Train Trip - What's more scenic?
 

Hi

I have a friend heading over to the US from Australia, she will be there in Nov. She would like to know which train trip would be more scenic, seattle to SF or SF to LA. Given that the trip from seattle to SF is 22hrs, and the train leaves at 10am would the first or second have of this leg be more scenic.

Cheers :)

for what it's worth..

I had dinner with an Amtrak fanatic while riding the California Zephyr a few days ago. He said the Coast Starlight was the most scenic passage Amtrak offers...specifically the area along the Oregon coast up to
Seattle.

It'll take a little checking of the north/southbound schedules. The LA northbound portion does feature a splendid right along the coast...much closer than if you were on the Highway...right up above the waves with the gulls...but the Oregon -Washington scenery, thgrough Klamath Falls, etc...is also splendid!

Seattle to SF is wonderful - but never plan on it making its 22 hour scheduled time. It can be and often is many hours late

Thanks for the tips. Does anyone else have any suggestions?

Good reading

http://www.answers.com/topic/coast-starlight

http://www.epinions.com/trvl-review-...3895BC90-prod5

Sound obvious, but look carefully at the schedule. The parts of the trip in the dark obviously won't provide great scenery -- and that is part of the problem, I thought.

The most scenic way to get from SF to LA is on Highway 1, but perhaps your friend is traveling without a companion.

The La to Seattle trip frequently runs
5 or more hours late so it can be a LONG trip. I did the Sacramento to Eugene portion of it once and we were 5 hours late - the scenery was spectacular though - it had just snowed and everything was covered. The ride between Klamath Falls and Eugene was beautiful with lots of lakes and lots of tunnels through the mountains.
However, there was a man and his son who had gotten on in LA and were on the way to Seattle - he was so frustrated by the delays, he got off in Eugene and rented a car and drove the rest of the way to Seattle ( a 5 hr drive by car)

So if she does it- be prepared.