If you’re a GypsyNester regular, you KNOW what a train nut David is!
Due to his train nutliness, we’ve been on some of the most spectacular rail rides in the world – and some of them are right here in the good ole U.S. of A.
The full service kitchen on Amtrak’s Empire Builder. Elevators are used to send the
entrees up to the dining room so every dish is fresh and piping hot.
12) Amtrak serves full, cooked-to-order meals served on real dishes aboard all long-haul routes.
These always include a vegetarian selection and often feature regional specialties.
No airplane food zapped in a microwave in their dining cars.
11) The Empire Builder and Coast Starlight host wine and cheese tastings for sleeping car passengers. The samplings are always from farms and vineyards along the route.
10) Snacks, quick meals and beverages are also available in the cafe car… or if your timing is just right, we have seen a pizza get delivered to the train while we were stopped at a station.
9) There are really nice passenger lounges in most larger city stations with comfy chairs and couches, wifi, drinks, TV, and priority boarding for sleeper, first class, and top rewards club passengers.
Feel like a VIP.
8) Coach seating is WAY more comfortable than other modes of transportation. More legroom, bigger seats, and usually a power outlet for every passenger. Wifi is showing up on many routes. Some trains have quiet cars where no cell phones are allowed and music or games must use headphones. Shhhhh!
7) There are different types of private rooms in the sleeper cars. Roomettes, provide for up to two passengers, while the Family Bedroom allows room for the kiddies. Some configurations have private bathroom and showers and features for passengers with disabilities are available. The ingenious designs make for both riding and sleeping comfort.
6) For those in the sleeper car without a private bath, there are showers.
5) You are not stuck sleeping on the train station floor if you miss a connection. We asked
a wonderful lady — traveling with a group of Red Hatters —
what happened when she was five hours late getting into Chicago.
4) You can get breakfast in bed.
All meals are included (even the ones brought to your room!) in the sleeper car and Auto Train fares.
Be nice and tip your attendants!
3) Many of the routes that pass through National Parks feature guides holding talks as a part of Trails & Rails Partnership Program with the National Park Service.
2) Bikes are welcome. Bring your bike aboard on several routes or check it as baggage on others. Unfortunately, no riding in the aisles or between cars is allowed.
1) Amtrak is environmentally friendly. Train travel is the most energy efficient mode of long distance transportation, 14 percent more efficient than domestic airline travel and 31 percent more efficient than auto travel on a per-passenger-mile basis. Plus, Amtrak recycles.
David & Veronica, GypsyNester.com
Want to see some of our Amtrak Adventures? Click here!
Click here for ALL of our train travels!
YOUR TURN: Are you a big train fan like we are? What do you like about train travel? Did we inspire you to see the U.S.A. by train?
Thanks for sharing this! All the best.
I am regular reader, how are you everybody?
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What a great post! Thank you for writing
I’m a retired Wisconsin guy wanting to visit my California sister now in hospice care. On SS, I have a tight budget and abhor air travel with TSA indignities. Your blog has opened my eyes to more affordable and hassle-free Amtrak travel. There’s a Madison to Sacramento route that comes within 20 miles of my sister. I think we can make this happen. Much thanks.
That’s great Joe, so glad our story helped!
Thanks very interesting blog!|
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Is there drinks and food available all night?
I don’t think so. If I remember right they close at midnight.
If flying gets any more inconvenient and uncomfortable, I’m going to start looking into Amtrak routes as an alternative. As Philly natives, we ride the trains in the Northeast Corridor for trips to Washington DC and New York City. Driving is not pleasant in either city and the train either brings you right to where you need to go or the train station has the local public transportation connections you need to get around.
Arriving right in the center of town is one of the things we really like about taking the train. Also, especially for shorter trips, it is more convenient and often quicker when you factor in all of the time spent getting to the airport and going through all of the lines.
Thanks for sharing this! I’ve traveled Amtrak a few times and enjoyed each trip. If you’re not in a hurry or have a little more time, Amtrak can be a great adventure for families with nests or without! Even with our missed connection (1 out of 2), I would still recommend it for the average traveller.
A lot of folks don’t know that the California Zephyr is timed so that you can see the Colorado Rocky Mountains by day! In the 40s, three separate railroads put together one of the first dome trains to see the Rockies in all their beauty. Even buying a coach ticket will let you grab a popular seat in the Sightseer Lounge above the cafe. I could probably come up with my own top 10 things you don’t know about the California Zephyr alone!
Thanks for pointing that out Steve. They do try to schedule several trains so that the best scenery is in daylight.
We recently travelled across the US from west to East by AMTrak – and were stunned by the experience. AMTRAK is wonderful and provides an incredible service. http://memorabledestination.com/tag/amtrak/
Glad to hear from fellow train lovers! Thanks for the link.
Inspiring post! I enjoyed taking Amtrak from Montreal to New York on the Adirondack route but didn’t know about the regional cuisine and Trails and Rails program. Would love to do a long haul in a sleeper with room service.
It’s not a bad way to go Lesley!
Wondering how quiet it is when sleeping in the roomette or bedroom. Do you hear the train wheels or much other noise from the train, or are the rooms fairly quiet?
Noise was not a problem, actually kind of soothing.
Got to try this one day!
Definitely should Robert, it’s a great way to travel.
I love trains so I went from NYC to Seattle. It was late getting to Seattle, but the views were amazing!
Never seen a train so great. In kenya been stuck with the old age train even people have forgotten what its like travelling on one. Keep up the great service amtrak
Brilliant.
I had no idea Amtrak was so well set up.
Makes me look forward to train travel.
It’s not a bad way to go!
I definitely didn’t know Amtrak was so plush!
Plush is a good word.
Wow, I hadn’t realized traveling via Amtrak could be so comfortable. 🙂
We love it.
LOVE the idea of travelling across the US on the train so thanks for the tips!
My dad is a frequent Amtrak rider. Next time I go to NY I think I will take it too!
Beats flying, especially for shorter trips.
Wonderful. This was already high on my bucket list, even if it had been less comfortable! Now it moved up some more!
There are some great trips you can make by train, and unlike most other modes of travel, the trip really is half the fun.
Our family have traveled by train since the honeymoon in 1957, including several cross-country familial trips. There is NO better way to travel. Comfort, pampering, beautiful scenery, America at its best and worst, good company, great food and on and on. There is no downside.
Beats flying… unless there’s an ocean in the way. 😉
Amtrak also has a “frequent rider” program similar to the airlines if you chose to make rail your preferred mode of travel.
Correct, Amtrak Rewards.
You’ve sold me, Gypsies! I want to book a train trip now.
Whoo whooooo. Amtrak’s making it pretty hard to say “no” to train travel! Thanks for sharing, D & V!
Glad to.