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

[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!