Quote
DeanGoodman

Quote
DREAMTIME

The train from NYC to CHI is a nightmare! Be smart, Fly!

Yeah, don't take the train. Freight trains take priority on those tracks. Flying is a more efficient use of your time. This is not Europe (where the train experience is a bit over-rated, too, tbh).

Quote
MisterDDDD
Leaving NYC at 11 pm and arriving like 9 AM in Chicago works out well,

Quote
DeanGoodman

Quote
MisterDDDD
Leaving NYC at 11 pm and arriving like 9 AM in Chicago works out well,

Is that the bus driven by Lewis Hamilton? I see an Express Greyhound (presumably with Arby's breaks) that takes 17.5 hours for $48 $63+, 10:15 pm-2:45 pm. A car would take about 12 hours. And here I was getting anxious about the 6.5-hour Megabus from Houston to New Orleans.

Quote
mosthigh

Quote
DREAMTIME

Quote
DEmerson
Agree you probably would not want to train between NY and Chicago, but don’t write off trains all together in US. For instance, Amtrak along the Eastern corridor can be a very good way to get between, say DC, Philli and NY and Boston etc. It can be on the expensive side - best bet is to buy in advance to get discounts.

The Bus is a cheaper and more fun way to go with wifi and bathroom

'Fun' in a cramped, stop-every-20-minutes, loudmouth-drug-alcohol-crazed-weirdos kind of way - sure, whatever you say.

At least on the train you can get up and walk and go to the food/bar/lounge car, and have a bit more space & comfort. Not to mention less 'back-of-the-bus' types.

Quote
bv


Pasadena to Santa Clara I wish I could have done by some public transportation because there is so much to see, may be Steinbeck areas,like Monterey or Salinas, but these are expensive areas so I will probably look for similar small places in the middle of nowhere, during the one week break.

Quote
coloradocanyons

Quote
bv


Pasadena to Santa Clara I wish I could have done by some public transportation because there is so much to see, may be Steinbeck areas,like Monterey or Salinas, but these are expensive areas so I will probably look for similar small places in the middle of nowhere, during the one week break.

This train will get you from LA to San Jose. It also continues to Seattle.

[www.amtrak.com]

Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo are both nice towns on the route. Salinas not so much but if stop there and get to Monterey that would be worth a diversion. The aquarium in Monterey is considered the best in the world by many. If you like wine Paso Robles has lots of good wineries in the area.

As to weather both shows are a bit inland and will usually be nice weather, however the coast is subject to June gloom.

[en.wikipedia.org]

Quote
MKjan
In the US, buses are bad.
In the US, trains are bad but mostly better than buses.
In the US, Air travel is overpriced and also pretty bad.
Embarrassing for a first world country.

Took a train from Firenze to Roma in less than 90 minutes last week.
Clean, smooth, and fast, with wifi.

Took another a few days ago from Roma to Napoli, just over an hour. Also just as nice.

The only problem is Stones aren't playing there

Quote
bleedingman

Quote
mosthigh

Quote
DREAMTIME

Quote
DEmerson
Agree you probably would not want to train between NY and Chicago, but don’t write off trains all together in US. For instance, Amtrak along the Eastern corridor can be a very good way to get between, say DC, Philli and NY and Boston etc. It can be on the expensive side - best bet is to buy in advance to get discounts.

The Bus is a cheaper and more fun way to go with wifi and bathroom

'Fun' in a cramped, stop-every-20-minutes, loudmouth-drug-alcohol-crazed-weirdos kind of way - sure, whatever you say.

At least on the train you can get up and walk and go to the food/bar/lounge car, and have a bit more space & comfort. Not to mention less 'back-of-the-bus' types.

Not sure if you've ever taken Greyhound but I have and most definitely never will again. Rude, clueless drivers, aggressive, nasty customers who (at least in my experience) will insist you give up your window seat and take an aisle seat so that they can sit with their "child". The bathrooms often reek. Hope your experience is better. But don't take my word for it:[www.yelp.com]

Quote
MisterDDDD

Quote
MKjan
In the US, buses are bad.
In the US, trains are bad but mostly better than buses.
In the US, Air travel is overpriced and also pretty bad.
Embarrassing for a first world country.

Took a train from Firenze to Roma in less than 90 minutes last week.
Clean, smooth, and fast, with wifi.

Took another a few days ago from Roma to Napoli, just over an hour. Also just as nice.

The only problem is Stones aren't playing there

Fair. (*kinda )

Only experienced or witnessed several "flash strikes", and one end of concert train fiasco (Twick)in the UK. Like a lottery to buy tickets at the right price. Coaches that were fine, but still had to travel on roads and highways that were, where I was anyway, less than impressive, showing me why car road trips are far less practical and rarely done there. And don't get me started on Heathrow.. Felt like I was stepping back in time (like the seventies) in terms of the airport, and the wait to get through customs was the worst I've experienced anywhere. But, yeah.. the Stones were playing there.. so all good!

Quote
coloradocanyons

This train will get you from LA to San Jose. It also continues to Seattle.

[www.amtrak.com]

Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo are both nice towns on the route. Salinas not so much but if stop there and get to Monterey that would be worth a diversion. The aquarium in Monterey is considered the best in the world by many. If you like wine Paso Robles has lots of good wineries in the area.

As to weather both shows are a bit inland and will usually be nice weather, however the coast is subject to June gloom.

[en.wikipedia.org]

Quote
bv
Thanks for advices on the train from LA to Seattle. I did actually take the train from LA to San Diego in 2015, Zip Code Tour, so it would be great to fill in the blanks with the same line going north, even if it takes 10h LA to San Jose and then another 24 h to Seattle. How often do you have the chance to do such a trip?

Is there only one train per day? If so then it seems like the train from San Jose is leaving at 8pm and a natural stop halfway would be 8am in Klamath Falls, OR.

Quote


The Coast Starlight train runs twice a day, I believe.

Great trip I've taken from SF to Seattle a couple times.. you can catch from downtown San Francisco, and they run you to the train on a "thruway" bus, included in fare.

A good stopping point to consider for a day, may be Portland depending on what you want to do. Easy to take an economical bus to Seattle from Portland to complete the trip or hop back on the train..
[www.amtrak.com]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2018-12-17 18:46 by MisterDDDD.

Quote
MisterDDDD

Quote
bv


Is there only one train per day? If so then it seems like the train from San Jose is leaving at 8pm and a natural stop halfway would be 8am in Klamath Falls, OR.

Quote


The Coast Starlight train runs twice a day, I believe.

One per day in each direction.

Quote
coloradocanyons

Quote
MisterDDDD

Quote
bv


Is there only one train per day? If so then it seems like the train from San Jose is leaving at 8pm and a natural stop halfway would be 8am in Klamath Falls, OR.

Quote


The Coast Starlight train runs twice a day, I believe.

One per day in each direction.

See that now.. thought they added one for summer, but guess not.
Great scenic ride though..

Quote
bv
About weather reports:

The Norwegian public weather report is a well kept secret, popular across the world because it is free, accurate, paid for by the state, and no ads. It is the most popular weather service in many other countries as well. Try it out, and search for any smaller city or place nearby where you live, nothing is beating it, because they are connected to the international network of meteorological and satellite services:

YR.no

Quote
JadedFaded

Quote
bv
About weather reports:

The Norwegian public weather report is a well kept secret, popular across the world because it is free, accurate, paid for by the state, and no ads. It is the most popular weather service in many other countries as well. Try it out, and search for any smaller city or place nearby where you live, nothing is beating it, because they are connected to the international network of meteorological and satellite services:

YR.no

Very excellent weather source. Thanks

Quote
MKjan
In the US, buses are bad.
In the US, trains are bad but mostly better than buses.
In the US, Air travel is overpriced and also pretty bad.
Embarrassing for a first world country.

Quote
StonedInTokyo

Quote
MKjan
In the US, buses are bad.
In the US, trains are bad but mostly better than buses.
In the US, Air travel is overpriced and also pretty bad.
Embarrassing for a first world country.

They have something called automobiles that most opt to use instead.

Quote
Topi
Yes it is, babyblue. [www.yr.no]

You can toggle the language to English at the top right corner.

Quote
clapton71
Is Tony Russell still Keith's assistant?

Quote
Woz
> You could also rent a car and drive up Hiway 1 from Santa Barbara to Carmel and Monterey and eventually to San Francisco and the Bay Area where Santa Clara is located. The road is right on the water and two lane only but with just spectacular views of the Pacific. Slow going, but with that scenery, that is the way to go, and you have a week between shows. You will drive through Big Sur and can stop at Hearst Castle. The train goes inland and you will not see these beautiful ocean views. This may be a once in a lifetime opportunity, so grab it.<

I couldn't recommend this more. Stop in Saint Luis Obispo. After you are dome in Monterey you could spend the night in Half Moon Bay for a more reasonable price.

Quote
Woz
> You could also rent a car and drive up Hiway 1 from Santa Barbara to Carmel and Monterey and eventually to San Francisco and the Bay Area where Santa Clara is located. The road is right on the water and two lane only but with just spectacular views of the Pacific. Slow going, but with that scenery, that is the way to go, and you have a week between shows. You will drive through Big Sur and can stop at Hearst Castle. The train goes inland and you will not see these beautiful ocean views. This may be a once in a lifetime opportunity, so grab it.<

I couldn't recommend this more. Stop in Saint Luis Obispo. After you are done in Monterey you could spend the night in Half Moon Bay for a more reasonable price.