Pacific Coast Starlight Train LA to SF

[awakenedsoul]

awakenedsoul, thanks for reporting back. Sounds like you had a great time and a good experience. We have a train here in town for the tourists...it's fun to take advantage of the local discount and hop on it for a 3 hour trip down into Arkansas and back. Love sitting up in the old observation car to view the hills, bridges, and tunnels. The whole train is vintage cars.

Oh...I would love that. The vintage car on our train was beautiful. The views were incredible. Many of the passengers ride trains all of the time. One lady was visiting family in Phoenix, and she lives in Minnesota! She took the train the entire way! It's a certain kind of personality that prefers train travel.

[awakenedsoul]

What a great trip AS. It's long - 12 hours - but I think it'll be really nice. Having the sleeper car will give you extra privacy too. I've taken lots of trains overseas but have only taken Amtrak from San Diego to Orange County as I do a bicycle ride called the Amtrak Century ever years and you bike to San Diego and ride the train back. It's always really great and relaxing and very scenic too. Once of these days, once dog free, I'd like to do a cross country Amtrak trip as well as the Coast Starlight. Have fun!

That sounds cool. I found a great kennel near my house that's like a dog camp. It's up on a mountain on lots of land. The pooches love it, and I can travel without them. I'm researching the cross country Amtrak trips, too.

[awakenedsoul]

Oh I'm so glad your trip went so well! Yes, you must do it again.

Thanks Blackdog Lin. Yosemite and Mt. Shasta sound beautiful, too. When I got to the airport to fly home, my flight was delayed for two hours. I was able to switch to another flight on Southwest that landed in Burbank at no charge. Good thing I only had carry on luggage! I took the Metro train from Burbank to my city, biked to the bus stop, and rode the bus home. All of the connections were seamless.

The fare from San Jose to LAX was only $39.00. Southwest has good deals.

[awakenedsoul]

I will have to do the train again (sometime ...).

The conductor told me that the Pacific Coast Starlight train is always late. I was glad I knew in advance.

[kimberlyf0]

I'm glad you had a great trip! We have traveled on the Coast Starlight several times from L.A. to Oakland (and then San Francisco via Amtrak bus) and we also took it to Portland and did a car free vacation there. We've had minor delays but even when we got held up in Sacramento for hours (overnight) somehow they made up the time and got us to Portland on time. The Parlor car is the best, and they only have it on the Coast Starlight! We book sleeper cars (first class) just for that option. When all four of us travel we book two roomettes across the hall from each other rather than the more expensive family bedroom. For our anniversary one year we booked a bedroom and it was nice to have our own restroom.

[awakenedsoul]

Thanks kimberlyf0. That's amazing that you still got to Portland on time. I'd like to do a car free vacation there, too. I bet it's really pretty when there's snow. I met a lot of people on the train that take that one regularly. It's really nice having a sleeper. I loved having my meals in the Parlor car, too.

[kimberlyf0]

We didn't eat in the parlor car because my boys didn't like the offerings nor could they accommodate food allergies. Now that we have resumed a vegan diet I imagine that eating the "free" (included in the price of the ticket) meals would be difficult, even in the main dining car. We could request vegan meals, but accommodating a tomato allergy becomes difficult, and that is just one allergy (although the one I butt up against most often with vegan options).

We did partake of the wine and cheese pairings, and of course spent hours in the parlor car!

[awakenedsoul]

They had a vegetarian meal for lunch when I was there. It was a large salad and a roll. (It might have had tomatoes, though.) It was delicious. I think there was a vegetarian option for dinner, too. I can't remember. You're right, there are more choices in the dining car. I just liked the quiet and privacy of the parlor car.

They no longer offer the free wine and cheese. They've been cutting back their expenses. I think wine is $5.00 a glass.

[kimberlyf0]

Interesting! When we first traveled, they charged for the wine and cheese tasting, and then the next couple of times it was free. Considering how many more people attended when it was free and how few people chose to buy anything afterward, I am not surprised that they resumed charging for it. I saw more sales when they did charge and it was a more intimate affair.

I would spend all my time in the parlor car and my room if I could; the dining car is very noisy and crowded. Next time we go I will likely pack our meals and then eat in the parlor car when they are not serving meals. DH did take us to the regular observation car but it didn't hold a candle to the parlor car.

[awakenedsoul]

That's a good idea. I felt like one of the employees there was trying to get us to eat in the dining car. She kept saying that they had more choices on the menu, and that if you ate there you could order the five cheese lasagna. I didn't want to eat in the dining car for the reasons you mentioned. Also, that's one of the reasons I paid for a sleeper. It seemed like she didn't like the separation. I think she'd prefer that everyone ate together. I loved the peace and quiet in the parlor car. It was a treat to travel first class! It was my first time, and it was so worth the money!