CA for 2 weeks, Solo Travel
 

Greetings! I will be traveling from Detroit to CA for two weeks, over the holidays. I will be traveling solo -- and would mostly like to focus on natural beauty, hiking and some site-seeing. So far, I've listed Redwoods, SF, Big Sur/HWY 1, LA, San Diego. I'm trying to avoid car rental and would like to take the trains as I head from north to south. I'm also seriously considering taking the CA Zephyr from Colorado. Yosemite and Death Valley are also intriguing. As you can see, I've listed a bunh of things...but I'm solo and a high-energy person...and I really want to be inspired by both people and scenary! Any insight for NYE would be appreciated! THANK YOU!!

Personally, I would rent a car because you are not going to see much taking a train..
Hotwire has good deals on car rentals or go direct.
I have gotten deals as low as $16 a day for a mid-range which is perfect or for several dollars more a full or luxury.
Car rentals on a weekly basis can be very reasonable and this way you can see Big Sur, Redwoods, Death Valley, San Diego and with your high energy..this will work best for you!
Have a great time..

I second getting a car. Its a must. I would be careful driving around the Sierra's in regards to winter storms.

It's Winter! stay on the Coast!

Thank you very much for your replies. I'd really like to avoid a car. Sounds crazy, but I'm from Detroit...work in the auto industry in market intelligence...and I'm looking to just get-lost and not worry too-much about highways, navigating, and not being able to relax, read, enjoy the view while traveling :) Are you sure the trains are not scenic? I have found quite a bit of writing on the coastal starlight as one of the most scenic and some of the California/Amtrack rails which hugs the coastline from SD to LA -- all of this is very appealing...if I can figure out the transportation when I actually stay in one spot for a few days. I will definitely try hotwire to see if I can get a great deal for at least part of the trip! Any other suggestions on a "North to South" are welcome! I know some of the other posts have details for SF, etc.

Train from LA to SD..sit on the right and you get some great coastal views but a car is a must..
I wish our transit system was all that..but it's not.

Yes, unfortunately, the train only goes along the coast for a short while. It is inland north of Santa Barbara. The most breathtaking sections of our coastline are north of there. A car will give you much more flexibility and you will be able to spend more time seeing what you want to rather than waiting for public transportation and taking round-about routes to get where you want to go.

If you are set against renting a car, much of your itinerary can be done. You will have to rely on a combination of public transportation options as Amtrak wont do it for you.

Here are some ideas:

The SF Bay area and Santa Cruz areas actually have pretty decent public transportation. In SF, it wont be a problem at all.

To see some redwoods, check out public transportation to Muir Woods, or you can go to Big Basin or Henry Cowell state parks in the Santa Cruz mountains. From SF you would take Caltrain to San Jose, then a commuter bus (Hwy 17 express) to downtown Santa Cruz. From there you can take the 35 bus into the Santa Cruz mountains to the parks. Sort of a hodgepodge of transportation systems, but it is doable. I think you would probably be looking at a 3 hour trip to get there, versus maybe an hour and a half in the car.

For Big Sur, I don't know of a bus that goes to Big Sur that time of year, but there is a state park just south of Carmel called Point Lobos, which is breathtaking and will give you a good feeling for the Big Sur coast. To get there, you can either take a Greyhound from SF to Monterey and then take local public transportation, or if you have gone to Santa Cruz, you can take a couple buses from Santa Cruz to Monterey - you switch buses in Watsonville.

Yosemite - Amtrak runs a bus service from Merced. You can take a combination of Amtrak buses and trains from SF or San Jose to get there.

I recommend a car. You'll see more with less hassle. I've taken a train from San Francisco to Merced and it wasn't scenic.

Sorry to agree with the others. Everyone travels by car in CA.

J_Correa -- thank you for the time in your post and the information. I will review it and see what/how with the car.

Now -- I guess part of my resistance to car is the many post on this site that talks about the immense traffic and the amount of time spent stuck in traffic (which is quite lonely in a car when you have to watch the road).

Are the trains not an alternative to this for longer-city travel? Looks like Cali has an Amtrak pass which takes you several major routes and then does the connections.

Hmmm... maybe I grab a car and let the traffic tell me when to get off and stretch :)

Thanks for all of your insight! I look forward to just letting the trip unfold.

Any further insights are immensely appreciated! I will also scour the other posts where you-Cali's are tremendously helpful! Thanks!!

You should not be overly worried about San Diego traffic. The main freeways (interstate 5, 8, 15, and other main highways) are busy during commuting times (into central SD 6:00 to 9:30 a.m.; outbound 3:30-6:30 p.m.) and along the coast (interstate 5) on weekends.

If you use a car in SD, try to travel routes like downtown-to-LaJolla or downtown-to-the-Mission either ourside those hours or by using surface streets.

Unlike Los Angeles, New York, or maybe even Detroit, you can drive into and through downtown with relative ease most of the time.

I'm going to be the odd-man out on this question. I lived in SoCal for many years and often used the train for inter-city travel. I agree with everyone else that in most areas of California, you'll need a car for local travel. The public transit situation is abysmal in most areas other than San Francisco but between cities, the train works well (As long as you are going where the trains go). The areas you mentioned of Death Valley and Yosemite are both well off the rail system so you would need to drive to either from one of your destination cities.

Most of the scenic portion of the train is, as was stated previously, between San Diego and LA and between LA and just a bit north of Santa Barbara. Even so, the transportation aspect in the less scenic areas make the train a good value.

The trip between Denver and San Francisco (actually Emerville) that you briefly mentioned is superb, especially in the winter. I highly recommend it.

So, my advice would be to go for that AMTRAK pass.

Intercity CA trains are a pain. They are usually delayed either by freight traffic, which has the right of way, or by malfunctioning equipment.

For SF Bay area transpo try www.511.org, which links to all regional systems over a very wide area.

Thank you for the additional insight on the trains! I'm less concered once I'm in a city vs. traveling from north-south

Being from Detroit, I'm familiar with the train delays (to Chicago) due to freight trains own the rails and get priority...I'm trying to weight if the Cali-Amtrak pass will give me the freedom to read a book when being delayed vs. sitting by myself in a car...looking, well at other cars :)

Incidentally, I was really hemming/hawing today on doing the Denver-SF train ride....but my heart really wants to do it...so that's for the push over the edge!

Thanks again Cali's!!

Getting from city to city might not be bad but getting around in the cities, with the exception of SF, is difficult & time consuming.
It's embarrassing how bad public transportation is in Southern California.

California is a state based on getting around by car, more than anyplace I've ever seen. It's a BIG state and trains simply don't run all that many places. Especially to see the Redwoods, Big Sur, etc. you really need to be willing to drive. Renting a car will give you the freedom to do what you describe and move around at a fast pace.

Certainly there are places you can get to by bus or possibly train, but it would VERY much limit your ability to get to the best of natural beauty, hiking, etc.

IF you wanted to see only the major cities like San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, that could much more easily be done on public transportation.

If you did your trip in the summer months, you would have the option of taking a Green Tortoise tour. But, unfortunately, they don't run them in winter.

http://www.greentortoise.com/budget....tml#california

I normally do not rent a car myself when I travel either. But to see California, that's one place that I would. I don't think your idea is a practical trip to attempt unless you're willing and able to get a car.

Denver-Emeryville is the most spectacular part of Zephyr's ride, if you don't get bored on trains, take it. Bring snacks. If late arriving in San Francisco, ask the bus driver to drop you off at the Hyatt to catch a taxi (connecting Amtrak bus to SF is included in the ticket price).

We also like using public transportation - at home and on vacation - when we can. We live in San Jose and intentionally bought our house near our lightrail system for convinience, take Caltrain when we want to go to SF, etc.

But I stand with the others - for the stuff you want to see, you really should get a car. Some things are possible without one, but it will take a lot longer to get there. You mentioned being nervous about sitting in traffic when you could be sitting on a train instead - except for a few instances, even with the traffic, a car will be quicker.

I have a suggestion for a "fun" thing to do during your San Diego visit:

On 27 September the Big Bay (Holiday Bowl) Balloon Parade will take place from 10:00 until roughly 12:30 along North Harbor Drive (the Embarcadero) from Beech Street south to where Harbor Drive makes a big turn.

The event is free, although you can pay $15 for unnecessary grandstand seats. Last year about 100,000 people attended and saw a larger collection of huge balloons than are in the Thanksgiving parade in New York. There are marching bands from all over the US and lots of unique, often quirky evends (like the weiner-dog race, the folding chair "marching" group, etc.).

We go every year.

Thanks Cali's! Sounds like the car is overwhelming a must! I'm doing this as a "let it flow" trip and letting the plan "plan" themselves! I am just recovering from water in my basement in Detroit (lucky me!) and am delaying my trip by about one day until I know all is well here...then off to the trip. I'm likely flying to Denver, catching the train, landing in SF and let the adventure unfold from there. I'm still quite hesitant on the car...for even if it is faster, I dont' want to be the one driving and navigating...hence my dilemma! Glad to know Detroit isn't the only place in the US challenged by lack of mass transit! As I arrive, I'm likely to be checking in for more...will let you know how the adventure unfolds. Thanks for your time and insight!! Happy Holidays!!

Yes - please let us know how the trip went when you get back.

If you can figure out how to do the trip you describe without a car, please DO check in and let us know how!! Seriously, many people would love to hear that information.
:-)

Have you left yet?

Indeed I have. Greetngs from Denver airport! I've booked the Cali Zephyr from Denver to SF, then meeting up with friends who live in SF...will see how this unfolds. I hope to go from SF up to the redwoods or I may just go south...will let my spirit lead me! Will keep you posted!

Have a wonderful trip pz742w. That is fun that you have friends in SF.
Today is a bright sunny day with beautiful blue sky. I hope it will be like that when you arrive! Enjoy your train trip.

J_Correa, the #35 Santa Cruz Transit bus has stopped going to Big Basin for the winter. I looked into your suggested route a few months ago and I remember it didn't hook up very well, the Highway 17 express bus was scheduled to reach downtown Santa Cruz about a minute after the 35 had left for Big Basin. It looks like they're trying the synch the schedules better, so maybe next spring it will be a doable weekend trip for South Bay types.

Enjoy your freedom!

Thanks for checking in. Have a great trip. (I love San Francisco!)

sequoia - thanks for the update on the bus schedules. Hopefully they will sync it up better come spring time.

Greetings Cali's! I arrived in Emeryville by the California Zephyr train...which was just a wonderful set of scenary with the snow everywhere (makes want to skip the coast and take ski lessons for a week!) and soothing to the soul. I would recommend this train trip to anyone whose focus is on enjoying scenary and letting the time roll by...if you are a luxury or discriminating taste traveler, amtrak will disappoint you...but if you look at as your version of 'camping' and enjoy views you cannot see by driving...then it is perfect. It really soothed my soul as I was unwinding from the craziness of the auto industry in December! :)

My gracious hosts have left for their family holiday and have left me in their home outside San Fran. Goodness! Cali's -- I can really appreciate not only how MUCH there is to see & Do...but the DIVERSITY from outdoor enthusiasts to culture lovers. I know I could stay here for a week to explore both sides of me end-end! The only challenge is the lack of daylight...must come back in summer! :)

Well... and I did it. I rented a car...I will be taking transit to get to SFO to pick-up (my best deal)...and have decided to simply wander down Hwy 1 from SF to San Diego and see if I really make it all the way down or something intrigues me so much, I stay.

Thanks for all of your offers of insight, advice and encouragement!

Happy Holidays! -Rosie

Love hearing about your trip in progress! Have gun!

No, no guns. Have fun!

Hi Rose, how nice to hear that you have arrived. And I think renting a car is a good decision! And did you note, the beautiful weather I ordered for you is still with us today. Enjoy beautiful San Francisco and have a fun safe drive to S California.

<and I did it. I rented a car>

told ya so ;-)

seriously, hope you continue to have a wonderful trip, Rosie. merry christmas. ~Suze (LA native)

Italy - We were just commenting on the beautiful weather yesterday - and that gorgeous sunset. I don't know about elsewhere, but in Santa Cruz is was incredible. I am glad to know that it was you who ordered up that weather.

Now, can you hold the snow in the northern Sierra on Friday and then let it fall early Saturday morning? We are going up to see my dad and I would like a clear drive on Friday and then to have fresh snow to enjoy on Saturday when we get up ;)

Good morning J_Correa! Another beautiful day..we are so fortunate.

I will speak to the weather God..so that the weather will be perfect throughout your drive and your visit with your father. Enjoy your getaway! And get an early start as no doubt I-80 will be packed with vehicles as it was last Friday. Stay safe and warm!

Thanks. I appreciate you putting in a good word about the weather ;) Fortunately we don't have to travel on I80 very far. My dad lives in the mountains up outside of Redding, near Mt. Lassen. We cut off of I80 at Hwy 505, to catch I5 out in the boonies up there. The first time I took my husband up there, he was amazed at all the miles and miles of nothing on I5. He couldn't believe we were still in California - LOL. We generally have smooth sailing from 505 on. The distance is farther than going to Lake Tahoe and that area, but traffic is not much of an issue once we leave the Bay Area.