So we spent roughly 72 hours on the train for the 2 month duration of this trip. A lot of people were amazed that we were going via Amtrak from SF to Seattle, Seattle to Chicago. So why did we choose to take Amtrak instead of flying?
The first foremost reason is its environmental friendly to take a train instead of plane. Planes have a pretty big impact on CO2 emissions, plus all the trash that comes from the meals. On Amtrak we can easily bring whatever prepped food we can bring, so the amount of waste is also dramatically reduced. (Short note, we ran out of containers for our 2 day train ride, so we still had to buy some products that had packaging) Not going through security is also a big plus, as you don’t have to get to the train station as early as an airport. Another pro? You can get plenty of work done, since you don’t have much to do. (Reminder: hold off on all those Netflix downloads!) I wrote this article when on the train! It's also nice to have the opportunity to talk to fellow passengers, play with some of the kids, etc.
Most of the train stations are actually really nice, below is King Street Station at Seattle
But how about price? Is Amtrak cheaper than the plane? We took coach, so it’s slightly cheaper, but probably not by much. Although when you add various fares like luggage and what not, Amtrak’s prices will seem more competitive. I’ll love to try the sleeper cars in the future, even though I’ve heard it’s a real hassle if you have kids, as booking a sleeper while figuring out kid options is a nightmare. Coach is really easy, just book the tickets and hop onto the train. Also food is easy to take care of, you can easily choose between bringing your own food, getting microwave stuff from the cafe, and spurge a bit on the diner car. We wanted to eat healthy and keep the budget low, so I prepared 5 meals for our 6 meal trip. (Disclaimer: One of the meals was instant noodles, which isn't healthy nor zero waste.) No worrying about liquid restrictions!
Would I recommend Amtrak? Yes absolutely! that is if you have the time. (Just make sure not to buy any transfer routes on the same day of arrival, delays can happen often not at the fault of Amtrak) The main reason why I recommend is because of the lounge / cafe car, which the majority of our time was spent there. Wide panorama windows give you the best view, with large chairs and tables to sit. It’s very comfy here, and a great location to socialize with other passengers. Taking the trip during winter has its perk, as the lounge car was never crowded so we occupied a table for most of the ride guilt free.
the best part of riding Amtrak, the lounge car
So to sum up, if you have the time to take the trip, go for it! It’s a nice experience, you can walk around the train, buy food / snacks / beverages at the cafe, have a real meal at the diner car, sleep in a bed if your budget allows it. Even if you ride coach, you can have a decent sleep if you have 2 seats to yourself. It isn’t the airplane, so plenty of legroom and recline on the seats.
Happy riding!
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