This website has been archived from TrainWeb.org/wizzle to TrainWeb.US/wizzle.
San Diegan Maps and Links
Amtrak California's Official San Diegan (Renamed to Pacific Surfliner) homepage has an excellent route map with descriptions of and maps for every station along the route. The links here will provide additional information so that you can plan an outing to one or more of the cities along the route. More information will be added periodically as I travel along this route or find interesting websites, so check back.
| Traveler | Link | Comments |
| Steve Grande | TrainWeb.com/travel/sgcalogs.htm | Great travelogues with detailed information about the trains and their equipment plus hints for a satisfying trip |
| Steve Reynolds | TrainWeb.US/reynolds/tvlpage.html | Steve is a railfan who lives right on the San Diegan route in Santa Barbara and has lots of good trips to share |
| Wizzle | LA to San Diego 7/24/98 | My first ever train trip - includes photos and general impressions about getting out of "the car" and onto the train |
Stop by Stop
Information (North to south along the route with Coast Starlight stops
in bold)
| Stop | Links | Comments/Recommendations |
| Paso Robles | Paso Robles | Paso Robles has become home to many fine wineries and a wine festival. It's on my list of places to visit. See SLO below for links to buses. |
| Chamber of Commerce | ||
| Atascadero | ||
| San Luis Obispo | SLO City Information | SLO is a college town (hosting Cal Poly) and is the southern gateway to the fabulous sights along California's scenic Highway 1. There is a mission and lots to do in SLO proper. The stretch of Highway 1 between SLO and Monterey is by far its most scenic portion so renting a car at SLO for the drive up could be the start of a great trip. Along the way stop at Hearst Castle, the artist community of Cambria and Santa Cruz, which boasts a few redwoods, a steam excursion train and one of the campuses of the University of California (great courses in basket weaving and hemp utilization, I understand). Wizzle and the Prince both went (or are going) to UCLA.....a "real" UC campus. Amtrak runs buses from Monterey back to the trains.......so give this some serious consideration as a vacation.......train up from LA to SLO.....rent a car and drop it off in Monterey (which is a great place) then hop on an Amtrak bus back to the train and return to LA. I'd allow at least 5 days for the coast portion.......1 day for Hearst Castle, 1 day for Cambria, 1 for Santa Cruz and 2 for Monterey/Carmel. If you want to ride the steam train in Santa Cruz consider adding an extra day. |
| SLO Vicinity Public Transport | Maps and general information about buses and shuttles in SLO and area.....even has links to taxi service. Very nice website. | |
| SLO County | County website | |
| SLO County Guide | By the Visitor's and Conference Bureau | |
| Grover Beach | City Information | Amtrak station is at Grand and Highway 1 close to downtown |
| South County | By Chambers of Commerce | |
| Guadalupe | TBD | New station. |
| Surf | None | Small stop |
| Goleta | TBD | The stop for UC Santa Barbara. |
| Santa Barbara | Visitor's Bureau | SB is a lovely town with what has to be the best climate in California. Strict zoning laws keep the city to a Spanish motif and banish garish signs. It's an easy walk to the beach and restaurants from the Amtrak station. Check back for photos and a travelogue. |
| SB Metropolitan Transit | Very thorough with lots of information to get around SB to Goleta | |
| SB Guide | Commercial website | |
| Carpentaria | Beach with camping faclities. | |
| Ventura | Amtrak's station is close to the fairgrounds and the marina. | |
| Oxnard | City of Oxnard | A trip up to Oxnard is the closest way for those living in LA to get to "the country." Oxnard has a wonderful Strawberry Festival in the spring and a great marina. I'm planning a train trip to explore how to get from the Amtrak station to the marina. Check back |
| City and Harbor Guide | By the Tourism Bureau | |
| Camarillo | City of Camarillo | Nice little city with a fabulous deli for smoked salmon (according to my cousin). I'll have to get more info but I've eaten the salmon and he is right. |
| Moorpark | City of Moorpark | Official Moorpark City Website |
| Simi Valley | City of Simi Valley | Nice commercial website |
| Chatsworth | City of Chatsworth | At the west end of the San Fernando Valley where it's hot and without redeeming features |
| Van Nuys | Wikipedia - Van Nuys | Van Nuys is the central stop for the San Fernando Valley - a ho hum place at best (I grew up nearby) |
| Burbank Airport | City Of Burbank | Excellent website by the city with more than just the usual political nonsense - has lots of good tourist info |
| Glendale | City of Glendale | Another good city website - and Glendale is a nice town with a really fabulous shopping mall, the Glendale Galleria. The area around the Galleria has many nice restaurants and galleries Amtrak's station there is currently under rennovation but is open, if unstaffed. |
| Los Angeles Union Station | Wizzlog | Photos and detailed station information plus maps of the area and local transportation information |
| Commerce | City of Commerce | Mostly a business city. |
| Fullerton | TrainWeb Site | TrainWeb Fullerton Website |
| Anaheim | City of Anaheim | The train stop is right across the parking lot from Padres' stadium and Amtrak runs shuttle buses to Disney land from here (call Amtrak). Nice station, too. |
| Anaheim Station | TrainWeb Anaheim Page | |
| Disneyland | The official site | |
| Knott's Berry Farm | The official site | |
| Santa Ana | Travel Santa Ana | |
| Irvine | Destination Irvine | |
| San Juan Capistrano | City of San Juan Capistrano | Good commercail website |
| San Clemente | San Clemente Guide | Good commercial website |
| Oceanside | Visit Oceanside | Commercial website |
| Solana Beach | Visit Solana Beach | The Solana Beach stop has a free shuttle to the track during the racing season at Del Mar |
| San Diego | Wizzlog | Photos and detailed station information plus maps to nearby hotels and attractions and links for local transportation |
