Ever Tried Amtrak Rail to Southern California? - By: J. Michael Key

If you are thinking about taking a vacation along Southern California’s Pacific Coast, the best way to see the place is taking the train. Amtrak offers a lot of packages to help you make your vacation enjoyable, comfortable and fun.

Believe it or not, the national railroad system is one of the leading tour operators, with a host of choices for travel without the hassles of worrying about ticketing, hotel accommodations and meals. Packages may include rail travel, air travel, hotel accommodations, sightseeing tours, theater or events tickets, meals and car rentals. Amtrak has 31destinations around the United States including Canada.

Amtrak offers a multi city rail journey. If your vacation plans include summer travel in Southern California, they have the Pacific Surf Liner which will take you between San Luis Obispo to San Diego with several stops in Los Angeles and Orange County. But if you want Los Angeles to be your first stop, take their California Dreamin' by Rail Vacation Package. This deal includes 5 ½ hours of guided sightseeing in L.A.'s finest and famous places like Hollywood, Rodeo Drive (where you will see Gucci, Prada, Versace and other famous designers' shops) and celebrity hangouts. Other destinations include The Beverly Center for shopping, a tour of the Walt Disney Concert Hall and a visit to Chinatown.

Your next stop on this package will be a short trip up the rails to Santa Barbara, which is known for its breathtaking mountains and beaches. If you like year-round sunshine, Santa Barbara is your retirement place. After Santa Barbara you will be treated to a day at the vineyards of Paso Robles, which is your next destination. Paso Robles offers some of the most attractive, walking-friendly roads in California, with scenes of olive groves, fruit orchards and plenty of vineyards. Your Amtrak tour ends in San Francisco, where you are free to continue your vacation on your own.

It is not necessary to sign up for a tour; you can take Amtrak directly into the historic downtown San Diego station and spend a number of days enjoying dozens of activities without spending a minute in a car. Orange County and Los Angeles are on the Amtrak route as well. Experience the great service and amenities of Amtrak. If it’s your first time riding the rail make sure to remember these tips:

Bring only two pieces of baggage plus carry on items.

You can bring personal items to make your travel more enjoyable like deck of cards, board games, CD/DVD player with headphones, extra pillow and blanket, binoculars, etc. I spent many hours playing Gin Rummy with a fellow I met on the train during a long-ago trip from Los Angeles to St. Paul. Of course one of the most important items to have along is a camera, for all that scenery on either side of the train.

You can also bring along your bike or surfboard because along the travel you are going to have a lot of stopovers to some beaches and camping sites.

Do check the Amtrak website to confirm these details and other important information. If you prefer travelling in a slower pace, with no time scheduled appointments, Amtrak is for you. It is a great way to visit Southern California.

About the Author

J. Michael Key has written widely on Southern California. For additional information on Amtrak opportunities in Southern California check out http://www.socal-vacation-guru.com/amtrak.html Amtrak at the SoCal Guru.

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