California Zephyr, Southwest Chief, Coast Starlight Loop

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benjibear

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I want to make a trip from the east via Chicago to California in June, July, or August. What would the better routing be? Chicago-San Francisco- Los Angeles- Chicago or the Chicago-Los Angeles- San Francisco-Chicago?

Also, based on our timing we will have 7 days total to spend in either Los Angeles or San Francisco. Any suggestions on how we should split that time up?

Trip probably will not be this summer but summer of 2016. Need to start planning!
 
I'd suggest you take the California Zephyr #5 from CHI- EMY since you'll get the Rockies/Colorado River Scenery and Sierra Nevada's from Reno to Emeryville in daylight!

Spend some time in the Bay Area, then take the Coast Starlight #11 to LAX,(daylight run to Santa Barbara ) spend a couple of days there, then ride the Southwest Chief #4 from LAX- CHI! Two Great Routes and Two interesting places to visit!
 
I second jim's advice... the Zephyr is best seen West Bound and imho is the most scenic train ride in north america.

if you happen to be a train fan, you may want to hop off in Sacramento, the California State Railroad Museum is there, one of the nicest in the country. There is also a nice light rail system that runs in Sacramento. Then you can catch the Coast Starlight from Sacramento.
 
Hmmm....may I suggest....

Zephyr westbound to EMY.

Then CS to Portland.

THEN EB to Chicago - > Columbia River Gorge the 1st day, then Glacier early AM the 2nd day.

After that, just pull the curtain.
 
Portland will not happen on this trip but it is defiantly on the bucket list for someday.

We said our trip would be California. I said San Francisco and the wife said Los Angeles. So I think we will be spending 3 days in San Francisco and 3 or 4 days in Los Angeles. It is still early though I am just starting to plan for maybe a summer 2016 trip.

The California Railroad Museum is a definite on my to do list, but the wife doesn't seam too interested, so it may be a day trip.
 
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