Euclid Avenue Station (Orange Line)
Heading east out of downtown along the Orange line, you'll be traveling through the southeast San Diego communities such as Sherman Heights, Logan Heights and Lincoln Acres. These are areas of slightly lower income communities of African American, Hispanic and other diverse groups. To be perfectly frank, although the Trolley system is very safe and patrolled by transit police, stops along this section after dark should be taken with caution. At the Euclid Avenue Station in Chollas Creek, you're close to the Market Creek Plaza that has Magnolia's Restaurant and Bar, which serves up highly acclaimed Cajun and Southern food. Nearby is also the Malcolm X branch of the city library.Lemon Grove Depot (Orange Line)
As you head farther east, through the Encanto neighborhood, you head out of San Diego and into the eastern suburbs. Your first stop is Lemon Grove, and at the Lemon Grove Depot, you are deposited in the middle of downtown Lemon Grove. How do you know? Well, just across Broadway from the station, you'll see the giant plaster lemon landmark claiming "Best Climate on Earth." Strolling along main drag Broadway, you'll find lots of mom and pop businesses, antique shops, a Starbucks (of course) and other services. If you're hungry, make sure you hit El Pollo Grill, which serves up some of the best flame broiled chicken and Mexican food anywhere. A short walk away is also Berry's Sporting Goods, a Lemon Grove institution.La Mesa Blvd. Station (Orange Line)
As you head out of Lemon Grove, you continue on east to La Mesa. The La Mesa Blvd. Station is the one you'll want to hop off and you'll be rewarded with a full day of exploring La Mesa's village downtown business district. Downtown La Mesa is one of my favorite places to feel transported back into a calmer time. Stroll along Le Mesa Blvd., where there are lots of antique shops, mom and pop businesses, and some good place to eat. A favorite is Mario's de La Mesa - a great Mexican restaurant in a converted house. Johnny B's pub is where you'll want to go for great burgers. Check out Moze Guitars, where you can browse or get your stringed instrument fixed - they are some of the nicest guys around. For pizza, you can't beat San Fillipo Pizza.
Grossmont Transit Center (Orange and Green Lines)
Grossmont Transit Center is your main transfer point if you are switching from the Green line to the Orange line into downtown. From here, the Green line continues to the end in Santee, and the Orange line terminates at Gillespie Field in El Cajon. The station is undergoing upgrades and renovations. Be forwarned: the station is at a bottom of the hill below Grossmont Shopping Center and Grossmont Hospital - you must climb a steep set of stairs. The station upgrade is to include a much needed elevator. Served by Bus Routes 1, 14, 854El Cajon Transit Center (Orange and Green Lines)
The El Cajon Transit Center at Main and Marshall is your major transfer point for all East County bus routes. It's also here where you can hop on to the Green line if you need to get to Santee. But it's at the next stop, the Arnele Station, that you'll probably want to take if you want to do shopping or business, since this station is a couple of blocks from the Westfield Parkway Plaza regional mall, as well as all of the other surrounding retail and restaurants. El Cajon Transit Center is served by Bus Routes 15, 815, 816, 848, 854, 870, 871, 872, 874, 875, 878, 888, 891, 892, 894.Santee Town Center Station (Green Line)
The eastern terminus of the Green line is in Santee at the Santee Trolley Town Center Station. This is convenient, because the trolley station is surrounded by a large big box shopping center, Santee Trolley Square, with lots of retail and restaurants, including Barnes and Noble, Old Navy, Target, and more.Bayfront E Street Station (Blue Line)
From the 12th Ave. Transit center on south, the trolley stations are for the most part just serviceable stops for daily commuters heading to or from the International Border. Heading from Barrio Logan past the 32nd Street Naval Station and through National City, the trolley takes you through industrial and commercial zoned areas. At Chula Vista's Bayfront E Street Station, there are some things to see. Here is where you can get off and take a side trip to Chula Vista's waterfront - a modest stretch of marinas and piers. This is the stop where you can also head to the Chula Vista Nature Center, where you can learn about the wildlife and habitat of south San Diego Bay. Head east along E Street and you enter downtown area of Chula Vista.San Ysidro Transit Center (Blue Line)
End of the line for the Blue line - the International Border Crossing at San Ysidro. And as you can imagine, it is one of the busiest, if not the busiest, of all trolley stations. Hop off here and it is just a quick walk across the border and into Tijuana, Mexico. In fact, it's probably the easiest way to head down to Baja for a day trip - if you don't plan and carrying back too many curios. Here is also where many of the day workers from Mexico board public transit to get to their jobs in San Diego. About a half mile away is the huge Las Americas Outlet Center, which has some of the best selection of designer outlet stores in the county.
