Amtrak

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Cat600

Member
I did a Milwaukee, WI to Raton, NM and back about 10 years ago with the Boy Scouts to Philmont. It's pretty cool to ride the train and see stuff, but I never really got any sleep at all. The motion of the call and clickity clack of the wheels proved to be to much I guess to allow me sleep.

But I would say a train ride is a great experience.
 
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ranlam

New member
Rode from New York to Twin Cities, definatly get a sleeper car. Its a really cool way to travel in my opinion. You'll meet and talk to lots of different people. Drinks are way to spendy in the drink car though. Dinner car was good. All in all it was a good experience.
 
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michaeladams

New member
drinks and food are pricey and except for glacier national park you go through the rest of the rocky mountains at night both ways.just the way the time table works out.
 
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smgabe

New member
I did a trip several years ago from Milw to western Montana to ski Big Mountain. As others have said food and bev can be pricey. We brought our own drinks and some snacks and ate their meals. Worked out good. If you have the time I'd recommend it. Also, I'd highly recommend a sleeper if you're going on a longer trip. You may not get the best sleep but at least you can lay down to stretch out and also have a little privacy.
 
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ripcord

New member
Rode from Milw to Whitefish, MT... nice way to travel, would like to do it again except in a sleeper. 30 hrs riding coach sucked.... no real sleep. The food was excellent. On the return trip had breakfast as the sun was coming up going through Glacier.
 
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1blue99srx600

New member
Went from Glenview, IL to Whitefish MT one spring for a ski trip. I would totally recommend a sleeper car. We rode coach and it wasn't a great sleeping experience add to the fact that it was spring break and had a bunch of rowdys in our car! All in all it was a great experience and one that I can say I have done. You meet and get to watch a lot of people! The best was a crazy guy that got on in Minneapolis, he talked to himself and yelled, this was before 9/11 so he was on the whole ride, someone complained and they kept an eye on him but never made him get off. Seeing America was pretty cool. The train does stop and at some points you can get off and stretch your legs. Ate in the food car but cannot recall how much it was.
Oh and they lost my skis on the return trip but I got them back.
 
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cyguy

New member
does Amtrak ever run any travel deals? I've been thinking of doing this but it seems pretty spendy!
 
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ezra

Well-known member
why stop in Washington do this www.akms.com/ferry/ to say homer. only going to do it 1time go big or go home. map quest put it at about 72hr drive time back to MI around 4000mi or knock off 900mi and take the boat to Juno then start riding back at lest you can say you road from Alaska . I have made the drive a few times 1st as a kid in a scout mid 70s then when I was 17 in a ford courier then a few yrs back with my brother in law after he got out of the army in a new 150. the road has come along way 30some yrs if you got the time and a leather tough arss do it up.but go all the way to homer better to regret something you have done than to regret something you haven't done
 
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rocky367

Member
Yeah, Amtrak does have specials, sign up for their email and you'll get them. Sometimes it is with in regions. We've discussed going on a train trip also, but can never decide where to ride to.
 
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peter

Member
I did a train ride from Glenview il to Washington DC to I think Tampa Florida then back to Glenview when I was younger. It was alot of fun. I would do it again I would just go somewhere else.
 
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polarisrider1

New member
I would get a sleeper car or area. Can you actually sleep our is it noisy? I heard some will haul your car, wonder if that's the case I can haul 2 motorcycles out?
 
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bobsledder

New member
yes on the sleeper

Our daughter did a train journey collecting water samples with a group from college. They traveled by train with and without sleeper accommodations as well as vans. She advised the sleepers were not your bedroom at home however the privacy and quiet was of great value.
 
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qber

New member
great way to travel

For overnite the sleeper is the best way to go- very easy to get some sleep. A lot of people sleep in their coach seats though and don't seem to mind it. The food in the diner car is very good but a little expensive. The observation cars are a great place to hang out and the views from the train (Empire Builder) which you are going on are fantastic. The bar and snack bar are in the lower level of the observation car.. A couple years ago when I was in a full leg cast, I used AMTRAK a lot. I had no problems.
 
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polarisrider1

New member
qber said:
For overnite the sleeper is the best way to go- very easy to get some sleep. A lot of people sleep in their coach seats though and don't seem to mind it. The food in the diner car is very good but a little expensive. The observation cars are a great place to hang out and the views from the train (Empire Builder) which you are going on are fantastic. The bar and snack bar are in the lower level of the observation car.. A couple years ago when I was in a full leg cast, I used AMTRAK a lot. I had no problems.
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Thank you for the input.
 
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