I saw 3 iconic LA landmarks without driving. Here's how I did it

I spent an afternoon in Los Angeles visiting three popular destinations using public transportation. The goal: Familiarize myself with the services so people rely on daily, and save myself from sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic that swallows up about two hours of my day both ways. Here are a few quick tips for Southern Californians and visitors alike looking to enjoy all that Los Angeles County has to offer, car not required. Know your public transportation options Metrolink Metrolink operates numerous trains that'll take you all over Southern California, including to Union Station in Los Angeles. Union Station may not be your final stop - although with historic Olvera Street and Chinatown nearby, it very well might be. Instead, it'll likely be the hub connecting you to where you need to go next. Metrolink's lines are: Antelope Valley Line, which spans from Lancaster to Union StationInland Empire-Orange County Line, which spans from the San Bernardino downtown station to OceansideOrange County Line, which spans from Oceanside to Union StationRiverside Line, which spans from the Riverside downtown station to Union Station (weekdays only)San Bernardino Line, which spans from the San Bernardino downtown station to Union StationVentura County Line, which spans from the Ventura downtown/beach station to Union Station91/Perris Valley Line, which spans from the Perris south station to Union StationArrow Service, which serves parts of San Bernardino County that'll take you to where both the San Bernardino Line and the Inland Empire-Orange County Line depart Amtrak Pacific Surfliner Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner, which can take you from San Diego County to San Luis Obispo County, also has a direct stop in Los Angeles at Union Station. See its route, including where it stops, on Amtrak's website. Metro The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, or Metro, serves the county with more than a hundred bus routes, rail lines, and other transportation services. Here's a quick look at its rail service: Metro A Line, which spans from Pomona to Long BeachMetro B Line, which spans from Union Station to North HollywoodMetro C Line, which spans from Norwalk to the LAX/Metro Transit CenterMetro D Line, which spans from Union Station to nearly Beverly HillsMetro E Line, which spans from East Los Angeles to Santa MonicaMetro K Line, which spans from Expo/Crenshaw station to Redondo Beach How to plan out your LA trip Not every Southern California resident will be near a Metrolink station or, if you're in Los Angeles County, one of Metro's rail lines. Checking bus schedules to get there and fill transportation gaps to your final destination will be key. Amtrak trip planner: Find more information about the Pacific Surfliner's schedule and stops on Amtrak's website.Metrolink trip planner: You can find a Metrolink station near you and plan out your trip on Metrolink's website.Metro trip planner: Type in your starting point and end point to figure out your route on Metro's website.Metro route map: See a map of Metro's services, including its bus routes, on Metro's website. What I used to go to LACMA, the Grove and the Original Farmers Market I used the Metrolink's San Bernardino Line to get to Union Station in Los Angeles. It took about an hour and 20 minutes to get to Union Station via the Metrolink, which was pretty comparable to the amount of time it'd take me to drive there on a Friday afternoon. I took Metro's D Line from Union Station and got off at its newer Wilshire/Fairfax stop, where the Los Angeles County Museum of Modern Art is within walking distance. There's also plenty of popular attractions in this area, including the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and the Peterson Automotive Museum. At this point, I'd already downloaded the Metro app, which made it easy to map out my route to my next destination, the Original Farmers Market and the Grove (two popular spots for dining and shopping), via a bus that picked me up off Wilshire Boulevard. Paris Barraza is a reporter covering Los Angeles and Southern California for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at pbarraza@usatodayco.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: I saw 3 iconic LA landmarks without driving. Here's how I did it Reporting by Paris Barraza, USA TODAY / USA TODAY USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect