Maybe this is the time for you to look into an Amtrak vacation, especially if it is not something you’ve done before. Many North American destination cities are easily accessible by train. Getting there can be half the fun on some of the more scenic routes.
Of all the many great vacation destinations accessible by train, San Diego must be near the top of the list. It is easy to take a train to the historic station and then use public transit for getting around locally. Compared to other parts of Southern California, San Diego is actually relatively close together. You can even get around to a lot of vacation attractions by walking if you enjoy that.
San Diego is really loaded with interesting places to visit. Visiting all of the beaches, museums, historical attractions and other amusements could truly take weeks. There certainly would be no problem filling a busy week of vacation in this beach-oriented city. The weather in the summer is particularly appealing, with a moderate sea breeze cooling things off.
Continuing your train travel north, past the L.A. Basin could work nicely if you would like to plan an even more substantial trip. It is easy to take the train from San Diego all the way to Union Station in downtown Los Angeles, with maybe ten stops in between. By doing any of the above, it would be reasonable to engage in a one- or two-week vacation without using a car.
Don’t forget that a trip by train can add several days on to the total schedule compared to flying, but if you have the right mindset the traveling can be part of the overall enjoyment of the trip.