Amtrak’s big, shiny trains travel to major US cities and through some of the country’s most spectacular scenery. Their rugged charm sets them apart from more mundane modes of transportation and while this may not be the fastest way to get around, the pace is perfect for sightseeing. You can pick your mates, read a book, let your thoughts unfold, sleep flat, and generally enjoy most of the comforts of home. It’s much more fun than being isolated above the clouds or driving in front of endless billboards on the highways.
Amtrak operates nearly every passenger train in the United States, and the following are among the most enjoyable scenic routes:
The California Zephyr is one of the best trains in the world, going from Chicago to San Francisco through the American heartland and the high plains of Colorado, then up into the Rocky Mountains via the Oregon Trail. Pioneers came through here, as did prospectors, the pony express, and the first continental telegraph. After Salt Lake City, it crosses the Bonneville Salt Flats and the beautiful but dangerous Sierra Nevada.
The epic journey of the Sunset Limited takes you coast to coast from New Orleans to Los Angeles. The train makes a dizzying crossing of the Mississippi River on the Huey P Long Bridge in Crescent City before traveling past swamps, snowy egrets, alligators, mansions and sugarcane fields. After San Antonio it joins the Rio Grande, taking a day to cross the sagebrush and mesquite prairies of Texas.
The Southwest Chief travels between Chicago and the Pacific, following part of the Santa Fe Trail first used by Native Americans, Spanish conquistadors, caravans and stagecoaches. Cross the Mojave Desert and pass Dodge City’s famous Boot Hill Cemetery. From Williams in Arizona you can travel to the Grand Canyon by train.
The Crescent runs from New York to New Orleans through the Blue Ridge Mountains and idyllic Shenandoah National Park with its dogwoods and cedars. Beyond Atlanta are sleepy southern cities with quaint general stores and sun-bleached homes. The train also makes a dramatic crossing of Lake Pontchartrain, skimming a few feet above the water on a six-mile causeway.
The Coast Starlight operates between Seattle and Los Angeles via Washington, Oregon and California. Pass some of the highest mountains in the United States, such as the Mt Hood volcano, as well as the emerald forests and waterfalls of Twin Peaks country. Beyond San Luis Obispo, it runs along slopes perched high on the cliffs, with splendid views of the Pacific waves and beaches.
