Oceanside, California is celebrating Earth Day with an eco-friendly, fuel-saving getting away idea. The destination’s Great Train Escape travel program encourages visitors to think green and enjoy a car-free vacation to Oceanside, San Diego’s North Shore.
“With gas prices near record highs, there’s never been a better time to travel by rail,” said Leslee Gaul, CEO of Visit Oceanside. “By choosing alternative means of transportation, guests will save money and enjoy a stress-free journey to our beautiful Southern California location, while still doing something positive for Mother Earth.”
As a main hub for the rail system between Santa Barbara and San Diego, Oceanside enjoys a central train station in the heart of downtown that is walking distance from hotels, the beach, restaurants and many of the city’s top attractions. Amtrak currently offers eleven daily roundtrips between Los Angeles and Oceanside. Kids 2-15 years ride half-fare (some restrictions may apply) and seniors 62 and up enjoy a 15% discount.
In honor of Earth Day, many of Oceanside’s hotels will be offering Great Train Escape travel packages that include everything from room discounts to complimentary transportation from the train station. A sampling of hotel offers includes:
- Wyndham Oceanside Pier Resort: 20% off published rate
- Southern California Beach Club: 10% off Best Available Rate
- Best Western Oceanside Inn: 20% off published rate
- Holiday Inn Marina: 10% off published rate
- Motel 6, Downtown: Complimentary transportation from train station
- Super 8 Oceanside: 20% off stay of 3 nights or more
- Quality Inn & Suites: 10% off rack rate
Several of downtown’s popular attractions will also be offering Great Train Escape discounts including 2 for 1 admission to the California Surf Museum, $2 off admission ticket at the Museum of Modern Art and a 90 minute outboard power boat rental from Oceanside Boat Rentals at the 60 minute price. Guests must present Amtrak ticket stub to receive discounts.
Oceanside’s downtown walking district includes wide sandy beaches with popular surf spots, the Oceanside pier, California Surf Museum, Museum of Modern Art, a wide variety of restaurants and six theaters that showcase everything from new release movies to Hollywood-style stage productions and comedy shows. Those who prefer to get around on wheels, can stay green by renting bicycles from the city for a daily nominal fee. Oceanside boasts numerous popular bike trails and is San Diego’s only designated bicycle-friendly community by the League of American Bicyclists.
For those who want to explore more of San Diego, Oceanside’s North County Transit Center offers three other rail lines that operate from the city’s downtown station: the Coaster, which travels to downtown San Diego along the coast; the Sprinter, which runs inland to Escondido; and the Metrolink, which services east Orange County, San Bernadino and Riverside.
For more information and Great Train Escape discounts visit www.visitoceanside.org/amtrak.
