You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Richard, have you given us your Railway vacation recap yet? would love to hear about it.
- Thread starter angak1
- Start date
richard-in-cincy
Well-known member
Ang it was amazing...
And very relaxing and stress free.
6000 miles on the train across, down and back connecting Cincinnati, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, and Denver.
Travelling on the train was so carefree. Just show your ticket, get on. Arrive downtown of the city you're going to instead of 40 miles away at an airport. And no queues, no interrogation, no full body xrays, no luggage inspection, no pat downs, gropes or frisks. Plus every Amtrak employee I encountered was friendly, curteous, nice, pleasant, and always willing to assist and help.
The bedroom compartments are small, but they were comfortable. The food in the dining car was surprisingly good. Two of the trains had wine and cheese tastings in the afternoon, and the Coast Starlight even has a cinema on the train where passengers can sit and watch two different movies each evening.
The day was filled with watching the ever-changing scenery and the entire country go by. Whether from my private compartment or in the observation lounge, or the parlor car (for 1st class passengers) with its' big comfy stuffed swivel chairs. And when I wasn't watching the scenery I was reading, sleeping, or eating without a care in the world. LOL
As I've been telling my friends, travelling across the country by rail truly was like the song "America": miles of amber waves of grain (in North Dakota and Montana), the purple mountains majesty (heading into the Rockies at dusk), to the fruited plain (coming through the Columbia River gorge into Washington apple country).
We had a lovely time on our stops in Seattle and San Francisco, visiting with old friends, eating wonderful food, just relaxing, and not running around trying to be tourists. A nice of change of pace from my usual vacations.
I would heartily recommend taking a vaction trip on Amtrak!
And very relaxing and stress free.
6000 miles on the train across, down and back connecting Cincinnati, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, and Denver.
Travelling on the train was so carefree. Just show your ticket, get on. Arrive downtown of the city you're going to instead of 40 miles away at an airport. And no queues, no interrogation, no full body xrays, no luggage inspection, no pat downs, gropes or frisks. Plus every Amtrak employee I encountered was friendly, curteous, nice, pleasant, and always willing to assist and help.
The bedroom compartments are small, but they were comfortable. The food in the dining car was surprisingly good. Two of the trains had wine and cheese tastings in the afternoon, and the Coast Starlight even has a cinema on the train where passengers can sit and watch two different movies each evening.
The day was filled with watching the ever-changing scenery and the entire country go by. Whether from my private compartment or in the observation lounge, or the parlor car (for 1st class passengers) with its' big comfy stuffed swivel chairs. And when I wasn't watching the scenery I was reading, sleeping, or eating without a care in the world. LOL
As I've been telling my friends, travelling across the country by rail truly was like the song "America": miles of amber waves of grain (in North Dakota and Montana), the purple mountains majesty (heading into the Rockies at dusk), to the fruited plain (coming through the Columbia River gorge into Washington apple country).
We had a lovely time on our stops in Seattle and San Francisco, visiting with old friends, eating wonderful food, just relaxing, and not running around trying to be tourists. A nice of change of pace from my usual vacations.
I would heartily recommend taking a vaction trip on Amtrak!
sounds marvelous! thanks for the recap. I did the Chicago-SFO route once, in the winter
we got stuck by a snowstorm/track issue before the Rockies and it pushed our mountain segment into the dark of night. we were not happy, but nothing to do about it. and I was in the general seating, no privacy, not too comfy. glad to hear your trip was first rate.
we got stuck by a snowstorm/track issue before the Rockies and it pushed our mountain segment into the dark of night. we were not happy, but nothing to do about it. and I was in the general seating, no privacy, not too comfy. glad to hear your trip was first rate.
heather_in_sf
Well-known member
Sorry to have missed you when you were in SF, where did you dine?
richard-in-cincy
Well-known member
Heather...
we pretty much hung out in the neighborhood and spent days in GG park and on Haight Street. Because my vegan friend who I hadn't seen in 15 years has so many allergies, she only eats what she makes and so we ended up spending time eating in or making picnics for the park. Shopped at the local corner bodega, bakery, etc for our supplies. She didn't mind whatever we wanted to eat, but I just didn't want to leave her sitting alone while we went out. But, I did make it to Cha Cha Cha for excellent paella, and we also did carry out from Escape (divine). I wanted to go to Pork Store and Alembic so bad, but will have to save those for next trip. We did have reservations for SPQR, but again, it was the last night, we were having so much fun and leaving the next day, that I didn't want to go off and leave my friend for the last evening. But I did score an amazing vintage black leather bomber jacket at a vintage store on Haight for $60! Thanks again for all your wonderful suggestions and help!
we pretty much hung out in the neighborhood and spent days in GG park and on Haight Street. Because my vegan friend who I hadn't seen in 15 years has so many allergies, she only eats what she makes and so we ended up spending time eating in or making picnics for the park. Shopped at the local corner bodega, bakery, etc for our supplies. She didn't mind whatever we wanted to eat, but I just didn't want to leave her sitting alone while we went out. But, I did make it to Cha Cha Cha for excellent paella, and we also did carry out from Escape (divine). I wanted to go to Pork Store and Alembic so bad, but will have to save those for next trip. We did have reservations for SPQR, but again, it was the last night, we were having so much fun and leaving the next day, that I didn't want to go off and leave my friend for the last evening. But I did score an amazing vintage black leather bomber jacket at a vintage store on Haight for $60! Thanks again for all your wonderful suggestions and help!