The salty, ocean breeze hits as soon as I step out of the train at San Clemente Pier, where Metrolink drops off riders just steps away from the beach. Right behind the tracks is the pier itself, extending nearly 1,300 feet over sand and sea.

It’s peaceful on this summer afternoon. A handful of fishers young and old hover around the pier’s edges, patiently waiting for something to bite their lines. Fisherman’s Restaurant and Bar, where you can enjoy brunch with an ocean view, is bustling. Out on the water, surfers ride the waves and wipeout. Along the shore, families gather under beach umbrellas and kids run out toward the water with boogie boards in hand.

It’s no secret that San Clemente Pier is perhaps the most idyllic spot along Metrolink’s 545 miles of tracks. The proof is in the

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