All Aboard for a Family Fun Train Adventure

An appealing alternative to the standard road trip adventure that road trip planners might consider this summer is to utilize the train system for the long stretches of highway between destination cities and then renting a car to explore the destination cities.  This way, “getting there” becomes its own adventure, especially if your trip includes an overnight stay aboard the train!  Plus you get the added bonus of leaving the bulk of the driving to someone else.

There’s something about a railway road trip that beckons the pioneer spirit within us.  And there’s a certain appeal to letting the rhythmic chug-chug-chug of the tracks lull you to sleep.  Granted, these sleeping cabins aren’t as spacious as hotel rooms, but then again, it allows you to cover a distance while sleeping that you couldn’t have achieved in a car or RV unless you traded driving shifts.  And the sleeping cabins are definitely roomier than airline seats!

Family train trip adventures are growing in popularity.  Dad can play a marathon game of Monopoly instead of being stuck behind the wheel; Mom can watch a movie with you instead of her riding shotgun to keep the driver on track and alert for the duration.  When kids get antsy or hungry, you can round them up for a walk to the dining cab (without losing any traveling mileage).  Explore the train, revel in the changing scenery buzzing by your view, curl up with a good book and maybe take in a catnap.  Trains allow you to slow down and relax…and isn’t that one of the main vacation objectives?  Your road trip planner will still be filled with things to do, hotels, car rental and restaurants once you reach your destination.

Amtraks’s Superliners have sleeping cars that range from Roomettes (1-2 people), special accessible rooms (1-2), and even bedroom suites (4-6) that includes 2 toilets & 2 showers (usually two bedrooms with the partition removed).  Even though you’d be advised to stay the bulk of your trip in hotels surrounding the areas you want to explore, sleeping overnight on a train is an adventure in itself.  Plus, you get the bonus of Sleeper Service, which entitles you to receive all regular meals as part of your accommodations.

Below are a few of the most popular railway destination in the United States.  Amtrak has more than 500 destinations so these are just enough to whet your appetite to fill your road trip planner with a brand new adventure.  Bon appétit!

West Coast Spectacular – Set aside about 10 days for this vacation, starting out with 2 full days/nights in Seattle, an overnight aboard the train heading south to San Francisco, spend 3 nights there exploring city, then aboard the train again to head south to Los Angeles for a 3 night stay there.  

Grand Canyon Discovery –This 10-day trip includes 2 nights in Chicago, an overnight aboard Amtrak’s Southwest Chief SM as it travels south toward Arizona and an amazing natural wonder, the Grand Canyon. You’ll get 2 days to explore the southwest flavors found in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and on Day 6, you’ll hit Williams, Arizona.  Day 7 brings you to the Grand Canyon and a South Rim Tour while you stay at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel.  Explore Flagstaff on your 8^th day and enjoy a scenic tour of Sedona on your 9^th Day.  From there, you can head back home on the 10^th day or continue your exploration in Phoenix or head further west to Los Angeles.

You can also opt for Railway Day Passes if you want the total freedom of coming and going whenever you please):  15- Day Railway Pass: 15 Days (8 segments) $389.00 – Adults, $194.50 - Child (Ages 2-15). 

So…hop aboard the fun train!  Whichever ticket mode you choose, your road trip planner will still come in handy because it will contain the things to do and restaurants to try at each destination. 

Comments

[sj1009]

I love that you blogged about this!

Suja
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[sj1009]

I love that you blogged about this!

Suja
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File Transfer

http://www.sysax.com/

[Blue Train]

Great read!

[accessories]

Some of my fondest memories growing up in rural Indiana are the nights when, as if from nowhere, the faint sound of a locomotive would stir the still night. I would lie awake in bed wondering where that freight train was going and where it had been. I can now follow the same path those trains were traveling thanks to the nonprofit Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, which is responsible for recycling tracks into paths.

[Brent Wilson]

Wow, what a great family vacation idea! http://www.easymilitarytravel.com is really helpful when it comes to vacation financing. I'm in the marines and they have really helped me out in some jams.