We returned to California by train headed south from Washington and Oregon.  We were on the Amtrak Coast Starlight.  We enjoyed the rolling hills of central California.

We caught the sunset on the west coast as it sank into the Pacific Ocean while we were on the 140 miles of track that runs right along the coast.  The longest stretch of railroad track on the coast in the United States

Our hotel in Santa Monica was perfect.  You can see it on the right of this photo that was taken from the end of the Santa Monica pier

Here is the coast as the sun has set and our train moves on in the darkness towards LA

Once we were in our Lowes hotel our morning view for two mornings was grand.  We could get used to this.  Below us was the Santa Monica muscle beach.

Here is the sun setting on our first evening in Santa Monica out beyond the west Beverly Hills.

Ian relaxes on the deck of the hotel as he watches a sunset and enjoys a drink before walking towards dinner on the 3rd Street Prominade

Even the interior of the Lowes was grand.  Here is the main lobby area looking towards the front door with your back to the beach.

Our second day in LA required that we head to Universal Studios

After three rides before lunch and a tour of the studio we had to get a good burger at the Hard Rock Cafe -- LA

Here is a view of the Burbank area where all the studios are located -- Universal, Warner Brothers, and NBC

Ian found someone that was a little bit bigger than him

One of our favorite rides (which we rode back to back times) was the wet and wild Jurassic Park ride

Ian gears up for another round on the Jurassic Park ride

On our final day in LA we took the long way back to the train station and stopped at some of the highlights, such as Beverly Hills

Here is looking down Rodeo Drive.  We were able to keep our wallets in our pockets here.

Susan visited the walk of fame where all the stars are on the ground on Hollywood Blvd

Here is a beautiful street in Beverly Hills with giant palm trees.  Its like right out of that show in the '90s based on the zip code...what was that show called again?

We found the hand and foot prints of a famous actor, or California state governor

When we were done in LA we got on the train again and headed back towards home.  Here before the sun sets in California you can see the hills and power making windmills around Palm Springs.