I don't know what your interests are, but I'll throw out a couple of ideas. BART can get you from downtown SF to the Oakland Collesium if you want to catch an A's game. You can take Amtrak's Capitol Corridor to downtown Sacramento. The California Railroad Museum and Old Sacramento are an easy walk (5 minutes) from the station. As far as Monterey, Mr. Toy (who often contributes to this forum) is from that area and may be able to help you there.
I hope you and your wife have a great trip.
[This message has been edited by zephyr (edited 07-08-2002).]
Caltrain will also be extended to Salinas in 2-3 years, and that city is being much more supportive.
Currently, the only train serving Monterey County is the Coast Starlight.
In case anyone is interested in a little history, Southern Pacific ran the first train from SF to Monterey around 1880. It was known as the Del Monte Express, and is reputed to be SP's first "name train." They also built the grand Hotel Del Monte near the original station in Monterey. The hotel burned down twice (the second fire only destroyed the central section, which was rebuilt in 1926). Since WWII the hotel has been part of the Naval Postgraduate School.
Back in the 1880s, Southern Pacific decided to market Monterey as a playground for the wealthy, and Santa Cruz as a resort town for the working class. That decision has affected the culture of the two communities ever since. The Monterey Penuinsula, with the golf courses and all, is still very upper-class, while Santa Cruz, with the famous roller coaster at the beach, is predominantly middle-class.
The Del Monte Express last ran in 1971.
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Trust God, love your neighbor, and never mistake opinion for truth.
-Mr. Toy
[This message has been edited by Mr. Toy (edited 07-10-2002).]
Your history lesson was very interesting and informative. Is that where your website gets it's name from?
The beach boardwalk in Santa Cruz is also memorable. The roller coaster there (ex Coney Island) is the most memorable one I have ever ridden (and I've been on quite a few). It was also featured in the movie "The Sting II".
quote:
Originally posted by Ken V:
Mr. Toy,
Your history lesson was very interesting and informative. Is that where your website gets it's name from?
Yes. But I don't know if the Del Monte Express ever had a club car. I rode it once when I was three (in 1962), and I seem to remember being in some sort of a lounge car, but that was a long time ago, and my memory is a bit fuzzy.
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Trust God, love your neighbor, and never mistake opinion for truth.
-Mr. Toy
1) Take a Peninsula Commute train to San Jose (1:45) from 3rd & Townsend in San Francisco. Take one of the "Capitols" from SJ to Richmond, CA. Transfer to BART (platforms are adjacent) and return to SF. And, if you have some time in SJ, ride the light rail line (a short walk from the Diridon Transportation Center, or you can transfer to light rail at Mountain View (stations are adjacent) and ride into downtown SJ.
2) Napa Valley Wine Train (if you have a car).
Have fun.
quote:
Originally posted by rresor:
1) Take a Peninsula Commute train to San Jose (1:45) from 3rd & Townsend in San Francisco. Take one of the "Capitols" from SJ to Richmond, CA. Transfer to BART (platforms are adjacent) and return to SF. And, if you have some time in SJ, ride the light rail line (a short walk from the Diridon Transportation Center, or you can transfer to light rail at Mountain View (stations are adjacent) and ride into downtown SJ.
Caltrain and the San Jose light rail are also adjacent at Tamien, which is the last stop for southbound non-rush-hour Caltrain trains, so that can be an option, too, if you want a little more of the Caltrain experience, or want to see a little more of San Jose. (When I was in the Bay Area in May, I took Caltrain to Tamien, then took the light rail back to Mountain View, and then took Caltrain from there back to the city. I was very surprised by how inexpensive Caltrain tickets are, even the full-fare one-way variety.)