CoreyTess – Screenwriter, Designer, Fashionista

The Best Way to get from Los Angeles to San Diego without Losing Your MIND!

Posted on 20. Oct, 2009 by Corey Tess in General, Travel & Fun

Recently, I had to get to San Diego from Los Angeles for a conference and to visit some very good friends who were in from the East Coast for the same event. I considered the drive, about 2 hours on freeways that will probably be bumper to bumper traffic… getting there tired and irritated from the road rage in time to go to the events… hmmm.. NO. Next I considered the puddle jumper (small aircraft) from LAX to SD Airport and thought about the hassle of getting a ride to the airport or having to deal with airport parking, getting through security, possibly having to check my bag, all for a 30 minute cramped flight that leaves me at the SD airport where I have to collect my stuff and find a cab line… hmmm NO. So finally I took a look at the train. Trains are steeped in mystery and charm, so many movies and books have been written about experiences on trains, granted they have usually been sleeper trains in other Europe, but there was something to the idea.

I looked further and found the Pacific SurfLiner by Amtrak.

It is a train that runs along the California coast from Los Angeles Union Station to San Diego’s historic district in 2 hours with stops in Fullerton, Anaheim, Irvine, Santa Ana, San Juan Capistrano, and Solana Beach… I looked at the route online and noticed that it ran along beachfront for quite a spell beyond SJC, I was intrigued. The cost to upgrade from Coach to Business Class was only 14.00– it included snacks, drinks (wine, soft-drinks, coffee and tea) and conference tables, big windows, lots of leg room, foot rests, outlets for your lap top and phone to charge and curtains on the window in case you are weird and don’t like to see the ocean, you can close it up and sleep. The total ticket roundtrip was about 80.00 with the upgrades.

You can buy your tickets online at www.amtrak.com and pick them up at the station using the QUIKTICKET option, and you don’t have to check your bag, unless you want to.

No crazy security process, you get to the station about 30 mins early, grab a coffee.. I recommend taking a look around Union Station if you have never been there, it will remind you of why classic Los Angeles is so amazing.
It has gorgeous Mission style accents and even as old as it is and though it houses a lot of homeless people and hippie types now and then, you can still see the hey days in the details.

You watch for your track number on the monitor or line up at the roped area – then head to the train platform and pop aboard. Sitting upstairs is best, you get a great view, also make sure you are on the Pacific side of the train and get a window seat for sure!

Be aware that if it is a full train (on weekends this is more likely) they reserve downstairs for handicap and conference table four seats for groups of 3 or more, so avoid those until after the train has taken off and you can see how full it will be. That way you can move as you choose. Remember the direction you are going in and don’t sit in seats facing backward if you get motion sickness, some people can’t deal with going backwards, it doesn’t bother me. The conductor will take your ticket, have you sign it and sometimes checks ID randomly and off you go!

From Los Angeles to San Juan Capistrano is pretty standard. You see building, fields, backyards, warehouses etc… so if you have work to do on your laptop or calls to make, do it during that part of the trip, but as soon as you take off from the SJC station (pictured here, with its cute old time stop)

, put away your work and get out your camera or get comfy and be prepared to enjoy the ocean views. Some parts of the route actually put you so close to the waves that you can smell the salt and see the faces of the surfers, compared to watching the back of someone elses car as you inch along on the 5 or looking out a tiny window down and the oddly black waves cramped in a tiny plane, this is a pure luxury. People enjoying themselves out in the waves and along the shores and playgrounds will wave at you as you roll by, something about trains brings out the kid in many people and they will stop and watch.

Here are some of the photos I took THROUGH THE WINDOW! YES, I WAS PRACTICALLY ON THE BEACH WHILE SITTING IN MY SEAT WITH A CUP OF COFFEE! I LOVED IT!

As you pass the beach houses, and state parks, you will feel like you cannot take photos fast enough, it really is a lovely view, but remember to enjoy it live and not spend too much time loading the photos onto twitter and facebook.

The ride down to San Diego is a bit of a better route than the ride back it seemed to me, but they are both nice and have many lovely ocean views. I had a great trip both ways and arrived in San Diego feeling refreshed and inspired instead of tired and aggravated.
If you go with a group, it is probably even more fun. I have driven up PCH from Los Angeles to San Francisco and that is also a gorgeous trip, but that is a whole other blog entry!

For more information about the North Bound or South Bound Surfliner, go to the Amtrak website link here:BOOK IT!

Enjoy and make sure to send me your train story! I plan to do more train trips in the future, if you know an awesome route, let me know!