I'd like to do something that I haven't done before, that means LA, Anaheim area and San Diego are out. Thinking northbound within shouting distance of the Pacific Surfliner any suggestions such as Solvang or anything else? (Just me, one guy.)
 

UC Santa Barbara

Gaviota State Beach (watching a train cross the trestle from seaward (the pier) is a favorite childhood memory.

Inside LA:

Have you done Santa Monica Pier and Muscle Beach?

Have you done the California Missions...

La Purisma... (Lompoc)
Santa Ines (Solvang)
San Fernando
San BuenaVentura
San Gabriel
San Juan Capistrano
San Luis Obispo
San Luis Rey
Santa Barbara

The Central Coast wineries?

John
who made the San Fernando Valley his home, once (1956-1978)

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The City of Saint Louis (UP, 1967) is still my standard for passenger operations
 

Assuming that you will be taking Amtrak as opposed to having a car (ugh!), then I'd recommend Santa Barbara without a doubt. If I won the lottery that's where I'd live. The harbour is stunning. You also have the practical advantage of being able to do it as a day-trip from LA - it's only 2 and a half hours, there's 5 trains a day e/w from LAX and the journey goes right up the coast. As mentioned, there's a lot to say in favour of going as far as San Luis Obispo (Hearst Castle, Pismo Beach etc) but you're down to two trains a day (or an inland through bus),it's a ten hour round trip and unless you stay o/n you'd only get two hours there.
 

No, I will not have a car and I will have from Sunday morning arrival of the Sunset (assuming on-time) until a 10:30 PM flight on Tuesday.

I've decided to stick with Solvang, mainly because Amtrak will get me there from Santa Barbara for pennies, it's cute, and accommodations are cheap (like $50 at the King Frederick). Plus I can goof off, check out the wineries, look for Christmas presents for my wife, and enjoy the general ambience.

I should have mentioned that I once did several weeks consulting work in Santa Barbara so I'm familiar with it. In fact, my first long train trip was from there to Chicago on the Desert Wind about 15 years ago. And, with all the times I've been in LA, Santa Monica, Muscle Beach, et al are all old hat. The missions are ok, but after seeing half a dozen of them they are boring to my taste.

But the Central Coast wineries... I don't know if the Santa Ynez Valley counts as Central Coast, but they have a lot of grape squeezers and that's another reason for Solvang. I may take a taxi up to Los Olivas if I have time.

>Given the time-keeping of the Sunset, are you sure that two days is enough leeful to guarantee to make your flight??!!

Believe it or not, my first pass at the whole thing had me strongly considering arriving on the Sunset in the morning and then flying out at 10:30 PM. But I decided it was too close a connection! So I changed both dates...

Incidentally, if anyone cares, the rest of the trip is impossible by train: a week in vanuatu to scuba dive on the SS President Coolidge WWII wreck, then back to Fiji for another week of diving. Friends from Ft. Lauderdale and Connecticut will be joining, the former in Fiji and the latter on that Tuesday evening flight. Looks to be fun.