The ride over the Mississippi River into Ft. Madison, Iowa the first evening is interesting too but after dark during the winter.

Enjoy your trip,

On either side of Lamy, be on the lookout for some very interesting residential architecture. Apache Canyon preceeds Lamy, where the sheer walls are within a few feet of the train. The late afternoon sun illuminates the giant Sandia Mountains on the fast run into Albuquerque.

One of favorite moments is enjoying a hot coffee as I am gettin' outa Dodge for my adventure in the west.

P.S-I should add a disclaimer that this is only what you should expect. It is never wise to wander from the station expecting that the above will always be the case. I wouldn't want anybody to miss the train in the rare event of it actually being on time (11:59p). I wouldn't go outside the SAC depot anyway. It's not the safest place to be out in at 11:00 at night.

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Patrick

quote:

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Originally posted by Michael Christiansen:
I have never been to LA and this time should let me visit a few choice sites (Hollywood, the Tar Pits and the new Disney concert hall).

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If you'll be using public transportation to get around, remember that L.A. is a sprawling place, bus service tends to be slow, and four or five hours can fly by very quickly. When they make the boarding announcement for the Amtrak bus to Bakersfield, you don't want to be trapped on a city bus (or sitting in a taxi) in heavy traffic ten miles from the station.

Your best bet: stick to the points of interest located near the various Metro Rail (subway) stations. You'll find Metro Rail maps and information here:

www.mta.net/riding_metro/riders_guide/rail_overview.htm

Have a good trip.

I second Philippe's as a great place to get a really good, inexpensive meal. You'll be rubbing elbows with an incredible cross-section of Los Angeles society. It's very casual, order at the counter, communal tables. The lamb French dip is my favorite.

Chinatown is another good choice. You could actually ride the Gold Line one stop to the Chinatown station as an alternative to riding DASH. The Metro, by the way, has a daytrip ticket good for unlimited rides. I believe it's $3.00. My favorite place in China Town is Empress Pavillion. Great dim sum but it's better with a group. We've only once spent more than $10.00 per person and always leave stuffed.

And, of course, Olvera Street is right across from Union Station. Some very good Mexican food, especially at the smaller places closer to Alvarado Street.

In the station, TRAXX has a reputation for good food but it is a bit trendy and expensive for my taste. And there's Union Bagel for snacks, salads to go, etc. Plenty of outdoor space to eat in the patios.

Have a great trip!