Tips from the Experts

Here are a few tips and tricks that we’ve learned to help you get the most out of your MOTA Day:

• Pace yourself! While it is physically possible don’t try to see all five museums in one day. Pick two or three museums and take your time exploring.
  
• Take advantage of museum groupings. The two Pasadena museums are across the street from each other, and Heritage Square and Lummis Home are a short walk from each other.
  
• Consider using public transportation. It’s easier use mass transit than circle for parking next to the museums. You can easily reach MOTA Day by taking the A Line (formerly the Gold Line), exiting the train at the Heritage Square station. Cross the street and enter through Heritage Square’s back gate (3510 Pasadena Ave Los Angeles, CA 90031).
  
  You can take Pasadena Transit’s 33 line to get from the Pasadena museums (Gamble House and Pasadena Museum of History) to The Los Angeles Police Museum. The bus picks up near the Norton Simon Museum, heads west on Colorado and travels down Avenue 64. Jump off at Figueroa and York and walk a couple of blocks to the Police Museum. These buses run about every half an hour on Sundays.
  
  From the southern Highland Park museums (Heritage Square and Lummis Home), Metro’s 81 bus runs from Avenue 43 and Figueroa every 18 minutes up to Figueroa and York. Jump off there and walk to the Police Museum.
  
• Arrive early. Don’t feel like you have to rush.
  
• Keep cars off of Homer Street. Heritage Square has a back gate at 3510 Pasadena Avenue and visitors can park on Pasadena Avenue or use rideshare to enter the museum from there. There is NO PARKING ON HOMER STREET near Heritage Square. Walkers can use the front entrance of Heritage Square, but there is no parking on Homer or in the dirt lot adjacent to Heritage Square. Need to be dropped off? All drop offs must be on Pasadena Avenue.
  
• MOTA Day is for you. Whether you’re checking it out solo, exploring with your friends, bringing your family or on a date, its a free and fun yearly event. Share it on social, and feel free to tag the individual museum or #museumsofthearroyo — we’d love it!
  
• Have a picnic! While the museums don’t sell meals on MOTA Day, there are great local shops nearby in Highland Park and Pasadena where you can buy picnic fixins and drinks. With the exception of the Los Angeles Police Museum, there are areas at most of the museums where you can kick back, snack, and enjoy the MOTA Day vibe.
  
  Did we mention there’s a 24-hour Denny’s across the street from the Los Angeles Police Museum? Let’s call that an indoor picnic!
  
• Bring water. Hydration is good. We’ve had both hot and chilly days in previous years, and the water hits the spot on the hot ones.
  
• Discover something unique! Show your support for these free days by buying something fun and interesting at the museum gift stores or simply donating what makes sense to an individual museum. (Maybe even a membership!)