The Rail Pass - Segment #7: Pacific Surfliner

When I arrived in LA, I used the trick I'd learned from the Chicago Amtrak baggage team and left my checked baggage behind the counter and headed straight for the light rail station headed to Pasadena.

Although I'd visited Pasadena twice, I'd never actually stayed in Pasadena before. I arrived the first time in 2017 as a part of my day trip to LA on the Sunset Limited. I visited the Botanical Gardens. I returned in 2023 to watch the Rose Bowl parade! I stayed at the new AC Hotel. Although I would have loved to explore and maybe return to the restaurant I'd patronized on both of my earlier visits. But that was not to be the case, I crashed and got some much needed rest! The evening staff was remarkably kind and helpful. The morning staff, not so much. Fortunately, I was only in town for a single day.

The next morning, much to the horror of many friends (who BTW still shop at Amazon....just saying 🤨), I ran into Target to get replacement headphones (I'd purchased several pair from 5 Below during this trip that all fell apart after a few days!) and some snacks before catching the light rail back to Los Angeles Union Station. I retrieved my luggage and I patiently waited to board the train to another new city, San Diego!

I ate breakfast on the train and the people I dined with eagerly gave me tips on what to do and what to avoid during my first trip to San Diego. Similar to the situation with the Lakeshore Limited, the train trip was interrupted and we rode a charter bus for part of our trip. Had I not purchased this leg of the trip separately, it would have cost me three segments of my rail pass!

View from the Amtrak Bus on the way to San Diego

However, unlike the bus portion of the Lakeshore Limited trip, this bus portion of the trip was still quite scenic. After a transfer back to the train, we quickly arrived in San Diego. Only then did I realize that I'd misunderstood the information from Amtrak and had selected the wrong stop but just like with getting lost looking for the ferry, I made the best of it and explored the tourist area called Old Town. Instead of exploring the sites and sounds I'd heard so much about, I spent the vast majority of my time attending a class I'd signed up back in November and working. I made it downtown to explore Balboa Park but only after most of the attractions had closed. This was the first time I'd really understood the phrase, "Stop and smell the roses."

Roses

Roses

Path along the rose garden

Roses

Roses

More Roses

The next day I visited the La Jolla Beach and Cove and had a great chat with a conservationist canvassing the beach looking for contributors. According to the Official San Diego website, La Jolla Cove is "one of the most photographed beaches in Southern California."

Before I knew it, it was time to head out again. I caught the shuttle out to the airport to catch my flight to Dallas-Ft Worth. I landed in Love airport, maybe for the last time because of some recent value and policy changes at Southwest.