California- The Highlights

[TransitGeek]

I gave this advice to a poster in the main forum, and somebody suggested I post it up here as well.

As far as tourist-friendly cities, those three will about run the gamut in the state. However, California has plentiful natural wonders to offer. At the very least, if you've never been, you should spend some time in Yosemite National Park. (Amtrak provides service there, but it is an *early* departure from LA- read 4am. From SF the last connection is 7am. You might plan it between Los Angeles and San Francisco- that is, if you're willing to leave LA at either 1 or 4 am.)

Disneyland is a pretty easy connection either from Los Angeles or Anaheim. From LA, take the Metro 460 express direct. From Anaheim station, take the Anaheim Resort Transit route 15. (More info at metro.net and rideart.org respectively.)

The bus between LA and Bakersfield is a 3-ish hour trip. I'm not sure how long the ride is between Merced and Yosemite. The ride to San Francisco is a quick 20 minutes right over the Bay Bridge.

As far as time in each city, it depends on what you want to do. If you hit any museums, zoos or amusement parks you'll probably want to allow time for each of those. Disneyland is easily seen in a day, and I wouldn't bother with California Adventure unless you're getting in free. (Often, specials will allow you to do just that.) It's basically three big rides and a lot of gift shops. Do catch the San Diego Zoo, it is pretty incredible. If you can arrange transport, also catch the affiliated San Diego Wild Animal Park in Escondido. They have huge, multi-acre enclosures which replicate the animals' natural habitat, and you can see them wandering about as if they were still in Africa or Asia. You can get there on transit- from the Oceanside station (Amtrak/Metrolink/COASTER/SPRINTER), take the SPRINTER to Escondido transit centre and then NCTD #386- but I don't know how the schedules will work out from you. It's pretty far out there.

In LA, the Getty Museum is pretty impressive, but perhaps not kid-friendly. The Griffith Observatory is also very cool, and they have an amazing, recently rebuilt planetarium- but unless you like hiking, the shuttle only runs on weekends. On the plus side, you get some fantastic views of the city- including the famed HOLLYWOOD sign (which is smaller than you think it is)- from up there. California Science Centre and the LA Museum of Natural History are both very nice, and located in Exposition Park. By the time you get here, we should have the Expo light rail line up and running, which will put these attractions within an easy train ride from Union Station. They're already pretty transit-accessible, though. Hollywood is a tourist trap, but a tourist trap with easy subway access. Grauman's Chinese Theatre is a block west of Hollywood/Highland station, while Hollywood/Vine station provides access to the walk of fame.

I absolutely love San Francisco, and if it weren't for a certain pesky graduate program I'd move there in a heartbeat. Everything there is 100% transit accessible- don't worry about it for a second. Check out Alcatraz and walk across the Golden Gate. Go to the California Academy of Sciences ($3 off if you show your transit pass.) When you ride the cable cars, stand on the sideboard- it's one of the few places in North America you can still do that. Get a burrito or taco in the Mission (but maybe do it for lunch? Some find the area a bit scary after dark. Our favourite place is called El Farolito, on Mission just north of 24th, less than a block from the 24th St. BART. Don't book a hotel in anything described as the "Civic Centre" area- this region is affectionately known as the Tenderloin and is essentially the city's skid row. Hotels are cheap, sure, but not worth it.

You may also consider heading to Sacramento. California's capitol city is a rather pleasant place, hemmed in by rivers on three sides, with pleasant parks, the quirky Midtown neighbourhood, Sutter's Fort (the place that began the gold rush), and the State Railroad Museum (part of tourist-trappy Old Town). Sacramento is an easy Amtrak trip from pretty much anywhere- two trains daily on the San Joaquins line plus innumerable Capitol Corridor trains from the Bay Area serve the station, as well as the Coast Starlight if you end up riding that. All of the tourist-friendly places are pretty well-served by Sacramento Regional Transit, including their two light rail lines, but note that frequency and service span drop off *quickly*- just a mile or so into the 'burbs and the buses run hourly, stopping at 7pm.

Hope this helps, and I hope you enjoy the trip to our fair state. We could use the tax revenue.

 

[choochoogranny]

thanks for this informative info. We hope to visit California by train soon, and the info on San Francisco will certainly help. Our first train trip out there - we'd like to just "wing it" and go with the flow of each city/stop on a Rail Pass. Two things we'd really like to do is see Yosemite and do a wine tour somewhere - but hope to avoid the standard "touristy" places and opt for a more local authentic view.

 

[leemell]

I gave this advice to a poster in the main forum, and somebody suggested I post it up here as well.

[snip]

In LA, the Getty Museum is pretty impressive, but perhaps not kid-friendly. The Griffith Observatory is also very cool, and they have an amazing, recently rebuilt planetarium- but unless you like hiking, the shuttle only runs on weekends. On the plus side, you get some fantastic views of the city- including the famed HOLLYWOOD sign (which is smaller than you think it is)- from up there. California Science Centre and the LA Museum of Natural History are both very nice, and located in Exposition Park. By the time you get here, we should have the Expo light rail line up and running, which will put these attractions within an easy train ride from Union Station. They're already pretty transit-accessible, though. Hollywood is a tourist trap, but a tourist trap with easy subway access. Grauman's Chinese Theatre is a block west of Hollywood/Highland station, while Hollywood/Vine station provides access to the walk of fame.

[snip]

.

Just a small nit to pick --- the Red Line station at Hollywood and Highland is far less than a block from the Chinese Theater. If you make a hard right turn as you exit the station and walk about 150 feet you will be standing in front of the theater.

Also it is not the "the Grauman's Chinese Theater" anymore. It was changed to just "The Chinese Theater" when Mann's Theaters downsized and the the Chinese became an independent theater. That was a couple of months ago.

 

[saxman]

Are there any decent towns to visit on the route of the San Joaquin? Something to visit for a couple hours between Sacramento and Bakersfield? Any decent downtown areas that are walkable? A nice cafe to sit? Just wondering where I might do a turn when I'm in Cali next week. Merced? Modesto? I've done Fresno, not all that great. Bakersfield, nah. Hanford didn't look that exciting either. What about Stockton?

 

[Blackwolf]

I've lived in Northern California for my entire life, but have traveled around almost on a constant basis. While the San Joaquin line is a considerable backbone route, in terms of destinations it serves, there's not much to be impressed about. California's central valley is the bread basket of North America, and as such, just about all of the SJ's territory is agriculture. And it should be too, but the result means there are not too many interesting things to make a day out of; Sacramento is by far the most impressive part of the route outside of the Bay Area. If you found Fresno to be rather bland, the same awaits you in Merced and Modesto. Both are major centers for their territorial area, but really have nothing more than houses, box store shopping malls and a 'historic' downtown of late 19th and early 20th century two-story buildings.

And take it from someone who works Public Safety for a living: Stockton is BAD NEWS. Very high crime rate, the city is bankrupt, tourisim is not on the radar, and there are very few sights to see outside of the University of the Pacific campus. True, that one location in itself is quite impressive, very beautiful, and you have likely seen it in any college or university themed movie (it was the on-location setting for many movies like Flubber, Old School, etc.) You would need a cab to get there though, and also be aware that Stockton has two separate train stations, both served by Amtrak but not by the same trains!

Anyhow, just my $0.02. Many would disagree, but I think the SJ's strongest points are the scenery seen from the train and the connecting services that extend your reach to much more fascinating places (Yosemite, Lake Tahoe, Mono Lake, LA.)

 

[johnny.menhennet]

If you are staying along the SJ's route in the Bay Area, and would want to make a trip from there, don't. Take a Capitol Corridor to Sacramento and tour Old Town. That is a much better use of time. If staying in Sacramento, then I suggest visiting the Bay Area. The Ricmond train-BART connection is very easy and can get you into San Fran cheap.

 

[DET63]

Are there any decent towns to visit on the route of the San Joaquin? Something to visit for a couple hours between Sacramento and Bakersfield? Any decent downtown areas that are walkable? A nice cafe to sit? Just wondering where I might do a turn when I'm in Cali next week. Merced? Modesto? I've done Fresno, not all that great. Bakersfield, nah. Hanford didn't look that exciting either. What about Stockton?

The only thing I'll say about Stockton is that if you remember The Big Valley TV series, which was set in (or near) Stockton, you will find that Stockton is nothing like it.