

Jun20

Your seats are in front of the Pasadena City College. www.mapquest.com
They would be between the Lake and Allen Gold Line stations, with Allen being a little closer, I think. The Gold Line runs down the center of the 210 fwy and that you will give you some indication on your map of the walking distance.

rjw_lgb_ca

You can see the routes of all MTA light rail lines on this site:

www.mta.net

You catch the Gold Line in Union Station, just east of downtown (the last stop on the Red Line).

FainaAgain

Also check the Amtrak bus from LA to Pasadena, it stops in the middle of the town, there should be the exact address on Amtrak's website, in the "stations" section. I took this bus passing through, so can't be more helpful.

here_today_gone2Maui

The Amtrak bus station will put you way off from where you want to go, but MTA will be operating special bus routes to Pasadena on Jan 1.

Your walk from the Allen Gold Line station will be about a mile. When I was a student at PCC I walked from Allen and Villa. It was an easy walk.

But, if you are not walkers, parking for you should be right at PCC, and getting to Pasadena shouldn't be too bad.

1scs1

Thanks everybody for the helpful advice!

Jean

The Gold Line starts at Union Station which is not within walking distance of the Marriott. You can take a cab to Union Station OR walk a short distance to the metro stations at either Pershing Square or 7th/Figueroa and from there take the Red Line to Union Station, then transfer to the Gold Line. Union Station itself is worth seeing, and the trains are a great way to get to Pasadena.