If you have not traveled by Amtrak for a vacation, this may be the year to give it a try. Many North American destination cities are easily accessible by train. Getting there can be half the fun on some of the more scenic routes.
Of all the many great vacation destinations accessible by train, San Diego is in the top echelon. It is easy to take a train to the historic station and then use public transit for getting around locally. Compared to other parts of Southern California, San Diego is actually relatively close together. In fact, a lot of the attractions can be enjoyed by walking.
There is no shortage of fun places of interest in San Diego. You could really spend weeks at all the museums, historical places of interest, beaches, theme parks and other attractions. There certainly would be no problem filling a busy week of vacation in this beach-oriented city. The weather in the summer is particularly appealing, with a moderate sea breeze cooling things off.
Perhaps you’re thinking about setting up an even more ambitious train travel event, in which case you can take the train up the coast. AmTrak extends northward from the downtown San Diego station to downtown Los Angeles Union Station with a few stops in between. This would make it possible to spend an easy week or two in Southern California without your car.
Don’t forget that a trip by train can add several days on to the total schedule compared to flying, but if you have the right mindset the traveling can be part of the overall enjoyment of the trip.