Amtrak Guest Rewards - CA Trip Advice

I am planning to use points for a BR award trip from KC to Martinez, CA next year prior to the point requirement increase. I want to start my trip on 2/28, but it appears I may need to travel a week earlier in order to use the current award. I need to start my trip on a Thur or Fri. I have been experimenting on the Amtrak website to determine how far in advance travel can be booked. As of today, I can reserve 1/24/13 (assuming no connection to a train on a later day).

I am considering two routings:
1.KCY-Galesburg, IL on SW Chief, GBB to MTZ on CA Zephyr (4 hour layover)
2. KCY-LA on SW Chief, LA-MTZ on Coast Starlight (2 hour layover)

If I take the first option, I would have to pay the fare for 2 from KC-GBB of $140, but could reserve it a day earlier than option 2 because it is the same day connection.

I would prefer to take the CA Zephyr because I frequently travel on the SW Chief, and it is very bumpy from Topeka to ABQ, and the scenery is better on the Zephyr. However, it has been several years since I rode the Coast Starlight.

We plan to stay in Walnut Creek and Sonoma during our trip, and would appreciate information regarding transportation from the Martizez station (or recommendations to use another station in the area). We plan to rent a car for part of our trip, but won't need it for most of the days when we are in Walnut Creek because our hotel is next to the BART station. The Coast Starlight arrives in Martinez at 11pm, so our transportation options may be limited.

Right now, I am leaning toward option 2, but would appreciate your advice.

I don't know about transportation options from Martinez, but you might consider using Richmond as they share a station with BART and that can get you to many places in the bay area.

The Starlight stops at Richmond but the Zephyr doesn't. However Martinez is a small enough town to manuever around. There are two buses that go from Martinez to Concord BART - http://cccta.org/wp-content/themes/cccta/schedules/CCCTA_Weekday%20For%20Web.pdf

The issue is that the Zephyr stops in the day, where there is plenty of transit, while the Starlight pulls in late at night, although assuming that you get to Richmond by midnight you can always jump off the train and get on BART, as you can get anywhere in the system assuming you get on that last train at midnight.

Be warned, though, that if the Southwest Chief is very late, they will just throw you on the San Joaquins and you get to see the Central Valley. Generally they have been keeping close to schedule but that is fair warning.

The Starlight stops at Richmond but the Zephyr doesn't. However Martinez is a small enough town to manuever around. There are two buses that go from Martinez to Concord BART - http://cccta.org/wp-content/themes/cccta/schedules/CCCTA_Weekday%20For%20Web.pdf

The issue is that the Zephyr stops in the day, where there is plenty of transit, while the Starlight pulls in late at night, although assuming that you get to Richmond by midnight you can always jump off the train and get on BART, as you can get anywhere in the system assuming you get on that last train at midnight.

Be warned, though, that if the Southwest Chief is very late, they will just throw you on the San Joaquins and you get to see the Central Valley. Generally they have been keeping close to schedule but that is fair warning.
The Zephyr stops at Richmond.

There are several Amtrak bus connections that go north into wine country that leave from Martinez. Maybe you can include those in your AGR redemption. Not sure which trains they meet, though, off the top of my head. I'm not sure of the rental car situation up that direction either.

I decided to take the CA Zephyr from Omaha to Martinez. Since I won't need to change trains, I was able to book a bedroom for March 1 which will work great with our schedule. Although it will be a hassle driving to/from Omaha, it is only about a 2 hr drive from KC. We really enjoy the Zephyr scenery and look forward to a bedroom vs. a roomette.

We considered going to Richmond for the BART connection, but MTZ is close enough to our final destination (Walnut Creek) that we will likely take a taxi. BART would have required a transfer, and we will have a lot of luggage.

Are taxis usually available at MTZ at 4pm? Are there any rental cars in the area?

One thing I have observed recently is that the Zephyr is often very late leaving Omaha. Recent delays have exceded 2 hr.. I hope what ever issues they are having will be resolved by the time of our trip. I appreciate everyone's advice.