If you want to kick back, relax, and enjoy California's spectacular shoreside scenery in style, you need to check out this ...

Not everyone destined for the Super Bowl spent the night before in the Bay Area. Some were riding an Amtrak train to the game.

Amtrak recently added a 13th daily round trip to Los Angeles, hoping to bring in another million riders from San Diego as the state pours billions into rail and transit.

Their stories involve a sitar, a surfboard, a famous writer and several root beer floats.

Mobile, the original home of Mardi Gras, is worth visiting for the train trip alone.