Four Great American Trains to Discover

From Mountains to Canyons, Valleys to Brooklyn: Four Great American Trains to Discover   1. America’s Highest Railroad2. The “Grandest” Railway3. A 150-Year-Old Narrow Gauge Railroad4. And One RR that runs in “A Hole in The Ground” There is just something about historic railroads. Unfortunately, many of the engines and trains that have been saved…

Celebrating Amtrak’s 50th: 8 Incredible Small Town Stops

Train travel may be the most leisurely, scenic, and affordable way to visit small towns in the U.S. Since 1971, when the first Amtrak train departed New York City on its way to Philadelphia, Amtrak, known as America’s Railroad, has taken eager travelers, lulled by the clickety-clack of the tracks and enamored by the sense…

8 Beautiful Colorado Train Rides

The wind brushed my face, causing me to question whether the breathlessness I felt was from the wind, the altitude, or the utter enormity of the Colorado Rocky Mountains I was viewing up close on the train. Riding in an open-air car, the pace was a leisurely 12 miles per hour, which felt like a…

Train Talk on NPR with Thomas Wilmer

While visiting Carmel-by-the-Sea, I got a chance to sit down and talk about my favorite topic — train travel — with Thomas Wilmer on his award-winning NPR podcast, Journeys of Discovery. Listen here.

San Francisco Bay to the Monterey Peninsula by Train – Itinerary

Follow along on a seven-night trip traveling to San Francisco, Sausalito, Monterey, Pacific Grove, and Carmel-by-the-Sea with a train ride on the Coast Starlight. Day 1  Arrive at SFO. Take BART to lodging. Check in at Clift Royal Sonesta. The Clift Royal Sonesta is very excited to announce the reopening of their renovated hotel, a…

5 Things You Should Bring On A Long-Distance Train Trip

Long-distance train rides can be a relaxing cross-country adventure — watching the landscape pass, meeting fellow travelers, playing cards, or reading in the observation car — or a long and uncomfortable ride. Your experience will depend on your mindset and how prepared you are before departing. A few important items can make all the difference…

4 Reasons To Travel By Train

Five years ago, I set out to explore the United States by train. The vision started in part because I had spent three months in Europe as a teenager traveling with my mom and two Eurail passes. My sister was in the military, stationed in Augsburg, Germany, so we used her house as a home…

8 Great Stops To Make While Riding Amtrak’s Southwest Chief

The Southwest Chief runs daily between Chicago and Los Angeles. Rather than riding the whole route at once, consider taking a break at one (or all!) of these great cities along the route. It’s your chance to discover the American West at a leisurely pace. Read Jill’s story at Travel Awaits.

7 Pacific Coast Stops To Make While Riding The Coast Starlight

While riding Amtrak’s Coast Starlight train from Los Angeles to Seattle is spectacular — following the coast for nearly 350 miles, traveling through mountains and rolling hills, including Mount Shasta, Mount Hood, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Rainier — it can be an even greater adventure if you plan to stop at some of the…