CherylD

I thought I had posted something similar a month ago..but I don't see it on a search.
I am debating between: 1) Coast-Starlight LAX-Portland (then possibly continue on the Empire Builder) or continue on to SEA

and
2) California Zephyr - DEN-SFO (can we continue onto SEA on the Coast Starlight?)

We would have a one-bedroom and travel this May.

Thank you!

sdsearch

By searching for other posts by you and looking in the results for posts in this (Amtrak) forum, I found:
Is that the thread you were looking for?

CherylD

I found that one...but I thought I had asked specific routing questions..not just what do I get with 25K. Plus hoping for responses from people who have taken both of these routes as to preference.

Reindeerflame

I would say that these two are the most scenic routes in the Amtrak system. The Coast Starlight's highlight is the 113 miles of coastal scenery in southern California. The routing is best in the spring, when the hillsides are green. North of the Oregon line, you have forests, lakes, and rivers, and an occasional sighting of peaks in the Cascades.

The California Zephyr between EMY and DEN includes two scenic daylight segments: the respective crossings of the Sierras and the Rockies, plus the canyon country of western Colorado. Any time of year is fine on this route.

You should be able to travel LAX-DEN or DEN-SEA on a single award using a combination of both routes.

CherylD

Thank you! Would mid-May still be considered Spring for the Coast Starlight? I thought I couldn't go DEN-LAX and then LAX-SEA on one trip. That would be ideal.

AlanB

You can't do that on one award. That would require two awards to go to LA and then back north.

But by transferring at Sacramento you can do LAX-SAC-DEN on one award, or;
SEA-SAC-DEN on one award.

Those same two trips can be done in reverse too if you prefer.

CherylD

Thank you! How does that compare with LAX-SEA? or even LAX-Portland-heading west on Empire builder?

I had read the ocean views were more LAX - SFO and if I went DEN-SAC-SEA, I would sacrifice that...yes?

Really wish I had transferred 25Kx2 to do 2 trips...

Viajero Joven

Probably too little, too late, but my 2 cents:

The oceanfront portion of the Coast Starlight is between San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara, which is also served by local Pacific Surfliners. As a bonus, the Surfliners also go oceanfront between San Juan Capistrano and Oceanside, on the way to Santa Barbara. So, I would have considered the 1-zone Denver to Sacramento to either Seattle-Vancouver BC, or Portland-Spokane/Glacier/Montana., then do a separate 1500 point coach San Luis Obispo to San Diego as a separate day trip. The Denver-Sacramento-Seattle plus unreserved Surfliner is how the last points in my AGR account were used. (Having been on the EB Montana-Portland before, having visited Vancouver BC before, and being a little time constrained, we opted for Seattle then a flight home).

sdsearch

That sounds like you're quoting a "Special Route" fare. I thought those didn't exist since Jan 24?

calwatch

SLO-San Diego is only 2105 points and SLO-LAX is 1415 points. This is one instance where the special route fare was not that great a deal. I occasionally take LA-Ventura trips for thrifting and will burn my points instead of paying cash or driving.

Reindeerflame

Mid-May should still be a good time to see green hills, although it appears that winter in California ended this year right around January 1, perhaps 20 days after it began, and we are well into spring now in much of the state.