Hi all
I already had similar thread sometime mid 2009, but looking for any advise on the Spring (May) train trip to either Northeast or California.This year I want to explore either California, Northeast of both! My main requirement is that I want to explore places without use of rental cars and at least one train leg in the sleeper.
I came up with the following scenarios and looking for input:
1)Go on EB from Chicago (I envy railfans who live there) to Essex or East Glacier park and stopping there for 2-3 days, then going to Portland/Seatle staying there same amount and finally making trip to SF, staying there over weekend and going back to Dallas by plane.
2)Going by train from Dallas to LA. From there to San Jose or any other stop along the Coast Starlight where we can easily hit the California beach. I really want to experience riding with Coast Starlight as from video riding right on the ocean coast looks to be amazing. Then from that stop got to San Francisco as the last stop.
3)Go either by California Zephyr or Southwest Chief from Chicago and travel up or down California using Coast Starlight like in trip #2.
Any advice would be highly appreciated!
p.s. My last trip to Northeast last summer per recs here, was absolutely awesome: going from Chicago to DC on Capitol Limited (sleeper!) and than traveling Acela to NYC and Boston.
trainsBuddyWe checked the weather and looks like Essex will still be chilly in May (50s). G/f want to see some sun, so we'll see if we still leave Northwest as an option. As far as your recommended stop on Starlight, is it public transportation friendly or would I need a rental. What about beaches?
Several years ago I took the Texas Eagle from Dallas to Chicago, from whence I caught a Hiawatha train to Milwaukee. I stayed over night in Milwaukee. It was cheaper than staying in Chicago. And since I had stayed in Chicago many times, I wanted to try something different. Milwaukee turned out to be a pleasant surprise. From Milwaukee I took the Empire Builder to Portland, which is a beautiful city with one of the best public transit systems in the United States. I flew home from Portland. I did the trip during the first week of December; the winter scenery was magnificent. And the fares during the first two weeks of December are usually great. The Thanksgiving crowd has returned home, and the Christmas crowd is still in town along with most of the business people who have come off the road for the holiday season. Demand is down and so are the prices.
In January I took the Texas Eagle from Austin to LAX and a Surfliner from LAX to San Diego. I reversed the route for the trip back to Austin. The biggest drawback on the Eagle is the long overnight layover in San Antonio. It is not too bad if you are in a sleeper, but I would not want to do it in a coach. In either case, there are several good watering holes near the San Antonio station. If the train is on time, they are easily accessible.
San Diego has an outstanding public transit system. And the San Diego Model Railroad Museum in Balboa Park is something to see. It is the best model railroad display that I have ever seen. It is so realistic that I thought for a moment that I was trackside in the real world as opposed to looking at model trains. In addition, there are several beaches near San Diego that can be reached by public transport. Or one can take the train to Oceanside, get off the train and walk to the beach in less than five minutes.
This May I am flying to Albuquerque, where I will catch the Southwest Chief to LAX. From there I am taking the San Joaquin service from LAX to San Francisco. I plan to spend five days in San Francisco. Then I am taking the California Zephyr from San Francisco to Denver for a few days before heading back to the Austin area. San Francisco is my favorite American city. I have been there five times over the past year. It has excellent public transit. Moreover, the trip from San Francisco to Denver on the Zephyr is arguably the most scenic train ride in America. I did it in February when there heaps of snow were on the ground. I am keen to see what the countryside looks like in spring.
My daughters live out on the West Coast, one in San Francisco, the other in Palo Alto. I go out every once in a while for visits from here on the east coast. My daughters think I am a wonderful dad for coming out to visit. Little do they know my visits are excuses to rail fan the Bay Area which I find fascinating. Along with the good advice of San Francisco, it is a wonderfully rail transit city, the whole area is chock full of good railfanning, Cal Train to San Jose, Amtrak to Sacramento and lots of UP and BNSF everywhere and BART to get you there. I would especially recommend the small town of Martinez, about 35 miles notheast of San Francisco. friendly place, a regualr stop for Amtrak and much freight through the station area. If you stay in SF take the Richmond BART train to Richmond (end of the line) station and take any of the frequent Amtrak California trains to Martinez, only one station stop away. Have a good trip
Commenting on option #1): the accomodations, and railfanning, at East Glacier Park and the Izaak Walton Inn are excellent, but not cheap. They may not be open, if you visit in May. Direct connection from the Empire Builder to the Coast Starlight is not possible in SEA, entailing an overnight stay (RON). The EB (#27) makes a good connection at PDX. Unfortunately, the "rent-a-cops" frown on one exploring the platform areas and vagrants reside in the crossover elevator. The station is spectacular. Best feature of PDX: no sales tax!
The California coast, south of EMY, is spectacular. As advised, don't go in the water! Brrrrr!!! Los Angeles Union Station is also a beautiful place, and "roamable", as is SEA. Have fun!!!
If you happen to travel the inland route, you'll have to take an Amtrak bus between LAX and BFD. It is a very pleasant journey, for a bus. The San Joaquin trains are cool. I think they are the best in the country!
Hays, in Montana
I spent 6 years living in North County San Diego and 3 years previously in Portland Or and am now back.
Portland is easily the best public transportation town on the west coast, but don't discount the California cities. I would make your way to LA and then take the Surfliner down to Orange County (Disneyland, Fullerton Station, Fender Guitar Museum etc. etc. etc.) then on to San Diego. Take in Balboa park and the model railroad museum, the Harbor, the Zoo etc etc etc.The San Diego Santa Fe Station is one of the most beautiful railroad stations around.
And don't let these guys scare you. I grew up in Chicago swimming in Lake Michigan. The Pacific Ocean in SD/OC is no different. If you can't handle it, well I hear there are nice retirement communities in Florida ;) I wouldn't go swimming North of Santa Barbara/Point Conception Speaking of, Santa Barbara is a nice day trip spot with cheap public transportation, a nice Zoo, a Mission and lots of good beautiful people people watching.
Back North, the Bay area is very transit friendly (excluding North Bay) with lots to see and do. The San Jose Train Station is neat and offers very easy access to most of the penninsula.
Seattle is kinda rough for public transportation. It's there and maybe if you aren't venturing too far from down town it will work for you, but as was said, Portland is the best,
Thanks guys, I'll keep watching this thread - your advise is really appreciated. From my research it does look like LA, San Diego and other California places mentioned should be easily accessible by public transportation.
For now, we are thinking about doing a trip through California. Either getting there by train from Portland or Denver. Than moving south down to San Diego. By the way mid May how's is San Diego? For some reason I though it would be in the 90s ( I guess I'm thinking of Mexico) but it should be actually a little cooler than here Dallas. Not big deal.
As far as wine tasting in either Nappa Valley , or the area where "Sideways" was filmed - I guess for those trips I'll need a rental, correct?
Do you guys think we should have a sticky thread for various US regions for train travel? I think it will be very helpful planning source for many people on the forum.
There are no major wine tasting areas that are directly accessible by rail. Napa Valley would require a car as would Temecula or any of the other vitacultural regions in California. The same is True in Portland.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.