If you have not traveled by Amtrak for a vacation, this may be the year to give it a try. Many North American destination cities are easily accessible by train. Given how beautiful and interesting our country is, the trip itself can be a big part of the total enjoyment.
One of the most popular vacation destinations is San Diego. The train runs into the depot not far from downtown, with easy local public transportation to get you to your hotel and most of the attractions. Compared to other parts of Southern California, San Diego is actually relatively close together. In fact, a lot of the attractions can be enjoyed by walking.
San Diego is really loaded with interesting places to visit. You could really spend weeks at all the museums, historical places of interest, beaches, theme parks and other attractions. So it is safe to assume that you can engage yourself in a week of both relaxation and activity in this harbor city. The weather in the summer is particularly appealing, with a moderate sea breeze cooling things off.
Perhaps you’re thinking about setting up an even more ambitious train travel event, in which case you can take the train up the coast. AmTrak extends northward from the downtown San Diego station to downtown Los Angeles Union Station with a few stops in between. By doing any of the above, it would be reasonable to engage in a one- or two-week vacation without using a car.
Of course, traveling by train could add 3-4 days to the overall vacation schedule but that is part of the fun if you have the right attitude.