Can you even imagine not having a car to get around Southern California? Anyone who lives here will tell you that it’s next to impossible to get anywhere without your own car. And they’re right, for the most part. But I’m here to report there are several areas in SoCal where you can get around town without four wheels…and it’s actually quite enjoyable.
If you are without a car, Santa Monica is a great place to be. Whether you want to access beaches, shopping at 3rd Street Promenade, grocery stores and other conveniences, Santa Monica is a perfect spot to get around by foot, bike, or the Big Blue Bus for public transportation.
Getting around Long Beach without a car is not only easy, but it's also enjoyable. For transportation in the downtown area, take advantage of the Long Beach Transit Passport bus that will transport you to and from all major downtown Long Beach locations for free. In the summer months, you can hop on the Aquabus for a scenic and convenient way to explore Long Beach Harbor.
Picturesque side streets and easy access to everyday needs like grocery stores, restaurants, and a library make this a top pick for a SoCal city that does not require a car.
The city of Pasadena prides itself on being the kind of town where people can live or visit without ever having to use a car. Not only is it extremely walkable, but it's also been named the "most bike-friendly city in LA County" with miles and miles of bike lanes and routes to major shopping areas, business districts, and mass transit stations.
You might appreciate having a boat on Catalina Island, but you definitely don't need a car to get around in the town of Avalon. Primarily a tourist community, much of the island is designed to be easy to navigate on foot or on bike. Even better news is that you don't even need a car to get here. Just hop on a ferry from three major areas in SoCal and you can be footloose and car free for the entire trip.
Although public transportation isn't a breeze in all areas of San Diego, the trolley system in Downtown San Diego makes it a piece of cake to live, shop, work and play in the downtown district of San Diego.
Santa Barbara is so "no car" friendly that it has a program called santabarbaracarfree.org that helps visitors navigate this beautiful city without ever having to get behind the wheel. With a 20% discount on Amtrak for taking the train to Santa Barbara, electric shuttles on State Street, and discounts on the hop on-hop off trolley tour, it practically pays to leave your car at home.
Although it might be considered crazy to navigate all of Los Angeles without a car considering it's such a HUGE city, you might be surprised to know that visiting and playing in downtown Los Angeles is actually quite easy without a car. From LAX just grab a Flyaway bus to reach downtown. Once you get to your downtown destination, you'll have convenient access to the Metro Rail which will take you to most all areas of Los Angeles that you would want to visit as a tourist.
Ready to ditch your car and spend the weekend in one of these SoCal towns? Let us know if there are other spots in Southern California where you like to leave our car at home and explore the city on bike or on foot.
If you prefer getting behind the wheel to see the beauty of SoCal, make sure to take a look at this road to nowhere that will take you on a scenic Sunday drive.
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