Train Travel

I just read a report that airplanes are the fastest growing contributor to global warming! In light of this news, why not take a train instead? In fact, Los Angeles has a great old train station, which is also fun just to wander around and pretend like you're in a classic movie. One night I ran through Union Station with ice-cream and flowers for my grandparents who were passing through by train. From Union Station, you can take a lovely ride down the coast to San Diego or up the coast to Santa Barbara. Keep going north and there are beautiful views of ocean waves splashing on rocks. You can go all the way to San Francisco - actually you can go anywhere in America. Just don't forget your fedora hat!

Amtrak:
http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/HomePage
Union Station:
http://www.westworld.com/~elson/larail/laus.html

japanese garden

Many people don't know that UCLA has a very nice Japanese garden. It's in the nearby neighborhood of Bel Air. You have to make a reservation because they only have a few parking spots. (I went there by bicycle once but it's not easy because the streets are narrow, and cars drive pretty fast in that neighborhood.) The garden is fenced in on a hillside and is designed like a Kyoto-style garden with Koi ponds. It's FREE and is open 10:00am - 3:00pm on Fridays.

Here's the website for more information:

http://www.japanesegarden.ucla.edu/html/reservations.html

Le Saigon

Have you tried Pho? It's a really nice Vietnamese hot noodle soup with bean sprouts and fresh basil. A person from Vietnam told me to pronounce it "Fuh?" with a rising intonation. Well, there's a really good place to eat Pho on the Westside called Le Saigon. They also have delicious fresh spring rolls. It's a small place on Santa Monica Boulevard near Federal. Prices are reasonable. Address: 11611 Santa Monica Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90025.

petanque!

I recently discovered the game of Petanque - a French game involving tossing metal balls close to a small wooden ball. Whoever throws the ball closer gets the point. Dolores (pictured) gave me a friendly beginner's lesson for free and explained some of the culture and history of the game, which is popular in the South of France. It costs $40 a year to join the L.A. Petanque club, which is comprised mostly of people from France. The Petanque courts are next to the archery range and near the dog-training area. Even if you don't play, it's a fun place to visit on a Saturday morning. From UCLA, take Blue Bus #8 or #12 and get off at Pico/Motor. The address is 2459 Motor Avenue L.A., CA 90064

http://www.losangelespetanque.com/index.shtml

kayaking

The UCLA Marine Aquatic Center has kayaking and windsurfing equipment UCLA students may use (free - $10). I had fun borrowing a kayak and paddling around the Marina. It's great to go with a friend on a double kayak, and it's really good (I mean hard!) exercise. It's supposed to be easier early in the morning when the water is calm but anytime is fun.

UCLA MAC webpage: http://www.recreation.ucla.edu/recreate/marina_sub.aspx?main=17&sub=451&mymenu=0

Rental Hours and Prices:
http://www.recreation.ucla.edu/site_pdfs/MAC/RentalHours.pdf

volunteer la

Want to meet people and do something good? There are many opportunities to volunteer throughout Los Angeles. Most volunteer activities are easy to do and require very little commitment. You can even volunteer for just one afternoon and that's it. In the past I've volunteered to clean up the beach, work in a school garden, feed rabbits, serve the homeless, and work at a women's shelter.
I met nice people and nice rabbits, too.

Go to www.laworks.com to check the project calendar for activities each month.

Go to www.volunteermatch.org to enter your zip code for activities in your area.

Go to www.healthebay.org to check the "Nothing But Sand" calendar for beach cleanups.

archery

Free archery lessons are offered every Saturday at 11:00am at Rancho Park Archery Range. The instructor teaches you basic archery safety and technique. Then you can practice shooting arrows at targets. I felt like Robin Hood when I hit the bullseye! It's located in Cheviot Hills Recreation Center, which is on Pico between Westwood Blvd and Beverly Dr. From Pico turn onto Motor, then turn right into the park. You should see the sign that says "archery range." Go past the baseball field, and the archery range is on the left near the dog training area. You can take Blue Bus #8 or #12 and get off at Pico/Motor. The address is 2459 Motor Avenue L.A., CA 90064. Phone:(310) 839-1516

http://www.laparks.org/dos/parks/facility/cheviotHillsPk.htm

Metro Day Pass

A $5 Day Pass lets you ride the L.A. Metro busses and subways all day. You can take the Rapid Bus west to Santa Monica or go east to Beverly Hills, Koreatown, and Downtown. From Downtown Union Station, you can take the Gold Line east to Chinatown and South Pasadena, the Red Line north to Hollywood and Universal Studios, or the Blue Line south to Long Beach. Another good bus is Metro Bus #2 which goes west to the beaches or east to Hollywood, Dodger Stadium, and Downtown. Just tell the driver you want a Day Pass and pay $5. It's a good deal and you get to meet lots of "interesting" people on the bus and subway! Check schedules and routes at metro.net.

http://metro.net/default.asp

http://www.the-bus-stops-here.org/la_mta.html

Sunset Ranch

For a unique experience in L.A., you can ride a horse in the Hollywood Hills at Sunset Ranch. Drive east on the 10 freeway, north on the 110 freeway, north on the 101 freeway, and exit Gower. Then drive north on Beachwood to the top. By bus, take Metro Bus#2 east to Sunset/Vine. Then take the Dash bus for Beachwood Canyon to the top of Beachwood. Then keep walking up to the ranch. It costs $25 for a one-hour ride plus a $5 tip after. While riding a horse, you can see the Hollywood Sign and a beautiful view of smoggy L.A.

http://sunsetranchhollywood.com/

Will Rogers

If you are not a big hiker, here's a short easy hike that's close to UCLA . Just take Metro Bus #2 going west to Will Rogers State Historic Park (not the beach). It takes about 30 minutes to the park by bus. Tell the driver where you want to get off. From Sunset Boulevard you have to walk up a long curvy road about 20 minutes to the park. There are polo grounds with horses and a hiking trail. The start of the trail is in the far right corner of the parking lot. Then it's less than an hour to the top for a great view of the ocean.

http://www.alamedainfo.com/Will_Rogers_ranch.htm

Culver Ice

Here's a fun place to cool off when the weather is warm in the winter in L.A. It just costs $11. They are open afternoons from 2:30-5pm and evenings 8-10:30pm. It's a good place to go on a date because you have a good excuse to hold hands when you are falling down on the ice.

4545 Sepulveda BoulevardCulver City, California 90230

http://www.culvericearena.com/
http://www.fotosearch.com/DGT322/sic0005/