7 epic day trips you can take by train from Union Station (2024)

Train travel time from L.A.: 1 hour 45 minutes

Once considered by Angelenos as simply a place to pass through on the drive to Santa Barbara, Ventura is a worthy escape in itself. In addition to its sprawling beaches that have long been popular for surfing (the waves at Surfers’ Point are renowned), windsurfing, fishing and biking along, the city has a charming and highly walkable downtown — several blocks of historic

has been closed to cars since the pandemic.

A 10-minute walk from the train station gets you to downtown, where you can grab a beer at one of many breweries, including

., or satisfy your yakitori craving at

. Ventura also has a rich arts culture, and if you’re lucky to be visiting on the first Friday of the month — and you don’t mind a 15-to-20-minute walk — you can see the work and meet the artists of

a nonprofit community center that’s home to more than 30 local artist studios.

To truly take in the scenery of Ventura and its surrounding areas, you might want to bring your bike along on your trip (see rules for transporting a bicycle on the train

) and ride the popular

.

The city is also home to the nearly 150-year-old

, which runs this summer from July 31 to August 11. Conveniently, the train station is practically inside the fairgrounds parking lot, so taking Amtrak would be a great way to avoid the hassles you’d encounter by driving in.

Train travel time from L.A.: About 2 hours 20 minutes

“Carp” as it’s known to locals, is a sweet beach community with an eclectic collection of restaurants and shops. It’s small — the city covers just 2.6 square miles of land and its population has hovered at around 13,000 for decades — which adds to its charm and chill vibe. Times travel writer Christopher Reynolds called it “one of California’s last great beach towns.”

Carpinteria is a mecca for surfers; Rincon Point State Beach is one of most popular surf spots in California and is where the annual Rincon Classic Surf Competition takes place every year. The city is also home to

, the must-visit shop run by surf legend Matt Moore.

The train station is located right on town’s main street, Linden Avenue, which makes for an easy walk to the beach or to grab a bite to eat. You’ll often find locals at

known for its big breakfasts, or sipping Americanos up the street and around the corner at

. Directly across the street from the station is

a dog-friendly microbrewery that’s popular with beer enthusiasts and features live music. (Yes, you can

with a reservation and fee.) Finally, spend the rest of your day trip budget at

, an indoor/outdoor shopping experience that will suck you in and might make you miss your train home.

Train travel time: About 2 hours 40 minutes

Known for its sprawling beaches and iconic architecture that pays homage to its Spanish colonial heritage, Santa Barbara has long been a favorite destination for Southern California residents.

Many of us first became familiar with it as a college town for students of the University of California at Santa Barbara (even though the school is technically in the city of Goleta). Santa Barbara’s main train station also happens to be one of my favorites; built in 1902, it’s designated as an official city landmark and its wooden ticket booths and benches and hulking metal light fixtures will transport you back in time — you’ll swear you’re hearing the echoes of someone yelling, “All aboard!” in an old-timey voice.

The Funk Zone, an area next to the Amtrak station that’s bustling with boutique wine and beer tasting rooms, cafes, galleries and shops, has become one of the city’s most-visited spots. Relax with a nice rosé at

, a martini at the elegant

or dine on the patio of

, a favorite of local foodies. Across the street from the station is

that merges science, technology and arts through interactive exhibits. Or, if you want to broaden your exploring, hop on the

that will take you on a 90-minute tour to popular spots including the Santa Barbara Zoo, Museum of Natural History and the historic Santa Barbara Mission.

Of course, you can’t leave Santa Barbara without seeing the ocean, so take a short walk to a long pier and check out historic

that’s home to a collection of nostalgic shops, restaurants and the

Note: When booking your trip to Santa Barbara, you may have a choice between the

and the

. The Coast Starlight is an overnight, long-distance train that travels between Los Angeles and Seattle. It offers the benefit of a traditional dining car and a Sightseer Lounge (a car with floor-to-ceiling windows), but ticket prices are often at least $20 higher.

Train travel time from L.A.: About 1 hour 15 minutes

This beautiful small town, founded by the Spanish in 1776, is known for the Mission San Juan Capistrano and the swallows that make an annual return to the mission every spring. And it’s simply a charming to place to roam. Part of the draw is the

, considered the oldest neighborhood in California and site of three original adobe structures from the 1700s and early 1800s.

The area is just across the tracks from the train station. Make it your first stop to grab a coffee and a croissant at

(located in an old, sort of hidden house) and then meander down Los Rios Street to browse, get a psychic reading, or stop in for a cuppa at the delightful

. There’s even a petting zoo nearby at

.

For more dining, head over the tracks and up Camino Capistrano for a delicious breakfast (and after-dinner coffee and desserts) at my favorite,

, and then for wine and a charcuterie board at

.

Complete your trip with a visit to the

, only a three-minute walk from the station. You should expect to spend around 90-minutes to tour all of the buildings and exhibits — make sure to time it right so you can catch your train home.

Note: If you happen to be traveling to San Juan Capistrano or points south on the second Saturday of July, you may be treated to an, um, unusual sight: Throughout the day, hundreds of participants flock to the fence lining the tracks in Laguna Niguel, between Irvine and San Juan Capistrano, and

. The annual tradition apparently started in 1979 when a patron at the Mugs Away Saloon, located near the tracks, offered to buy a drink for anyone willing to run outside and moon the next train.

Train travel time from L.A.: 1 hour 50 minutes

A classic beach town that’s gotten a new vibe over the past few years, Oceanside is ready for exploring.

The community’s legacy has been shaped by its proximity to the Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base, which fostered its reputation as a military town. And like many of the cities along the Pacific Ocean coast, surfing and surf culture has played a big part in the town’s growth.

You’ll find the world-famous

here, a treasure trove of surfing memorabilia, surfboards, media archives and exhibits. In recent years Oceanside has established itself as a worthy dining destination with trendy restaurants, breweries and bars. Less than a two-minute walk from the museum, you’ll find local favorite

, which has a robust selection of wines and an impressive menu of small plates, flatbreads and pastas.

Another can’t-miss spot and a favorite of travelers is the

, established in 1928 and the oldest cafe on historic Highway 101. The ’50s style diner serves breakfast all day and features classic fare such as patty melts, but also new dishes like avocado toast for all the hipsters, too.

Sadly, there was a fire on the historic Oceanside Pier last Thursday and that area remains closed.

Train travel time from L.A: About 2 hours

Located along the coastal bluffs that overlook the Pacific Ocean, Solana Beach is a lively beach town with an artsy vibe. Anchoring the town is the main beach,

— also known to the locals as Pillbox — named after Colonel Ed Fletcher, one of the founders of the town in the early 1920s. The Solana Beach station is also one of my favorites: Designed by architect Rob Wellington Quigley, whose firm is known for its environmentally sustainable structures inspired by local history, the station is modeled on the Quonset hut, a structure used by the U.S. Army.

Once you leave the station, across the street is the entrance to the

made up of a few blocks of hip shops, galleries and cafes. One of the more famous venues in the district is the

, which has hosted some big names, such as The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jimmy Buffet, Willie Nelson and the Rolling Stones. After you’re done cruising the district, grab a tartine at local favorite

and head down to Fletcher Cove for a picnic with spectacular views.

One of Solana Beach’s hidden gems is the

, a 1.5-mile trail that runs along the entire length of the city of Solana Beach. The trail, which starts in Oceanside, is lined with beds of colorful flowers and occasional art installations, such as the arch paying tribute to the Kumeyaay, a tribe of Indigenous people who were the early inhabitants of Solana Beach and other areas of San Diego County.

Train travel time from L.A.: About 3 hours

You’ve driven to San Diego plenty of times, but have you done the trip by train?

There’s so much to do, see and eat within walking distance of the Santa Fe Depot station that the challenge will be deciding which direction to choose. Head toward the water and you can tour the super-popular

or the

. Nearby you can catch the

to

that’s loaded with restaurants, bars and shops and the luxurious

. Or, landlubbers can just follow the path along the water, past the USS Midway and head to one of San Diego’s favorite family spots,

. There you can grab some tacos and a tasty margarita at

(located in the former San Diego Police Headquarters), buy a few souvenirs, and maybe ride the

that was hand-carved in 1895 and only costs $5 per ride.