p&sr
OBS Chief
Here's another trip my wife and I took last year, starting from the Bay Area and involving just a single overnight.
Driving to Martinez in the morning, we caught the first westbound train that ran all the way to San Jose. There we transferred to the CalTrain north to San Francisco. From the depot there, we rode the N-Judah light-rail along the South Embarcadero and into the Market Street subway, then transferred to another train going to the Castro St. Station. There we emerged and caught the F-Line Heritage Streetcar, running all the way down Market Street (on the surface!) and then North along the Embarcadero to Fisherman's Wharf. After a good lunch from sidewalk vendors there, we caught the Ferry Boat to Oakland (Jack London Square). This particular run went by way of Angel Island State Park, so we actually crossed the Bay to the North before crossing it to the East.
At Jack London Square there was plenty of time to walk around and window-shop, finally arriving at the Amtrak Station at the other end of the Square. We caught the last San Joaquin Train of the day, following the shores of San Francisco Bay and Carquinez Straits by late afternoon light, then south through the Central Valley into the night. At Midnight we arrived in Bakersfield and transferred to the Amtrak Bus to San Diego, sleeping on board the Bus. We arrived in San Diego about 5:45 AM at Sunrise, just in time for the first northbound Surfliner along the beaches of Southern California.
We arrived in LAX Union Station in good time to catch the Coast Starlight northbound, giving excellent views of the Coast from Ventura through Santa Barbara and the remote areas around Vandenberg AFB/Cape Concepcion. Climbing the hills north of San Luis Obispo is always interesting, with a high trestle bridge, some sharp horseshoe curves, and spectacular views down into the canyon below (occupied by Hwy 101). Then north through the Salinas Valley, and finally back into the Bay Area.
Due to delays along the way, it was 3:00 AM when we arrived in Martinez. No problem, as our car was there waiting for us, and we had the next day off to rest up.
To be sure of seeing that fine Coastal Scenery along the CS, it is best to travel Northbound... or else stop your Southbound trip overnight in San Luis Obispo and continue the next morning on the Surfliner! But of course, that is another story...
Driving to Martinez in the morning, we caught the first westbound train that ran all the way to San Jose. There we transferred to the CalTrain north to San Francisco. From the depot there, we rode the N-Judah light-rail along the South Embarcadero and into the Market Street subway, then transferred to another train going to the Castro St. Station. There we emerged and caught the F-Line Heritage Streetcar, running all the way down Market Street (on the surface!) and then North along the Embarcadero to Fisherman's Wharf. After a good lunch from sidewalk vendors there, we caught the Ferry Boat to Oakland (Jack London Square). This particular run went by way of Angel Island State Park, so we actually crossed the Bay to the North before crossing it to the East.
At Jack London Square there was plenty of time to walk around and window-shop, finally arriving at the Amtrak Station at the other end of the Square. We caught the last San Joaquin Train of the day, following the shores of San Francisco Bay and Carquinez Straits by late afternoon light, then south through the Central Valley into the night. At Midnight we arrived in Bakersfield and transferred to the Amtrak Bus to San Diego, sleeping on board the Bus. We arrived in San Diego about 5:45 AM at Sunrise, just in time for the first northbound Surfliner along the beaches of Southern California.
We arrived in LAX Union Station in good time to catch the Coast Starlight northbound, giving excellent views of the Coast from Ventura through Santa Barbara and the remote areas around Vandenberg AFB/Cape Concepcion. Climbing the hills north of San Luis Obispo is always interesting, with a high trestle bridge, some sharp horseshoe curves, and spectacular views down into the canyon below (occupied by Hwy 101). Then north through the Salinas Valley, and finally back into the Bay Area.
Due to delays along the way, it was 3:00 AM when we arrived in Martinez. No problem, as our car was there waiting for us, and we had the next day off to rest up.
To be sure of seeing that fine Coastal Scenery along the CS, it is best to travel Northbound... or else stop your Southbound trip overnight in San Luis Obispo and continue the next morning on the Surfliner! But of course, that is another story...
