The Pacific Surfliner travels along the Southern California coast on a 350-mile (563km) route linking San Luis Obispo and San Diego. On our West Coast and Yosemite tour we enjoy just a section of this route from Santa Barbara to San Diego, a journey which takes place in daylight.
Along the Pacific Coast to the Santa Susanna
Mountains
On leaving Santa Barbara, the Pacific
Surfliner heads south along the Pacific Coast and we
enjoy spectacular views of the ocean and the long stretches of
golden, sandy beaches as well as the islands of Santa Cruz and
Santa Rosa. We hug the coastline, partially following the Pacific
Coast Highway until we reach Ventura. From here we head inland,
through the city of Oxnard and along the narrow Simi Valley towards
the Santa Susanna Mountains and the Simi Hills.
Through the San Fernando Valley to LA
We enter the San Fernando Valley and continue to the city
of Burbank, home to many of the biggest film studios including
Warner Brothers, Disney and Columbia. The train then passes the
famous Forest Lawn Memorial Park, the final resting place of many
of Hollywood's famous names, including Humphrey Bogart, Errol Flynn
and Walt Disney before making a stop at Los Angeles Union
Station.
Alongside the Old Pacific Highway to San Diego
The Pacific Surfliner negotiates the
urban sprawl extending southwards from Los Angeles and travels
through the cities of Orange County, finally reaching the Pacific
Coast just after San Juan Capistrano. The train runs parallel with
the Old Pacific Highway, closely following the coast, giving us the
opportunity to enjoy the wonderful views over the Pacific Ocean and
the surfers riding its waves. The final stretch of our journey
takes us through the coastal cities of Oceanside, Solana Beach and
Del Mar to historic San Diego, California's second largest city and
the Pacific Surfliner's terminus.