USA Guide
California
Getting around
Despite America's rising gas prices, a car is still necessary for exploring much of California. A city such as Los Angeles couldn't exist without the automobile, and in any case driving down the coastal freeways in a sleek convertible is too fun to resist.
Amtrak Pacific Surfliner trains link San Diego and LA (and up to San Luis Obispo), with a stop at Fullerton for buses to Disneyland. The Coast Starlight runs up the coast from LA, stopping at Oakland and Emeryville, the nearest stations to San Francisco, and continues on via Sacramento to Seattle. The San Joaquins from Oakland runs along the Central Valley, connecting with LA by bus. Greyhound buses link all the main towns. Keep in mind that in some cases, depending on route, flying may be a better bet between the major cities.
If you plan to do any long-distance cycling, travelling from north to south can make all the difference – the wind blows this way in the summer, and the ocean side of the road offers the best views. Be careful if you cycle along the coast on Hwy-1: despite the stunning views, the highway has heavy traffic, tight curves, and is prone to fog.