Amtrak Vacations
California Dreamin
Nine-day rail trip up the California coast with a wine stop
9 daysfrom $1,469
33% rail
Amtrak Vacations · Independent rail vacation
California Coast
Nine-day rail journey down the California coast, San Francisco to San Diego
Amtrak Vacations runs this nine-day, eight-night independent rail journey down the California coast, starting in San Francisco and ending in San Diego, with stops in Paso Robles and Los Angeles. The Coast Starlight covers the San Francisco to Paso Robles and Paso Robles to Los Angeles legs, and the Pacific Surfliner continues on to San Diego, with Pacific Ocean views along both southbound legs. Days in each city run on hop-on-hop-off tours, from San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf and Golden Gate Bridge to the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles, while Paso Robles adds a guided wineries tour with a vineyard picnic lunch and San Diego closes the trip with a narrated harbor cruise past the Coronado Bridge and historic ships. Because sightseeing is self-guided between the included tours, the trip suits independent travelers with an interest in coastal scenery, wine country and city landmarks who don't need a tour director managing each day.
What to know before you look closer
- The twenty-one accommodation options span a range of tiers and cities, from the Hampton Inn & Suites in Paso Robles to the Fairmont San Francisco; your actual hotel depends on the tier you choose.
- Only two meals are included across the eight nights, a lunch on the Paso Robles wineries tour and a dinner on day one.
- One of the three named trains, the Gold Runner, is listed alongside the Coast Starlight and Pacific Surfliner for this route, but the evidence does not specify which exact leg it covers.
Day by day
- Day 1overnight: San Francisco, CA
Your Journey Begins in San Francisco
Welcome to San Francisco! Enjoy a leisurely visit to San Francisco's most beloved attraction Fisherman's Wharf. This waterfront community is rich in both culture and offers lots to see and do. Don't forget to stop by and see the famous sea lions as they bask and sing in the San Francisco sunshine. Enjoy a delicious dinner at the end of Pier 39 with the group.
- Day 2overnight: San Francisco, CA
San Francisco, CA
Climb on board a double-decker bus for your hop-on, hop-off tour of San Francisco! This excursion gives you the opportunity to see the most popular areas of this amazing city, like the Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito, and Golden Gate Park. You can exit the bus at any of the stops to further explore anything that piques your interest at your own pace. Visit popular districts like Chinatown, North Beach, Union Square, the Civic Center, and more!
- Day 3railovernight: Paso Robles, CA
San Francisco to Paso Robles
Transfer on your own and board Amtrak® to enjoy one of the most spectacular of all train routes, the Coast Starlight®. This route links the greatest cities on the West Coast. Spend your free time this afternoon in Paso Robles, exploring a city famous known for its amazing hospitality and even more amazing wine.
- Day 4overnight: Paso Robles, CA
Paso Robles, CA
Today is perfect for the wine lover! Enjoy a celebrated Paso Robles wineries tour, which includes visits to between 4 - 6 different award-winning wineries and a leisurely vineyard picnic lunch. End your wine-filled day exploring the shops and restaurants in the charming town square.
- Day 5railovernight: Los Angeles, CA
Paso Robles to Los Angeles
This morning, transfer to the station and board the train for a scenic ride from Paso Robles to Los Angeles on the Coast Starlight. Enjoy the magnificent Pacific Ocean views as you venture down the California Coast. Upon your arrival in L.A., check into your hotel and enjoy a good night's sleep.
- Day 6overnight: Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles, CA
Welcome to the entertainment capital of the world! Board a double-decker bus for a narrated hop-on/hop-off tour of L.A. Stops include the iconic Grauman's Chinese Theatre, the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame, Rodeo Drive, Kodak Theatre, Paramount Studios, Hollywood & Vine, the Santa Monica Pier, the fabulous Fashion District, and many more!
- Day 7overnight: San Diego, CA
Los Angeles to San Diego
Travel to the station and board Amtrak to San Diego. Relax on the comfortable Pacific Surfliner® as you continue your journey south along the magnificent Pacific Ocean coastline. Upon arrival into San Diego, begin exploring the city on your multi-day hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour.
- Day 8overnight: San Diego, CA
San Diego, CA
Today you'll see San Diego from the "Big Bay" during a beautiful guided harbor cruise. Narrated tour highlights include the history of San Diego and over 50 different points of interest, like the Navy ships, aircraft carriers, the spectacular Coronado Bridge, the famous Star of India, historic ships of the Maritime Museum, Seaport Village, and the gorgeous downtown skyline. After the cruise continue on the hop-on, hop-off tour of the city.
- Day 9
Your Journey Ends in San Diego
The moments this trip is built around
- Day 1Arrival in San Francisco with a visit to Fisherman's Wharf, including the sea lions, and dinner at the end of Pier 39.
- Day 3The Coast Starlight train from San Francisco to Paso Robles, described as one of the most spectacular of all train routes.
- Day 4A Paso Robles wineries tour visiting four to six award-winning wineries with a vineyard picnic lunch.
- Day 5The Coast Starlight south from Paso Robles to Los Angeles, with Pacific Ocean views along the California coast.
- Day 8A narrated San Diego harbor cruise past Navy ships, the Coronado Bridge, the Star of India, and the Maritime Museum.
Included
- One-way Amtrak® in Coach accommodations from San Francisco to Paso Robles; Paso Robles to Los Angeles; Los Angeles to San Diego onboard the Coast Starlight®, Gold Runner® and Pacific Surfliner®
- 8 nights' hotel accommodations
- 2 meals included (1 lunch, 1 dinner)
Questions travellers ask
- Is train travel included?
- Yes, one-way Amtrak Coach travel is included for all legs: San Francisco to Paso Robles and Paso Robles to Los Angeles on the Coast Starlight, and Los Angeles to San Diego on the Pacific Surfliner.
- Is it escorted or independent?
- Independent rail vacation, with hop-on-hop-off tours and self-guided time in each city, though the wineries tour and harbor cruise are guided outings.
- Which trains are used?
- The Coast Starlight for the San Francisco to Paso Robles and Paso Robles to Los Angeles legs, and the Pacific Surfliner from Los Angeles to San Diego. A Gold Runner service is also named in the inclusions, though its specific leg is not stated.
- What hotels are used?
- Twenty-one accommodation options across tiers and cities, including the Fairmont San Francisco and the InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco, and the Hampton Inn & Suites in Paso Robles.
- What sightseeing is included?
- Hop-on-hop-off tours of San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego, a Paso Robles wineries tour with a picnic lunch, and a San Diego harbor cruise.
- How many meals are included?
- Two, a dinner in San Francisco on day one and a lunch on the Paso Robles wineries tour on day four.
