My wife, Sherrie, and I are very seriously considering a three to five day train trip vacation some time later in the year. The American Orient Express sounds ideal but is just too expensive!
I have done a bit of searching and, to be honest, I am surprised at just how many are available! There really are many of them. However, many of them also have you stay in hotels for the nights. We'd prefer to experience sleeping and eating on the train itself!
I can continue researching and narrowing things down but I thought some of the members here may have experiences with such trips and be prepared to share them. Especially when it might come to recommendations!
The geography of the trip is not terribly important but the east coast ones would involve less travel for us. On the other hand, I recall a trip from LA to Seattle (was it on the Travel Channel?) that looked really wonderful. Plus, believe it or not, we have never spent any real time on the west coast (just passed through)!
From what I have seen so far, costs vary considerably! While not a major consideration it certainly is one! As noted, the American Orient Express is pretty much out of reach for us - at least right now!
Anyone have any thoughts?
Thanks
Bryan C
Coast Starlight Honeymoon Trip
I couldn't believe my wife agreed to take the Coast Starlight from L.A. to Seattle round trip for our honeymoon a few years ago. (We also spent a week on Victoria Island in between, eh.) We live just south of L.A. so it was local for us. The cost isn't bad- We actually paid for the whole thing with our American Express miles.
There was just enough time to get off at most stations and take a couple photos, but mostly you are on the train the entire time for 3 days and 2 nights. The food was great (which was a surprise). You sit with random people at each meal, and most of them are train fans. I had the best train conversations. One single older guy was in the midst of a 3 month long rail trip, riding all over the country. Twice we drug along vintage private coaches for a way, which was interesting. The stations along this route are some of my favorite places, starting with Union Station in L.A. Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Portland. They are all great. You don't get to spend enough time at them, however.
I must have taken a thousand photos. This is modern railroading, so for me it isn't the same as the steam day trips like Silverton, the Skunk train or others, but it sure was fun to live on the train in a private cabin for 6 days. Get a bottom floor cabin. Those rails look wide when you stand in between them, but when you are trying to sleep 12 feet above them, it seems like you are rocking back and forth a good foot or more! We had a top floor one way and a bottom floor the way back.
The scenery CAN'T BE beat in my opinion! Of course I am partial to the west coast, and it's these western mountains that I (try to) model. Some of the spans on the Oregon coast are amazing.
Anyway, you asked, so there's my offering!
Paul
Take the Empire Builder
Take the Empire Builder from Chicago to Portland. In the summer the scenery is wonderful and the train still boasts the best service on the Amtrak system. Best of all, you'll be in Portland!
I second the empire
I second the empire builder. When my ship comes in,.....I hope it is in the Portland harbor, cause that's the way I'd get there.
My second choice would be to take Amtrak to the Denver area, and then go touring the narrow gauge lines of the Durango & Silverton and the Cumbres & Toltec.
A couple....
of years ago, my wife Pam, and I went from Boston to San Jose and back. This had been a life long dream for both of us, so we wanted it to be special. I investigated the routes online, but then I called an agent for the actual booking and she was MOST helpful. We went from Boston to Chicago on the Lake Shore Limited. (ever see North by Northwest with Cary Grant?) Then we took the Southwest Chief to Los Angeles. That train goes through New Mexico and Arizona and some of the scenery is amazing. From LA, we took the Coast Starlight to San Jose. As an east coaster, I had never been to California, and I was impressed! We spent a week in San Jose, visiting friends and then came home via Denver aboard the Zephyr. That trip through the Rockies was more spectacular than words can describe!
Here is the best part...Round trip...sleeping compartment (roomette) where available...all meals included....$1,700.00 round trip for BOTH of us!
As has been pointed out, the meals are one of the highlights. Good company, excellent food and doting attendants make it a vacation to remember!
A few reminders....if you don't require a sleeper and can take coach, which is not terrible, you can save a good amount of money. Meals will be extra though. Also...if time is a MAJOR factor, then this may not be for you. The scheduling on the left half of the country is at the whim of the UP and BNSF, and they give their freight traffic priority. Expect delays! If you are delayed overnight, AMTRAK will put you up in a nice hotel and give you meal money.
The crew was quite candid about the problems with Amtrak, and also about what solutions may be at hand. Here's a hint...they will [possibly] take effect beginning around February of 2009.
Nuff said 'bout that.
For what it's worth, we are planning to do this again as soon as possible. So WE are sold!
Good Luck,
Al