Top 10 Transportation in California, United States

July 31, 2021 Darleen Reid

California is a fertile, peaceful place where you’ll find a near-equal balance of vineyards and deserts, beaches and mountains, hippies and traditionalists. Catch an epic wave in Big Sur or swirl a glass in Napa Valley. Be dazzled by the Joshua Tree night sky or just star-gaze in Hollywood. Swish down the slopes of a Tahoe ski resort, or cruise across the Golden Gate Bridge with the top down and the music blasting. Above all, don’t forget to soak up some Golden State sunshine.
Restaurants in California

1. San Francisco Water Taxi

Pier 39 Gate B, San Francisco, CA 94133 +1 415-926-1114 [email protected] https://sanfranciscowatertaxi.org/pier-39/
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 12 reviews

San Francisco Water Taxi

Reviewed By katorinda - Lafayette, United States

My husband used to work in a building on Pier 7 and saw the water taxi come in and out of the area all day. Ever since, I've wanted to take it. We walked to Hyde Street pier and took the water taxi back. What a blast!! Kind of wish we had taken it both ways since the fare is good for the entire day. For $10 a person, this is a great deal in SF where everything is usually so overpriced! Highly recommend it as a way to see a different SF. Plus the captain was a hoot and great company!

2. Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

1 Tramway Rd, Palm Springs, Greater Palm Springs, CA 92262-1828 +1 760-325-1391 [email protected] http://www.pstramway.com/
Excellent
73%
Good
22%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 9,203 reviews

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

World's largest rotating Tram car. Opened in 1963, the Tram's 80-passenger cars travel along the beautiful cliffs of Chino Canyon from the Valley Station (elevation 2,643 ft.) to the Mountain Station (elevation 8,516 ft.) in approximately 10 minutes. At the top enjoy breathtaking views, Peaks Restaurant, Pines Cafe, a gift shop, nature exhibits, educational documentary theaters, and over 50 miles of hiking trails in the Mt. San Jacinto State Park Wilderness.

Reviewed By robinb42018 - Seattle, United States

No surprise...Palm Springs is hot, hot, hot in August! The bummer is that many things are closed except on the weekends, but The Aerial Tramway and national park is not. It was an amazing experience and one I would highly recommend. Be sure to wear appropriate shoes (uh--not flip flops), and bring water. Even though the temp is up to 30 degrees cooler than down below, it is still plenty hot and dry. The ride up is a bit of a thrill, and if you are afraid of heights, I recommend sitting in the center section. At a minimum, take the Nature or Desert Trail hike at the top. It is only 1.5-2 miles and so beautiful. There are many viewpoints along the way. Tram starts at 10 a.m. and departs about every 10 minutes until 8:30 p.m. It is not cheap, but well worth it. Food, gift shop, and awesome viewpoints at the top!

3. Cable Cars

San Francisco, CA +1 800-531-7357 https://www.sfmta.com/getting-around/transit/how-ride/how-to-cable-cars
Excellent
58%
Good
27%
Satisfactory
10%
Poor
3%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 25,107 reviews

Cable Cars

Since 1873, cable cars have run up and down the hilly city, though after the 1950s, these cars have been kept in operation more out of historic nostalgia. Seventeen miles of track remain and have been deemed a historical landmark.

Reviewed By cazr2018 - Exeter, United Kingdom

You cannot visit San Francisco without riding the famous cable cars. Running from Fisherman’s Wharf and Union square, the cable cars are great fun- try standing up! Visit the cable car museum as well- it’s free and tells you all about the history of this unique mode of transport.

4. Historic Streetcars

Market Street to Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco, CA https://www.sfmta.com/getting-around/transit/how-ride/how-to-historic-streetcars
Excellent
60%
Good
31%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
1%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 941 reviews

Historic Streetcars

Restored street cars run on tracks up and down the Market Street Railway.

Reviewed By arpad310 - Valparaiso, United States

I'm a Rail Fan and this is a wonderful collection of operating street cars; each cars has its history on board and is painted in the colors of what city it came from.

5. Union Station

800 N Alameda St Downtown, Los Angeles, CA 90012-2177 +1 800-872-7245 http://unionstationla.com
Excellent
46%
Good
41%
Satisfactory
10%
Poor
1%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,826 reviews

Union Station

Los Angeles Union Station is the main railroad station in Los Angeles, California, and the largest railroad passenger terminal in the Western US. Union Station is a major transportation hub for Southern California, serving almost 110,000 passengers a day. The station is the hub of the Amtrak's California regional routes, Amtrak's long distance trains, Metrolink commuter trains, several Metro Rail subway and light rail lines, buses and coach services. History: Established in 1939. Built in 1939, Union Station combines Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, Mission Revival and Streamline Moderne styles. The architecture team included John and Donald Parkinson who also designed Los Angeles City Hall and other city landmarks. Originally intended as a transcontinental terminus station for the Union Pacific, Santa Fe and Southern Pacific Railways, the station was a major hub for troop movement during World War II. The station's historic 161,000 square foot terminal was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 and the station was restored in 1992. Beginning in the 1970s, growing use of Amtrak and expansion of local and regional rail revitalized the station as a major transportation hub of Southern California. Metro acquired the station in 2011, managing the property that currently serves as a transportation hub for Metro, Metrolink, Amtrak and other transportation services as well an urban mixed-use development site.

Reviewed By ShermanOaks2019 - Los Angeles, United States

Enjoy beautiful architecture - great dining in the station or less than a block away famous Philippes French Dip Sandwich - or great Mexican Food at Olvera Street. If you have time take a quick trip to Santa Monica or to Hollywood & Vine and dine at Musso & Franks, or Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel by the pool.

6. The Gondola at Heavenly

4080 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150-6907 +1 775-586-7000 http://www.skiheavenly.com/the-mountain/adventurepeakwinter.aspx
Excellent
58%
Good
28%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
3%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 2,336 reviews

The Gondola at Heavenly

Hop aboard an 8-passenger glass cabin and be whisked 2.4 miles up the side of a mountain for breathtaking views of Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Riders can hop off at an observation deck, located half way up, for even more spectacular sights.

Reviewed By ginaa117 - Baltimore, United States

Don’t make the mistake of thinking this is just a ride up the mountain and back! There’s so much to do on this journey in the gondola. There’s a map by the area where you pay/enter. Go check it out to see all of what can be done. There are trails, cafes, restaurants, etc. up on the mountain. The ride itself up was great. Stop off at the observation deck which is about 2/3rds the way up. Get off and take some pics. There’s even a cafe there. When done exploring, jump back into the gondola and continue up to the top. There’s more trails, a restaurant, kids jungle gym, and even a roller coaster! Be warned as there was over an hour wait for the coaster (we didn’t pay extra for this & heard another family stating how long the wait was). We did do the extra 900ft up ski lift from the top where the gondola drops you off. Be sure to fill out your waiver even if only doing the gondola ride so that you can have the option of riding the ski lift as well to go to the very top(it’s free with the purchase of the gondola ride). This was a fabulous day activity and you can easily do this with kids. There were some things like the restaurants that were closed for Covid, but they still offered drinks, chips, prepackaged sandwiches, etc. We even saw people that brought their own lunches and sat at one of the picnic tables at the tippy top. This place is like its own town up on the mountain. They did a great job with cleaning things as well. People were spraying the picnic tables and they had clean/dirty signs on them, spraying down each gondola, etc. We didn’t encounter one employee that wasn’t friendly or that didn’t thank us for visiting!!! It’s is worth the money. Such friendly staff and just a great adventurous day full of great views.

7. COASTER

195 S Tremont St Oceanside Transit Center, Oceanside, CA 92054-3028 +1 760-966-6500 http://www.gonctd.com/coaster
Excellent
71%
Good
25%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 725 reviews

COASTER

Reviewed By AlexaBo12111956

We were staying in the Carlsbad area and after talking with a few people decided to grab the Coaster from Carlsbad down to the Santa Fe terminal in downtown San Diego. Quite frankly, it was reasonably priced and super convenient to get from our area to the downtown without having to drive. Once we arrived we grabbed the trolley that stops and drops at about 10 different locations throught the city including Seaport Village and Little Italy. Can't find the name of the trolley - but it is independantly run and well worth the money to see a great deal of the San Diego downtown area within a couple of hours. We grabbed the Coaster for the return trip and it was clean, comfortable and timely. If you dont want to drive.......consider using the Coaster !

8. Catalina Express

95 Berth San Pedro, Catalina Island, CA 90731-3384 +1 800-481-3470 [email protected] http://www.catalinaexpress.com/
Excellent
64%
Good
27%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 428 reviews

Catalina Express

With 8 boats and up to 30 daily departures year-round from Long Beach, San Pedro and Dana Point, Catalina Express is the best way to get to Catalina Island. In about an hour, you could be hiking, biking, shopping, diving, snorkeling, fishing, dining, stand up paddling, kayaking, relaxing at a spa or kicking back at the beach club. Just 22 miles from LA, but a world of difference. (Don't forget to upgrade to the Commodore Lounge and skip the lines with priority check-in, express boarding, plus a complimentary cocktail or soft drink, and more. Just $15 each way.)

Reviewed By MattFore - Los Angeles, United States

A smooth, easy, and fast trip to Catalina and we even were able to sail just past a pod of 50+ dolphins jumping along in the channel between Catalina and Long Beach! An amazing and beautiful sight!

9. Balboa Island Ferry

410 S Bay Front, Newport Beach, CA 92662-1042 +1 949-673-1070 http://www.beachcalifornia.com/ferry.html
Excellent
71%
Good
23%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,918 reviews

Balboa Island Ferry

Reviewed By 53Prince53 - Lake Elsinore, United States

A great little adventure plus a short cut to get from Balboa Island to the Newport Peninsula. Include a ride for weekend dates. It is operated in a safe manner. Prices are inexpensive. On the Newport Peninsula side it ends at the ferris wheel and other attractions, including other boat cruises. Evening ferry rides bring out the colorful harbor lights.

10. Catalina Express

320 Golden Shr, Long Beach, CA 90802-4243 +1 800-481-3470 [email protected] http://www.catalinaexpress.com/
Excellent
61%
Good
30%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,122 reviews

Catalina Express

Catalina Island is just an hour away aboard our fast and sleek boats out of Long Beach, San Pedro and Dana Point. We are committed to offering the most advanced, state-of-the-art watercraft available while maintaining a high level of dedication to safety, customer satisfaction, and quality of service. Today, the fleet consists of 8 high-speed vessels. More than one million passengers set sail to Catalina Island each year on board Catalina Express, and with year round service and up to 30 departures daily, you can easily join them.

Reviewed By gkakkar17 - Cancun, Mexico

The staff was very courteous and helpful. The ferry ride to and back from Catalina Island was also smooth and comfortable with nice views.

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