We are planning a 3-week family vacation in California in August. We want to rent a car only for the drive up the coast (LA to SF). The rest of the time we will take mass transit. I know SF. What I want to know is: a) does Amtrak connect well with Legoland/Disneyland/Universal?; b) where can I get a good train/trolley map for LA and San Diego?; and, c) has anyone tried this before??

Dave, you've got to be kidding. Mass transit is basically useless in southern California. Amtrack doesn't go to Legoland or Disneyland. You would have to take a cab from the nearest station.

You must have a car for southern California. Good luck!

Try these sites:

www.mta.net
www.metrolinktrains.com

MTA is the metro in LA, which will get you to Hollywood/Highland (Mann's Chinese, Grauman's Chinese, etc.) and Universal. The Metro Link station in Anaheim has a shuttle to Disneyland. I'd also check out the Amtrak website for trains and shuttles.

I'm not sure that relying on transit in S. Cal would be much easier than driving, but it looks like it would be possible with a little research.

Good luck, and have a great trip!

Dave:
I think you have the makings of a family trip from hell if you think you can vacation in LAwithout a car. What possible reason wouldyou want to sleap your family around onbuses and such? You canotget anywherein LA on ass Transit

Well, it IS possible to see do Disney & Universal using transit, but takes good planning. Universal, in particular, is very conenient to the subway, and many people use Amtrak to go to Disney, stopping at the Fullerton station. The Amtrak trains and the subway connect with one another at LA Union Station.

Anyone who plans a family trip to So. California (or No. California outside of the immediate Bay area) is just going to put the family through hell. Can it be done - sure. Should you attempt it - definitely not!

You will spend hours sitting in sleazy bus stations or getting stuck on overheated buses, or sharing with REALLY interesting (?) public transit riders. The trains don't go to the places you want to visit. LA, Orange and San Diego counties - with a few really limited exceptions - have no public transportation useful to tourists.