Considering taking the Coast Starlight either from San Francisco (Amtrak bus to Emeryville, from where the train departs at 10:07 p.m.) to Portland, or from Portland south to Sacramento (arriving 6:15 a.m.). Flying which other way we don't take the train. We've taken Amtrak with sleepers before, and like the fact that meals are included, BUT I assume from reading that if we board the northbound train at 10:07 p.m. we'd miss dinner, and that if we go south and get off the train at 6:15 a.m. we'd miss breakfast. Correct?

Offhand I'd opt for the southbound train so we get dinner (and make sure we don't miss the wine tasting), but getting to Sacramento at 6:16 and not likely to be able to check into a hotel for a few hours makes me consider northbound.