Lily Valley Posted September 16, 2016 Share Posted September 16, 2016 Good morning nice people! I am planning on getting a 30 day or 45 day US Rail pass this summer. Does anyone have experience with the USA Rail Pass? Best routes to get the most out of it? Segments of the system that are miserable? Anyone want to hang out this summer and catch a movie or drink a beer? I'm going to be free from early June to early August. I think. Thanks fellow travelers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astromech Posted September 16, 2016 Share Posted September 16, 2016 I have no experience with the USA Rail Pass, only Eurail Passes. The one U.S. train voyage I've had my eye on for a while is the Empire Builder which follows portions of the Lewis & Clark Trail. https://www.amtrak.com/empire-builder-train Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lily Valley Posted September 16, 2016 Author Share Posted September 16, 2016 49 minutes ago, Astromech said: I have no experience with the USA Rail Pass, only Eurail Passes. The one U.S. train voyage I've had my eye on for a while is the Empire Builder which follows portions of the Lewis & Clark Trail. https://www.amtrak.com/empire-builder-train OOOOOH! That does look pretty. I haven't decided where to start. I am pretty sure I will only cross the country once and fly home. I took the train at 19 from Portland Or to New Orleans and it was a 4 day back breaker. This looks like a nice stretch for one direction. I shall report if I take it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IheartIheartTesla Posted September 16, 2016 Share Posted September 16, 2016 The Surf Liner goes from LA to SF and is 5 hours of near-ocean training. Edit: I probably misremembered the name of the train that makes the LA-SF leg. Just the whole west coast by Amtrak cant do you wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lily Valley Posted September 16, 2016 Author Share Posted September 16, 2016 38 minutes ago, IheartIheartTesla said: The Surf Liner goes from LA to SF and is 5 hours of near-ocean training. Edit: I probably misremembered the name of the train that makes the LA-SF leg. Just the whole west coast by Amtrak cant do you wrong. My people are in the Pac NW. I don't like California enough to do a trip independently of seeing friends, but I have a few in LA that I am planning to visit. Hm. If I can find enough stops, I may do a loop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swordfish Posted September 16, 2016 Share Posted September 16, 2016 9 minutes ago, Lily Valley said: My people are in the Pac NW. I don't like California enough to do a trip independently of seeing friends, but I have a few in LA that I am planning to visit. Hm. If I can find enough stops, I may do a loop. You could also keep going, and hit Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lily Valley Posted September 16, 2016 Author Share Posted September 16, 2016 9 minutes ago, Swordfish said: You could also keep going, and hit Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver. That's a definite. My parents are up there and I love Seattle. Skipping Vancouver, unfortunately. I haven't been there in 22 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swordfish Posted September 16, 2016 Share Posted September 16, 2016 7 minutes ago, Lily Valley said: That's a definite. My parents are up there and I love Seattle. Skipping Vancouver, unfortunately. I haven't been there in 22 years. Well.. If you hit Portland and get bored, I'd buy you a beer...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lily Valley Posted September 16, 2016 Author Share Posted September 16, 2016 44 minutes ago, Swordfish said: Well.. If you hit Portland and get bored, I'd buy you a beer...... Are you there? I was there last summer! I'll buy YOU a beer if you can direct us to the best place for beer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swordfish Posted September 16, 2016 Share Posted September 16, 2016 11 minutes ago, Lily Valley said: Are you there? I was there last summer! I'll buy YOU a beer if you can direct us to the best place for beer! I am! I will never, ever turn down free beer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leofric Posted September 16, 2016 Share Posted September 16, 2016 The only significant train ride I've taken was a trip from San Francisco to Boston. The first leg was on Amtrak's California Zephyr from San Francisco to Chicago. It runs through Sacramento, Reno, Salt Lake and Denver, crossing the Sierras at Donner Pass then over the Rockies in Colorado. Changed trains in Chicago and took the Lake Shore Limited to Boston which follows the Great Lakes to upstate New York then crosses over to Massachusetts. Did it in December, was beautiful ride going through the snow covered passes and great plains while sitting warm and snug in the observation car. Passed most the Great Lakes portion at night, so didn't get as much of a view. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry of the Lawn Posted September 17, 2016 Share Posted September 17, 2016 If you find your way up to New England or Upstate NY, I will happily buy you a beer or three. Very excited for you and jealous! Sounds like a lot of fun. Some thematic reading suggestions: Rail Sea On the Road Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lily Valley Posted September 17, 2016 Author Share Posted September 17, 2016 8 minutes ago, larrytheimp said: If you find your way up to New England or Upstate NY, I will happily buy you a beer or three. Very excited for you and jealous! Sounds like a lot of fun. Some thematic reading suggestions: Rail Sea On the Road Larry, my Gran is in New England, and I've never ever been to NYC. I'll definitely be in that area. Looks like late June / early July. Possibly early June. I'd love to go upstate for a reason. My pals went to college up there and I hear it's breathtaking. I also hear it's close to parts of Canadia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lily Valley Posted September 17, 2016 Author Share Posted September 17, 2016 1 hour ago, Leofric said: The only significant train ride I've taken was a trip from San Francisco to Boston. The first leg was on Amtrak's California Zephyr from San Francisco to Chicago. It runs through Sacramento, Reno, Salt Lake and Denver, crossing the Sierras at Donner Pass then over the Rockies in Colorado. Changed trains in Chicago and took the Lake Shore Limited to Boston which follows the Great Lakes to upstate New York then crosses over to Massachusetts. Did it in December, was beautiful ride going through the snow covered passes and great plains while sitting warm and snug in the observation car. Passed most the Great Lakes portion at night, so didn't get as much of a view. Never occurred to me to take the train back from SF to Chicago. That sounds like a pretty ride. The City of New Orleans isn't very pretty, but it runs like a clock. It would get me home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
all swedes are racist Posted September 17, 2016 Share Posted September 17, 2016 Well it should go without saying if you hit up the Boston area, you not only have several beers waiting for you, but a cozy and booky guest room to crash in as needed. though I guess I should really check with the wife of we have any trips planned where we will serendipitously be in the same city because that is apparently how this works either way have fun, this sounds awesome Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelli Fury Posted September 17, 2016 Share Posted September 17, 2016 You live in the crust punk capital of the world, just bribe one with beer and prepaid phone cards to take you train hopping Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beniowa Posted September 17, 2016 Share Posted September 17, 2016 21 hours ago, Lily Valley said: Larry, my Gran is in New England, and I've never ever been to NYC. I'll definitely be in that area. Looks like late June / early July. Possibly early June. I'd love to go upstate for a reason. My pals went to college up there and I hear it's breathtaking. I also hear it's close to parts of Canadia. Lily, I plan to be visiting NYC myself in June or July. If you make it there at the same time, I'll buy you a book at The Strand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitestripe Posted September 17, 2016 Share Posted September 17, 2016 I'm in upstate NY also and have frequently done the Syracuse-NYC route. It's pretty and follows the Hudson River Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry of the Lawn Posted September 17, 2016 Share Posted September 17, 2016 41 minutes ago, Whitestripe said: I'm in upstate NY also and have frequently done the Syracuse-NYC route. It's pretty and follows the Hudson River It also takes you less than 20m from my front door, albeit the train hasn't stopped there in like 60 years. Wave eastward as you go through Stuvesant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitestripe Posted September 17, 2016 Share Posted September 17, 2016 31 minutes ago, larrytheimp said: It also takes you less than 20m from my front door, albeit the train hasn't stopped there in like 60 years. Wave eastward as you go through Stuvesant. Larry: I'm often in Albany for work. I'll look you up next time since it's close. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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