One of Those LA Things We Had Never Done

When a friend came to visit in July, we did what always seems to happen when someone comes to town: we started experiencing Los Angeles like visitors again. We’ve been to The Grove plenty of times since moving to LA in 2023, but somehow, we had never actually ridden the trolley.

The Grove is one of those places that has become familiar enough that we usually arrive with a purpose. We’re there to shop, grab something to eat, walk through the Farmers Market, or meet someone. The trolley had always been there in the background, but we had never made a point of getting on it. This time, with a friend visiting, we finally did.

More Than a Way to Get Around

The Grove Trolley is a free double-decker trolley that travels through The Grove and connects it with the Original Farmers Market. The ride itself is short, which is part of its charm. You’re not committing a significant part of your day to it or buying a ticket for another Los Angeles attraction. You simply hop on and enjoy the ride.

There is something wonderfully nostalgic about sitting on the upper level as the trolley makes its way through The Grove. For a few minutes, you get a completely different perspective on a place you may have walked through dozens of times. It feels a little old-fashioned in the middle of a very polished, modern shopping destination, and that contrast is part of what makes it fun.

A Little Piece of Los Angeles

What I liked most about finally riding the trolley was how distinctly LA the whole experience felt. The Grove may be known for shopping and restaurants, but over the years it has become one of those places that visitors immediately associate with Los Angeles. Pairing it with the Original Farmers Market next door gives you two very different versions of the city within a few steps of each other.

The trolley connects them in a way that makes the entire area feel like more of an experience rather than simply somewhere to shop. You can wander through the Farmers Market, have lunch, browse The Grove and ride the trolley without needing a complicated itinerary. It’s an easy way to spend a few hours, especially when you have someone visiting and want to show them a side of Los Angeles that doesn’t require spending the entire day in the car.

And Yes, Ride on Top

If you have the option, go upstairs. The open-air upper level is where the trolley becomes more than transportation and actually feels like an experience. You can look down over The Grove, people-watch and take in everything happening around you while someone else handles getting you from one end to the other.

It is also one of those rare Los Angeles activities that is completely free. In a city where an afternoon out can become expensive surprisingly quickly, I appreciate finding something genuinely fun that doesn’t require buying a ticket.

Make It Part of a Grove + Farmers Market Day

I wouldn’t necessarily make a special trip across Los Angeles solely to ride the trolley, but I absolutely think it belongs in a day at The Grove and the Original Farmers Market. That is really where it works best. Have lunch, wander through the market, do a little shopping and then hop on when you see it coming.

You also don’t need to turn the afternoon into a packed itinerary. Part of the appeal of this area is that there is enough happening within a relatively small space that you can wander without constantly thinking about what comes next.

Why The Grove Trolley Is Worth Doing

Living somewhere has a funny way of making you overlook the things people travel specifically to experience. You tell yourself you can do them anytime, which usually means you never actually do them. Having a friend in town gave us a reason to finally get on the trolley we had walked past so many times.

And I’m glad we did. It was simple, nostalgic and genuinely fun, especially from the top deck. It also reminded me that experiencing Los Angeles doesn’t always need to involve finding somewhere new. Sometimes it means finally doing the thing that has been sitting right in front of you.

If you’re spending a day at The Grove or the Original Farmers Market, hop on when the trolley comes by. Head upstairs, enjoy the ride and take in a familiar corner of Los Angeles from a completely different perspective.