Elevating Your Solo Travel with a Scenic Amtrak Train Trip Along the California Coast

By Joy, Your Guide to Joy-Filled Solo Travel

Are you a woman wondering how to solo travel safely—or how to make your solo trips more fun, freeing, and fulfilling? You’re not alone. I’m Joy, and I help women like you embrace the power of solo travel with confidence, ease, and joy.

To elevate my own solo travels, I tried something new: a solo train trip along the California coast with Amtrak. Let me tell you—it was incredible, and I’m here to share why it could be the perfect next step in your solo travel journey.

Why Train Travel?

Sometimes, the best way to break out of your comfort zone is to try a new mode of travel. I live in the middle of the country, so I started by flying into Burbank Airport—a smaller, more manageable option than busy LAX. I chose a hotel right near the airport and the Amtrak station, which is conveniently located right at the airport. Easy, stress-free.

From there, I boarded an Amtrak train heading up the stunning Pacific coast toward Paso Robles, with a final train destination to Emeryville, just outside San Francisco.

The Beauty of Traveling on My Own

As the train hugged the coastline, I gazed out the huge windows at the Pacific Ocean, absolutely in awe. It was beautiful, peaceful, and all mine. I didn’t have to ask what anyone else wanted to do. I got up for snacks when I wanted, bought myself a small bottle of wine, some cheese and crackers, and just relaxed for a rare moment of bliss.

No debates. No compromises. Just pure joy.

Putting my needs first—even in small ways—was surprisingly emotional. After decades of caring for others, making choices that made me happy felt rare and deeply rewarding.

Paso Robles: Lights, Wine, and Connection

In Paso Robles, I checked into a cozy inn and headed straight to Sensorio—an immersive light installation that’s become a destination in itself.

🌟 Sensorio Field of Light features 100,000+ fiber-optic stemmed spheres that illuminate the rolling hills in changing colors, designed by artist Bruce Munro. It’s described as “a journey through light, landscape, and imagination.”

It was magical.

I walked the hills at dusk, watched the colors bloom as night fell, and enjoyed live music and gourmet food trucks. Again, I chose exactly what I wanted—no group decisions or compromise. The wine, the food, the lights… it all came together for a soul-nourishing experience. I even started chatting with people around me and found instant camaraderie in our shared joy.

The next day, I joined a Paso Robles wine tour—a small group with a van and designated driver. With someone else doing the driving, I could fully enjoy the tastings and take in the scenery without a care. I stayed two nights in Paso before hopping back on the train.

San Francisco: City Vibes and Wine Country Dreams

Arriving in Emeryville, I took a short bus ride into San Francisco and got settled into my hotel. The next morning? I did what I love—a hop-on, hop-off tour to get my bearings.

Here's a few additional suggestions of things I did solo that I especially enjoyed:

• A daytime Bay cruise out by Alcatraz and under the Golden Gate Bridge
• A full-day wine tour to Napa and Sonoma, where I sipped, savored, and even took a wine-induced snooze on the ride home letting someone else handle traffic 😄
• A final sunset cruise, which was the perfect way to cap off my solo train adventure

Why This Trip Changed Me

This wasn’t just about wine or views—it was about freedom.

Every part of this trip gave me permission to be myself, to put me first, and to realize that joy is within reach—especially when you stop waiting for others to join you.

Would I regret this trip? Absolutely not.
Would I have regretted never doing something like this? You bet.

Ready to Elevate Your Solo Travel Journey?

Whether you’re newly divorced, widowed, or simply tired of waiting for someone to go with you—you don’t have to do this alone.

You can book a private coaching session with me at TravelWithJoyTV.com, where I help women navigate their first (or next) solo adventure with personalized advice, confidence-building strategies, and the kind of encouragement you won’t get from friends who just say “Must be nice.”

This is about finally doing something just for you. You know how much you've already done for others.

Let’s make your next chapter your most joyful yet.
🧳✨

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This blog and all content herein is the intellectual property of Joy Huber and Travel With Joy TV. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, please contact: joy@TravelWithJoyTV.com.

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