The museum offers exhibits about rail life, historical artifacts, and a collection of rare photographs and memorabilia. Trains are much better for the environment than flying or driving. While it is possible to take the Surfliner train to Santa Barbara for a day trip, we suggest spending at least one night. Learn more from our most commonly asked questions from travelers. Ride the rails of California from San Francisco to San Diego. 21 Best Train Rides In USA: Top Train Vacations Across the US At one time, the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce Slogan promoted this beach town with a huge billboard along Highway 101, Tan Your Hide in Oceanside. These days the Chamber of Commerce has a slightly different vision Oceanside Classic California Beach Community.. A bit south lies Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, full of gorgeous redwoods and pines, as well as creeks snaking through the trees. Pismo Beach, Oceano, Arroyo Grande, and Shell Beach. Shorter rides clock in at 45 minutes and offer jaw-dropping panoramas of the Sacramento Valley, while longer trips go over the superb Deer Creek Bridge. Login in for helpful resources, free trainings, and promotional items. The ride is a lot more scenic, and downtown SLO is within walking distance. The Amtrak Coast Starlight runs daily and covers a distance of 1377 miles over 35 hours. Her favourite domestic destinations include Snowdonia and the Brecon (Do a quick search on the following sites). This charming vintage railroad rides around - not unreasonably, youll surely agree - the Niles Canyon, a region in the San Francisco Bay Area. Its widely considered one of the most beautiful train trips in the country. Amtrak trains, for example, are 47 percent more energy efficient than traveling by car and 36 percent more efficient than domestic air travel. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and safely moving people between large cities and rural towns are key to sustaining our business for decades to come. AFAR participates in affiliate marketing programs, which means we may earn a commission if you purchase an item featured on our site. 2023 AFAR Media. Gain instant access to our online brochures and download them for free. Carpinteria is south of Santa Barbara, and the Amtrak station is within easy walking distance of Carpinteria State Park. Grover Beach is one of the Five Cities of the Central Coast. The coast-hugging train goes from San Diego to San Luis Obispo with in-between stops at some of Southern California's most beautiful towns. One unique train station along the Surfliner route is San Clemente. Visiting Californias wineries in Napa can be a nuisance and potential hazard by car. Riding the Surfliner allows you to see scenic areas of the coast not viewable by car. The start and endpoints of the trip are San Luis Obispo and San Diego. Destinations and Train Stations | Pacific Surfliner Take a California train ride on an operating trolley every Saturday and Sunday at the museum. The wine train is located in downtown Napa, which is only a 15-minute walk from the Andaz Napa. Katherine is a freelance writer who covers Hawaii and California travel for Tripsavvy. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data. From rides through redwood forests to wine country, these train trips through California offer plenty of adventure. Caltrain is a Northern California commuter rail line that services the San Francisco Peninsula and Santa Clara Valley. Sign up today to save up to $350 on your next vacation! Learn from our experts with insider tips, read helpful suggestions, be inspired for your next trip, and much more! I would also be interested in traveling from Guadalupe to Durango, Colorado by train. something to keep in mind. If youre looking to take the scenic route then this selection offers some of the very best views in North America. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. It's about as California as it gets. The Amtrak Pacific Surfliner serves stations on the southern side of the state. Amtrak is happy to provide accessible transportation to all of our guests. Reservations are not normally required on Pacific Surfliner trains; however, its best to book a few days ahead of your departure date on busy summer weekends. Skunk Train. The Pacific Surfliner route runs along California's central and southern coastline, transporting passengers from San Diego north to Santa Barbara and terminating at San Luis Obispo. A one-hour train ride through the environs of Yosemite National Park will be a thrill for any tourist, with the majestic scenery of the Sierra Mountains as your backdrop. Distance: 564 Kilometers or 351 Miles. The slow ride takes passengers through stunning redwood forest, and the steam whistle is plug-your-ears loud. You really couldnt wish for a more scenic train ride than this one - the route, which traverses Mendocino County, could have been hand-designed for its picturesque touches. With 135 destinations to choose from, 365 miles of track, 18 stations, and over a million riders every year, the Amtrak San Joaquins offers a connection to the Central Valley and popular spots like Yosemite National Park. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Sunny Santa Barbara awaits you on this roundtrip getaway. With unprecedented ocean views and stops in beautiful oceanside cities like San Diego, Santa Barbara, and San Francisco, Amtraks routes winding along the California coast are some of the most scenic and popular in the country. Travel to the City of Angels and enjoy the views from the train onboard the Coast Starlight and take advantage of the narrated tour that includes iconic attractions, like the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Paramount Studios, and many others. The delights of Sacramento can be forgotten when you list the things to see and do in California, but this scenic train ride is an excellent way to remember them. If you are a railfan, you should check out Goletas South Coast Railroad Museum. All rights reserved. Or you think a package would be better in reverse? Pulled by a diesel locomotive, the Sacramento River Train features two dining cars, a club car, a concession car, and two open-air cars. Would like to take the train south and back for the day mostly just to experience the ride. Explore San Diego - Downtown. We took the train." From north to south, here are some of the ways to get around Southern California by rail. Pacific Surfliner Train | Amtrak Here's how to plan the ultimate Santa Cruz road trip itinerary. Our Rail Vacation Consultants or a local Travel Advisor will assist you in making any adjustments to fit your travel style. Some Amtrak trains stop here along with the San Diego Red Car Trolley. The park also features a few historic train cars that guests can tour. We have you covered - if the train goes there, so do we. Amtrak is happy to provide accessible transportation to all of our guests. Train rides are offered on Saturdays and Sundays at 11 am and 2:30 pm. Enjoy scenic vistas from the train en route to Americas greatest national treasures. For a limited time only, save $150 per couple on any of our Grand Canyon National Park vacations inclusive of 4 nights or more. a picturesque harbor, and the longest wooden pier on the California coast. Discover our newest vacations created just for you. Head from San Diego through Anaheim (a useful port of call for Disneyland), then up through L.A.s historic and lively downtown environment. This carefully curated list has the top suggestions of vacations for first-time rail travelers. 5 Pacific Surfliner Train Trips to Enjoy the California Coast, Six Ways to Enjoy Americas National Parks by Train, 7 Train Getaways to Take with Your Tax Refund, https://www.instagram.com/AmtrakVacations, https://www.pinterest.com/amtrakvacations/, San Diego Getaway Roundtrip from Los Angeles, Santa Barbara Getaway Roundtrip from Los Angeles, San Francisco to San Diego Californias Golden Coast. In case youre wondering, the name Skunk Train comes from the gasoline-powered engines that once kept vehicles moving - which were not sweet-smelling, as you would imagine. Exciting escapes to a breath-taking national park or spectacular city destination. What the Experts Think, Have a Trip to Paris Planned? The rest of the year, the Poway-Midland Railroad uses a Los Angeles Yellow Trolley Car for trips around the park. Tours available include the, Hollywood is a star-studded destination, even for those that aren't star-struck. Travel + Leisure is published by Meredith Corporation under license from Travel + Leisure Co. On another note Due to repairs on an unstable cliff in San Clemente that caused the tracks to shift, Metrolink and Amtrak shut down service and hope to resume it by Oct. 4, 2020.. 5401 Graham Hill Road, Felton, CA. Think riverfront views and ivy-draped woodlands. Visit Santa Cruz County/Walter Scriptunas. Explore helpful videos and webinars with virtual tours of our rail journeys. The best plan is to buy a wristband for everyone in your party so you can enjoy unlimited rides all day long, including the Giant Dipper, a historic wooden roller coaster thats been moving and grooving for nearly 100 years. Youll be glad you did. You never know what youll find in a small-town thrift shop. If offers a wide array of accommodations as well, ranging from luxury RV rentals to eco hotels. Head to Wilder Ranch State Park first, where the popular Old Cove Landing Trail delivers scenic views of the Pacific Ocean along an easygoing, 2.5-mile loop. The hotel bar, the Mercantile Terrace, has a bar menu and firepits with a convivial atmosphere. Various routes through Ventura County are available, but what is special about these three- to four-hour rides is that each has a theme - there are Murder Mystery tours, Steam Train rides and, on weekends, special scenic tours that take in such delights as the historic town of Santa Paula, or into the countryside through citrus groves - stopping off at an authentic honey farm on the way. From here, the Surfline route turns inland to San Luis Obispo. Some sections of the trip are inland. Los Angeles to San Diego travel time is a little under three hours. Your Guide to Southern California Events Next, youll take in the famous sights of Los Angeles, like Rodeo Drive, the Santa Monica Pier, and more before you board the Pacific Surfliner to San Diego. The route takes passengers on a journey from Los Angeles to Seattle, stopping in Sacramento and Portland along the way. If you ever got to stay up until midnight on New Year's Eve as a child, chances are you sipped Martinellis apple cider to celebrate. Families, school groups, and day-trippers all enjoy the convenience of traveling by train to see the mission. The two steam locomotives operate daily during the summer months. Redwood Grove Loop and River Trail are recommended for kids due to their length and proximity to water, especially if its a warm day to splash and play. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. All cars are equipped with power outlets for laptops. 5 of The Most Scenic Train Rides to Take in California - AFAR Buses and trolleys depart every few minutes from the train station to many of San Diegos most popular attractions. This tiny town just north of Santa Cruz proper is a nice stop for a meal and beach walk. 11 Most Scenic Train Rides In Northern California - OnlyInYourState Bring some saltwater taffy to the beach, too some of the best can be bought at Marinis Candies, found right on the boardwalk. If youre looking to take the scenic route then this selection offers some of the very best views in North America. 20 Most Beautiful Small Towns in the U.S. For a limited time only, save $350 per couple on our 'West Coast to East Coast Rail Experience from Los Angeles' vacation inclusive of 10 nights or more. The route takes passengers on a journey from Los Angeles to Seattle, stopping in Sacramento and Portland along the way. Tour options range from 2-3 hour journeys complete with a four-course meal to full or half-day trips that last for 3 to 6 hours and include wine tastings at some of Napa Valleys most famous wineries. The park is open daily in summer and Saturdays and Sundays the rest of the year. Trips from the Park go through Gold Country and the Sierra Mountains, offering stunning views through sweeping countryside over the course of a 45-minute round trip. I want to take advantage of discount tickets. In Santa Cruz proper, check out vintage clothes at Tomboy and Forever Thrift. With a coastline over 1,000 miles long north to south, California is an enormous and geographically diverse state, well known for scenic road trips. While this trip may be short, its worth checking out Poway-Midland Railroad. Train Rides for Fall Foliage Views, This Epic 8-state Train Journey Covers the Best of the American West Including the Grand Canyon, Pacific Ocean, and Petrified Forests, 8 Scenic Train Rides in Arizona That Will Take You to the Grand Canyon, Through a Former Movie Studio, and More, 7 Best Train Rides in Texas Vintage Cars and Scenic Views Included, 8 Incredible Night Train Journeys Around the World With Stunning City, Mountain, and Lake Views, The Best Fall Foliage Train Trips to Take This Year, The 9 Best Train Rides to Take From New York City, These Steam Trains Bring You From the Towering California Redwoods to the Pacific Ocean, 5 Amtrak Rides With Spectacular Fall Foliage Views, Gas Prices Are Soaring Here's How Much You Can Save on Train Travel Instead of a Road Trip This Summer, 13 Festive Train Rides You Can Take for the Holidays. The installation includes a still-working old-style roundhouse with a turntable, as used to turn trains around at the end of a journey. The end of the line to the north is San Luis Obispo, known for outdoor activities, farm-to-table dining, and world-class wineries. The train cars are made up of restored vintage Pullman cars from the early 20th century and the decor is an homage to the glory days of luxury train travel with all its mahogany paneling, brass accents, etched glass partitions, and intimate seating. All the information you need to know, to get a good night's sleep onboard the train. Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad 56001 Hwy 41, Fish Camp, CA 93623. Business Class tickets offer guaranteed seating and a few other perks like more legroom and complimentary snacks, but advance reservations are required. From there you can walk to Olvera Street and Chinatown. Looking for a Pacific Surfliner trip? Website: Placerville Sacramento Valley Railroad. Sign up today to save up to $350 on your next vacation! Train trips in California venture through the ever-changing terrain, presenting the very best from the Sierra Nevadas to seaside harbors. 7 Memorable And Scenic Train Rides In Southern California It's a one-of-a-kind experience through the beautiful redwoods. There are seven daily round trips featured on this train, five between the cities of Oakland and Bakersfield, and two between Sacramento and Bakersfield. This carefully curated list has the top suggestions of vacations for first-time rail travelers. Website: California State Railroad Museum. Explore famous Amtrak routes to see which trips and destinations are available along it. Photo by Cory Woodruff/Shutterstock Trains can move a larger number of people at once than cars can, which means they produce less CO2, lower pollution levels, and healthier air quality. Santa Cruz, California, Is a Perfect Road Trip Destination With Train Complete Guide to Train Rides & Attractions in Northern California See two oceans, cross the Rockies, and all the land in-between with one of these North American adventures. There are miles of pristine coastline that are not accessible by car on this section of the track. From Oceanside to Torrey Pines, the train runs along the coast and then turns inland for the final miles before it reaches downtown San Diego. The famous brand has been producing beloved beverages for more than 150 years, and is headquartered in the Santa Cruz County city of Watsonville.
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Originally published in the Dubuque Telegraph Herald - June 19, 2022 I am still trying to process the Robb Elementary...