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I would like some input for my trip in June. I'll begin my trip in St. Louis, going to Kansas City to connect with the SW Chief to LA and then CS to San Francisco. I have a ticket for #303 which leaves STL at 3pm to arrive KCY 9pm or so. I wonder if I can take #301 instead, leaving at 8am, arriving KCY 1:30? Since both are unreserved trains I wonder if that would be a problem. If it is OK with Amtrak, which is the better choice. It's going to be mostly daylight for either one in June, right? Is it worth it to have 6-8 hrs in KCY? Is it worth getting up for an 8 o'clock train after a late night? Is there a place to stash my bags while I explore (I'll be 1st class)? Is there anything to do? Any good barbecue within striking distance. Both cities are completely new to me but I will have had 2 days in St. Louis already.
TwinStarRocket Member # 2142
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There is enough to see in the KC depot to kill 3 or 4 hours: a walking tour through the secret passageways, some sort of science museum, railroad memorabalia and historical displays about what used to be the busiest and largest depot west of Chicago. There was even a gangland massacre that was a catalyst for forming the FBI! There is often entertainment and there is even a giant screen cinema. Try www.unionstation.org for more info.
You can also walk to nearby Crown Center, an urban mall with interesting shops, restaurants and entertainment (www.crowncenter.com), and if the weather is bad you can get there by skyway.
Amtrak stores your checked baggage for free, and anything else you want to leave there is only a couple of bucks. I assume checked baggage is open when your train comes in but it wouldn't hurt to check. Amtrak can give you a depot phone #. When I drove down from St. Paul they did not open checked baggage til about an hour before the #3 arrived.
Someone more local to the area can probably give you more info or correct what I have said.
UncleBuck44 Member # 2049
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I would say take the 8 AM train. Since it originates in STL, there's a better chance it leaves on time than the 3 PM coming in from Chicago. Also if you had a long night before leaving, you can sleep on the train. The ride gets pretty boring after you split away from the Missouri River.
gregbkc Member # 3726
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As far as BBQ goes, Jack Stack is directly behind Union Station, on the other side of the tracks in the old railroad freight house. Its a nice, casual place and has excellent KC BBQ. You will have to walk one of the street bridges to get over the tracks, but its not too bad of a walk and completely safe in the daytime. Just ask someone in the Union Station Infomation Booth in the main hall and they can tell you how to get there. Here is their website: http://jackstackbbq.com/
Also, right across the street from Union Station is the World War I memorial and museum. Its only a couple of bucks to take the elevator to the top of the 21 story memorial and has a great view. I think they stop selling tickets arround 4:00pm, but even if you dont have time to go to the top, its still an interesting monument to visit and will certainly kill some time. Here is their website: http://www.libertymemorialmuseum.org
As mentioned in a post above, Crown Center is just a skywalk away. Among the shops, there is also a six screen theatre if you feel like catching a movie.
And finally, if you take a $10 cab ride south about 25 blocks, you can enjoy the Country Club Plaza. A large outdoor shoping and dining area that is known as being the first suburban shopping district in the nation. Again, here is the website: http://www.countryclubplaza.com/ Cabs can sometime be a pain to catch in KC. If you venture away from Union Station by cab, allow PLENTY of time to get back. Yellow Cab's (the most reliable in the city) phone is 816-471-5000
I live just up the hill from Union Station so if you have any further questions, feel free to ask. If you choose the earlier train, I hope you enjoy your short stay in KC.
MOKSRail Member # 3163
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To whet you appetite for the scenery along the route, view this link MO Amtrak photos
THe advice given is good. You can also walk around the station, on the barbecue restaurant side, and get some shots similar to the ones on the page.
There's also the Hereford House, a long time steak house, a couple of blocks north of the station.
I'd recommend taking the morning train, since all the scenery will then be in daylight. The UP is notorious for freight delays on this route, though it's double-tracked east of Jeff City. So the train might well arrive later in the evening in KC, unfortunately.
City of Miami Member # 2922
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Thanks, guys. This is exactly what I needed. I appreciate it - or "Much obliged" as they used to say in Georgia.
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