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…

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…

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…

Ride the Cardinal Train to Discover West Virginia by Rail

West Virginia offers up a bounty of such intimacy. There’s the sweet beauty of the Appalachian Mountains, a quiet resilience to its people, and a chance to visit the past while watching its residents move surely to the future.

Notes from the Train: The Good, the Bad, the Glorious

Trips are rarely all good or all bad; yet, it’s the blending of these moments that creates a journey. Below are a few notes on the good, the glorious, and the not-so-good (seeing a derailed train, dragging luggage through a blizzard) during my trip through Colorado by rail. March 6: Arrival at Winter Park Arrived…

Want Less Fear, More Joy? Take the Next Step

I stepped off the train into a blizzard. As I stood there trying to figure out where to go, I heard the conductor’s cry of All Aboard!, and knew I would soon be left to fend for myself. Yet fear never entered my consciousness. Instead, fully immersed in the moment and its requirements, I took the next step.