Didn’t get a chance to sneak away for the holidays? Want to escape Long Beach for the day? Consider a trip on the Metro Blue Line. Long Beach’s light rail lands you squarely in the heart of downtown LA (Seventh Street/Metro Center) in about 45 minutes.

Wherever you go once you get there, plan on being amazed by the abundance of architecture towering in every direction. There’s classical Beaux-Arts, various ornamented revival styles, proper Victorian, bold Art Deco, and gobs of historic theaters all within the few square blocks that compose the Historic Core. Specifically, don’t miss stepping indoors for a peek at the incredible interior of the Bradbury Building (302 S. Broadway). Built in 1893, the Bradbury is an imposing five-story edifice with a gorgeous glass ceiling and accented with impressive wrought ironwork. From there, Olvera Street and Little Tokyo are right across the Hollywood Freeway. And just north of these sites is the charming neighborhood of Angelino Heights in Echo Park, whose Carrol Avenue is jam-packed with exemplary Victorian “painted ladies.”

When you’re ready to snack, grab some fresh fruit or pull up a stool at one of the many delicious food stands in the Grand Central Market (317 S. Broadway), or queue up with locals at the world famous Felippe’s (1001 N. Alameda, near Chinatown/Olvera Street/Union Station), one of the last remaining old-school cafeteria-style eateries in LA. If you jump on the Blue Line early enough, you’ll have time to cover plenty of this and more before heading home for Long Beach by sunset. For the frugal daytripper, it’s easy to keep the entire journey under $20. (Psst! Bring a bike and check out downtownlawalks.com for cultural/historic information, downloadable maps, and iPod tours; or simply locate a tourist kiosk downtown to obtain a free street map.)

METRO BLUE LINE departs from PCH/Long Beach Boulevard. $1.25 one way.

Tags: Buy Curious, Long Beach, Los Angeles, metro blue line, public transportation