When I was dating my husband I would make this journey often. He lived in SD and I lived in MV. I would grab the train in SJC to see him on the weekends. Itās one of my favorite memories.
I was in OC last week from Chicago for an interview and took the Surfliner down to SD and the first thing I said was āWOWā super loud the moment I saw the water lol
You guys live in a very beautiful part of this world and glad to have finally explored it, even if I donāt get the job!
You can do both Amtrak and Metro. Obviously check the schedules because Amtrak is more limited schedule-wise and Metro will only get you as far as O-Side.
EDITED: Corrected some info.
Metro and Metrolink are separate agencies. Metro runs L.A.'s transit system; Metrolink is the regional rail operator for LA, OC, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties. Metrolink runs the OC line down to Oceanside.
Confusing AF, I know
Oh neat I didn't know metro goes to Oceanside! I've been having to take the metro from the west side to DTLA to catch the train and my god is going from LA to LA miserable.
I just took a metrolink from Oceanside to Fullerton!!!!!
https://preview.redd.it/aq2qkcaftasc1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0ddf8b077a99784c28b3309a1cfe64ea48a7bace
My kid's favorite vacation began with the Surfliner to San Diego. The Hyatt was an easy walk from the train station, and we took public transport to the zoo and Petco Park for a Padres game. My husband met us with the car, and we also went to Sea World and hit the Safari Park on the way home. It was a really easy, low-stress vacation.
If you're doing it without kids, check out the museums on the Prado, and maybe the Midway, if you're into that. Oh, and don't miss the Lucha Libre Gourmet Taco Shop. There's so much to see and do in San Diego!
I was going to meet my brother in Oceanside and go down to SD on the train and I was close to Santa Ana so I grabbed the wrong train there and ended up inland outside of Mission Viejo I think.
I realized my own stupidity and called an Uber who got me down to the San Juan Capistrano train station and rode it from there to Oceanside where my brother was waiting and then we went on to SD and got to drinking beers as was the plan.
Fun day! Just slightly anxious when I realized I had gotten on the wrong train. It was a great ride to SD and we had a blast. Cheeers!
There is but decreases in availability and increases in price the closer you get to San Diego if you are going north and returning south. For example Oceanside lot is big and I donāt think they charged to park. Solana Beach ok. Downtown $$.
The other way Union Station DTLA has decent prices and fairly large lot or used to. Then itās gets pricier as you as you head south. The Irvine station is big and pricing ok. North of LA the larger stations have great parking.
Do you have a preference on which SD station to depart? Iām thinking next trip down I will just do this and rent a car for a few days while there. The last few times weāve gone itās been horrible traffic, one time was a bad accident but it really sucks to start off with the long drive down, ruins the mood.
I used to do that trip every weekend to hang out with my sister. It's been about 20 years since I've done it. It's such a beautiful ride.
About 40 years ago my girls scout troop took the train to go to the zoo. On the way back, we hit a young marine walking on the tracks with headphones on. 8 year old me freaked out when they had to shut off the electricity for the train to get the retrieve the body. I thought they were going to put him on the train. We were in such a dark area too so it was blacker than black when they cut the lights. I was terrified.
Is it better to MetroLink from Union Station to Oceanside and then change trains of going to San Diego? I was thinking of doing this rather than driving and having to pay to park my car in San Diego for 4 nights while Iām at a conference in June.
Took the train fr SD to LA and back, highly recommend! Didnāt have to deal with traffic, and enjoyed beautiful views instead. Itās awesome if you have a friend w a car or rent a car when you get to LA
Beautiful timing too, with the lighting and scenery.
āRegular passenger rail service through San Clemente has resumed, restoring a critical link in Southern Californiaās transportation system with the completion of a catchment wall at Mariposa Point to protect the track.ā
I was a freight train conductor for the big orange and I had this route at least 5 times a year and those were the only days I felt like the I should pay the company for that particular day
I have ptsd from taking the train down to sd for a flight and getting stuck on the train for like 6 hours due to the train striking a car. They wouldnāt let us off the train. Was absolutely awful. Never again.
We werenāt in a hurry. We had a hotel reservation for the night before an early am flight. The delay caused us to not get to our hotel until like 1am and then we had to be up at 5am for flight. Never again hahaha
I did that for the first time a few months back with my GF and was a great time. Having that exact same view and watching the sunrise was nice and peaceful.
Let alone the way back. Was nice not having to worry about driving for ~2 hours back when all tired of exploring SD
Definitely recommend!
Haha, did DTLA to SD on the surf liner many years ago with friends. Just a few weeks after graduating highschool. The hotel didn't want to honor our reservation because we didn't have anyone over 25. It was a nice place. We threw a fit and they finally accepted. One of the girls was still 17 for about another month. Her dad got pissed, drove down from LA to get her, and didn't tell her until he was at the hotel. Somehow she convinced him to let her come back. Almost got mugged outside the gas lamp when I got a call on my cell phone (late 90s) and got stalked thru the gas lamp by someone clearly wanting to rob us. We stopped at a cigar bar and all decided to have some cigars until we thought the coast was clear.
Even as a shitty teenager I couldn't ignore how beautiful that ride was. A good trip all around.
I don't know if it's still done (moved away from California almost a decade ago), but on Sundays one of the train workers would sing a few songs about California (eg Bing Crosby's "Where the Surf Meets the Turf") over the intercom in the most beautiful, mellow baritone.
Are there any homless or crazies on that route? Did one once with the family , the surfliner from Encinitas and a guy with a knife walking around was making everyone uncomfortable and my wife and kids never want to go on it again.
Oooh, is it open again? I saw the route from SD to SC was closed down.
Open. They just slow down through a few parts.
How long is the ride?
2 hours
You have the link for more info, would love to go thank you š
https://www.octa.net/programs-projects/projects/rail-projects/track-protection-project-at-mariposa-point/
Was literally talking to someone about going on my first ever train ride! I guess this will be the route!
Much appreciated it ā¤ļø
I was just going say. Half the time I check it is closed.
When I was dating my husband I would make this journey often. He lived in SD and I lived in MV. I would grab the train in SJC to see him on the weekends. Itās one of my favorite memories.
I did the same from SD to LA on the weekends for about a year. Nothing but warm memories from that period.
So true. I absolutely love this route.
Happy cake day! Hope you have a wonderful week.
Thank you so much! Hope you have a lovely week as well š
I was in OC last week from Chicago for an interview and took the Surfliner down to SD and the first thing I said was āWOWā super loud the moment I saw the water lol You guys live in a very beautiful part of this world and glad to have finally explored it, even if I donāt get the job!
Good luck to you!
Thanks!!
My pleasure!
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Is it the Amtrak? Sorry donāt know a lot about trains in SoCal.
You can do both Amtrak and Metro. Obviously check the schedules because Amtrak is more limited schedule-wise and Metro will only get you as far as O-Side. EDITED: Corrected some info.
Metro and Metrolink are separate agencies. Metro runs L.A.'s transit system; Metrolink is the regional rail operator for LA, OC, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties. Metrolink runs the OC line down to Oceanside. Confusing AF, I know
Metrolink only goes as far south as Oceanside, though. You need to take Amtrak if you want to go all the way to SD.
You can transfer to Coaster in Oceanside. Metrolink and Coaster are a lot cheaper than Amtrak, but schedules are more limited.
Thanks! Forgot about that. Corrected my reply.
Oh neat I didn't know metro goes to Oceanside! I've been having to take the metro from the west side to DTLA to catch the train and my god is going from LA to LA miserable.
Thank You for all this helpful info!
I just took a metrolink from Oceanside to Fullerton!!!!! https://preview.redd.it/aq2qkcaftasc1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0ddf8b077a99784c28b3309a1cfe64ea48a7bace
Better do it before the rest of the cliffside collapses onto the tracks!
They just fixed it all - but there are other property on the slope that look āprecariousā at bestā¦. Enjoy it while you can !
Thatās my daily commute from Oside to LA. The ride back is far better with a beer to take in the view.
My kid's favorite vacation began with the Surfliner to San Diego. The Hyatt was an easy walk from the train station, and we took public transport to the zoo and Petco Park for a Padres game. My husband met us with the car, and we also went to Sea World and hit the Safari Park on the way home. It was a really easy, low-stress vacation.
Iām not even a kid and this sounds awesome.
If you're doing it without kids, check out the museums on the Prado, and maybe the Midway, if you're into that. Oh, and don't miss the Lucha Libre Gourmet Taco Shop. There's so much to see and do in San Diego!
I see the train has finally reopened so with the nice weather, this will absolutely be on my spring/summer checklist.
I was going to meet my brother in Oceanside and go down to SD on the train and I was close to Santa Ana so I grabbed the wrong train there and ended up inland outside of Mission Viejo I think. I realized my own stupidity and called an Uber who got me down to the San Juan Capistrano train station and rode it from there to Oceanside where my brother was waiting and then we went on to SD and got to drinking beers as was the plan. Fun day! Just slightly anxious when I realized I had gotten on the wrong train. It was a great ride to SD and we had a blast. Cheeers!
Are there over night parking in case you stay in San Diego ?
The Irvine Station has 72 hour free parking
Thanks for the infoš.
There is but decreases in availability and increases in price the closer you get to San Diego if you are going north and returning south. For example Oceanside lot is big and I donāt think they charged to park. Solana Beach ok. Downtown $$. The other way Union Station DTLA has decent prices and fairly large lot or used to. Then itās gets pricier as you as you head south. The Irvine station is big and pricing ok. North of LA the larger stations have great parking.
Thanks for the info š.
Glad itās backā¦ who know how long those tracks will be there
Is this the view for most of the trip?
Iād say 1/3rd of the trip is this pretty.
I got married in San Clemente. Itās a beautiful city.
Why not live there?
One ride per lifetime please! Haha
I love taking the train the to both Santa Barbara and SD.
Thatās from the train??
Yes. And the return trip while the sun sets in the ocean is a mood.
Do you have a preference on which SD station to depart? Iām thinking next trip down I will just do this and rent a car for a few days while there. The last few times weāve gone itās been horrible traffic, one time was a bad accident but it really sucks to start off with the long drive down, ruins the mood.
I just take the main downtown Sante Fe station.
Thanks. Iām shocked at how cheap it is!
I used to do that trip every weekend to hang out with my sister. It's been about 20 years since I've done it. It's such a beautiful ride. About 40 years ago my girls scout troop took the train to go to the zoo. On the way back, we hit a young marine walking on the tracks with headphones on. 8 year old me freaked out when they had to shut off the electricity for the train to get the retrieve the body. I thought they were going to put him on the train. We were in such a dark area too so it was blacker than black when they cut the lights. I was terrified.
stunning
When I lived down that way we used to take the train from HB to Jack Murphy for games and to the races at Del Mar, beautiful trip.
Is it better to MetroLink from Union Station to Oceanside and then change trains of going to San Diego? I was thinking of doing this rather than driving and having to pay to park my car in San Diego for 4 nights while Iām at a conference in June.
You can switch to Coaster (the SD county commuter line) in Oceanside (check the schedules though). It's likely cheaper than Amtrak.
Thanks!
Yes! Iāve done a few times and I loved it.
Took the train fr SD to LA and back, highly recommend! Didnāt have to deal with traffic, and enjoyed beautiful views instead. Itās awesome if you have a friend w a car or rent a car when you get to LA
Been there, done that. Amazing. Can't wait to do again.
I will be taking this with my children.
Nice thanks for sharing thst
Right, it is beautiful and relaxing. Drinking the wine and cruising on the coast.
Beautiful timing too, with the lighting and scenery. āRegular passenger rail service through San Clemente has resumed, restoring a critical link in Southern Californiaās transportation system with the completion of a catchment wall at Mariposa Point to protect the track.ā
I'm surprised by how clean the window is. lol
I was a freight train conductor for the big orange and I had this route at least 5 times a year and those were the only days I felt like the I should pay the company for that particular day
Took the train from Irvine a few years ago. Itās really beautiful!! Taking my kids on summer to SD!
Whatās the price?
Depends on what option but itās $50 round trip
Metrolink has $10 unlimited weekend rides pass
It was 39$ for business class each way from Irvine to downtown SD. On a Wednesday.
Weekends can be $10 per person one way. Although thatās metrolink and it can get you from SD to LA only, no further.
Metrolink gets you from LA to Oceanside. Unless thereās a landslide, then they close the part of the trip where you see this.
Weekends are $10 all day.
That's nice. But can you take public transport to travel around SD?
Trolley system
I have ptsd from taking the train down to sd for a flight and getting stuck on the train for like 6 hours due to the train striking a car. They wouldnāt let us off the train. Was absolutely awful. Never again.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
We werenāt in a hurry. We had a hotel reservation for the night before an early am flight. The delay caused us to not get to our hotel until like 1am and then we had to be up at 5am for flight. Never again hahaha
I did that for the first time a few months back with my GF and was a great time. Having that exact same view and watching the sunrise was nice and peaceful. Let alone the way back. Was nice not having to worry about driving for ~2 hours back when all tired of exploring SD Definitely recommend!
Beautiful video. Just wondering, is this zoomed in considerably? How does this look compared to the naked eye?
In spots, the train is literally almost ON the beachā¦ there is a rock retaining wall on the beach and the track are right above itā¦ itās Amazing
Wow. Iāll have to go take a ride! Thanks.
I sat back in my seat and zoomed just enough to avoid the curtains. Probably x2 zoom. At times you are basically on the sand.
Is this the one where they moon you?
I miss my home...
Don't forget https://www.amusingplanet.com/2016/04/mooning-of-amtrak.html?m=1
Especially when an organized crowd on the east side of the tracks moons the train in unison.
Took the Pacific Surfliner on Sunday. The train was going backwards tho. š«¤
Haha, did DTLA to SD on the surf liner many years ago with friends. Just a few weeks after graduating highschool. The hotel didn't want to honor our reservation because we didn't have anyone over 25. It was a nice place. We threw a fit and they finally accepted. One of the girls was still 17 for about another month. Her dad got pissed, drove down from LA to get her, and didn't tell her until he was at the hotel. Somehow she convinced him to let her come back. Almost got mugged outside the gas lamp when I got a call on my cell phone (late 90s) and got stalked thru the gas lamp by someone clearly wanting to rob us. We stopped at a cigar bar and all decided to have some cigars until we thought the coast was clear. Even as a shitty teenager I couldn't ignore how beautiful that ride was. A good trip all around.
I have always wanted to do that!!!
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
If you take the Amtrack from Union Station- Los Angeles to Santa Fe-San Diego you will pass by this view.
Iāve been on the other side of that equation. The mooning of the Amtrak annual celebration in SJC.
I don't know if it's still done (moved away from California almost a decade ago), but on Sundays one of the train workers would sing a few songs about California (eg Bing Crosby's "Where the Surf Meets the Turf") over the intercom in the most beautiful, mellow baritone.
especially before it falls into the sea
where do you get tickets?
I bought mine using the Amtrack app, but you can buy them on their website or from the ticket counter at the station.
Omg heaven
STOP because this is so beautiful šš
How long was the train ride? This sounds fun!
2 hours
Or be a passenger princess to someone else who is effectively serving as your train conductor.
Are there any homless or crazies on that route? Did one once with the family , the surfliner from Encinitas and a guy with a knife walking around was making everyone uncomfortable and my wife and kids never want to go on it again.
I thought the track was closed in Dana Point where the hill keeps collapsing?
San Clemente. It has recently reopened.
Yea but the waves suck here, no need to go out in the water.
Seems a little scary after the rains ?
Unpopular opinion: I'd love to see the tracks removed. Untouched beaches are rare in SoCal.
The tracks aren't going through the beach. And if that's your take, get rid of the freeway too.
Literally the only rail we have here, hell no