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California can be a great vacation destination, but it always seems to be on the wrong side of the headlines.
You know…more taxes, ridiculous gas prices, and let’s not even get started on real estate!
Normally, travelers decide between East or West for their summer beach vacation, unless you plan to put your passport to good use.
While Florida is always attractive with many affordable prices across the board, let’s just say Florida will always be Florida!
You also never know what headlines this state will find itself in. I mean, have you seen the viral mugshots?
Any way you look at it, summer is here and there’s no better time for a beach trip.
Your typical holiday is usually at a lavish resort with plenty of sun and sand, but why not go for something different?
Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner route is undoubtedly one of America’s most beautiful, with breathtaking coastal scenery, worthwhile stops in historic towns… and of course air conditioning.
It’s perfect for domestic travelers looking for a fun alternative to the traditional beach vacation!
First stop: America’s most beautiful city
San Diego has a handful of names. “America’s Finest City,” “Sunny San Diego,” “A Whale’s…” well, never mind. You get the point.
For me, I just call it home.
Say what you will about California, and believe me, there are a lot of topics, both good and bad, but there is arguably no more beautiful city in the country, making it absolutely perfect for this type of travel.
Okay, okay, yeah, downtown still has the occasional zombie lands, as the relatively new “No Camping” law hasn’t been smartly changed to ease the eyes of California’s infamous homeless encampments.
Good news is that this part of town won’t interrupt the Pacific Surfliner’s breathtaking ocean views, even as the route begins Santa Fe Station in downtown’s Marina District, just outside one of the most underrated cultural districts in the United States: San Diego’s Little Italy.
You can fuel up for your trip at my favorite donut shop, Devil’s Dozen (check them out menu here 😋), or perhaps Mona Lisa for a classic Italian lunch before heading north for Southern California’s most epic views.
Classic SoCal: just like in the movies
If you start your trip in San Diego, you have no choice but to head north. This is the fun part…
San Diego is generally considered just a beach town, but it is actually one of the largest cities in the country.
Exploring Balboa Park, Seaport Village and partying at the Gaslamp is great, but my favorite places to go are the small beach towns far away from the action.
San Diego’s own Mission Beach is commonly referred to as “the tourist beach” and is insanely packed in the summer.
Not to say the small coastal towns north of San Diego don’t have quite the crowd, but it’s a lot easier to find a private spot on a beautiful beach than fight your way through Arizonans who think they own the place be out of place.
You’ll visit these 5 scenic beach towns along your route as stops:
Del Mar – home to luxury beachfront hotels, Del Mar Fairgrounds and a wide variety of gourmet restaurants
Solana Beach – relaxed with local boutiques and pub ‘n grubs along the main strip
Encinitas – laid-back surf vibe with surprisingly luxurious restaurants and frequent celebrity sightings
Carlsbad – popular for shopping and LEGOLAND theme park
Ocean side – cheapest resort in San Diego County
Between Solana and Encinitas lies my personal favorite hidden gem, Cardiffa sun-drenched surf spot with all the SoCal vibes you can get from the movies, but there’s no train stop here.
Last stop: historic San Luis Obispo
The Pacific Surfliner offers passengers elevated views of the cliffs along beautiful coastal towns, so be sure to grab a window seat!
From San Diego to the last stop, San Luis Obispo, it doesn’t matter if you’re in San Diego County or Orange County, it’s worth the price of admission, namely as low as $61 one way trip in July. (Book your tickets on them official site here)
Riders can hop off in just as quaint beach towns Orange Country all the way to Santa Barbaraand it might be a good idea since 2024 hasn’t been the best for San Diego’s beaches.
Ultimately, if you choose to complete the full Central California trek, San Luis Obispo adds centuries of intriguing history to the mix of laid-back beach towns on your itinerary.
A must-visit it is fascinating Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosaa Spanish church from the 18th century.
If, for some strange reason, that doesn’t appeal to you, the abundance of surrounding vineyards will certainly be present in this underrated wine outing.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
