FAMILY : How to Win at Bowl Games : Seasoned visitors to Cahuenga Pass know how to avoid the horrors of pricing, seating and parking

You know all about the Hollywood Bowl.

You’ve been trapped on the 101 with concert traffic. You know the only way to get box seats is to inherit them from a relative. You’re sure that for the cost of two tickets you could hire your own orchestra.

C’mon . . . it’s not that bad. It’s just that Hollywood Bowling is not necessarily easy for amateurs.

The Bowl can achieve the elegance (read expense ) of Los Angeles’ best restaurants, or the casualness of a Dodger game. It depends on what you want . . . and what you pay.

The Bowl is offering more programs than ever before, dark only 12 days between July 1 and Sept. 18. Shows sell at different rates, but good seats to popular events--such as fireworks displays, jazz nights and most weekend shows--go early. The breadth of programming is . . . well, let’s put it this way--one week it’s Mozart and Natalie Cole, and another it’s a Latin Jazz show and the Moody Blues.

“We truly tried hard to turn every stone and let something crawl out from under it,” says Hollywood Bowl general manager Anne Parsons.

But can you get a box seat? That’s the big question.

“What’s interesting is that you might buy a box seat the night of the show,” she says.

What happens is this: Season subscribers can’t come to the Bowl every night, right? So they call the box office and let them sell the seats (a tax-deductible donation for the subscriber).

There is an element of chance here. You go to the box office an hour before show time and ask if there are box seats available. If there are, you can “trade up” by paying the difference between your ticket and the price of a box seat, where tickets range from $34 to $73.50.

There is, however, a less expensive “Bowling for Dollars” option. If you’re not prone to nosebleeds, $1 will get you an upper bench seat ticket any Tuesday or Thursday night. Lower bench seats cost $5-$19.

Parsons recommends the Bowl information line, (213) 850-2000, to find the best seats still available. The operator will transfer you to Ticketmaster to buy your tickets. Or, avoid the Ticketmaster service charge and buy them at the box office during the day.

It’s no secret that Bowl parking is a nightmare, as can only be expected when you have 17,960 seats and only 3,383 parking spots. It costs $10 for regular parking, $20 for valet. Cars are “stacked” in lots, so there’s no leaving early. There’s little nearby street parking, and the neighbors don’t take kindly to it anyway.

“Parking has always been one of the stigmas of the Bowl,” admits director of operations Ed Tom. For an 8:30 p.m. show, the crunch starts at 6:45, he says, so if you have to drive, go early. Lots open at 3:30 p.m.

But the best bet is not to drive. About 35% of patrons take the Bowlbus Shuttle or Park & Ride. It’s cheap, it’s easy--you can buy Park & Ride passes in advance when you purchase your tickets--and it’s fast. After a show, parking attendants don’t let the cars leave until all the buses are gone, sometimes an hour’s wait. No kidding.

You’ve got more options when it comes to dining. Making your own picnic basket is probably the cheapest route. Local restaurants sell more gourmet boxes.

The Bowl also offers its version of upscale dining: pre-ordered picnic baskets ($17-$27 per meal) delivered to your box (table rental $5) or the Deck (reservations required). Or if picnic seems too rustic, there’s the nearby Patio Restaurant.

If you forget to order your basket in advance, you won’t starve. There’s a deli near the box office that sells sandwiches and barbecued chicken, as well as stands offering hot dogs, ice cream, snacks, beer, wine and soft drinks.

Picnic areas are scattered throughout the grounds, the most crowded and overused being the ones closest to the parking lots. If you’re willing to hike uphill a little, the picnic areas east of the Bowl have a great view of the city (smog allowing) and are more isolated.

The one thing that remains a mystery to professional Bowlers is why people stand in line to use the restrooms near the entrance. There are plenty of restrooms once you get inside the park, past the box office, including newly renovated bathrooms behind the stage, and ones on each side of the Bowl at the fourth tier of seats.

Handicapped-accessible seating is available adjacent to the box seats, and there’s parking near the amphitheater itself for those with identifying license plates. Such seating and parking is limited and usually sells out in advance of shows. Though the Bowl is inherently difficult for people in wheelchairs, on crutches or those who use walkers (it’s one big hill, after all), there are moving ramps and a wheelchair-height box office.

Other tips that might make your evening more enjoyable: wear comfortable shoes--especially if you’re going to hike up to a scenic picnic spot; bring blankets and jackets--it gets cool at night; and bring cushions--the wooden bench seats have none.

Things you might want to leave at home: small children. Though some shows are geared for families--such as tonight’s “America the Beautiful” celebration--most aren’t. And remember: there is no leaving early if the tykes get tired.

The Bowl has an open house at 10 a.m. and 11:15 a.m., Monday-Friday, where dancers, musicians, magicians and puppeteers perform for kids 3-12 (cost $3). Afterward, there’s a craft workshop ($1 for materials). If you want the youngsters to hear the orchestra, morning rehearsals on the days of concerts are open to the public. (Hours vary, but usually they start around 9 a.m.) To make a day of it, stop in at the Hollywood Bowl Museum, open 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday. The exhibit, “Music on Film: The Sound Behind the Image,” explores the challenges of film scoring.