After several wonderful days in San Francisco and nearby Muir Woods, we boarded the San Joaquin for a short trip to Merced. Merced is the jumping off point for Yosemite. We only stayed two nights but managed to pack in a strenuous hike to the top of Vernal Fall, and a daylong tour of the major sites. Breathtaking scenery.
Then back on the San Joaquin to head to LA. Well, as close as you can get when travelling down the central valley, which is Bakersfield. Another Amtrak bus (packed with people) got us to the graceful Los Angeles Union Station. We stayed two nights in LA, taking a city bus to Santa Monica to walk the pier. We had hoped to see a Beatles tribute band there. In our travels we met a member of the band, but his band's performance got changed so we missed them. We also took a van tour of LA, the high point of which was eating an In-N-Out burger, just off of Hollywood Blvd.
Our last train trip was the short trip along the coast to San Diego aboard the Pacific Surfliner. Beautiful California! Our short stay in San Diego was fun, especially our trip out to the Hotel del Coronado, made famous in my favorite Marilyn Monroe movie "Some Like it Hot."
When it was time to fly home, we regretted not booking a return train. But there's always next time! And there was a next time....in winter 2011, we took the Southwest Chief from Chicago to LA, then the San Joaquin up to Merced to visit Yosemite again. We finished it off with the California Zephyr back to Chicago. I hope I can find those photos!
