Amtrak Vacations

[ballmode]

Amtrak Link

So I'm thinking about taking a trip by train due to the simplicity for a vacation.

I'll bring my laptop, my camera, 2-3 days worth of clothes and myself.

I'm really thinking about heading from Chicago and going to a national park. Do you guys recommend Glacier, Grand Caynon, or Yellowstone?

Part of my reasons for going on a train is that I don't have to worry about a rental car as I'm 24, so I would have to still pay for renters insurance. That and the fact I will be going alone and I would probably get so bored driving by myself. I love driving, just not for more than 2 hours... again I do have a miata so maybe the noisy ride gets to me.

Anyways, any suggestions on first of all taking the train in the first place? Should I just fly out to the destination instead? Or just sit back and relax and see the country like the old days by train....

 

[TallBill]

Fuck that, fly.

 

[xanis]

How much do these run? I'd be interested in taking one to Sedona.

 

[sao123]

good luck wit that

 

[uli2000]

Sounds awesome. Ive never done it myself, but allway wanted to. Not sure about the parks, but for Grand Canyon, you would have to get off the Amtrak in Williams, AZ and take the Grand Canyon Railway to the Canyon. My parents did the Grand Canyon train once and loved it.

 

[lxskllr]

No destination suggestions, but I'm hip to the train idea. It's tons slower than flying, but you get to see the countryside as you go. That's almost as much fun as the vacation itself.

 

[TruePaige]

Amtrak is shitty. I'd rather drive if I want to see lots of small stops, or fly if it is a few major stops.

 

[xanis]

Originally posted by: uli2000
Sounds awesome. Ive never done it myself, but allway wanted to. Not sure about the parks, but for Grand Canyon, you would have to get off the Amtrak in Williams, AZ and take the Grand Canyon Railway to the Canyon. My parents did the Grand Canyon train once and loved it.

I did the GCR a few years ago. It was pretty awesome.

 

[Ronstang]

I have cars, why would I do this? Traveling across the US in a car is a blast. It is great to be able to go anywhere you want and change the route if you find something of interest along the way. I have been all across the US in every state, sans Alaska, in a car. I suggest you kiddies give it a whirl before things get to the point where you will not be allowed to.

 

[TruePaige]

Originally posted by: Ronstang
I have cars, why would I do this? Traveling across the US in a car is a blast. It is great to be able to go anywhere you want and change the route if you find something of interest along the way. I have been all across the US in every state, sans Alaska, in a car. I suggest you kiddies give it a whirl before things get to the point where you will not be allowed to.

What?

 

[zerocool84]

I took Amtrak from LA to Sacramento. I hated it.

 

[manlymatt83]

Originally posted by: ballmode
Amtrak Link

So I'm thinking about taking a trip by train due to the simplicity for a vacation.

I'll bring my laptop, my camera, 2-3 days worth of clothes and myself.

I'm really thinking about heading from Chicago and going to a national park. Do you guys recommend Glacier, Grand Caynon, or Yellowstone?

Part of my reasons for going on a train is that I don't have to worry about a rental car as I'm 24, so I would have to still pay for renters insurance. That and the fact I will be going alone and I would probably get so bored driving by myself. I love driving, just not for more than 2 hours... again I do have a miata so maybe the noisy ride gets to me.

Anyways, any suggestions on first of all taking the train in the first place? Should I just fly out to the destination instead? Or just sit back and relax and see the country like the old days by train....

I need to go out to california and was going to take the LSL and the southwest chief out, and perhaps the Zephyr back. Do it, it's a cool ride I promise you I am the all-knowing Amtrak god. You'll love it.

Anyway, if we time it right, we could split the cost of a sleeper and save big $$$.

 

[manlymatt83]

Originally posted by: sao123
good luck wit that

punk

and:

Johnson said it was unfortunate the crash may cause some people to rethink traveling by train because, he maintained, the industry has a "sterling record." He pointed to data compiled by the National Safety Council, a nonprofit research group, that averaged fatalities from 1994 to 1996 per 100 million miles traveled. There were 0.96 deaths per 100 million miles traveled in a car, 0.06 deaths per 100 million miles traveled by commercial airlines and 0.04 deaths per 100 million miles traveled on railroads --- including commuter trains.

 

[manlymatt83]

Originally posted by: Ronstang
I have cars, why would I do this? Traveling across the US in a car is a blast. It is great to be able to go anywhere you want and change the route if you find something of interest along the way.

I have been all across the US in every state, sans Alaska, in a car.

I suggest you kiddies give it a whirl before things get to the point where you will not be allowed to.

Been there, done that. Amtrak > *.*

 

[TruePaige]

Originally posted by: manlymatt83

Originally posted by: sao123
good luck wit that

punk

and:

Johnson said it was unfortunate the crash may cause some people to rethink traveling by train because, he maintained, the industry has a "sterling record." He pointed to data compiled by the National Safety Council, a nonprofit research group, that averaged fatalities from 1994 to 1996 per 100 million miles traveled. There were 0.96 deaths per 100 million miles traveled in a car, 0.06 deaths per 100 million miles traveled by commercial airlines and 0.04 deaths per 100 million miles traveled on railroads --- including commuter trains.

You wouldn't seriously worry about a plane crash would you? Just replying to the amtrak crash thing?

Flying is a wonderful experience in my opinion. I usually fly out of smaller airports, get the rush of take of, the fun of landing, cruise up high with a great view.

It's nice.

But for seeing the country, the freedom of driving cannot be beat.

 

[Sukhoi]

IMHO if you have time it'd be cool to fly to any of the 3 Bay Area airports, and then take the SF-Chicago train east through the Sierras to Yellowstone (not sure exactly how you get there from a train), and then to Chicago. I think the Amtrak leaves from the main Oakland train station, but you can get there on public transit from any of the 3 airports. I have not taken the train through the Sierras but you can see the tracks from I-80 at times and it looks neat. Oh and BTW I personally like the Tetons as much or more than Yellowstone.

 

[iGas]

IMHO, train is great way to see America if you have time.

I went from Vancouver BC. to El Paso Texas by train with 5 stops in between and it was great. Amtrak had a sales at $279 USD from Seattle to Houston return with five stops in between and I took advantage of it.

 

[schneiderguy]

Originally posted by: TruePaige

Originally posted by: Ronstang
I have cars, why would I do this? Traveling across the US in a car is a blast. It is great to be able to go anywhere you want and change the route if you find something of interest along the way. I have been all across the US in every state, sans Alaska, in a car. I suggest you kiddies give it a whirl before things get to the point where you will not be allowed to.

What?

Didn't you hear? Obama is going to outlaw all personal vehicles that aren't named "Prius"

 

[TruePaige]

Originally posted by: schneiderguy

Originally posted by: TruePaige

Originally posted by: Ronstang
I have cars, why would I do this? Traveling across the US in a car is a blast. It is great to be able to go anywhere you want and change the route if you find something of interest along the way. I have been all across the US in every state, sans Alaska, in a car. I suggest you kiddies give it a whirl before things get to the point where you will not be allowed to.

What?

Didn't you hear? Obama is going to outlaw all personal vehicles that aren't named "Prius"

But I hate the Prius...

Can I have a Tesla?

 

[Damn Dirty Ape]

Originally posted by: lxskllr
No destination suggestions, but I'm hip to the train idea. It's tons slower than flying, but you get to see the countryside as you go. That's almost as much fun as the vacation itself.

train rides are an experience in addition to the trip or final destination themselves.

Last year came back from San Francisco through NV, UT, CO, KS, nebraska, Missouri, iowa, chicago then back to st louis on the california zephyr. wow.

 

[Damn Dirty Ape]

Originally posted by: zerocool84
I took Amtrak from LA to Sacramento. I hated it.

was that the san joaquin via bus from la to bakersfiend then a train from there to emeryville? the bus part sucked, but the ride through central CA inland was beautiful as the day dawned.

 

[Damn Dirty Ape]

Originally posted by: Sukhoi
IMHO if you have time it'd be cool to fly to any of the 3 Bay Area airports, and then take the SF-Chicago train east through the Sierras to Yellowstone (not sure exactly how you get there from a train), and then to Chicago. I think the Amtrak leaves from the main Oakland train station, but you can get there on public transit from any of the 3 airports. I have not taken the train through the Sierras but you can see the tracks from I-80 at times and it looks neat. Oh and BTW I personally like the Tetons as much or more than Yellowstone.

posted about the ca zephyr a bit ago in this thread. awesome.

 

[sao123]

Originally posted by: manlymatt83

Originally posted by: sao123
good luck wit that

punk

here... take a safe trip

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: TruePaige

Originally posted by: schneiderguy

Originally posted by: TruePaige

Originally posted by: Ronstang
I have cars, why would I do this? Traveling across the US in a car is a blast. It is great to be able to go anywhere you want and change the route if you find something of interest along the way. I have been all across the US in every state, sans Alaska, in a car. I suggest you kiddies give it a whirl before things get to the point where you will not be allowed to.

What?

Didn't you hear? Obama is going to outlaw all personal vehicles that aren't named "Prius"

But I hate the Prius...

Can I have a Tesla?

Yep the evil darky is taking away all our rights. /Ronstang/faux/Rush/etc... :roll:




But I have rode on Amtrak and it was great. Seats are big and not to many people. very relaxing if you have games, laptop, etc... with you.
The food was not great so bring your own snacks.

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: TruePaige

Originally posted by: Ronstang
I have cars, why would I do this? Traveling across the US in a car is a blast. It is great to be able to go anywhere you want and change the route if you find something of interest along the way. I have been all across the US in every state, sans Alaska, in a car. I suggest you kiddies give it a whirl before things get to the point where you will not be allowed to.

What?

His tinfoil hat isn't working because he made it with aluminum foil. I'm wondering how long the snorkel was for his car for the Hawaii trip.