Tour includes : 
Tour to Monterey, train to Paso Robles then on to Los Angeles.
Two nights hotel, 1 dinner, 1 breakfast, 1 lunch including tax
and 17 mile Drive fees. Hearst Castle Tour from Paso Robles.
Day 1: San Francisco to Monterey 154 miles.
Pick up from most hotels in San Francisco starting 8:15 a.m. Departure by 9:00 a.m. Driving along San Andreas Fault turn west to Half Moon Bay and then south on the Pacific Coast Highway One to Santa Cruz with beautiful views of the ocean. Reaching Monterey by mid day, after a short tour stop at The Cannery Row allowing time for lunch or optional visit to Aquarium. Seaside gardens of Pacific Grove to 17 Mile Drive see the ocean crash on shore and mansions and golf courses. Stop at Pebble Beach. Continue to Carmel by the Sea the idyllic village with its art galleries and cottages set in Pine trees. Arrive at your hotel by 5:30.*Bay Park Hotel, Monterey. Dinner & Breakfast
Day 2: Monterey to Paso Robles. 98 miles.
After a relaxing morning, at 10:15 Sal's taxi (prepaid) transfers you to Salinas Train Station. AMTRAK Train # 11 Coast Starlight leaves at 11:48, just in time for lunch going through Salinas Valley, center of Monterey County’s agricultural region by the river and small towns, fields of lettuce, broccoli and acres of green houses. Around King City we see miles of newly planted vineyards where just a few years ago there was only cattle pasture.
- DINNING ON THE TRAIN - THE DINNING CAR & CAFE LOUNGE CAR ON COAST STARLIGHT
The Dinning Car offers a truly unique restaurant style dinning experience to both Sleeping Car and Coach passengers. Enjoy regional wines and regionally inspired dishes prepared by our talented chefs, all the while enjoying a level of service you'd expect of a fine restaurant. In addition to the Dinning Car, all passengers are invited to relax, socialize and dine in the Cafe Lounge Car. The Lounge Car offers extended hours and a more casual environment where you can satisfy your appetite with sandwiches, snacks, beer, cocktails, wine, and an assortment of sodas and juices. 
The oil fields appear and then the military installations at Camp Roberts. Passing Mission San Miguel we reach Paso Robles at 1:38. We are met by The Wine Wrangler (tour company) for an introduction to this interesting quintessential small town with many wineries and tasting rooms.
*Paso Robles Inn or similar hotel.
Click here for pictures of traveling by Amtrak
Day 3: Paso Robles to Hearst Castle and Los Angeles. 110 miles tour and 258 miles train. Lunch
(++See below if you want to return to San Francisco)
The Wine Wrangler takes you about 45 minutes west to the coast and then on Highway One to San Simeon. *Tour No. 1 of Hearst Castle built by Julia Morgan during the 1920s and 1930s for the art collection of world famous newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst. This 2 hour tour is ideal for first time visitors with an easy walk, a total of about 150 steps. Enjoy a picnic lunch and stop for shopping or visit a winery. Continue to San Luis Obispo. Board The Coast Starlight at 3:20. Through Pismo Beach via Vandenberg Space station near Gaviota see some of the most scenic ocean views all the way through Santa Barbara to Oxnard. Turning inland around six the train goes past miles of orange groves then through Fillmore and Simi Valley to Glendale. At about 9:00 we arrive in the heart of the great metropolis of Los Angeles at the Union Station that you may recognize from many Hollywood films. Taxicabs to downtown locations cost about $20, twice as much to Hollywood, West Los Angeles, and Beverly Hills. To the Los Angeles International Airport Fly Away bus leaves every half hour, takes about 45 minutes cost only $7. Going further south Surfliner 596 reaches Anaheim at 10:51, San Juan Capistrano at 11:25 and San Diego after midnight at 12:50 a.m. It is advisable to spend a night in Los Angeles and take the train to San Diego in the morning.
++ Option to return to San Jose, Oakland, and San Francisco / Tour Code: SF2MH
After picnic lunch in San Luis Obispo, Wine Wrangler will take you AMTRAK for 3:43PM Coast Starlight going north through Salinas and San Jose arriving in Oakland around 9:32 with a transfer to San Francisco arriving by 10:05 p.m.
We can book hotel rooms for you in Los Angeles area, Anaheim, and San Diego.
*Alternate hotels can be booked in Monterey.
California offers some of the world’s most spectacular sights and best spots for vacations. From the Golden Gate to Tinsel Town this motor coach tour and train itinerary includes must see places in Monterey and train rides through Salinas Valley and on the Pacific Coast by Santa Barbara. You can choose to take just the three day bus and train tour from San Francisco to Los Angeles or combine it with hotels and tours in San Francisco and/or Los Angeles to make it a 5 or 7 day package vacation. THIS IS NOT A GROUP TOUR. It is an independent trip using local sightseeing companies and AMTRAK trains. International visitors like the experience of riding the trains through beautiful California countryside. Trains can be late at times but overall the itinerary is very interesting and enjoyable.
AMTRAK (Coast Starlight Train)
Comfortable reclining seats on Coast Starlight
Beautiful Ocean View from the train
Parlor Car (Vista Dome) and Dinning Car
Burger and chips on the train & Sun Luis Obispo train Station
THIS combination of tours, transfers, hotels etc. is for independent travelers who can understand and accept minor delays and changes that are inevitable.
THIS IS AN INDEPENDENT TRIP USING LOCAL TOUR COMPANIES and AMTRAK.
Requires a minimum of 2 persons. ***THIS IS NOT A GROUP TOUR***
3 Day Amtrak Train and Deluxe Motor coach SF2CT(DOWN TO LA) /SF2MH (BACK TO SF)
Available almost daily except on certain holidays and weekends
PRICE FROM APRIL 1ST 2012 TO MARCH 31ST 2013
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COST FROM APRIL 2012
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Double
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Single
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Triple
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Child
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Tour Code SF2CT/SF2MH
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$595
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$895
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$507
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$222
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Tour price per person in U.S. Dollars. Child rate is 5 to 18
This site updated on April 2nd, 2012
California Parlor Car Tours ...Since 1924