This might be the coolest Amtrak train stop in all of California. Of course the grand Union Station in downtown Los Angeles is our crown jewel--but it's a station, not a stop. So, where is this interesting Amtrak stop? Surf Beach, Lompoc, CA in Santa Barbara County!
This train stop is tucked away in a remote outcrop of the Santa Ynez watershed. Facing west, the beach is usually misty with turbulent waves sloshing against the shore emulating an Irish landscape. Heaps of dunes beckon walkers and snowy plover, the prized seabird protected in the area.
There's a small platform with decaying signage eroding from salty sea air. The tracks stand guard between the edge of the continent and the Pacific Ocean. Look both ways and enter the beach at your own risk!
And if that's not foreboding enough for you, take a good look at the shark warning posted in bright yellow! "WARNING Repeated Shark Attacks. Some Fatal." Take heed, my dear. This is the best of California, unadulterated! The enticing west coast brimming with dreamers, plenty of stark beauty, and real danger. Like I said, the most intriguing train stop.
Photo source: Bob Moorehead