People in Temple City complain about not having anything to do, and with good reason. But there’s an easy way to get to the good stuff—the metro Gold Line!
Located just south of Hastings Village, the northern end of the Gold Line, Sierra Madre Villa, is only a 10 minute drive or a 30 minute bike ride from the high school. It extends west before arching south down to Union Station. Beyond the Union station hub, it swings back east past Little Tokyo and the Arts District for a total travel time of 36 minutes from end to end.
Though that’s the extent of the gold line itself, you can connect up to other lines at Union Station. The Red Line, which will transport you to Santa Monica and Universal CityWalk, connects Gold Line travelers to the Blue, Expo, Purple and Orange lines, which together span most of Los Angeles.
Purchasing a pass for the Gold Line is simple and surprisingly cheap. A single ticket, which terminates upon leaving the station, costs $1.50. If you’re planning a day trip and expect to get off and on the train multiple times, get a daily pass for $5. Once paid, the kiosk issues a credit card sized pass which grants access through the metro turnstiles, which are neatly activated by swiping over a wireless sensor.
Contrary to the popular notion of public transport being dirty, dark and smelly, the Gold Line tram that I rode on was clean and well-lit, likely due in part to its ban on food inside the cabin. The Gold Line rail was above ground and the surrounding countryside is surprisingly scenic.
There are a lot of well-known attractions along the first leg of the Gold Line: the Norton Simon, Old Town Pasadena, South Pasadena, Chinatown and Olvera Street, but you’ve probably heard all about them
For all the famous tourist spots, there are some great unknown hangouts as well.
If you like coffee but find Starbucks bland or too busy, hop off the Gold Line at Fillmore Station and check out Jones Coffee Roasters. Its open air front is marked by a salvaged garage door entrance, behind which lies a lounge with tables, couches and a live pianist. A giant fluorescent motel sign sits on the wall, alongside local art for sale.
Beyond its standard coffee menu, Jones offers a selection of two revolving daily brews. I had the Madison blend, a combo of French and Italian roasts out of a self-service coffee pot (the milk and creamer were in a fridge to the side).
Slightly farther on the Gold Line’s way lies a seeming contradiction: Heritage Square, which advertises itself as a showcase of Southern California’s Victorian architecture.
The open grounds accommodate a Victorian-style church, barn, rail depot and five houses. All were moved to the site in 1969 from other parts of Southern California. The museum is open Friday through Sunday from 12 to 5 p.m., and tickets cost $10 in the former train depot that serves as the museum’s gift shop.