Welcome, dear readers, to the tale of how three friends found magic and conquered a bit of the California coast, all thanks to the Pacific Surfliner! Armed with nothing but overpacked bags and a penchant for delicious cocktails, your three heroes rode the rails and are more than happy to take you through the chapters of their intrepid journey through sun, sand, and Surfliner.
But wait, where are our manners? Some introductions are in order…
Anna: Calm, curious, caring. Please don’t startle her!
Brittany: Bright, beautiful, big-hearted. That’s just Brittany!
Nathaniel: Chic, compassionate, clever. If you knew him, you’d want to be his friend too!
All three of us hail from Nevada, but unfortunately find ourselves divided by several hundred miles of sprawling, arid desert. Reno to Las Vegas— or, Brittany and I to Nathaniel— is more than 400 miles, so getting the three of us all together is pretty rare. We were looking forward to this trip for so long that when it finally happened, it felt like a dream come true!
And so, now that we’ve broken the ice, keep reading for a look inside our Pacific Surfliner trip. All aboard!
Chapter 1: The Arrival & The First Supper
We set out from our respective homes, ready to begin our journey. Our meeting point? Long Beach Airport. By all accounts, a lovely and laid-back little spot. Passing by iconic city lights and palm trees, we grabbed an Uber to our hotel in Downtown Los Angeles. When you reach a certain age, the threat of hanger (hunger anger, for the uninitiated) is ever-looming, and Brittany quickly found us a nearby French restaurant in downtown called “Le Petit Paris” to curb our cravings.
Now, if you don’t want to be hungry, stop reading now! This meal was far too delicious to skip over. We started out with an appetizer that made us question why bread isn’t the main course in every meal. The warm, crusty loaf arrived with a smear of rich, creamy butter, and I haven’t stopped thinking about it since, to be honest! That was nothing compared to the main course, though— inspired by icons Meryl Streep and Amy Adams (and Julia Childs, of course) in the movie Julie & Julia, I knew I had to get the beef bourguignon* as soon as I spotted it on the menu. It was every bit as delicious as I thought it would be, savory and tender and cooked to perfection. 10/10, would beef bourguignon again!
*Beef bourguignon, or “beef Burgundy” in French, is a stew made with tender beef and tasty vegetables simmered in red wine. Though the recipe has been around since the Middle Ages, beef bourguignon as we know it today was first publicized in 1903 by French chef Auguste Escoffier, and made famous in 1961 with its inclusion in Julia Childs’ seminal household cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking.
Chapter 2: Frolicking in Los Angeles
The next morning, we awoke at an ungodly hour (8am) to check out our next destination: Union Station. Before we entered the grandiose building, all sweeping arches and art deco charm, we strolled over to the nearby LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes! The museum wasn’t open yet, but we had a lovely time taking a little walk through the plaza and lush gardens. Olvera Street, a vibrant Mexican marketplace that first opened way back in 1930, was our next stop. Due to the aforementioned ungodly hour, the narrow, cobblestone lane was quiet and missing the bustling crowds and colorful merchant stalls that usually fill the space. Did that stop us from having a blast? Of course not! We did, however, find ourselves in want of some coins for the wishing well. That’s okay though— who needs wishes when you’ve got friends like these?!
Chapter 3: Baby’s First Amtrak
Next was Union Station, a historic train station commissioned in 1933 by several huge railroad companies, including Santa Fe, Southern Pacific, Union Pacific, Atchison, and Topeka. The gorgeous building was designed by the father-son architect dream team of John and Donald Parkinson, and completed in 1939.
You’ll know this feeling if you’ve ever had it before, but walking through one of its grand arches was like taking a step back in time; if I ignored the Starbucks, I felt like I could be straight out of 1940s Los Angeles! At any moment, I was sure a glamorous Technicolor starlet or a trenchcoated detective would stroll in. Our favorite part was the piano sitting in the corner of the room, a man gently tapping at the keys as a crowd of people gathered to listen. We hadn’t even gotten on a train yet, but I already felt like we were on a special kind of journey.
After embracing a little modern convenience with a stop at Starbucks, we decided to check out the Amtrak Metropolitan Lounge so Nathaniel could make some very official business calls! Stocked with snacks, beverages, and comfy chairs to lounge in, this was the perfect spot to hang before catching our train.
Before we knew it, it was time to go! It’s been quite a while since my last train ride, and the nostalgia hit hard. We headed up the stairs to our seats in Business Class and settled in for our 30-minute ride to Anaheim— no traffic, no stress!
Chapter 4: To Infinity and Beyond in Downtown Disney
The train dropped us off at the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (her friends just call her “ARTIC”), a sleek structure that’s all sweeping steel beams and shimmering glass. After the old-school vibe of Union Station, this newer center felt like a true beacon of modernity! A quick car ride, and we suddenly found ourselves within earshot of the jaunty tunes of Downtown Disney. We had officially reached the House of Mouse!
Even though the LEGO store was literally calling my name, we decided to grab lunch at Napolini Pizzeria. Bruschetta was ordered, pizza was consumed, and neon blue drinks were had. One thing about me: I will ALWAYS take a neon blue drink, especially when it has a little umbrella in it. Post-lunch, it was already almost time to catch our next train— time flies when you’re having fun! After one last wistful glance back at the park entrances, we bid farewell to Disney and made our way back to our good pal ARTIC.
Chapter 5: On Track Toward Oxnard
Back on board! If you’ll let us talk up the Pacific Surfliner for a moment, Business Class really does deserve its own shout out— which will coincidentally be right now! Not only do you get some truly cushy leather seats and extra legroom, but the journey also comes with complimentary snacks and drinks that can fuel up any adventure you may be riding to. There was always a friendly, helpful attendant checking in on us to make sure we didn’t need anything, and every single one of them was a true pleasure to chat with!
Anaheim to Oxnard was our longest ride, so we had plenty of time to talk, get a drink, and just enjoy each other’s company while looking out the window together. I even had time to squeeze in a chapter of Fellowship of the Ring! This train ride is Gandalf-approved.
Chapter 6: Oxnard Station Hangin’
At Oxnard Station, I nobly volunteered to guard our luggage so Brittany and Nathaniel could go snap some pics of the surrounding area. This station was a hidden gem! String lights twinkled across the walls and windows, a tiny corner café called Dolce Vita playing soft indie bops over the whirring of the espresso machine. Colorful murals covered the upper walkway. I noticed how the barista seemed to know everyone by name, exchanging the kind of easy banter that only comes after dozens of tiny conversations. It was a nice place to sit, and watch, and just enjoy being.
Brittany and Nathaniel came back with a handful of photos that they eagerly showed me before we headed out to find our hotel. You can bet that we had the best girls’ night ever that night, one that involved a giggly trip to Target, a proper feast at In n’ Out, and several bad movies— but a lady never tells!
Chapter 7: Who Ordered the Vitamin Sea?
The next morning, we all awoke from a good night’s sleep ready for our final train trip to Santa Barbara. It also happened to be the most scenic, with one side of the train offering truly incredible views of the California coast. We’re all from Nevada, so the sight of the shimmering ocean is sort of a rare treat for us! We occasionally spotted surfers trying their darndest to catch a wave, and beach-goers lazing on the sand.
As our train pulled into the Santa Barbara Station, Brittany and Nathaniel kindly indulged me as I gushed about how this was a setting in one of my favorite video games (The Last of Us Part II, for all you fellow gamers out there). While they used the bathroom at the station, I strolled around a little, comparing the real-life scenery to the game's version. Almost exactly the same, if anyone was wondering! I was glad to be in this more peaceful, zombie-free version.
Chapter 8: Checking In, Chowing Down
You know, it’s hard work relaxing on a coastal train trip! After checking into our hotel (the Riviera Beach House, which, as a sickeningly pale person, I must shout out for providing a 30 SPF sunscreen dispenser at the front door), we checked out the restaurant next door. Conveniently, Santo Mezcal had delicious drinks, and even more delicious food. And I’m not exaggerating, or being paid to say this, but these tacos were some of the best I’ve ever had in my life. Definitely the kind of food you devour even after filling up on chips and margaritas. With such amazing food fueling us, we were ready to keep exploring!
Chapter 9: Final Stops & Forever Friendships
With our last hours together upon us, we decided to take a nice little stroll along Stearns Wharf and East Beach. We sat on the beach, sometimes breaking up into fits of laughter and other times falling into comfortable silence as we watched the sun fall below the horizon. We also didn’t miss the opportunity to take the hottest album cover photo of the year— stay tuned for our debut single!
You’ll never regret taking some time away from real life to go frolic and ride trains with your best friends. From savoring mouthwatering meals (shout out beef bourguignon, shout out street tacos) to sharing some laughs, every moment of this trip will stay in my heart for a long, long time.
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