If you have not traveled by Amtrak for a vacation, perhaps it is time to to give it some consideration. Many North American destination cities are easily accessible by train. Getting there can be half the fun on some of the more scenic routes.
Of all the many great vacation destinations accessible by train, San Diego must be near the top of the list. The train runs right into the middle of town, with easy local public transportation to get you to your hotel and most of the attractions. San Diego is spread out over a smaller geographical area than other parts of SoCal, notably Los Angeles. You can even get around to a lot of vacation attractions by walking if you enjoy that.
There is no shortage of fun places of interest in San Diego. You could really spend weeks at all the museums, historical places of interest, beaches, theme parks and other attractions. So it is safe to assume that you can engage yourself in a week of both relaxation and activity in this harbor city. One of the major features that San Diego offers its guests and residents alike is its wonderful, moderate weather, especially in the summertime.
Perhaps you would like to make an even more ambitious train travel event, in which case you can take the train up the coast. AmTrak runs from the downtown San Diego station to downtown Los Angeles Union Station with a few stops in between. This would make it possible to spend an easy week or two in Southern California without your car.
Don’t forget that a trip by train can add several days on to the total schedule compared to flying, but if you have the right mindset the traveling can be part of the overall enjoyment of the trip.