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When I passed it on the Zephyr, I was rather taken with Truckee, CA. Has anyone ever stayed there who can give me any tips on what they liked or did not like about it? Does anyone have any recommendations on hotels, restaurants, and activities (for someone who does not want to rent a car). Thanks
goduckies Member # 3885
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truckee is beautiful, it is about 15 miles from North Lake Tahoe, where there are a few nice hotel Casino's, and it is about 10 miles from Squaw Valley Ski Resort, one of the nations best. If you have never been to Lake Tahoe, you need to try to make it there, it is a 50 mile wide lake in the middle of snow capped mountains, and is beautiful. I guarantee you that you won't be sad that you made a trip over to Tahoe. Truckee is nice as well, as it has the Truckee river going threw it, and is a nice little small town. Here is a link to what is offered at Tahoe, Brad
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There isn't a great deal in Truckee itself - it is more a stopping off point on the I-80 for Lake Tahoe (comparable, I suppose, with Flagstaff for the Grand Canyon). Getting around without a car is not impossible - when I was last there there was a good local bus service which goes under the wonderful acronym of "TART" (Tahoe Area Regional Transit - but being in Nevada it is perhaps quite approptiate!). They ran an hourly service from Truckee to the main tourist area of Lake Tahoe and I think it was only about $1.25 flat fare, as well as several other local routes.
sojourner Member # 3134
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Thanks for the info. Now that I've taken 2 of my scheduled trips, I am planning future ones and think I'd like to take the Zephyr again, stop in Glenwood Springs, see Aspen, continue on to Reno or Truckee, see Lake Tahoe, and then continue to San Francisco and/or Oakland (on the Capitol Corridor train I think?) for a cople of days and head down the coast (maybe staying a night or two in San Luis Obispo) to San Diego and maybe L.A., returning on the SW Chief. Truckee certainly looked cuter than Reno, which from the train was somewhat disappinting. But maybe I would have to stay in N Lake Tahoe. Or is Tahoe City better? I have to find out about those buses.
Would this be the best direction to do such a trip? Also, can one stay in San Luis Obispo and see San Simeon? Also, would the Pacific Surfliner be the train to take from San Francisco or Oakland to San Luis Obispo or San Diego? Is the route the same scenic route as the Coast Starlight? Is it as late as the CS? Am I going to be forced to take buses??? The various CA routes and schedules are a little confusing to me . . .
Anyway, none of this would be until at least fall 2006, and more likely spring 2007. Hopefully Amtrak will all still be there then. Including the trains to get me out west!!!
Thanks again for all the info.
goduckies Member # 3885
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Reno is a little dingy, but that is what you get for that town. If you have the money, the best way to do it is take the Tahoe Casino Express from Reno to South Lake Tahoe. I prefer South Lake Tahoe my self. North Lake Tahoe is just another word pretty much for Tahoe City. Tahoe City, just like South Lake Tahoe is right on the California Nevada border. As for trains in CA. The only way to get from San Luis and San Jose is via the Starlight, so if you want the coast, you have to take that route. They do run Capitol trains from Auburn to San Jose, and San Joaquin trains from Sac and EMY to Bakerfield where you can take a bus to LA. The Surfliners go from SLO all the way down to San Diego. Hope that helps. Brad
mr williams Member # 1928
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The Coast Starlight & Pacific Surfliner follow identical routes between LAX and San Luis Obispo, the only difference being that the Surfliners stop at several LA suburban stations and smaller towns along the route whilst the CS passes straight through, and their timekeeping is generally better.
The Surfliners only go as far north as San Luis Obispo, so between SLO and San Jose the only train is the Starlight. However, this stage of the route is virtually all INLAND. The famous coastal views are further south and all on the Surfliner route, starting about 20 minutes south of Grover Beach until about 40 minutes north of LA.
There are several connecting buses between SJC and SLO and whilst I agree that the bus is a poor substitute, the timings can be far more convenient, as you have to remember that there is also only one train a day between Reno, Truckee and Sacramento (the Zephyr, but again, several buses a day connect to the Capitol Corridors at SAC). You cannot get from Reno/Truckee to SLO in one day without taking a bus for at least part of the journey.
Yes, you can see San Simeon and Hearst Castle from San Luis Obispo by public transport - but bear in mind that it's about 90 minutes each way on the local bus, and as it's quite remote the company only runs two round trips a day (San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority - timetables at www.slorta.org).
I agree that Reno can be a bit dingy, but I've been there half a dozen times and never had a problem. The advantage of Reno is that it is a lot cheaper than Tahoe - if you go mid-week and off-peak you can get excellent hotel rooms from as little as $30 a night. As the other contributor said, there is the Reno-Tahoe Shuttle from the airport and there is also a local company (can't remember their name but all the hotels have their details) that runs an all day tour from Reno and takes you all around Tahoe, Carson City, Virginia City etc for about $45 including lunch - ideal if you haven't got a car.
mrhall53 Member # 1580
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Truckee, by the way, was where Charlie Chaplin filmed the exteriors for "The Gold Rush." It gets a LOT of snow.
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