If you have not taken a long trip by Amtrak for a vacation, this may be the year to give it a try. The national train network makes it possible to get around from most major cities. Getting there can be half the fun on some of the more scenic routes.
One of the most popular places to visit is San Diego. It is easy to take a train to the historic station and then use public transit for getting around locally. San Diego is spread out over a smaller geographical area than other parts of SoCal, notably Los Angeles. You can even get around to a lot of vacation attractions by walking if you enjoy that.
There is no shortage of fun places of interest in San Diego. You could really spend weeks at all the museums, historical places of interest, beaches, theme parks and other attractions. There certainly would be no problem filling a busy week of vacation in this beach-oriented city. One of the major features that San Diego offers its guests and residents alike is its wonderful, moderate weather, especially in the summertime.
If you wanted to extend your vacation, it is possible to continue the train travel up to the Los Angeles area, and even further along the coast. It is easy to take the train from San Diego all the way to Union Station in downtown Los Angeles, with maybe ten stops in between. This would make it possible to spend an easy week or two in Southern California without your car.
Don’t forget that a trip by train can add several days on to the total schedule compared to flying, but if you have the right mindset the traveling can be part of the overall enjoyment of the trip.