Ride the Rails!

AT FIRST, the thought of a cross-country train trip may not sound very exciting. However, let me assure you that it truly can be! In fact, it was for my wife and me as we boarded an Amtrak in the Midwest and started rolling toward the West Coast. It was a grand three-day journey, a unique vacation, and a wonderful leisure experience.

In St. Louis we caught the Texas Eagle and were immediately escorted to our roomette located in the Pullman - or sleeping car. This space was going to be our home for the next three days, and it proved to be a very relaxing and comfortable space. We had our own private bathroom, shower, lavatory, sofa, recliner, desk, and storage areas. During the day our main quarters provided us with what felt like a small living room or den. A large window gave us great views of passing scenery from the chair, sofa, or anywhere in the room. And, if we opened the curtains on the door of our room, we could see out a window on the other side of the train. At night this same space became our bedroom: the sofa was made into a bed, and a Murphy-style bed could be dropped down from the wall above the sofa.

Of course we were free to go to any of the public areas at any time. The sky dome lounge was a special Amtrak car which allowed us to have an elevated panoramic view of the territory surrounding the moving train. The snack car was a fun place to find light refreshments most anytime during our trip. And, the dining car was an elegant place to enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Gourmet meals were served on linen table cloths with fine china, silver tableware, and fresh flowers. Large windows extended the length of the car - on both sides of the train - giving all diners great sights of the passing countryside.

During a stop in Texas, our sleeping car was transferred to become part of the Sunset Limited, the major east-west, cross-country Amtrak train on the southern route to Los Angeles. A couple of days later upon our arrival in L.A., we then transferred to another train heading south for a relatively short ride to San Diego - our final destination.

In San Diego we had three more days to enjoy a comfortable hotel and the sights, food, atmosphere, and culture of the southern California city and nearby areas. A boat tour of the Bay, the city's famous zoo, and a visit to Coronado were some of the highlights for us. When the time came for our adventure to end, we simply boarded a plane and flew home.

This was one of those rare vacations where the journey was at least as much fun - if not more so - as the destination. The train trip gave us opportunities to meet new friends especially during meals or during our times in the lounge areas. Also, it was very interesting to see new towns, new parts of cities, and new open country that we had never before seen. We discovered that train tracks do not often parallel streets, roads, highways, or areas that have perhaps been seen previously from inside an automobile!

Any travel agent can make arrangements for a train/plane travel getaway. For us, this leisure experience is on a long list of our most enjoyable vacations. We are now always ready and eager to pass along this recommendation to anyone who is interested: yes, ride the rails for a great journey that will live in your memory for a long, long time!