We're trying to plan Amtrak 2011 trip. We usually go to the end of the line when we travel. Chicago, New Orleans, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, etc. We're thinking there have to be interesting places to visit somewhere along the way of the various LD trains. A city/town to spend a few days, with cultural, scenic, historic interests that rival the locations noted above. Appreciate you knowledgeable folks sharing your favorites with us for our consideration. Thanks, Best regards, Rodger
Posted by TBlack (Member # 181) on :
Hillside,
You didn't mention Portland, OR or San Antonio. I'm hoping just my mentioning these two towns will start your imagination running, but if you need more assistance, c'mon back!
TB
Posted by yukon11 (Member # 2997) on :
I also think it would help, Rodger, if you gave us a little more information on your stops along the way. Here in Northern Calif. the Coast Starlight gets in very late, on its way north. If you can stop and travel around for a few days, some things to think about in Northern Calif. are the Napa Valley Wine Train (Napa to St. Helena), the Calif. State Railroad Museum in Sacramento, and, if you are headed to Reno, the National Automobile Museum. There is a lot to see between Calif and Seattle, as well, if you could give us more info on your routes.
Richard
Posted by train lady (Member # 3920) on :
going to Chicago from where you live brings to mind some interesting places.Wilmington is one. Of course there is Philly.Once in DC there are so many things to see and do you could spend weeks there and still have more to see.But take the Capital to Chicago and stop at Harper's Ferry,then on to Cleveland.There is so much to see and do in this country narrowing it down is a problem
Posted by sojourner (Member # 3134) on :
In the northeast, I agree that Philly is very interesting; hotels are reasonable there too. I've never been to Wilmington but Baltimore, which I visited last year for the first time, has a ton to see & do. And of course there's always NYC.
Heading further south, Richmond VA, Savannah GA, and esp Charleston SC are all excellent stopovers. And Charleston has fantastic food too.
If you are taking the Southwest Chief, Santa Fe is a great place to stop--train stop is Lamy but Amtrak has a very well-run little shuttle system that takes you over to Santa Fe. Lovely town (can get crowded sometimes) with much history, museums. Very good food too.
Santa Barbara CA was one of my favorite stopever, first recommended by Frank here. It has everything--historic museum, mission, beach, walks, wharf, parks, great food, great weather.
San Diego is a terminus, but if you haven't been there, it's also a terrific city you don't want to miss, with much to see & do. Many hotels have shuttles to take you around too.
There's an awful lot to see & do in Pittsburgh, and it's beautifully situated, all cleaned up now.
And don't miss San Antonio (though I wouldn't go in summer), if you haven't been; fantastic city.
There are also some smaller places that are very nice but I won't mention them as you seemed interested in places with tons to see & do.
I haven't been to Minneapolis/St Paul, Kansas City, and Cincinnati, but I believe they all offer quite a bit (though Cincinnati is on the Cardinal, not currently my favorite train). But they seem to require car rental to fully enjoy.
Will give more details if you give more specifics. Would you be renting a car? Are you interested only in larger cities? There are some lovely nice small places to see.
Posted by HillsideStation (Member # 6386) on :
Thanks for the running start! We stopped in Philadelphia a couple of years ago on our way to New Orleans. Tough for a guy from the Boston area to admit; but Philly's got it all over us. I actually got a 'shiver' when I stood in Independence Hall where the Continental Congress met and hammered out the Declaration of Independence. We've been trying to figure a way to visit San Antonio and continue on to the west coast. But with the three day a week operation of the SL, coupled with the fare structures in the east based on day of the week departures trying to figure the logistics is too deep. The best we've been able to figure is less than a day or more than four days; and I'm not sure we're up to that amount of time River Walk, Alamo, etc. not withstanding. Have given some thought to stopping a couple of times for a couple of days each along the route of the EB. Leavenworth WA, looks like a likely spot for a couple of folks who enjoy German/Alsacian dining. Our primary thought at the beginning was to stop in Portland off the CS. Take the Cascades to Vancouver BC, then return to Seattle the same way. But now it appears if we want to do that we'd have to bus it from Seattle and back...something neither of us really want to think about. Open to your ideas. Best regards, Rodger
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
For those who enjoy German cuisine (I'm personally "take it or leave it"), here's s restaurant in Fredericksburg VA (taste tested last Friday evening). Note the location is in the RF&P station. Can't promise you'll see any "action", but guarantee you will hear it as it passes overhead.
A Marriott Courtyard is located .03mi away (didn't stay at it as a Marriott Fairfield South of town is more convenient to my friends' home).
Posted by rresor (Member # 128) on :
Hillside Station:
I have a suggestion on the "Builder" to Portland. Portland is a great city to spend some time, then you can ride a Cascades train to Seattle (also a nice city). Here's the suggestion on avoiding a bus ride: take the high speed ferry from Seattle to Victoria. It's a gorgeous trip, and Victoria is absolutely charming. Stay overnight at the Empress Hotel if you can afford it. Then take the bus/ferry from Victoria to Vancouver (I've heard this trip called "a religious experience") and sightsee in Vancouver for a day, then take the afternoon Cascades back to Seattle (a very scenic trip, much of it right along Puget Sound).
The PNW is, IMHO, the most beautiful part of America. It's notable that people who move there NEVER leave.
Posted by sojourner (Member # 3134) on :
I like RResor's suggestion, but I'd stay longer in Victoria and Vancouver than 1 night in each. In Victoria, you can stay in a less expensive Best Western or Days Inn (it's a nice one, really) right near the ferry and just tour the Empress Hotel and then you'll have enough money for at least 2 nights! You really need to stay at least one night extra so you can visit Bouchart Gardens (there is an easy bus you can take).
I do like the Pacific NW but it does rain a lot! I think you need to go in summer to maximize likelihood of nice weather, though I've always gone over Memorial weekend--once rainy, once gorgeous.
Re visiting San Antonio: I am confused about the problem you have. You can get there, or return from there, any day if you go via Chicago--i.e., the Texas Eagle runs daily between Chicago and San Antonio; it's only between San Antonio and LA or New Orleans that the Sunset Ltd runs triweekly (and the TX Eagle hooks up with it in San Antonio on those days). If you put Boston South (BOS) to San Antonio (SAS) into the Amtak computer online booking, or vice versa, the route you'll get is Lakeshore Ltd #449/448 between Boston & Chicago and Texas Eagle between Chicago and San Antonio, any day you like. True, it's a 2-night trip, and that will mean 2 sleepers if you get them, but if you go via New Orleans instead, that would mean a layover in a hotel, AND either a long coach trip on the SL or another sleeper.
Also note that you don't have to take the LSL to Chicago; you could go to DC and catch the Capital Ltd, if you are so inclined. Or, for example, you could go to Baltimore, see something of that city and overnight there, then catch a MARC or Amtrak to DC in the morning, have a free stopover in DC too, and catch your Cap Ltd at 4PM to Chicago.
Just plan your trip to San Antonio so that the day you arrive or leave (depending on which way you are going) is one of the Sunset Ltd days. In other words, if you want to stop there on your way out, go any day; but plan to leave on the day when the SL leaves San Antonio for LA. Or if you want to stop on your way back, come in on a day when the Sunset Ltd comes in; you can leave any day to head home via Chicago.
Though I believe the Sunset Ltd is more interesting heading west (I'm not sure, though; ask others), I've only taken it twice heading east. But the time I was stopping in Texas, after stopping 2 nights in San Antonio, I also stopped 1 night in Austin, catching the Texas Eagle coach up to there. I enjoyed that city quite a lot too; visited the capitol, the Johnson Museum at the university, O Henry house, had Texas BBQ, heard blues, walked around--all with just 1 overnight! I stayed in a Hampton Inn downtown, a little pricier than most, but very very nice. In San Antonio I stayed in the famous Hotel Menger.
BTW, I would not do the Texas stops in summer; too hot in Texas.
Posted by palmland (Member # 4344) on :
thanks for the Bavarian Chef link, GBN. My wife loves German food so might skip the Ironhorse for a visit there on our next NJ trek. I knew there was a restaurant there but didn't stop, except to check out the trains.
Hillside, a trip on the CZ is always spectacular. Make a stop over in the Rocky Mountain area. Denver is a great city and a trip to the top of the world in Rocky Mountain NP is well worth it. When not staying with relatives we like a cabin here.
Although I have not done it, a stop at Glenwood Springs to 'take the baths' is very popular.
Posted by sojourner (Member # 3134) on :
I really liked my stop in Glenwood Springs, and if you like you can take the bus to Aspen.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
Well, Mr. Palmland, there was no restaurant in the RF&P station from Sep 09 until about May 2010.
Oh, and take note of who "Yelps' around here.
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
Just a few suggestions with not much relation to each other.... though none have been mentioned yet in this thread -
Memphis, TN - Decent museums, good food, lot's of musical heritage and not just Elvis. Heritage streetcar line from the Amtrak station right into the heart of downtown.
St. Louis, MO - the arch, more good museums, great local transit on the light rail.
Kansas City, MO - same as St. Louis minus the arch and the light rail.
Sacramento, CA - reasonable lodging, light rail, Amtrak near Old Sacramento and the California Railroad Museum for the railroad/Old West enthusiast.
Albuquerque, NM - good launching point for southwestern themed vacations.... and the commuter train can whisk you right up to Santa Fe from the same platform Amtrak uses.
I would second the suggestion of Victoria, BC and second the suggestion that one night is not enough. There are several decent hotels of the Best Western Hotel nature within a couple of blocks of the waterfront should the Empress prove too glamorous.
Posted by SilverStar092 (Member # 2652) on :
I echo lots of these suggestions. Add Williamsburg, VA to the list as it has tons of wonderful historic sights all within walking distance of the train station. Plan on at least 2 full days here. As someone noted, St. Louis is great...Cardinals games in summer, the Arch, Metrolink light rail, AND the terrific Museum of Transportation. (See my article on the home page of TrainWeb for details about that.) A car would be required or a taxi from the Kirkwood station. Another great city is Indianapolis...lots of museums, a fine zoo, Indy 500 racetrack, etc. (Another of my TrainWeb articles discusses that city.)
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
quote:Originally posted by SilverStar092: As someone noted, St. Louis is great...Cardinals games in summer, the Arch, Metrolink light rail, AND the terrific Museum of Transportation. (See my article on the home page of TrainWeb for details about that.)
As Mr. Turner (he's "out" at his referenced article) notes, St Louis is an attractive Midwest city with "much to do'. Be sure to stay at the Marriott Union Station and at least have Breakfast in what one time was the Harvey House (hotel restaurants for Dinner? if convenient to circumstances, i.e. Messrs. Bowen and Bowen, fine, otherwise elsewhere). Mike Shannon's has an excellent Rib Eye - not overpriced (have no idea where it is, but your friendly taxicab driver had best know). Union Station is .04mi from Gateway Transportation Center - perfectly safe walk during daylight.
Posted by amtrak92 (Member # 14343) on :
I would add Charleston to your stops, great railfaning, and reasonably safe in downtown. But definitely San Diago, it has great transit, nice old town, but still modern, and not far from the beach, just take the coaster to the beach. May I also add, that Charlotte, Atlanta, and New Orleans on the Crescent route, are really nice. I have also heard of the oldest train station still in service (building I believe) is in Jackson MI(three wolverines a day)
Posted by palmland (Member # 4344) on :
The Marriott at St. Louis Union Station is absolutely worth it. While I stayed there on business (I believe it was either a Hyatt or Omni then), in retiree life I saved a few buck and stayed at this excellent hotel.
It is on a side street beside the train shed. What makes it unique is that it was originally the railroad YMCA where the crews stayed. Now much improved, it is one of our favorite chains in the moderate price category - better than HI Express or Marriott Fairfied - a free drink in the evening, excellent breakfast, great customer service, and the selling point for us, it allows pets. They happily offered our Bassett Hound a treat at check in. Unfortunately its mostly in the midwest so we don't have many opportunities to stay there.
Posted by TBlack (Member # 181) on :
Dear Hillsidestation,
Boy, you ask for advice and you get it! I'd be cautious about trying to do too much in one trip. Sorry San Antonio doesn't work out this time. How about the EB to Portland; just do Portland and surrounds; then the train to Seattle and then the EB back home? And you know that you and I have several options from Chicago east which could make the trip interesting. Also, I find that if I bring olives and vermouth, Amtrak provides the rest. Nothing like it in the lounge car! Finally,I think you're up to #46?
TB
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
quote:Originally posted by palmland: The Marriott at St. Louis Union Station is absolutely worth it.....better than HI Express or Marriott Fairfied
As I believe I've noted here at another topic, the Marriott Union Station hotel is the successor to the Terminal Hotel, at which I once stayed during 1962 as a college student.
At that time, the rate was $5/ni or nowadays my Daily tip to the Housekeeper. Checking in was signing a register book on a carousel - just like the Western movies. The only method of payment was "green stuff' and there was a spittoon in the room.
What a difference 48 years and a $169 rate can make.
Finally, I agree that Marriott Fairfield is so low that I'm often surprised Marriott allows their name to be associated with the brand (don't get me wrong - clean and SMOKE FREE just like any other Marriott property). Their complimentary Breakfast is such that I will simply "pass'. I stayed at one in Fredericksburg last weekend (MickeyD got my Breakfast business) simply because it is the closest hotel to my friends who live along the perimeter of Fort AP Hill in Caroline County.