Summer is the ideal season to explore Santa Barbara’s neighboring towns, and Amtrak makes a fun and memorable trip with your family easy.
My daughter and I did just that affordably and comfortably as we boarded the Pacific Surfliner train at Amtrak’s State Street station in Santa Barbara for a 2-hour journey up the coast to San Luis Obispo.
The Pacific Surfliner travels over 300 miles from San Diego to SLO, stopping at 29 locations in between. Once aboard, we relaxed in our roomy, reclining seats complete with table trays and footrests on the double-decker train, gazing through panoramic windows at the scenic coastline views as we headed north.
Business class tickets include fresh coffee, pastries, a drink (including wine), and snacks. Visit the onboard café for drinks, sandwiches, and snacks—try the charcuterie pack of cheeses, crackers, fruit, and nuts.
As I traveled without having to pay attention to the road, I enjoyed views you can only see from the train, like animal sightings, including dolphins, seals, egrets, pelicans, and deer. Before we knew it, we had arrived.
Explore SLO
A college town chock-full of history, San Luis Obispo is a lively place to explore. During our stay, our home was the Granada Hotel & Bistro, built in 1922 and still preserving its original elegance, modern amenities, and five-star service.
The boutique hotel’s 17 guest rooms feature plush beds, gas fireplaces, and big-screen TVs, along with stylish touches like exposed brick walls, handcrafted steel windows, Persian rugs, and original hardwood floors.
Guests can borrow bikes and helmets to ride around town. A leisurely stroll from the hotel leads to downtown shops, restaurants, bars, and museums. For lunch, we discovered Novo Restaurant and Lounge, a cute café with a rustic outdoor patio overlooking the San Luis Creek. After feasting on the best salmon bisque, a delicious Caesar salad (with real anchovies), and a couple hard ciders, we kept walking to see the sights and burn some calories.
Wandering the city offers hours of joy and interesting finds. Some favorite stops include HumanKind Fair Trade, Made in SLO, Ah Louis Store, and Louisa’s Place all-day breakfast.
Crossing the picturesque wooden bridge spanning the creek below, we followed the meandering pathway bordering the gently flowing stream, where Steelhead trout return to spawn every year. We admired the eclectic sculptures dotting the creekside path as we walked up the steps to the impressive San Luis Obispo Mission. The mission was built by Spanish explorers in 1772 and serves as a SLO icon.
Steps away, we found the SLO Museum of Art, next door to the Children’s Museum, where kids love exploring imaginative hands-on exhibits. You’ll want to look at but not touch the infamous Bubblegum Alley, where colorful globs of chewing gum stick to the walls of a narrow corridor along one of SLO’s main hubs.
Back at the hotel, we had dinner at the Bistro. Beef bourguignon, wild scallops, and crispy Brussels sprouts paired with a glass of house-recommended Heritage du Pic Saint Loup red wine.
We'll be back for hot springs, award-winning wineries, and beautiful beaches on our next SLO adventure.
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