Songs About Trains

[plumtreeblossom]

So, it turns out I've won a pair of round-trip tickets on Amtrak to anywhere in the continental US, usable anytime between now and December 16, 2007. I was entered automatically in the sweepstakes when I bought an Amtrak ticket to Rochester in December, and I didn't even know it. When the first notification came I assumed it wasn't legit, but upon calling Amtrak, it's a genuine win. I've never been the type to win sweepstakes or drawings, so this is a lovely surprise. I've discovered over these past few Christmases how much I enjoy train travel.

beowabbit naturally has dibs on the companion ticket. But where to go? Wabbit pointed out that it would be a waste to use it for New York, when for almost nothing you can get there on Fung Wah (with a nice crackling fire in the back for keeping warm). A co-worker said "Take it as far as you can go! Go to Seattle or California!" Well, sure I like train travel, but I wouldn't want to be on one for four days each way. I'd probably put the one-way travel lid at 12 hours or so.

But within that range, I wonder where might be fun to go? DC might make a nice Autumn trip, and we could go nuts in The Smithsonian. Or Niagara Falls, NY (we could cross over to the Canadian side on our own).

Some not-too-far places that I've yet to visit as an adult:

Baltimore
Philadelphia (was there at age 3, which doesn't count)
Atlantic City, NJ (Boardwalk! Frozen Custard!)
Long Island
Saratoga Springs, NY (heard it's gorgeous, good hiking)
Williamsburg, VA (was there at age 8 but remember little)

Wabbit is having a crummy day due to phone-gone-missing, so I'm sure he's in no mood to think about travel today. But no decision needs to be made any time soon anyway. Just fun to start thinking about.

Here's where Amtrak goes in the general Northeast area. Any suggestions or inspired ideas?

Comments

[lifecollage.livejournal.com]

a) Don't bother with Long Island. You'd take Amtrak into the city and then have to pay again for LIRR out onto the Island. It's logistically equivalent to Manhattan for these purposes.

b) Chicago? I've heard that that's the outer edge for reasonable train travel from this neck of the woods.

c) I've gotten to Annapolis on Amtrak and the ride was fabulous. I'd certainly recommend it as far south as DC.

d) I'm afraid I have to echo your thoughts on train travel out West. On the one hand, the train ride from Portland to San Francisco was a lot of fun. On the other, being six hours behind schedule due to delays from freight trains having track priority sucked amazingly. Stick to the Greater Northeast, where it's not so much of a problem.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Ha, I knew someone from Long Island would say that. :-) Okay, crossing it off.

[epilimnion.livejournal.com]

I've taken the train to DC, and it's actually quite nice, especially if you can travel business class. The station in DC is also really nice architecturally and has lots of places to eat. Philly is interesting, what little I saw of it when I visited a college friend. I took the bus, and from that experience I would recommend the train.

Speaking of trains, did I see you on the E-train this morning? Or was my sleep-deprived brain playing tricks on me?

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

The tickets are for coach class, but I find that just as comfortable as business class on an airline would be. Jay's many gadgets would keep us busy (as well as the view) and I'd love to finally eat in the dining car.

AQny yes, I think you did see me! You were wearling headphones and looked vrey sleepy. I didn't have my glasses on so I wasn't 100% sure it was you. Hope you're making it through your day okay with so little sleep!

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Oops, look at all those typos!

[epilimnion.livejournal.com]

Yes that was me! I was going to say hi, but I wasn't sure, and you didn't seem to recognize me, and I can barely brave the embarrassment of "oops, wrong person" when I'm awake! Somehow, I've perked up after having food and tea, but we'll see how long it lasts.

Sadly I must say that except for some parts of CT, the view wasn't all that interesting. But I was also finishing a composition on the way down to DC, where I was going to meet with the dance I was writing for, so maybe I just missed the good parts.

Speaking of compositions, I have some cabaret ideas we should talk about sometime...

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

I've dyed my hair back to brown since the last time you saw me, so I can see why you might not have been sure. Also it was tied back and wet, not my usual lion mane. :-)

Oooh, I would love to hear your cabaret ideas!

[seaweedgirle.livejournal.com]

That's right ... between the Rhode Island border and New Haven there are some great water views. At times, you'll feel like you're cruising on the water! Going south, I believe you'll have to be on the left hand side of the car to get maximum viewing.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Never been to Richmond, but have heard nice things. I've been to Lancaster PA many times (I bet my sweetie would love the Amish food) but it's very much a car-needing place.

I lurve Ithaca! Unfortunately Amtrak doesn't go there. No idea why, with so many students.

[ayelle.livejournal.com]

Because they hate us. *pout*

[marmota.livejournal.com]

Well, I second the motion for cross-country, especially for the more scenic runs. If you want to stay in the northeast though, I recommend the lakeshore limited to Chicago, and not at night or you'll miss the view.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

The problem with cross-country is that neither of us gets much vacation time. A lot of mine has to go to family visits, and he's already used a big chunk of his for the year. But damn, I would love to visit Chicago some day! I just looked at Lakeshore Limited schedules. It's about 20 hours travel time though -- I wonder if that's healthy in a dating relationship. :-)

[bex77]

Congrats on your win! That's really nifty!

It's an interesting choice between a trip TO somewhere that's fun, or a trip that is interesting in the riding along. Not sure where to recommend...

N. and I took the train to DC once. It took about 8 hours to get there. Lands you at Union Station right in the middle of everything, which is fun.

N. and I have taken the Lakeshore limited three times back and forth to Chicago. We got a sleeper compartment...not sure how much of a difference that makes. Maybe they'd let you upgrade for the difference?

Being on a train for 24 hours gets old after about, well, let's say 20 hours. It's fun at first to watch the scenery and press all the buttons and eat in the dining car, but then the delays set in and oof. Having our own cabin porter was a hoot.

We thought we were going a long way, but most of the people on the train with us were going further, many to California!

Delays due to freight train interference are not particular to other parts of the country. It took us 8 hours to get from Albany to Boston on a return trip. I nearly went out of my mind.

And as far as going in the day time, the Lakeshore leaves Boston about 4:30 pm, no? So most of the trip is in the darkness...

Have fun figuring out where to go!

[docorion.livejournal.com]

I, too, would go cross-country, had I won these. But that said:

O, Canada!

Go to Montreal! Sneer at the Francophones! Eat way better French food than you can get in most of America!

(Which mostly I say because I've never been to Canada, and it sounds like fun).

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

I wish we could! But the ticket is limited to Continental US only. But there's the possibility of Niagara Falls, NY, where we could cross over the bridge to Canada ourselves.

come here! come here!

[heatherp8.livejournal.com]

Amtrak also comes to Florida, dear heart!
come here!

Re: come here! come here!

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Hee! My mom and brother and neice are all going to Florida for Easter. I've never been. Some day I'll make it down there! :-)

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Hee! So hard to pick! Good thing I don't have to do it right away! :-)

[noire.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on winning those! Awesome!

I lived in DC for years, and if you choose to go there I'll give you all the restaurant/museum info (because there's way more than Smithsonian.) It is a great tourist destination, but having lived there for years I see the downsides as well. Baltimore really isn't worth a weekend get away IMO--it does have a few charming neighborhoods, but they're good for an hour or so.

Williamsburg is Really Fun. If it weren't for my suggestion below, I would say Williamburg for sure. It's got the cool living history and the buildings are fascinating, and you can see people actually doing the work/crafts of the era. In the evening there are candle light tours of the State House and the Governor's Mansion. Eat under the grape arbor at Chownings Tavern and then go inside for the "gambols" in the evening, where people sing and there are period games to play. Had a delightful evening there! And for white table cloth dining there is Sally Lun's and the Kings Arms tavern. (All the food is excellent and delicious, but Colonial American. Chownings is where I first discovered apple pie with cheddar cheese.) And if that's not enough (and really, there is plenty to do and see and eat) there is a huge outlet place very nearby and also Roanoke (I believe there are buses/groups to both of those that you could pick up from your hotel.)

But I would say Philadelphia! Yeah, strange call I know. I never even thought about Philly except as a stop on Amtrak between Boston and DC (I've done the ride many times) and a few years ago I was hosted by the Philadelphia Science Fiction Association for a weekend program. And it was GRAND. The restaurants are MAGNIFICENT. I was totally blown away by the food (and I will happily give you a list of recommendations there.) The Art Institute has one of the best collections of Impressionists in the US along with a really stunning modern collection.

And there's a pretty, quaint colonial section of the city, very different from Boston of the same era.

I'm actually hoping to get back there one of these days soonish.

Anyway, there couldn't have been any one better to win that prize! Have a great time.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Oh my, you make all of them sound so tempting! Surprised about Philly. I just never think about it much, but it sounds from the above like it has a lot to offer. Williamsburg, too! I'm a sucker for that living history stuff. :-)

[ayelle.livejournal.com]

I grew up in Philly, and I will say it's a wonderful place to visit. (Much better to visit than to live there!) But the tourist stuff is awesome. I absolutely adore walking around Old Town, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art is better than the MFA (IMHO). I sort of burned out on all that Founding Fathers tourist stuff when I was in elementary school going on field trips every year -- but then when I came back to it as an adult not too long ago, I realized how cool it all actually is.

[ayelle.livejournal.com]

And the food is much better than it was when I was a kid. I went to some fancy restaurants downtown a couple years ago, just before my parents moved to Austin, and indeed, there were some amazing places to eat.

[mistergoat.livejournal.com]

Go to Delaware. it fucking rocks. Whooooo!

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Duuuuuude! D-ware pwnz!

I've been to Rehobeth Beach, DE. It's actually really cool, but hard to get to.

[mistergoat.livejournal.com]

And Delaware is home to more corporate headquarters than any other state!

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Woot! Maybe we could take tours of office parks!

[mistergoat.livejournal.com]

That's some badass shit.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Cubicle Tour 2007.

But don't nobody call us tourists. We are Immersion Explorers, muthafuckas.

[mistergoat.livejournal.com]

Shit. We'll explore that cubicle so good their walls'll hit the ceiling. And then they'll be rooms, not cubicles. How ya like me now?!

[deceptiverose.livejournal.com]

DC is beautiful in the fall. Over Thanksgiving Erik and I went down and we had a great time. We did mostly free things and it was really nice. The National Zoo was beautiful and it was great to see all the monuments at night!

Whatever you do though, have fun!

[dabunny.livejournal.com]

If you can time it to catch the cherry blossoms, I'd go with DC.
Alternately, Niagra Falls is a nice visit if you haven't been there before.

[strangeanimal.livejournal.com]

I vote DC, it's very walkable and public transitable, and tons of stuff to do.

[beowabbit]

So glad you mentioned this post to me! It was in a clump of about four that I missed.

So possibilities that sound particularly good include DC, Richmond or Wilmington, Philadelphia, and Chicago. If Richmond or Wilmington or maybe DC, there’s an outside chance my sister bcat1 and her husband spacechicken could meet us. If Chicago, there’s an outside chance that my parents (who are tragically LiveJournal Luddites) could meet us.

Philly is close enough that it would be a comfortable drive, but of course if we take the train then we can both read and rest and gaze out the window; it causes accidents when I do that while I’m driving.

I wonder if they count Alaska as “continental US”.

(It’s a shame the tickets are restricted to continental US, or we could take the train to go visit sionnagh. :-)