I am an unabashed fan of San Pedro and today I found another reason to visit this city on the harbor. I discovered the pleasure of riding the Red Cars.

These electric cars, once operated by the Pacific Electric Railway, served the Los Angeles area for over sixty years but the last of the line was put out of service in 1961. Forty-two years later; in July of 2003, on a section of the San Pedro waterfront, the affectionately dubbed “Red Cars” were resurrected. On a short 1.5 mile track, you can travel back in time and feel what it was like to ride the public transit of 1920’s Los Angeles.

We discovered the Red Cars after a visit to the Cabrillo Aquarium, which we went to in an attempt to cool off from the sweltering heat. I saw the sign and pulled into the 22nd Street parking lot where the line ends or possibly where it begins. As it was already past 5:30, I assumed I was just doing recon for a future trip. The Red Car was nowhere in sight as I climbed the platform to check the schedule. The day was still hot from the heat wave as I perused the timetable and area map the Red Car serves. As my family waited in our air-conditioned van, I saw it coming round the bend. As the schedule said the cars ran until 6:00 pm, I’d hoped we’d get a ride in.

It pulled into the small but well-appointed station with two conductors dressed in vintage apparel. One of the conductors said they were closing for the day but to come on board anyway if we didn’t mind a shortened trip. My family clambered out of the van and enthusiastically climbed onto the platform while I retrieved my purse. I heard the conductor waive the $1 fee per person as my husband attempted to pay him. He said, as we couldn’t enjoy the full ride, he wouldn’t charge us but did encourage us to visit earlier on another day.

We had the luxury of choosing any place to sit in the beautifully restored car, with brass fittings and polished wooden seats, as we were the only passengers. There were only two seats with glassed in windows but the rest were open to the fresh air. As the day was still warm, we quickly chose those seats with the open windows. The conductor handed out coloring books to my children that illustrated the area’s history with a pelican as a tour guide.

As the car went nimbly down the track, we were able to watch a cruise ship sailing down the harbor. Our first stop was at the Ports O’ Call Village, a quaint replica of a Cape Cod village filled with restaurants and specialty shops with the incongruity of the modern cruise ship looming over it. We paused briefly, as the lone waiting passenger wanted to go the opposite direction, and the car started off again.

We then stopped at the 6^th Street Station, where the Maritime Museum is located, and as this wasn’t a full round trip we had to exit for the next car to return us to our origin. The last station would have been the next stop, where the World Cruise Ship Center is, so our trip was only slightly shortened.We boarded the next car, which was empty as well, and enjoyed the ride back. The conductor on this car told me about the shuttle service from the 22^nd Street Station to Cabrillo Beach, which is included in the $1 cost. He said there would be free fireworks at the beach on the 4^th of July and told us to come back. “As this was such a pleasant trip and affordable as well, the $1 charge being good all day for unlimited rides, I promised we would return.

The Red Cars run Friday through Monday between 10 am and 6 pm. You can board them at four different stations along their route. If you’re tired of gridlocked freeways plus exorbitant gas prices and would like to experience traveling LA in a different era then head down to San Pedro and ride the Red Cars!

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