Dodger Stadium – Experiences

The sunny state of California is known for its impeccable weather and bustling major cities filled with glitz, glamour, and stardom. When you think about California, you probably think of Los Angeles. The City of Angels is always buzzing and is filled with so much to do, spanning over 4,000 square miles. If you find yourself in the area of downtown L.A. that is home to Dodger Stadium, this is our recommendation on how to spend a day in the vicinity of the stadium.

Because of the massive size of Los Angeles and the still-imposing size of downtown L.A., you’ll want to take advantage of public transportation. Many of the bus routes and railway lines can take you to the destinations mentioned in this article. Using public transportation will also give you more time to actually explore the area because you won’t be spending time searching for a parking space.

 

Morning

Noon

Night

 

Morning

You’ll want to fuel up for this jam-packed day outside with a good breakfast. A favorite of locals and visitors alike is Woodcat Coffee Bar. A quaint neighborhood bar, Woodcat serves Flat Track Coffee out of Austin, Texas. You can enjoy a croissant and coffee inside, but some guests have mentioned seats can fill up quickly. If this happens, get your coffee to go and have an early start to your day.

There are two options for you to begin your day after breakfast. The first is heading over to Dodger Stadium for a tour. This is a way to see the stadium behind-the-scenes and can be a unique opportunity for a fan. Stadium tours are available at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 1 p.m and last about 90-minutes. In order to take a regular Highlight Tour, however, there cannot be a home game happening that day. If you are going to a Dodgers game while you are in Los Angeles, you may want to check out the pregame tours available.

Dodger StadiumIf there is a home game at Dodger Stadium or you would rather spend more of your day outside soaking up the beautiful Los Angeles weather, your other option for the morning is to walk around Echo Park. Echo Park is extremely close to Woodcat Coffee Bar, only a ten-minute walk, so you may even be able to squeeze in some time at Echo Park before heading to Dodger Stadium should you want to see both attractions.

Walking around Echo Park, you will be able to take some great pictures of the lake and cityscape in the distance. Check out the Lady of the Lake Statue while you’re there. This Art Deco-style statue sculpted by artist Ada Mae Sharpless is meant to be the Queen of Angels.

 

Noon

If you spent your morning at Dodger Stadium, the next stops will be easy to reach, and if you were at Echo Park, you will simply need to drive or take public transportation about ten minutes over to Elysian Park.

Using the hiking and jogging paths, you can visit Angels Point and The Hidden Swing. These two spots in Elysian Park are interchangeable, so you can decide which area you would like to visit first.

Looking for an awesome spot to get a panoramic photo of the city? Angels Point is where you want to go to get one of the best views of the cityscape of Los Angeles and Dodger Stadium. After hiking up to this spot, there are benches and tables in a shady area to rest up before moving on to other parts of Elysian Park. If you don’t want to spend money buying lunch, this is a nice area to eat a packed lunch or bring something to cook on a grill, as one is available at Angels Point.

Getting to The Hidden Swing will take a bit of walking from Angels Point. Otherwise, you can park at the bottom of the hill and hike up to The Hidden Swing as well. This is a really peaceful area that overlooks the city. Again, this is another excellent area for pictures.

Dodger StadiumSoon it will be time to leave the park and grab some lunch. Use public transportation to get from the park over to Chinatown. This will take roughly ten minutes depending on what area from which you are leaving. Having lunch in Chinatown will also give you a chance to experience this distinct neighborhood that is so close to Dodger Stadium. Be aware that one complaint visitors often have is how difficult it can be to find parking, so this may be a part of Los Angeles that makes sense to reach by public transportation.

The first option for lunch is Chego. This is a Korean restaurant that also takes on a Mexican twist with select dishes. For lunch, you can choose from plates like prime rib rice plates or Kung Pao chicken creamy bowls. If you’re craving something sweet, save room for a twist on a traditional Mexican dessert, tres leches.

As a second option, located just steps from Chego is Howlin’ Ray’s. Howlin’ Ray’s serves up Nashville-style, southern cooking. Here you will find a small menu serving up fried chicken and sides. You can pick from wings, tenders, or chicken and waffles. Sides include shake fries, collard greens, macaroni salad, and vinegar slaw.

 

Night

After taking having lunch and venturing around Chinatown for some time, take a seven-minute drive or 20-minute walk into Little Tokyo. This is another unique cultural hub you will find in Los Angeles, and there is plenty to see and do here. You may want to stop at the visitor center to get a layout of the area and assess your options for the evening.

In Little Tokyo, there are plenty of shops to inspect to find a wonderful souvenir to take home, but there is also a lot of artwork and museums. One famous piece of artwork is the “Home is Little Tokyo” mural. A well-known art museum in the area is The MOCA Geffen filled with contemporary art.

If you’re more of a history buff, you can spend your time in the Japanese American National Museum. You’ll be able to learn more about Japan’s culture and involvement in major national and world events, such as World War II or Japanese internment. Some current ongoing exhibits include Sadako Sasaki and Common Ground: The Heart of Community.

Spending more time outdoors is also an option. The James Irvine Japanese Garden, which features a waterfall and stream, blooming flowers and shrubbery, stone lanterns, and fountains, is designed to reflect the tranquil Zen gardens of Kyoto. This is an excellent place to relax and escape the commotion of the city.

Dodger StadiumWhen you’re ready to have dinner, stay in Little Tokyo and have some of the best ramen in the neighborhood at Daikokuya. This eatery won the award for Best of Downtown Los Angeles in 2017. There are a ton of ramen options and rice dishes to tantalize your taste buds. Ramen variations include Daikokuya’s famous Daikoku ramen, spicy miso, and Tsukemen to name a few. Just be aware that this is a cash-only restaurant.

In case ramen is not your preferred dish or you want a break from Asian cuisine, Johnny Rockets is also an option for dinner in Little Tokyo. Johnny Rockets serves up burgers, sandwiches, sides, and fries. Choose from chicken sandwiches, hot dogs loaded with toppings, or some classic burger options. Pair that with fries, tots, or onion rings. Plus, if you have a sweet tooth, you can always add one of the specialty milkshakes.

To end your night with some fun, on the edge of Little Tokyo, walk three-minutes over to EightyTwo. EightyTwo is an arcade with classic arcade games and pinball machines. While you play, enjoy handcrafted cocktails and beer. All the games in this arcade run on quarters, and you will find change machines inside. Arcade games cost 25 cents and pinball costs 50 cents to play.

This guide is just one way to explore the downtown Los Angeles area that surrounds Dodger Stadium. You’ll visit some remarkable neighborhoods with their own culture and style. It’ll be a day full of fun out in the sun, so bring a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, comfortable shoes, and a water bottle to go explore the city!