Discover Los Angeles Celebrates a Milestone in Public Transportation by Unveiling Two New carfreeL.A. Itineraries

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (May 17, 2016) – Beginning May 20, 2016, visitors to Los Angeles will have the opportunity to experience the city’s neighborhoods like never before as Phase 2 of the long-awaited Metro Expo Line Extension from Culver City to Santa Monica is completed. To commemorate this milestone and celebrate the three-year anniversary of its eco-tourism initiative, carfreeL.A., Discover Los Angeles is unveiling two new self-guided itineraries:

1. DISCOVER DOWNTOWN CAR FREE – Dive deep into one of L.A.’s most talked about neighborhoods and explore new hotel developments, restaurants and cultural attractions
2. DISCOVER METRO EXPO LINE CAR FREE – Ride the Metro’s 15 mile stretch from Downtown to Santa Monica and experience neighborhood gems in between

“The Metro Expo Line Extension marks a significant moment in L.A. County’s transit revolution, making it easier and more convenient to see all that L.A. has to offer,” said Ernest Wooden Jr., president and CEO of Discover Los Angeles. “For the first time in 63 years, residents and visitors will be able to travel between Downtown Los Angeles and Santa Monica aboard a railway. The 6.6 mile, $1.5-billion extension project is proof that our city is committed to changing perceptions of our car-centric roots, while programs like carfreeL.A. enhance the Los Angeles visitor experience without relying on a car.”

Downtown Los Angeles is undergoing a major renaissance in multiple facets ranging from celebrated cultural institutions and world-class dining to globally-inspired street art and premier entertainment venues. Metro makes navigating these attractions a breeze with several stops located in and around the neighborhood. The new DISCOVER DOWNTOWN CAR FREE itinerary highlights the new SkySlide, a glass-bottomed slide hovering 1,000 feet above city sidewalks; Grand Central Market, a downtown landmark since 1917; The Last Bookstore, California’s largest used and new book and record store, and so much more.

The second self-guided itinerary, DISCOVER METRO EXPO LINE CAR FREE, features must-see and -do activities at multiple stops along the 15 mile stretch from Downtown to Santa Monica, where visitors can hop on and off the Metro and get immersed in distinctly different neighborhoods ranging from Exposition Park, home to a world-class collection of museums, sports facilities and recreations areas; La Brea, hub for culture, shopping, art and dining; Culver City, one of L.A.’s most historic and scenic neighborhoods filled with eclectic mix of bookstores, furniture stores and top notch dining; Westwood, cultural mecca and home base for UCLA, surrounded by Beverly Hills, Century City and Brentwood; and Santa Monica, named one of the Top 10 Beach Cities in the World by National Geographic.

“The Metro Expo Line Extension will offer tourists a convenient and enjoyable way to travel from Downtown L.A. to the beaches of Santa Monica and popular neighborhoods in between,” said Metro CEO Phil Washington. “We are excited to debut the newest extension to our network of railways that connect travelers to various L.A. regions, which is home to world-class entertainment, attractions and cultural institutions including, Universal Studios in Hollywood, Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena, The Walt Disney Concert Hall in Downtown and so much more.”

carfreeL.A. was launched on Earth Day in 2013 and offers self-guided and curated itineraries to explore the city’s neighborhoods via foot, bike and public transportation. Itineraries are centered on exploring various Los Angeles neighborhoods, attractions and hidden gems. Visitors to www.DiscoverLosAngeles.com/carfreeLA can also find up-to-date information on car-free events such as CicLAvia and popular guided tours from Bikes and Hikes LA, LA Conservancy and more.  In addition, the site provides details on pedestrian-friendly hotel packages and amenities available during the spring and summer months.