Amtrak Vacations
California Coast
Nine-day rail journey down the California coast, San Francisco to San Diego
9 daysfrom $1,129
33% rail
Amtrak Vacations · Independent rail vacation
California Dreamin
Nine-day rail trip up the California coast with a wine stop
Amtrak Vacations runs this nine-day, eight-night independent rail trip up the California coast, starting in Los Angeles and ending in San Francisco, with stops in Santa Barbara and Paso Robles along the way. The trip moves by train between each city: Los Angeles to Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara to Paso Robles, and Paso Robles to San Francisco, each a single daytime ride rather than an overnight journey. Days in Los Angeles include a trolley tour past the homes of celebrities in Hollywood and Beverly Hills, while Santa Barbara adds an open-air trolley tour of the town's courthouse, zoo, and old mission. Paso Robles is the wine stop, with a guided tour of four to six wineries and a vineyard picnic lunch, and the trip closes with two days of sightseeing in San Francisco, including the Golden Gate Bridge and Fisherman's Wharf. This suits travelers who want a self-paced, hotel-based rail trip along the coast with a wine country stop built in, rather than a fully escorted tour.
What to know before you look closer
- The overview description mentions a day touring Hearst Castle, but the day-by-day itinerary does not include a Hearst Castle visit anywhere in the 9 days; confirm what sightseeing is actually included before booking.
- The evidence names both the Pacific Surfliner and the Coast Starlight for the Los Angeles to Santa Barbara leg; the day-by-day itinerary text and the operator's train list do not agree, so confirm the exact train for that segment with Amtrak Vacations.
- The 20 accommodation options span a range of tiers and cities, from the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Hollywood Walk of Fame to the Cameo Beverly Hills; your actual hotel depends on the tier you choose.
- Only 2 meals are included across the 8 nights (1 lunch, 1 dinner); the rest of your meals are on your own.
Day by day
- Day 1overnight: Los Angeles, CA
Your Journey Begins in Los Angeles
Welcome to the "City of Angels"! Los Angeles is known as the entertainment capital of the world, so there is much to see and do here. After your arrival, transfer on your own to your hotel and once you're all settled in, venture out and explore this fascinating city that so many movie stars call home.
- Day 2overnight: Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles, CA
Today you'll get up close and personal with movie stars on a trolley ride through Hollywood and its gorgeous surrounding neighborhoods, like Beverly Hills and Bel-Air. See the stunning homes of many A-listers, like Tom Cruise, Madonna, Jackie Chan, Nicolas Cage, Angelina Jolie, and many more!
- Day 3overnight: Santa Barbara, CA
Los Angeles to Santa Barbara
Get ready for some breathtaking views of the Pacific Coast! Early this morning, transfer on your own and board Amtrak's Coast Starlight® to Santa Barbara. When you arrive in Santa Barbara this afternoon, transfer to your hotel to settle in and then feel free to explore all this charming coastal town has to offer.
- Day 4overnight: Santa Barbara, CA
Santa Barbara, CA
Today you will discover the enchanting seaside haven known as Santa Barbara through a narrated tour aboard an open-air trolley car. Visit popular hot spots, like the Santa Barbara Courthouse, Santa Barbara Zoo, Museum of Natural History, Old Town, and Old Mission.
- Day 5overnight: Paso Robles, CA
Santa Barbara to Paso Robles
Travel to the station and board Amtrak's Coast Starlight to Paso Robles, one of California's hidden gems. Upon arriving in Paso Robles, spend some time exploring the quaint town square, which offers lots of charming shops and delicious restaurants.
- Day 6overnight: Paso Robles, CA
Paso Robles and The Vineyards
Fancy yourself a wine connoisseur? Then today is just what you need! Enjoy a celebrated Paso Robles wineries tour, which includes visits to between 4 - 6 different award-winning wineries. A leisurely vineyard picnic lunch is included. After your wine tour is complete, head back to the town square for more shopping.
- Day 7railovernight: San Francisco, CA
Paso Robles to San Francisco
Your transfer to Amtrak is included today, where you will board the train to San Francisco. Upon arrival in Emeryville, you will have a short motorcoach transfer across the bay to San Francisco.
- Day 8overnight: San Francisco, CA
San Francisco, CA
Explore all San Francisco has to offer on a hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour of this magnificent city. Highlights of your tour include many of the city's prized hotspots, like the Opera House, Old Mission Dolores, the Japanese Tea Garden, the San Francisco Bay, Fisherman's Wharf, and, of course, the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. This evening, dinner in Fisherman's Wharf is included with your stay.
- Day 9
Your Journey Ends in San Francisco
The moments this trip is built around
- Day 2A trolley ride through Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Bel-Air past the homes of celebrities such as Tom Cruise, Madonna, and Angelina Jolie.
- Day 3The train travels from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara along the Pacific coast.
- Day 6A Paso Robles wineries tour visiting four to six award-winning wineries, with a vineyard picnic lunch included.
- Day 8A hop-on, hop-off tour of San Francisco taking in the Golden Gate Bridge and Fisherman's Wharf, with dinner included there that evening.
Included
- One-way Amtrak® in Coach accommodations from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara; Santa Barbara to Paso Robles; Paso Robles to San Francisco on the Pacific Surfliner® and Coast Starlight®
- 8 nights' hotel accommodations
- 2 meals included (1 lunch, 1 dinner)
Questions travellers ask
- Is train travel included?
- Yes. One-way Amtrak travel in coach is included for all three rail legs: Los Angeles to Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara to Paso Robles, and Paso Robles to San Francisco.
- Is it escorted or independent?
- It is an independent rail vacation. Guided outings cover the Hollywood trolley tour, the Santa Barbara trolley tour, the Paso Robles wineries tour, and the San Francisco hop-on, hop-off tour, with free time and self-arranged transfers in between.
- Which trains are used?
- Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner and Coast Starlight, in coach class. The evidence is inconsistent about which of the two covers the Los Angeles to Santa Barbara leg.
- What hotels are used?
- 20 accommodation options across Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Paso Robles, and San Francisco, including the Regent Santa Monica, the Cameo Beverly Hills, and the Harbor View Inn in Santa Barbara.
- What is not included?
- Only 2 meals are included (1 lunch on the Paso Robles wineries tour, 1 dinner in San Francisco); all other meals are on your own.
- How much walking is involved?
- Sightseeing is mostly seated: open-air trolley tours in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, a wineries tour with a picnic lunch, and a hop-on, hop-off tour of San Francisco.
