The California Zephyr III
Truckee
We arrived in Truckee, picked up our rental car, and drove straight to Lake Tahoe. The air felt different—cleaner, lighter—and we were excited to stretch our legs. We hiked Eagle Rock Trail, which we later nicknamed “the most rewarding hike.” Honestly, calling it a hike might be generous—it was an easy 10-minute walk up—but the payoff was incredible. From the top, we had a panoramic view of the lake that was absolutely stunning.
After the hike, we cooled off with a swim and enjoyed some time by the pier. The water was crystal clear, and the whole place felt both serene and grand at the same time.
We wandered around Truckee afterward, which was quiet and charming. It’s clearly a big winter destination, but in the summer it still had that mountain-town magic—laid-back cafés, cozy restaurants, and little shops that make you want to bring back a mug you’ll never use.
The Final Leg: Into San Francisco
We hopped back on the train for the final leg of the trip.
As we crossed the Sierra Nevada, we spent most of our time in the Sightseer Lounge, watching the landscape shift again— thick forests, and sweeping valleys. It was the perfect setting to reflect on everything we'd seen so far.
Eventually, we reached Emeryville, the last official stop on the Zephyr line. There were shuttles waiting to take passengers into San Francisco, where we said goodbye to the Amtrak staff and thanked them for their service.
Once in the city, we revisited some of the spots I had bookmarked from a previous trip and, most importantly, met up with friends who live there. San Francisco was lively and familiar, and after exploring for a few days, we caught a flight to Los Angeles to spend time with family.
I’m really glad I never let go of the idea of doing this trip. It had been sitting on my list since 2015, and it lived up to everything I had heard and read about it. I like how certain places stay with you long before you ever visit—and how some ideas linger just as long before you finally make them happen. Thank you Favorite places
Thanks for joining me on this long-awaited adventure. If you’d like to see more short clips from this trip, feel free to check out my instagram 📸🎥 @wanderlust_aku, whereI shared pictures and videos that don’t quite make it into the blog.
Until the next ride!
