Summer is upon us and every family is building out their summer bucket lists. One of the best parts of living in Los Angeles is the variety of adventures all within a day’s reach. From the ocean to the desert, dinosaurs to space shuttles, you can fill your family’s summer bucket list with exciting activities that turn the ordinary into extraordinary.
With Metrolink’s Kids Ride Free on Weekends discount, all kids 17 years old and under ride free with a paying adult. That way, each weekend adventure can go further than ever before. To plot out your trip, use Metrolinktrains.com and check the schedule. To make it super easy, you can purchase your tickets via the Metrolink mobile app and then just hop on and off the train!
First time traveling Metrolink in a while? Don’t worry. Metrolink requires all passengers to wear a mask while onboard, and has implemented new safety and cleaning measures to keep everyone as safe as possible. There’s never been a better time to ride.
Here are our top 6 Family Day Trips via Metrolink:
- Downtown to Burbank: “Game for it all” Itinerary
- From downtown take the train right to stop at the Burbank station.
- From there, hit up Batcade, Game Realms, Gordon R Howard Museum, and DeBell Disc Golf.
- If you’re hungry, visit Giamela’s Submarine Sandwiches for lunch or head up into the hills at Castaway Restaurant for amazing scenic views.
- The Fuzzy & the Fishy: Orange County Adventure
- Start your trip by stepping back in time once you step off the platform at San Juan Capistrano Station.
- You’ll first visit the oldest neighborhood in all of California, dating back to the 1700s, Los Rios Historic District.
- From there, walk to Zoomar’s Petting Zoo and then the Ocean Institute of Dana Point.
- Grab a bite and watch the sunset from Fisherman’s Bar and Restaurant.
- Dragonflies & Lawn Bowling
- From Union Station take the train south to Orange.
- From Orange Station it’s only a three minute walk to the magical Dragonfly Shops and Gardens (wings not required!).
- Check the garden’s schedule before you go, as the arts and crafts offered change each week. Next, head over to Orange’s Organic Farmers Market to pick up some local fruits and treats.
- Then, hop back onboard and stop at Santa Ana Station, where you’ll end up at Santiago Creek Wildlife and Watershed Center, where you can challenge each other to a game of lawn bowling or take a self-guided nature walk.
- Little Tokyo: No Passport Needed
- Take Metrolink to L.A. Union Station, and then take the Gold Line to Little Tokyo/Arts District Station.
- From there, visit the Japanese American National Museum,
- Try some of the best sushi in the city, and taste-test a green tea donut or Mochi ice cream.
- Little Tokyo is home to North America’s largest Japanese-American population and we’re sure this first visit won’t be your last.
- Dana Point: Whale Watching, No Binoculars Needed
- Dana Point is THE whale watching spot in Los Angeles. Why visit an aquarium when you can see the real thing in its natural habitat?!
- Take the OC Bus route 91 from downtown San Juan Capistrano right to the harbor.
- Hungry? Stop by Craft House or make a reservation at The Harbor Grille.
- Exposition Park: From Dinosaurs to Space
- Take Metrolink to L.A. Union Station, then take the Red Line to 7th Street Station and transfer to the Expo Line, exit at Expo Park/ USC Station.
- From there, you can split your time between the Natural History Museum, where you can see just how huge the dinosaurs really were and then stand beneath a real life space shuttle!
- From the natural to the extraordinary, these two museums show kids just how far science can take us.
These six adventures are a great way to start your summer bucket list, but once you’ve completed all six don’t stop there. You can also take Metrolink down to Oceanside (visit the Oceanside Pier- it’s a must!) or visit the iconic surfing museum. If your kids want to capture all the experiences, build out a travel journal where they can add pictures (both Polaroid or self-drawn), and stories for them to remember the experiences. Metrolink even has their own printable Field Trip Reports, that your kids can add to while on the trips, and a whole site dedicated to destinations that are accessible to “explore” via train travel. Make this summer unforgettable with Metrolink!
This post is sponsored by Metrolink but all opinions and itinerary suggestions were our own!
