Train Travel in the United States
With your tour guide,
Anne P. Mitchell
| Summary: Train travel offers a relaxed atmosphere, where you can unwind, watch the view passing by, read a book, meet new people, or catch up on your naps. |
If you enjoy leisurely travel, gorgeous scenery, good food, and less hassle than air travel, then traveling by train might offer you the perfect way to spend your vacation! Trains offer a relaxed atmosphere, where you can unwind, watch the view passing by, read a book, meet new people, or catch up on your naps. They are truly like a hotel on wheels.
The largest rail company in the United States is Amtrak, which features a roster of over 500 destination cities across the country. They offer a wide variety of rates too, with discounts for students and seniors, and lower fares during the off-peak months (October to March).
On board the train, you can expect to find comfortable, plush seating, uniformed attendants, plenty of space to stretch out or walk around, and sleeping cabins that are surprisingly spacious. Sleeping cars contain smaller rooms for solo travelers and couples, as well as larger rooms for families and folks traveling with small children.
Some trains, generally those that travel the longest routes, feature dining cars, where you can enjoy a sit-down meal similar to dining in a restaurant. They serve hot meals three times a day, and have regular operating hours. Other trains feature a cafe car, dinette, and/or a lounge for more casual dining. The food offered here is similar to cafeteria dining, but the lounge and cafe cars also offer group seating so you and your traveling companions can eat, play cards or games, or write postcards. You can bring your own food on board most trains, but for safety reasons they won’t be able to refrigerate or reheat anything for you.
To book a train ticket, visit your travel agent or contact the rail company directly. Ask about available discounts, food service, advance check-in times, and anything else that concerns you. It’s always best to book your reservations as far in advance as possible, especially if you’ll require a sleeping cabin.
Train travel can be much less expensive than air travel, and you’ll avoid the long lineups and exhaustive security checks that are common at major airports. While you’ll be spending more time actually getting to your destination, the travel itself will become part of your vacation rather than a means to an end. If you have a bit of extra time and a desire to travel in luxurious comfort, and an appreciation for beautiful scenery, train travel is definitely for you!
One of the top resources on rail travel in the United States is the book USA By Rail, put out by Bradt Travel Guides.
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