A Train Tour of California: Your Guide to San Diego
San Diego offers the calm relaxation of a small coastal town along with the vibrant cultural and entertainment options of a bustling city. There are beautiful parks and unique museum experiences perfect for the whole family, as well as dining and live music options for a night out with friends. You can catch a Padres baseball game at Petco Park or an Aztecs college football game at Snapdragon Stadium, see exotic wildlife at the San Diego Zoo, visit the past in historic Old Town, dine in style at the Gaslamp Quarter, and so much more. Let us help you plan your next visit!
PETCO park
100 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101
Petco Park is a picturesque ballpark overlooking Downtown San Diego, with the waterfront only a couple of blocks behind home plate. Take in a Padres baseball game from the iconic brick Western Metal Supply Co. building in left field or the nearly three-acre Gallagher Square park in right field. There are plenty of tasty local food options at the quirky stadium, from fresh seafood to carnitas tacos to Jack-In-The-Box (which started in San Diego in 1951). Plan your trip to a ballgame here.
Directions: From the Santa Fe Depot, take either the MTS Trolley Blue Line or Green Line to the 12th & Imperial stop.
GASLAMP QUARTER
Between Broadway & K Street, First & Sixth Avenue
Located in the heart of Downtown San Diego, the Gaslamp Quarter is the perfect retreat for an evening out with friends, a fun date night, or an easy stroll with the whole family. The neighborhood features some of the best shopping and restaurants the city has to offer, all within comfortable walking distance from the trolley stop. If you’re not in a hurry, be sure to check out a live performance from a local musician. Click here for a listing of all there is to do in the Gaslamp.
Directions: From the Santa Fe Depot, take the MTS Trolley Green Line to the Gaslamp Quarter stop.
USS MIDWAY MUSEUM
910 N Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101
Docked on the waterfront just two blocks from the Santa Fe Depot is the impressive USS Midway Museum. The longest-serving aircraft carrier is home to an immersive museum experience perfect for visitors of all ages. At the nearby Broadway Pier, you can find a nice place to stop for a bite to eat while overlooking the gorgeous harbor. Book your museum tickets here.
Directions: Walk two blocks west along W Broadway from the Santa Fe Depot.
CORONADO FERRY
990 N Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101
Hop aboard the Coronado Ferry for an enjoyable trip to this small town located in the peninsula across San Diego Bay. The beaches are perfect for surfers or sunbathers—and even dogs are welcome at the Coronado Dog Beach. For a slice of history, check into the Hotel del Coronado and its Queen-Anne architecture with iconic red turrets, which has been a destination resort since 1888. Board your ferry here.
Directions: Walk two blocks west along W Broadway from the Santa Fe Depot, to the start of the Broadway Pier.
SAN DIEGO ZOO
2920 Zoo Dr, San Diego, CA 92101
Located within Balboa Park, the San Diego Zoo is the most-visited zoo in the entire country. Visitors can see a diverse array of animals and plants from all over the world. There is even an overhead gondola lift that offers an aerial view of the entire zoo. Click here to book your visit.
Directions: From the Santa Fe Depot, take MTS Rapid Bus 215 directly to the zoo.
BALBOA PARK
This oasis within the city covers over 1,200 acres and includes 17 different museums, in addition to beautiful botanical gardens. Along the main thoroughfare, Park Boulevard, you can stop into the San Diego Natural History Museum, San Diego Museum of Art, San Diego Automotive Museum, and the San Diego Air & Space Museum. Visitors can also tour, or even catch a performance, at the Old Globe recreation of Shakespeare’s world-famous theater. Click here to discover more.
Directions: Take the MTS Rapid Bus 215 from the Santa Fe Depot to the Park Blvd. & Naval Hospital stop.
SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY
5500 Campanile Dr, San Diego, CA 92182
Take a tour of one of the premiere campuses in the California State University system. San Diego State University (SDSU) has several pristine Mission-style buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Home to the Aztecs athletics teams, the school has produced hall of fame athletes like Tony Gwynn and Marshall Faulk. Learn more about the university here.
Directions: From the Old Town Station, take the MTS Trolley Green Line to the SDSU station.
UC SAN DIEGO
9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA 92093
The University of California, San Diego, opened in 1960 and is located in the coastal neighborhood of La Jolla, which is home to the world-renowned Torrey Pines Golf Course perched atop its seaside cliffs. After touring the UCSD campus, you can take a short trip for outdoor shopping at the Westfield UTC. Click here to learn more about UCSD and here for the shopping center.
Directions: From the Old Town Transit Station, take the MTS Trolley Blue Line to the UC San Diego Central Campus or UTC stops.
SNAPDRAGON STADIUM
2101 Stadium Way, San Diego, CA 92108
This brand-new open-air stadium is home to the SDSU Aztecs football team and San Diego Wave women’s soccer team. In addition, an expansion Major League Soccer team is set to begin play at Snapdragon Stadium in 2025. The 35,000-seat venue also hosts outdoor concerts and events throughout the year. Click here to find tickets.
Directions: From the Old Town Station, take the MTS Trolley Green to the Stadium stop.
OLD TOWN SAN DIEGO
4005 Taylor St, San Diego, CA 92110
The oldest area in the city is the site of the first European settlement in present-day California. Visit Old Town San Diego to learn more about the indigenous people and settlers that contributed to the city’s rich history. While there, of course, enjoy incredible, authentic food and crafts from local artisans. If you’re in the mood for a scare, you can even take a ghost tour through the neighborhood. Click here for a guide.
Directions: Walk east from the Old Town Transit Station, across Congress Street.
