TrainDay to San Diego's Hillcrest City Fest

We are heading to San Diego with breakfast at Swami's Café in Oceanside during our 80-minute layover. In San Diego, we will head up to Hillcrest for CityFest!

🚆 Oceanside Transfer: In Oceanside, we will have 80 minutes to get our $15 Adult / $7.50 Senior Coaster Regional Day Pass (valid on MTS Buses) and walk to Swami's Café for breakfast before boarding Coaster 676 at 10:56 AM.

### 🚶‍ What We're Doing:

We’ll take a combination of Metrolink and Coaster trains from Irvine to Oceanside and Oceanside to San Diego Santa Fe Depot.
From Santa Fe Depot, we will take an MTS bus to 5th Ave & University Ave for Hillcrest CityFest.

Get ready for San Diego’s largest and most vibrant arts and music festival at Hillcrest CityFest. This celebration fills the streets with live music, DJ sets, street performers, and over 250 vendors offering everything from handcrafted art to delicious local eats. Known for its high-energy atmosphere and community spirit, CityFest is the perfect place to dance, shop, and celebrate the diversity and creativity of Hillcrest.

We will head back to Santa Fe Depot in time to catch the 4:20 PM Coaster 683 north. Our total walking distance will be ~6–8 miles (YMMV).

### 🎟️ Tickets & Costs:

• Metrolink SoCal Day Pass: $10.00 ($5.00 Seniors)
  Buy at Irvine Station via the ticket kiosk (Tap Buy Tickets > SoCal Day Pass) or use the Metrolink App on your phone.
  ⚠️ Avoid using bills larger than $20 — machines may not give change.
• Coaster Regional Day Pass: $15.00 ($7.50 Seniors)
  Purchase at Oceanside Transit Center Pronto Kiosks or by using the PRONTO San Diego app on your smartphone.
• CityFest Admission: FREE

### 🚶‍ What We’ll Do:

• Take Metrolink from Irvine to Oceanside
• Enjoy breakfast at Swami's Café in Oceanside during our layover
• Take Coaster from Oceanside to San Diego Santa Fe Depot
• Take an MTS bus up to 5th Ave & University Ave for Hillcrest CityFest
• Explore the festival, street vendors, live music, and local bites
• Expect to walk ~4–6 miles throughout the day, with flights of stairs possible along the way

### 🕓 Schedule:

Outbound – Metrolink & Coaster:
• 🕐 8:20 AM: Arrive at Irvine Train Station (15215 Barranca Pkwy, Irvine, CA), get your ticket, and meet up on Platform 2 (the near side by the parking structure).
• 🕐 8:40 AM: Depart Irvine Station on Metrolink IE/OC 1857
• 🕙 9:36 AM: Arrive at Oceanside Transit Center
• 🕙 9:40 AM: Purchase Coaster Regional Day Pass from Pronto Kiosks or app
• 🕙 9:45 AM – 10:30 AM: Breakfast at Swami's Café Oceanside
• 🕙 10:56 AM: Take Coaster 676 to Santa Fe Depot
• 🕙 11:57 AM: Arrive at Santa Fe Depot
• 🕔 12:20 PM – 3:20 PM: Hillcrest San Diego CityFest
Return – Coaster & Metrolink:
• 🕔 3:20 PM: Head back to Santa Fe Depot
• 🕔 4:20 PM: Depart Santa Fe Depot on Coaster 683
• 🕕 5:23 PM: Take Metrolink OC 1667 back to Irvine Station (Arrives Irvine @ 6:21 PM — this connection is unlikely but may be possible if we run!)
OR
• 🕕 6:23 PM: Take Metrolink IE/OC 1860 back to Irvine Station (Arrives Irvine @ 7:24 PM — Note: this train does not go to Los Angeles and the last OC Station is Orange).

### 🧴 What to Bring:

• Pre-apply sunscreen, wear a hat, and wear comfortable walking shoes (we’ll be walking 6–8 miles on mostly hard, flat surfaces with some hills and stairs along the way).
• Refillable bottle of water for the walk and a light snack.
• Bring a Pack for your swag

### 📍 Meeting Options:

• At Irvine Station Platform 2 (near side) at 8:20 AM, or onboard 2nd cart of Metrolink IE/OC 1857 from Irvine.
• Or at Oceanside Transit Center by the Pronto Ticket Kiosks near the pedestrian underpass after we arrive in Oceanside (~9:40 AM).

DISCLAIMER: Group organizer, assistant organizers, and event hosts assume no liability; hike/walk at your own risk. By being a member of this group you hereby agree to assume all risks and liability related to or resulting from any group functions. You agree that neither you nor any third party will hold any of the group's leaders, officers, or representatives liable for any injury, loss, or damage to your own person or any members of your family, friends, acquaintances, children, pets, or property, arising directly or as a consequence from a group activity. You also agree that your membership of this group is based on an "at will" basis.