By land, by sea: Californian favorite plane-free vacations

By land, by sea: favorite plane-free vacations
Where can you go if you're not ready to fly?
BY MICHAEL MARTINEZ


It's been almost two weeks since the horrific attacks in New York and Washington, and the thought of flying is still unsettling. Maybe later it will seem all right, but for many travelers it still feels too soon -- or too risky.

We have grown so accustomed to traveling by air that the flight itself -- the planning, the packing, the airport routine -- becomes almost as important as the destination. But the best trips, I've found, aren't always the ones that involve jet lag and currency conversions.

Because of where we live, the beaches, mountains and deserts are all within reasonable travel distance without a plane. You can jump in your car, catch a train, ride in a boat -- and still have a sense of travel, of getting away from home for a few days.

I admit it, the thought of flying doesn't fill me with excitement right now. I'm thinking about memorable trips to more accessible locales. These are a few of my favorites:


By car

A wonderful spot for a driving vacation is Point Reyes Station in west Marin County. You can get there in about 2 1/2 hours, and if the weather is clear there's nothing quite like a visit to the Point Reyes Lighthouse. Once you've parked, it's a long walk with plenty of steps to climb, but the views of the Pacific Ocean are majestic and soothing, and it's possible to catch a glimpse of a whale if you're patient.

When I visited there last year, I stayed at the Point Reyes Vineyard Inn, a bed-and-breakfast that is also a working dairy farm and vineyard. Tomales Bay is not far away, and if you're absolutely not interested in the hiking or biking trails nearby, grab a pair of binoculars and observe the dozens of bird species that nest in the area. There are some nice restaurants and ample shopping in Point Reyes Station, Olema and Inverness.

Looking for something closer to home? Santa Cruz is likely to have deals on lodging now that summer vacations have ended. Spend a few hours lounging on the beach, then visit the surfing museum at Lighthouse Point on West Cliff Drive.


By train

I rode Amtrak this year from San Jose to Santa Barbara and loved the convenience of traveling the rails. The cars and seats are spacious, the aisles are wide and the jostling you occasionally endure is nothing like airline turbulence.

The trip took six hours, so it's not something you'd consider for business. But it's worth trying if you've got the time, and Santa Barbara is a beautiful spot to spend a weekend. The train station is just off State Street and a block away from the beach. From there, you can walk to any number of hotels and motels, and there are plenty of restaurants and lots of shopping.

Amtrak's Coast Starlight route originates in Seattle and includes stops in Portland, San Luis Obispo and Los Angeles. You can also connect to another Amtrak train if your destination is San Diego. Amtrak offers several travel packages, too, but because many travelers are choosing it as a alternative to flying, you'd better book soon.


By boat

Here, I admit little experience -- I've never taken a cruise. But a number of years ago I traveled from San Pedro to Catalina Island by boat for an enjoyable weekend getaway. First, you have to get to Los Angeles, but the 22-mile Catalina trip takes only about a hour, and once there you'll feel like you're on a Greek island.

The town of Avalon is small and the beach is somewhat cramped, but there's plenty of lodging and you can usually visit the rooms to see if they're up to your tastes. Many have great views of the bay.

You can play golf and tennis, sail or fish, or take an eco-tour and see the bison that still roam the island's interior. There's limited shopping and dining, but if you're looking for a place that's quiet and quaint, this is it.

It's even possible to get to Catalina by helicopter, and I did that once, too. But not anymore, I think.

For a while, I want my feet firmly on the ground.

Despair is not Hopeless!​

Được sửa chữa bởi - despi on 24/09/2001 11:25