Travel America by train: experienced tourists told why this is the best way to travel - ForumDaily
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Travel America by train: experienced tourists told why this is the best way to travel

When you hear someone talk about a train ride, they are most likely talking about it as a way to get from point A to point B. But for many, such a trip is a vacation and a journey in itself, reports Traveler.

Photo: IStock

Today, railroads can take you almost anywhere in the country, from the lakes in Louisiana to the mountains in Montana, the forgotten cities of the Midwest, the Pacific Ocean, and everything in between. Travelers on trains tend to love them for their convenience. The reasons are the same: the people you meet, the scenery you see, and the ease and convenience with which you can get out and explore new places.

Four fans of train travel spoke about their love for rails, about what sparked it and what makes them return to this method again and again.

“There is no better way to see the vastness of the United States”

Jim Loomis lives in Hawaii, so the first 5000 km of any trip has to be covered by air. But then the real journey begins. He traveled over 500 km during his rail travels, Jim has written books about what it's like to actually travel by train and continues to post tips and stories on his blog. Trains & Travel.

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His love for trains began when he was growing up in Connecticut. At the time, his grandparents lived in Ft. Myers, Florida, so every couple of years his family booked a train ride and traveled the East Coast from New York to Florida.

“I loved it and as a child I found it the greatest adventure. When I was 22, I moved to Hawaii and for several years I didn’t have the money to move back to the mainland. In the late 90s, when I could finally afford to fly to the West Coast and take a few train rides. I convinced my wife and daughter to accompany me on a trip to Florida. But when I went looking for literature about train travel in North America, there was nothing there—and I realized that this was a big space that I could tap into. I've been riding the train ever since,” says Jim.

In total, he traveled more than 500 km by train. “For me, there is no better way to see the vastness of the United States. The country's landscape is so diverse. In the Midwest, you'll see fields of corn and soybeans before the train climbs the mountains and passes through the desert,” he says.

His favorite trip is traveling with Amtrak California Zephyr. The train runs from Chicago to Denver to Salt Lake City and the Bay Area. During the trip, you will climb to an altitude of 2800 m in Denver and pass through the Moffat Tunnel, and then drive along the Colorado River for a couple of hundred kilometers. From there, the train passes through several ravines on its way to Salt Lake City. It then rises over the Sierra where you can look down and see the Donner Pass. Then the train chugs towards Sacramento. It's impressive, Jim says.

“If you're traveling long distances, my number one tip is to buy a sleeper ticket if you can afford it. Meet other people on the train - learn about their lives and what brought them here. For me, this is the most interesting part of traveling on a long-distance train. I had many wonderful conversations with fascinating people, some of whom became lifelong friends,” he says.

"You really get to see so many different people and lifestyles"

Madison Butler lives in Minneapolis and works as a communications manager for a non-profit railroad passenger association. There were few trains in downtown Kentucky, but Butler quickly fell in love with the rails and the convenience the trains offered. In 2019, they made a 50-day trip to 25 cities.

“My biggest train ride was definitely my favorite. In 2019, just before the pandemic, I traveled to 25 cities in 50 days for an internship with the Railway Passengers Association. I grew up in a rural town in Kentucky where we didn't have much public transportation. As a teenager, I rode the train from Chicago to New York to Canada and saw the potential of what rail infrastructure could look like in small communities like the city I grew up in,” Madison said.

As she got older, the high cost of airfare and the hassle of getting through TSA at the airport definitely pushed her to explore train travel a little more. Not to mention, driving and car rides were a big part of her childhood. She says she has found traveling by rail to be much more invigorating and convenient. “When you travel by train, you can travel from city center to city center. The train literally drops you off right where you need to be. For me, this kind of stress reduction is revolutionary,” she says. “When you travel the land, you really get to see so many different people and ways of life.”

Madison Recommends Empire builder, which runs from Chicago to Seattle or Portland. You can walk through Glacier National Park and Montana and see all the wild places of the greater north and northwest. It's amazing, according to the girl.

“I love looking out of big glass windows. Gather some friends, grab a bite to eat, play a board game or drink a bottle of wine and have a happy time sightseeing,” she says.

She advises those who want to take a train journey to start with a day trip. Take a trip, Madison recommends, from your hometown to another downtown station that's a few hours away.

“I think you get the best thing you can get - you can watch what's going on on the train and then go explore a new place. If you want to take a longer trip, look for trips from Chicago, which is a major rail hub. If you can afford it, buy a sleeper car. You can also buy an Amtrak rail pass, which gives you the ability to hop on and off at different locations throughout your trip so you can get out and about a bit,” she says.

“The people you meet in the dining car or on the observation deck leave indelible memories”

Dale Bass has been traveling by rail for 23 years, mostly solo across the US. Now that he's retired, Dale goes on a train journey every year with his buddy. Together they have seen everything from Arizona and Utah to Canada, New England and West Virginia.

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He made his first train ride in 1998 on the Southwest Sheep to Flagstaff, Arizona. He says he was fascinated by steam locomotives and the whole experience of traveling by train. Since 2013, Dale has been taking the train with his friend every year. In the first year, they traveled to Arizona, Utah, and Wisconsin. The next year the friends went to the Calgary Stampede, an annual rodeo and festival in Canada. They also made a trip across New England, one all along the west coast and the other south through West Virginia.

“Of all the trips, my vacation in New Orleans especially stood out for me. The sights and scenery around New Orleans, especially Lake Pontchartrain, are breathtaking. The train goes straight through the marshy area along the coast,” he says.

Dale thinks there's a lot to love about train travel. “Firstly, the vehicle itself - I have always been fascinated by steam locomotives. There are also landscapes that you can't appreciate when you fly or drive. The people you meet in the dining car or on the observation deck leave lasting memories. Train travel is inherently a leisurely journey - you take your time to get to your destination and gain experiences along the way,” says Dale.

If you're traveling long distances, Dale recommends booking a sleeping car and taking the bottom bunk, which is larger. He advises not to give up the dining car, as it is a great way to meet people and make new friends. Along the way, try to stop in different cities and towns. “If you really want to get inspired, look at the trips planned Holidays By Rail “They have a lot of unique journeys, it all depends on where the train goes next,” he says.

"I fell in love with this old-fashioned idea of ​​rails"

Joe Aiello grew up in Chicago, and although he occasionally traveled by train to Milwaukee to attend a baseball game or a concert, it wasn't until graduate school that he became fascinated with trains and the small towns he came across between stations. He now works as a field coordinator for the Railroad Passenger Association. He says he fell in love with this old-fashioned railroad idea.

Some of his favorite places to travel by train include Meridian, Mississippi, Le Havre, Montana, and La Junta, Colorado. If it wasn't for the rail links, some of these downtowns might not exist at all, Joe says.

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“For example, I really enjoy visiting Essex, Montana, where about 140 people live year-round. There you can find the Izaak Walton Inn, where you can sit on the porch and eat delicious food. You also have easy access to Glacier National Park. As a city kid, I never would have come across a place like this if it weren't for the tracks,” says Joe.

“My big piece of advice is don't be afraid to try weird things,” he says. - Go to a place like Meridian. Head to Yuma, New Mexico or La Junta, Colorado. Look at the map, get off at these stations, explore and enjoy new places.”

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