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46 2 0 1 7 T R A V E L G U I D E T O C A L I F O R N I A Three other popular California train routes are operated by Amtrak, all of which offer free Wi-Fi service. The Capital Cor- ridor, beloved by business commuters, runs from San Jose to Auburn (via Sacra- mento), crossing the state's agricultural Central Valley. The much more scenic Pacific Surfliner, a six-hour run that skirts the Pacific, joins San Luis Obispo and San Diego (via Santa Barbara and Los Angeles). Travelers can arrange trips to Yosemite via the San Joaquins line to Fresno or Merced, where a waiting bus will ferry them to the national park. The San Joaquins trains run between either the San Francisco Bay Area or Sacramento and Fresno/Bakersfield. Excursion Favorites Until 1930, tourists visiting Mt. Tamal- pais—the Bay Area's signature 2,574-foot peak—could board the Mt. Tamalpais & Muir Woods Railway: "The Crookedest Rail- road in the World." Though, sadly, that line was dismantled, there are still plenty of unusual steam-and-theme excursions available to the 21 st -century traveler. These include Mendocino's irresistible Skunk Train. Starting at the coastal town of Fort Bragg, the Skunk navigates some 30 bridges, trestles and tunnels on its 40-mile journey between Fort Bragg and Willits. Fol- lowing an old redwood lumber delivery route, it's said to be one of the "Ten most scenic train rides" in North America. Book your tickets early for the popular Napa Valley Wine Train, with three-hour round trips in "meticulously restored rail cars" between Napa and St. Helena in Cali- fornia's wine country. Enjoy a la carte or gourmet dining, depending on your class of ticket. Lunch trains run daily, with winery tours available. For their frequent dinner train schedule and popular special events, please visit the website (see sidebar). Departing from Woodland, the family- run, family-friendly Sacramento RiverTrain rolls leisurely through Yolo County on two- to three-hour themed trips. In addition to offering wine, beer, food and live music on some routes, there are several specialty rides, including Great Train Robberies, Beer Trains and Murder Mysteries. Another option is the Sierra Dinner Train, which runs on one of several rail lines built in the late 19 th century to link the Gold Country with the Central Valley. Today, the excursion "provides visi- tors an opportunity to travel on the historic Sierra Railroad while enjoying a delicious meal, beautiful countryside and a wide range of entertainment." Passengers board in Oak- dale, 90 miles east of San Francisco (70 miles south of Sacramento). Both the Sacramento River and Sierra lines also offer Zombie Train experiences: "One part passenger train, one part zombie killing machine." Just sayin'. Historic Revivals A variety of shorter train rides lace through the California landscape, recreating (more or less) a taste of what travel was like for settlers of the 1800s. Santa Cruz's popular Roaring Camp Railroad offers a Beach Train from Felton to the Santa Cruz shore, or a steam train into the Bear Mountain redwood forests. With several trips daily plus a regular "Moonlight Special," which includes a BBQ and campfire sing-along, the narrow-gauge Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad recalls the days when logs harvested in the Sierras were delivered to the fast- growing settlements in the Central Valley. Second Childhood Speaking of super-short train rides, a peren- nial favorite is the Redwood Valley Railway in Tilden Park, Berkeley, which is open on weekends year-round. The 12-minute ride— with hand-built steam locomotives pulling open-bed flatcars—chugs through rustic tunnels and around wooded curves, with (season permitting) panoramic views of San Francisco Bay. Tickets are $3, a five-ride ticket only $12, and children under two ride free. It's a real family experience—even dogs are welcome! » CATCH A TRAIN! Amtrak amtrak.com Skunk Train skunktrain.com Napa Valley Wine Train winetrain.com Sacramento RiverTrain sacramentorivertrain.com Sierra Railroad: Oakdale sierrarailroad.com Roaring Camp Railroad roaringcamp.com Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad ymsprr.com Redwood Valley Railway redwoodvalleyrailway.com THE NAPA VALLEY WINE TRAIN south of Yountville, right; Indian Springs Resort & Spa, Calistoga, opposite. DREW JACKSICH/CREATIVE COMMONS/FLICKR . OPPOSITE: CALISTOGA CVB RAILWAY JOURNEYS