Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
This thread has been a strange read for me-seeing people talk about this train route as if its some kind of obscure, "bucket list" thing you do once.
It's one of Amtrak's biggest routes (behind only ACELA and northeast regional), between two of the largest cities in North America. I've taken it probably over 100 times, I took it yesterday. I'll never understand the leisure travel habits of San Diegans. There's always time to go to places like Las Vegas or Big Bear...but when it comes to taking the train to Los Angeles it's a big mystery.
To each his own obviously, I'm just sharing my observations aloud. It just seems people always have time and money to pump into trips into the desert/mountains (or Hawaii), but this seemingly obvious trip gets overlooked. You can go up on Saturday morning for a few bucks, partake in all kinds of FREE activities in L.A., come back the same night and drink on the train.
once I took the train from SD to a client in the Canoga Park area. Took almost 6 hours one way! Unfortunately none of my clients in LA are actually anywhere near downtown, so we have to drive. It's faster to fly into the SF bay area than to get anywhere in greater LA.
I'm surprised your train trip from SD to Canoga Park took you so long. It shouldn't have. Amtrak Pacific Surfliner from downtown SD to the Van Nuys Transit Center is only 3 hours and 45 minutes. Canoga Park is but 5 miles and a short Uber ride from the Van Nuys Transit center. If you're Amtrak Surfliner train is delayed at the Van Nuys Transit center, jump on a MetroLink train, which is less expensive and also takes you to Unuion Station or further south to Oceanside.
Last edited by Angelino19; 04-15-2018 at 05:10 PM..
This thread has been a strange read for me-seeing people talk about this train route as if its some kind of obscure, "bucket list" thing you do once.
It's one of Amtrak's biggest routes (behind only ACELA and northeast regional), between two of the largest cities in North America. I've taken it probably over 100 times, I took it yesterday. I'll never understand the leisure travel habits of San Diegans. There's always time to go to places like Las Vegas or Big Bear...but when it comes to taking the train to Los Angeles it's a big mystery.
To each his own obviously, I'm just sharing my observations aloud. It just seems people always have time and money to pump into trips into the desert/mountains (or Hawaii), but this seemingly obvious trip gets overlooked. You can go up on Saturday morning for a few bucks, partake in all kinds of FREE activities in L.A., come back the same night and drink on the train.
A lot of San Diegans never venture north. Based on my experience, I think this is because to some San Diegans:
* San Diego is disconnected from the rest of So Cal and they are happy with that; and are uninterested in LA
* LA is a very scary place (imagining the gang violence in South LA)
* There is nothing of interest in LA (based on ignorance)
* San Diego has "all I need" despite the fact that San Diego is lacking in the arts especially (oh and by "San Diego" having all they need, they mean, say, Vista/San Marcos ["San Diego"] has it all)
* They don't care about the myriad art museums and venues in LA
* They don't care about the myriad food choices that are non existent or exceedingly hard to find in SD
* LA is seen as some sort of rival, which is laughable because LA doesn't consider San Diego as more than a suburb/exurb of LA.
* Many San Diegans are transplants that reinforce the above
Personally, I love San Diego but am very familiar with the attitudes towards LA and find them comical. It has always been this way.
A lot of San Diegans never venture north. Based on my experience, I think this is because to some San Diegans:
* San Diego is disconnected from the rest of So Cal and they are happy with that; and are uninterested in LA
* LA is a very scary place (imagining the gang violence in South LA)
* There is nothing of interest in LA (based on ignorance)
* San Diego has "all I need" despite the fact that San Diego is lacking in the arts especially (oh and by "San Diego" having all they need, they mean, say, Vista/San Marcos ["San Diego"] has it all)
* They don't care about the myriad art museums and venues in LA
* They don't care about the myriad food choices that are non existent or exceedingly hard to find in SD
* LA is seen as some sort of rival, which is laughable because LA doesn't consider San Diego as more than a suburb/exurb of LA.
* Many San Diegans are transplants that reinforce the above
Personally, I love San Diego but am very familiar with the attitudes towards LA and find them comical. It has always been this way.
It's basically the equivalent of living in Philadelphia, knowing all the details about side trips to casino boats in West Virginia or Nashville, while not realizing there is a train that takes you to New York City in two hours.
Actually spent more time on the train than in L.A. on Saturday-and it was great. Practiced street photography with a new 35mm lens I got (something that would probably be awkward in SD but is fun and exhilarating
in LA). Last weekend I went to a success seminar around West Adams-felt great to get out the San Diego bubble and look at my life from a different angle while making connections with people.
Also, there is of course free museums like The Broad, world class parks like Griffith Park, Runyon Canyon, Topanga Park, etc. Lakers, Clippers, Rams, Chargers, Kings, Dodgers, LA Galaxy, The Comedy Store, The Improv, The Laugh Factory, Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, LA Opera, La Brea Tar Pits, art parks, major concerts 7 nights a week in all kinds of historically significant concert venues, the possibilities are endless.
Of all of the times I've taken Amtrak to L.A., even the times where I only went for a few hours and came back, I've never once regretted doing it.
It's basically the equivalent of living in Philadelphia, knowing all the details about side trips to casino boats in West Virginia or Nashville, while not realizing there is a train that takes you to New York City in two hours.
Actually spent more time on the train than in L.A. on Saturday-and it was great. Practiced street photography with a new 35mm lens I got (something that would probably be awkward in SD but is fun and exhilarating
in LA). Last weekend I went to a success seminar around West Adams-felt great to get out the San Diego bubble and look at my life from a different angle while making connections with people.
Also, there is of course free museums like The Broad, world class parks like Griffith Park, Runyon Canyon, Topanga Park, etc. Lakers, Clippers, Rams, Chargers, Kings, Dodgers, LA Galaxy, The Comedy Store, The Improv, The Laugh Factory, Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, LA Opera, La Brea Tar Pits, art parks, major concerts 7 nights a week in all kinds of historically significant concert venues, the possibilities are endless.
Of all of the times I've taken Amtrak to L.A., even the times where I only went for a few hours and came back, I've never once regretted doing it.
Bingo and that list is far from complete. I’ll be staying in LA next weekend myself and will be doing plenty.
It's basically the equivalent of living in Philadelphia, knowing all the details about side trips to casino boats in West Virginia or Nashville, while not realizing there is a train that takes you to New York City in two hours.
Actually spent more time on the train than in L.A. on Saturday-and it was great. Practiced street photography with a new 35mm lens I got (something that would probably be awkward in SD but is fun and exhilarating
in LA). Last weekend I went to a success seminar around West Adams-felt great to get out the San Diego bubble and look at my life from a different angle while making connections with people.
Also, there is of course free museums like The Broad, world class parks like Griffith Park, Runyon Canyon, Topanga Park, etc. Lakers, Clippers, Rams, Chargers, Kings, Dodgers, LA Galaxy, The Comedy Store, The Improv, The Laugh Factory, Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, LA Opera, La Brea Tar Pits, art parks, major concerts 7 nights a week in all kinds of historically significant concert venues, the possibilities are endless.
Of all of the times I've taken Amtrak to L.A., even the times where I only went for a few hours and came back, I've never once regretted doing it.
I love street photography !!! LA, especially DTLA, is great for that. Last week I walked around downtown, starting in the Arts District, and took photographs of graffiti art and wall murals. I ended my day back in the Arts District reviewing my work over a cup of java at the Pie Hole.
Location: San Diego CA>Tijuana, BC>San Antonio, TX
6,496 posts, read 7,523,645 times
Reputation: 6873
Quote:
Originally Posted by Losfrisco
Griffith Park, Lakers, Clippers, La Brea Tar Pits.
We stayed a few of days in central Los Angeles two weeks ago, we did the above from your list. We also did Hollywood Lake Park, had a picnic at the Hollywood Bowl during the day, rode bikes from Venice Beach to Santa Monica and toured downtown LA (angels flight, LA Central Market, LA Live). It was a fun few of days except for the blowout on the fast lane 405 freeway, its a scary feeling changing a tire as cars zip by you at 90MPH.
In my 15 years in SD, we'd never actually stayed up in LA for more than a day. We usually go up for a game, TV taping or a concert and come back that night but this time we decided to stay for three days. I think San Diegans will visit places like Disneyland and Universal Studios regularly, but other than this most tend to stay away from LA unless there is a specific reason to be there. The traffic is a huge deterrent.
Location: San Diego CA>Tijuana, BC>San Antonio, TX
6,496 posts, read 7,523,645 times
Reputation: 6873
I forgot to say, we did take the Amtrak Surf-liner from SD to LA's Union Station once back in like 2010, but it was just passing through. I would say it was convenient without delay. From the Surf-liner we connected to the Coast Starlight all the way to Seattle. My favorite part of the train ride was not the part with the ocean view in SoCal, but rather going through the forests of far NorCal and Oregon. We coupled the visit to Seattle with a visit to North of the border to Vancouver.
On the topic of bucket lists, I highly recommend that train ride as a bucket list item for anyone living in SD.
A lot of San Diegans never venture north. Based on my experience, I think this is because to some San Diegans:
* San Diego is disconnected from the rest of So Cal and they are happy with that; and are uninterested in LA
* LA is a very scary place (imagining the gang violence in South LA)
* There is nothing of interest in LA (based on ignorance)
* San Diego has "all I need" despite the fact that San Diego is lacking in the arts especially (oh and by "San Diego" having all they need, they mean, say, Vista/San Marcos ["San Diego"] has it all)
* They don't care about the myriad art museums and venues in LA
* They don't care about the myriad food choices that are non existent or exceedingly hard to find in SD
* LA is seen as some sort of rival, which is laughable because LA doesn't consider San Diego as more than a suburb/exurb of LA.
* Many San Diegans are transplants that reinforce the above
Personally, I love San Diego but am very familiar with the attitudes towards LA and find them comical. It has always been this way.
Well, now San Diegans have one reason to go to LA which is to see a Chargers game, assuming that they are still fans. I enjoyed taking the train up there and then taking the Metro (mainly the Red Line to Hollywood) a lot more than driving.
We had some family members fly into LAX, Uber to the train station, board the Surfliner for San Diego, and we picked them up in Old Town.
I don't know all the details but they really enjoyed the train ride. Great sunset views too.
We entertain lots of out-of-town guests. Now we can say our guests arrived by planes, trains, and automobiles.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
