According to Google, the round-trip drive between Riverside and Oceanside is about 160 miles. With a car full of kids, that trip can seem a lot longer, and a lot more stressful. And at the end of the day, when everyone is warm and drowsy from the sun and gritty with sand, the trip home can seem endless. Add in per-gallon gas prices of $4 and up, and a trip to the beach begins to seem more like an ordeal than a treat.
Last summer, Riverside resident Amanda Wright and her family decided to try a different approach. One Saturday, the group of adults and kids jumped aboard a Metrolink train in Riverside and rode it all the way to Oceanside.
“I really like the fact that I don't have to drive,” said Wright, who gathers family and friends in downtown Riverside and then connects with more family in Oceanside.
Journeying by train proved such a great idea that Wright’s group keeps doing it. When they arrive at Oceanside, they take a leisurely walk to the nearby beach, one of the nicest in southern California. Other times they stop at San Clemente to enjoy water fun there. “We love the experience and so do the kids,” said Wright. “Everyone gets to spend time together.” Their biggest train trip so far included 25 people ages 58 to 1. Before they started these weekend adventures, none had ridden the train.
The group keeps costs in line by using Metrolink’s $10 Weekend Day Pass, which allows unlimited travel all day either Saturday or Sunday throughout the Metrolink system. Kids five and younger travel free with a paying adult.
“It can get expensive to go places and do things especially when we bring all the kids in the family,” commented Wright. “The Weekend Day Pass is a good deal.”
This summer, Wright discovered new opportunities for family outings at Seven Summer Treasures, OCTA’s online guide to great destinations near Metrolink stations. Inspired by descriptions of fun places that are easy to reach without the hassle of driving, she’s planning a family trip on Metrolink to Los Angeles to see Olvera Street and the Hollywood Wax Museum.
Wright definitely enjoys the destinations, but says for her, it’s more about the journey. “Life gets busy, but it's important to make time for friends and family because we're not promised tomorrow. Taking trips on Metrolink together is one of the ways we are able to make those important family memories.”
Visit www.metrolinktreasures.com to browse through trip ideas and get inspiration for a weekend adventure on Metrolink.