All Aboard the Pacific Surfliner: Travel California Without a Car

A recent family event took us to my father's hometown of Southern California. I enjoy going back to my country of birth, but he has one problem. It's driving. As a Londoner of 11 years, I am spoiled for public transport in the UK (although some might consider it a drawback). This time, as I reluctantly checked car rental options and was choked by gas prices, a wild idea crept into my mind.

It may be possible to travel California entirely by public transportation. When I told my family over a video call that I might not rent a car, they laughed it off. After all, California is road trip country. One of the world's first highways, his Pasadena Freeway opened in Los Angeles in 1940. For many, the defining image of California is driving down Palm-lined Hollywood Avenue in a red convertible.

However, the madness of this plan could not be overlooked. Driving around along the beachside railroad tracks instead of getting stuck in traffic on concrete highways proves car-free travel to Southern California is possible. In addition to the challenge, we pledge to make travel as sustainable as possible by staying in hotels with rigorous environmental certifications, choosing where to eat, drink and visit, and supporting community-driven businesses. I was. What could go wrong.

Public Transportation

The Pacific Surfliner is an Amtrak train that runs a 351-mile route along the Southern California coast. Travel across wine country, past Disneyland and Hollywood, and almost all the way to the US-Mexico border. It also connects with the rest of the Amtrak network, which runs east to Chicago and north to Seattle.

Los Angeles and San Diego have public transportation networks including subways, trams, buses and light rail. An app with an integrated digital top-up card makes ticketing easy. The FlyAway airport bus takes you from Los Angeles International Airport to several locations in LA, including downtown Amtrak at Union Station.

German Coach company Flixbus also expands the SoCal route with eco-friendly and affordable buses, from Los Angeles to regional destinations including San Luis Obispo where my journey began.

San Luis Obispo

About 200 miles north of LA, the small town of San Luis Obispo (often abbreviated as SLO) has its own wine region. is located in the center of , the setting for the 2004 film Sideways, Old Town San Luis Obispo was founded by Spanish settlers in the 1770s and includes a mission church built in 1772 and San Luis Obispo Creek. I am still centered. A grid of walkable, leafy streets is home to local boutiques, cafes, breweries and wine tasting rooms. The Santa Lucia Mountains that surround the city offer hiking opportunities for all levels.

Newly opened in 2022, Region is a tasting room dedicated to wines from the region. Region operates as a collection of 26 small producers with a self-pour preservation system designed to connect directly to wineries that are hard to find drinkers. This is a great option to experience California wine country without a car. We also donate a portion of our sales to 1% For the Planet, an international organization for environmental protection.

For Dinner This chic, locally owned restaurant is housed in a former cigar factory with fairy-lit gardens along the Novo River. The chef sources all ingredients from local producers. The shrimp spring rolls and diver scallops are excellent.

If you don't own a car, check outSLO Car Free for tips and discounts.

Getting Around

San Luis Obispo is a walkable city. A city bus connects the train/bus station to downtown.

Where to stay

Hotel San Luis Obispo has eliminated plastic waste, installed filtered water stations throughout the property, and more. is a boutique hotel committed to sustainability. The rooftop bar, which serves local wines, is perfect for a sundowner with mountain views.

Santa Barbara

Located midway between SLO and Los Angeles, coastal Santa Barbara is one of the greenest cities in the United States. Earth Day marks the establishment of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the passage of the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Endangered Species Act after the devastating oil spill on the Santa Barbara coast in 1970. was established in response to Today, the city has one of the strongest carbon-neutral programs in the United States, including electrifying transportation, actively promoting transportation, decarbonizing the electricity grid and construction sector, and sourcing drinking water from seawater desalination plants. I have.

LearnLearn all about this while sipping and tasting some of Santa Barbara's local producers on an eco-tasting tour with Totally Cali Tours. Guided by passionate local environmentalist Melissa Hopp, this her four-hour walk includes wine tasting. rooms, sustainable breweries and even local olive oil producers. For a deeper dive into coastal environmental issues and the restoration of marine ecosystems, visit the Natural History Museum Sea Center on the pier.

Getting Around

Old Town Santa Barbara and its beaches are very walkable, and the city has a network of buses, e-bikes and scooters.

Where to Stay

The beautiful Blue Sands Inn is a traditional beach motel converted into a boutique inn that celebrates local artisans and the environment. We support environmentally friendly activities. 2 minutes walk from the beach.

Los Angeles

Visiting LA without a car takes careful planning and some compromises, but it's totally doable. Staying on the beach in Santa Monica is one of the best options. There is plenty of fresh local food, cute cafes, shopping and of course the beach and beloved Santa Monica Pier with amusement, bars and antique merry-go-rounds. For dining, Albright is a family-owned sustainable seafood shack that has been operating on the pier since 1977.

MOVE

The LA subway connects Hollywood, Santa Monica, and buses to downtown and Universal Studios. I avoided it, but ridesharing is common in LA and can get you somewhere in a pinch.

Where to Stay

Shore Hotel is located on the Santa Monica waterfront and ticks many sustainability boxes. } 1 Hotel West Hollywood has been called one of the greenest hotels in the world. Located on Sunset Boulevard, it's built entirely with recycled materials like salvaged wood and recycled ocean plastic, and features a rooftop pool with LA views.

Malibu

Another view of the famous Pacific Coast Highway can be found by taking a detour from the train to the coastal town of Malibu. While it's best known as a haven for celebrity mansions, the town itself is a relaxing beach, with a pretty pier and great swimming and surfing. For a meal, try the fresh Yuzu Butternut Squash Linguine or cauliflower crust pizza at the farm-to-table Malibu Farm Café on the pier.

Getting Around

LA Bus 534 travels up the Pacific Coast Highway between Malibu, Santa Monica and the LA Subway. Come here for walking, surfing and swimming.

Where to Stay

The Surfrider Hotel is a classy and airy boutique motel. of the beach house. The sunset dinner at the guest-only rooftop restaurant is a must.

Oceanside

For decades, Oceanside, about 80 miles south of Los Angeles, has been the site of two halves: soldiers and surfers. was known forPrimarily serving the Marines of nearby Camp Pendleton, Oceanside was famous for its shabby dive bars and surf shacks. In recent years, the city has been reinvented thanks to the opening of two of his eco-friendly resort hotels on the waterfront, soon followed by new cafes, restaurants and breweries.

Oceanside was one of California's first surfing hotspots in the 1950s, and its history is on display here at the California Surf Museum. You can ride legendary waves by signing up for lessons withNorth County Surf Academy's 3rd generation pro her surfer, Duran Burr. For dinner, don't miss Wrench & Rodent. A 'nose to tail' sushi concept restaurant by British chef Davin Waite. His 'no waste' philosophy means utilizing every part of animals and plants in dishes such as fish skins. Chips and Kentucky Fried Tuna Head.

Transportation

Oceanside's main grid, including the train station and beaches, are within walking distance. To get to Wrench & Rodent, take a city bus from the Oceanside Transportation Center.

Where to Stay

Twin Resorts Mission Pacific and The Seabirdboth open in 2021. The recent transformation of Oceanside into a tourist hotspot is a huge achievement. Both are sustainability certified and boast spacious and luxurious rooms with ocean views.

San Diego

Sunny San Diego is California's southernmost city and the final stop on this tour. The city has a rich Hispanic heritage due to its proximity to the Mexican border. The area is concentrated in the Barrio He Logan neighborhood, where a highway bridge was built in the late 1960s, forcing Hispanic and Chicano communities to evacuate. Chicano Park features dozens of giant murals depicting communities' struggles for equality. Come Saturday for "Walk the Block," a community initiative created to help small businesses struggling during the pandemic. Shop owners and local vendors set up outdoor booths along Logan Avenue to sample street food and buy upcycled souvenirs from Mexican-American designer Claudia Rodriguez Biezinski's boutique Sew Loka. Don't miss the Mujeres Brew House, run by a Latino womanbrewery.

San Diego's best place on foot is sprawling Balboa Park. The park is home to several museums, including Mingei, an international folk art museum that promotes cultural understanding and celebrates the use of rare and upcycled objects. material.

San Diego offers sustainable and innovative food and drink. Push for seasonal ingredients imaginatively rendered at Diner at Herbs&Wood for Mediterranean cuisine with Californian sustainability, or at Bib Gourmand restaurant Juniper&Ivy. San Diego is also America's craft beer capital, so there are plenty of options, but from a sustainability standpoint, Pure Project Brewing is the frontrunner. A member of 1% for the Planet, he is certified carbon-neutral and zero-waste, and puts his support of the community at the center of operations.

Getting Around

San Diego's public transportation network consists of streetcars (called trolleys), light rail, and buses as far north as Oceanside. It covers the entire county.

Where to Stay

Hotel Solamar's warm Spanish architecture and convenient downtown location meet strong sustainability policies doing. Or Hotel Indigo, albeit a chain, is San Diego's first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified hotel.

BONUS: Mexico Day Trips

San Diego's proximity to the US-Mexico border makes it possible to take international day trips. The San Diego trolley will take you to passport control where you can cross the border into its Mexican counterpart, Tijuana. Stroll through the Mercado he Hidalgo in Maine Her Market, where you'll find everything from spices to piñatas to Mexican treats, and eat the eponymous salad at Caesars, where the salad was invented.

Or, sign up for a day tour withSan Diego Baja Toursand let Baja expert Tommy Cox guide you on a fun (albeit a ride) trip. Detour the relaxed towns of Ensenada, the coastline to Ensenada, and the up-and-coming wine region of Valle de Guadalupe to sample boutique wines made by small family producers.