Starting the New Year on the Right Track

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Starting the New Year on the Right Track

Happy New Year! How’s your list of New Year’s resolutions coming along? If you’re looking for ideas, how about adding train travel to your list? Traveling by train might seem unconventional, but that’s part of the charm – and if you’re in California, it’s certainly achievable! With more than 300 miles of tracks and 18 stations, Amtrak San Joaquins can steer you in new directions, from the Bay Area through the Central Valley and down to LA. So let’s add “use vacation time this year” to your list of resolutions. If you need a few more resolutions, we’ve got you covered. Check out our suggested list of New Year’s resolutions you can achieve by riding Amtrak San Joaquins!

Discovering Adventure

From coastal cities and national parks to urban skylines and snowy mountaintops, California is full of opportunity to explore and plan adventures. Have you ever tried snowshoeing in Yosemite or walking around downtown Petaluma? How about biking to Sausalito from Richmond? Soaking in Santa Monica or downtown Los Angeles? What about watching the Golden State Warriors at the new Chase Center? Think about adding “finding adventure” to your list of New Year’s resolutions. Amtrak San Joaquins can help you with that.

With our Thruway Bus to Yosemite, you can sign up for snowshoe tours during the winter season. Our Thruway Bus from Martinez train station can guide you to Petaluma, where you can visit Lagunitas Brewery or explore the unique downtown shops. Get ready for a biking adventure to Sausalito. Bring your bike on the train and transfer to the Richmond Ferry from our station. Ride off from the Ferry Building in San Francisco through the Embarcadero, across the Golden Gate Bridge and over to Sausalito. Take in the wonder of the ancient Chinese culture as you watch Shen Yun at the historic Saroyan Theatre in Downtown Fresno. Planning on going to Los Angeles? Take the southbound train to historic Union Station where you’ll find yourself mere steps from free Olvera Street tours (Tuesday through Saturday) and a stone’s throw from Chinatown! To see the new-look Warriors in their new home, just hop on a ferry from Oakland’s Jack London Square. Take adventure with you this year aboard the San Joaquins!

Santa Monica, CA, USA - March 18, 2015: high angle view of international tourists and local people at Santa Monica Pier with ferris wheel of Pacific Amusement Park - Famous american landmark on californian coast

Commuter with road racing bicycle and Golden Gate Bridge

Finding Work + Life Balance

According to the U.S. Travel Association, Oxford Economics, and Ipsos, a record 768 milllion vacation days went unused by US workers 2 in 2018. Talk about a lot of wasted opportunities to get out and enjoy life! And research suggests that working too much may contribute to health problems, such as high blood pressure, infertility, indigestion, allergies, migraine, diabetes, ulcers, skin disorders, and depression.3

So do what so many of your fellow Americans are not doing – take a break! Use the vacation days you earn at work to get some much-needed R&R aboard an Amtrak San Joaquins train. One of the nice things about traveling via train is not worrying about traffic. Simply close your eyes or watch a movie on your phone or laptop and you’ll be at your destination before you know it. Giving yourself an extra day off every few months is a great way to shrug off the extra stress that comes with working too many hours. Try to gain balance between work and play – and do it while riding the rails!

2 Cable News Network: A record 768 million US vacation days went to waste last year, a study says https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/unused-vacation-days-trnd/index.html

3 Worksmart: How could working too hard affect my health?
https://worksmart.org.uk/careers-advice/working-smarter/work-life-balance/can-working-too-hard-cause-health-problems

Spending Time with Loved Ones

Just as taking time off can be difficult, we can sometimes lose track of spending quality time with friends and family. For your next New Year’s resolution, fill up your calendar with events your friends and family can enjoy together. Spend even more time together by taking Amtrak San Joaquins. With our Share Fare Discount, you can save 45% on up to six tickets – the more tickets you buy, the more money you save. Just make sure to reserve your tickets at least two days in advance and use code “291” when you check out. This way, you can spend less time earning money to pay for tickets and more time traveling!