Any advice on the best way to get to the Cinque Terra from Lucca for a day trip
Bill, I travelled that route last year, and travel by train is probably the best method. The trip from Lucca to La Spezia Centrale will be about 1H:30M in each direction, with one change at Viareggio or Pisa. Both the time and the price will vary slightly, depending on which train you choose. It's not expensive though. From La Spezia Centrale, you can easily reach any of the towns via the local trains. Happy travels!