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Pulled the check-list out this morning (always a good feeling) and am beginning the mental countdown. I leave next Monday from Springfield, MA on the LSL to Chicago. Will then board the CZ (hoping to see lots of snow in the Rockies)to San Francisco where I will spend a few days. Then it's off to San Diego taking the inland route (San Joaquins, Thruway bus and Surfliner). Had hoped to do the CS but the schedule just did not work. After a few days of fun (and hopefully warm weather) I will be off for a day in Los Angeles and then on to Arizona aboard the SWC. Will spend a few days there visiting family then reboard the SWC and later the LSL for the trip home. I have a couple of questions: I will have about 8 hours in Los Angeles between trains ---- Any suggestions as to what can reasonably be seen in that time span. (Keep in mind I am mobility challenged.) I have a free afternoon in San Francisco and need a recommendation or two.
Dee
RRCHINA Member # 1514
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A thought about Los Angeles. Since you will be coming north on the Surfliner, presumably, maybe you should get off at Fullerton and then board the SWC there. This will give you about two more hours in the south LA vicinity. We have some at this site who are very familiar with the Fullerton-Santa Ana vicinity and can offer some current activities and ideas.
Of course you may have to change your itinary with AMTRAK if they are expecting you to board at LAX so that your space is reserved for a boarding at Fullerton.
City of Miami Member # 2922
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In LA the station is very near downtown. One of the DASH busses, I think the fare is 25 cents, comes to the station and you can get all around downtown LA to many attractions easily. The DASH busses come very frequently. www.experiencela.com gives you full information. For an afternoon in SF, where I have lived for 35 yrs, I would spend along the waterfront. The Embarcadero is fun, say from the Ferry Bldg (next door to Amtrak) south all along to the ball park is beautiful. Also the other side, way north (you can skip fisherman's wharf in between) Marina Green is beautiful and further north Crissy Field is a wonderful walking area along the bay with stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Marin county. But all this involves walking.... I dunno about your mobility issues. Some places do rent these electric gocart type things that seem to go all over the place.
RRRICH Member # 1418
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Keep in mind, Dee, and others -- the CZ does not go to San Francisco. You will take the train to Emeryville, then board a connecting bus across the Bay to "The City."
sojourner Member # 3134
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Dee, Your trip bears some similarity to the one I took last August. My CZ was detoured through Utah--interesting to me, but nowhere near as lovely as the regular route--and when I took the San Joaquins, it was to Hanford, with bus to San Luis Obispo and a few days there and in Santa Barbara before heading down in San Diego. Also, I left San Diego in early morning on a Pacific Surfliner and caught the Sunset Ltd home, not the SW Chief (I like the SW Chief better but wanted to try something different), so I had only about 4 hours in LA. Since I didn't have mobility problems (just EATING problems then!!!), I walked all over the place near Union Station in LA, but even with mobility problems I think you could still get over to the old pueblo part of LA by Olvera Street--one end of it is just across Alameda (out the main entrance Union Sta) and by the square--from the square, facing back, you can even see the Union Station entrance. There are several older buildings there, not to mention good Mexican places to eat, or nosh. While I don't think you could kill 8 hours there alone, you might be able to see it before you leave.
Otherwise, I would recommend that you look into taking a bus tour that can get you where you want to go. Maybe even pick you up in one place and drop you by Union Station in the end. Some bus tours do let you take luggage with you if it isn't too much. Otherwise, maybe go to Union Station first, leave luggage, and then take tour. A tour including Hollywood and Beverly Hills was fun when I was there in 1997--and I saw all the prints at Mann's (once Graumann's) Chinese Theater etc etc.
I agree with City of Miami about the waterfront being the best of the best in San Francisco. You might even consider taking a ferry someplace and back for the views--across to Sausalito and back, for example. I liked the Embarcadero area down by the Ferry Building but liked even more the area City of Miami describes up by Crissy Field and Marina Green, plus the streets with beautiful pastel townhouses in that Marina area, and most of all that Palace of Fine Arts, although I'm not sure what the gardens would be like this time of year. If you cannot walk much or rent a cart, maybe you can take a tour bus here as well. There is also that green trolley (not the cable car) that goes up from the Ferry Building area along Fisherman's Wharf, not sure how far it goes though. . . I think it might be letter F? Well, I don't remember. . . .
Whatever you do, have a wonderful trip.
DeeCT Member # 3241
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RR
Yes Indeed --- I am aware that the last of the trip to and from San Francisco is a 20 min bus ride. A short haul by comparison with many other Amtrak bus connections. (At one point in this trip I have a 2+ hour connection by bus from Bakersfield to Los Angeles.) Have done this trip before --- for anyone who has not --- the bus is waiting for you when you get off the train and will deliver you to several drop off points in the city. Last time I went this route the CZ was so late it was near midnite and Amtrak had them take us to our hotels if we wished. (And I wished).
CoM
I wish I could do that amount of walking - but those days are long past. I am looking for something along the museum line where I can pause and sit a bit when the legs and the lungs say stop.
Dee
Ocala Mike Member # 4657
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sojourner:
What did you mean by this -
My CZ was detoured through Utah--interesting to me, but nowhere near as lovely as the regular route__?
The "regular" route traverses Utah for 8 or 9 hours; did you mean detoured through Wyoming?
stlboomer Member # 2028
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Dee, A friend and I took the Zephyr from Chicago to San Francisco early in January. We spent a day in SF with a visit to the Museum of Contemporary Art (outstanding!), followed by a stroll through Yerba Buena Gardens and a little shopping at Gump's. I can recommend them all. It was a day to remember.
Bob from MA Member # 4686
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Dee,
I'll be looking forward to a report of your trip. My wife and I will be duplicating the first part in April (starting in Worcester, detraining in Sacramento). I planned it mainly to ride the Zephyr again. I really enjoy the western part. I have intermediate scale (1/100,000) topographic maps from Denver to about Helper, Utah. They're cut down and arranged in notebook form with the rail line highlighted. (I highlight it because when you look out the window and then down again at the map, you can find it more quickly again). I have less detailed maps for some other sections of the route.
This will be my 39th time westbound on the LSL and 8th westbound on the Zephyr. We did think of someone to visit in CA, partly to explain the trip to friends.
We will be returning the same way this time, but have traversed the other routes you will be taking.
I'm hoping that the Zephyr won't be re-routed through Wyoming. That happened at certain times last year, according to the NARP hotline. That section is much less interesting. We were on it once on the discontinued Pioneer.
I can identify with the anticipation you're experiencing as the date approaches!
DeeCT Member # 3241
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stlboomer -
I googled Museum of Contempory Art and I come up with a Museum of Modern Art which I suspect is what you mean. It looks like just the ticket!!
Bob from MA -
I too qualify for "frequent user" points on the LSL. The best part of which, to me, is from a little west of Springfield to Albany. Lovely in all seasons - especially with that rippling brook that runs trackside much of the way. This is my second trip on the Zephyr and I do not try to "explain" the trip. My friends and family just tend to roll their eyes and exchange knowing looks.(I do have a brother in AZ that I visit on each of these cross-country trips. So I guess that would qualify if I felt the need for an excuse/explanation.)
Now just need to pack my suitcase -4 days to go!!
Dee
stlboomer Member # 2028
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Dee, Oops, right you are. It's the Museum of Modern Art. A tip: Their museum store is a treat, and it opens at 10:00am, an hour before the museum. Enjoy!
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