AMTRAK LOS ANGELES to SANTA BARBARA?

Question

I PLAN TO GO TO SANTA BARBARA SOMETIME THIS YEAR AND WAS WONDERING IF ANYONE TRAVELED WITH AMTRAK TO SANTA BARBARA BEFORE. I'VE READ SOME SITES THAT SAYS ONCE YOU GET THERE ..EVERYTHING IS WALKING DISTANCE (BEACH,SHOPPING ETC). I JUST WANT A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION AND ANY SUGGESTIONS ARE ALSO WELCOME. THANKS!

Answer 1

what a great trip yes everything is right near by or you can
easy hop a transit bus (I think they even have type of trolley for
the toursit)
the train is lots of fun. as well
if you catch the daylight on the return you could even have dinner in their dinning car providing its not living to it nickname
'starlate" that train has been know to run very late (like 2 to 5 hours late sometimes)
at least with the surfliners -some orginate in San Luiso Obispo or
even Goleta as well so those trains shouldnt be that late
you do have a choice of which train to take to Santa Barbara
one of the pacific surfliners or the Coast Daylight..
same on the return.-
another idea, you could hop an amtrak bus to Solvang as well

Answer 2

Amtrak leaves Union Station in L.A. (leave your car at home and take the subway there) and arrives right downtown in S.B., just steps away from the beach. You pretty much turn left, and you're there. Take the Surfliner (which will run close to on time) rather than the Coast Starlight (which is notorious for being VERY late). The part of Santa Barbara tourists would want to see is very compact, and it's all quite close to the train station.

Answer 3

We live here and have relatives visit sometimes using Amtrak. Usually it works out fine, sometimes the trains are late. Once you get here it is about five blocks to the beach and about five blocks up State Street to the mall, shopping and restaurants. There is a $.25 shuttle that runs up and down State Street all day and there are "tour" shuttles (for more money) that take you around town, also taxis, buses, etc.. Just pick a warm day (not during a weekend in summer) and you'll be all set.