Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Macy Williams
I have always fantasized about traveling across the country by train, so when my boyfriend Johnny suggested that we take Amtrak from San Francisco to New York City, I was all in. There have been many conversations around the web about what it's really like to take Amtrak for long trips, so I want to give you the most accurate and true depiction.
Johnny and I decided to get a roomette for the first and longest leg of our travel on the California Zephyr. We had the small room from Emeryville (the Amtrak station right outside of San Francisco) to Chicago for two days and two nights. After a seven hour stop in Chicago, we rode out the remaining 17 hours of our journey to NYC in coach seats. In total, our tickets for two people came out to $772. Not bad considering we were traveling for three and a half days and our meals were included with the roomette.
To get all the details on what it's like to sleep, eat, and basically live in an Amtrak train while chugging across America, keep reading. There's lots of interesting details that will take you by surprise.
1The roomette is incredibly small, but it comes with lots of perks.
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Macy Williams
Johnny and I were pretty surprised by the size of our roomette — it was tiny. When we sat in the facing seats, our knees were only a few inches away from each other. Luckily, when you get a Superliner Roomette or you go even fancier and get a Viewliner Bedroom, all of your meals are included with your ticket.
Also, each sleeper car is overseen by an attendant who is there to help you with anything you need. Our attendant, Nathan, was awesome. He had a hot pot of coffee always brewing and a bucket of ice available for beverages. He also changed the linens on our foldout beds each morning. He checked on us several times throughout the day to make sure we had what we needed.
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2The dining car is a great way to meet new people.
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Macy Williams
We ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the dining car while traveling in the roomette. Because the car has community seating so that the train can accomodate every passenger, you often sit across the table from strangers. It's awesome to hear the stories behind why people are traveling and where they are coming from.
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3The food served on the dining car is downright impressive.
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Macy Williams
I will never know how they cooked Johnny's steak to perfection on a moving train, but they did it. Everything we ate was pretty tasty. Pictured above is a bacon cheeseburger and roasted chicken with mashed potatoes and a vegetable medley.
Dinner also came with a salad and dessert — you never left the car feeling hungry. We actually looked forward to trying a variety of meals on Amtrak's menu.
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4The viewing car is a great change of scenery.
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Macy Williams
If you're looking to get out of your seat and settle in somewhere new, the viewing car is the perfect place to go. Swivel chairs and booth-style tables fill the car so that passengers can get comfortable. Huge picture windows that touch the ceiling of the car make it a great place to see the beautiful sights outside.
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5The views you see while traveling are utterly incredible.
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Macy Williams
Speaking of views, photos alone will not do this trip justice. We were able to see the Rocky Mountains, the Sierra Nevadas, Colarado's canyons, and even a few bald eagles. We spent many hours just looking out our window because the sights were entertainment enough.
Truth be told, the section of the trip from Denver to Chicago was bland. There were lots of endless fields and farmland, but not much more than that. The excitement comes mostly at the beginning and end if the journey.
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6There are showers on the train!
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Macy Williams
I was a little nervous that I wouldn't get to clean up while traveling for such a long time, but there were showers on the train. Our attendant also provided clean towels and bars of soap. The shower was pretty spacious and easy to use. It's attached to a small space with a mirror, shelf, and hook so that you can easily keep up with your usual morning and evening routines.
I suggest timing your showers out to when you are traveling over flat land. Taking a shower while going over a mountain is quite a bumpy experience.
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7You get to stop and stretch your legs in some cool cities.
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Macy Williams
Besides the regular 10 minute breaks we got when passengers come on and off the train at various stations, we also got to step off the train for extended periods of time at a couple of locations.
We explored Denver for an hour one evening — Union Station is very centrally located to the city's downtown scene. We also visited Chicago for seven hours before transferring trains. It was a great way to get the most out of our experience.
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8Taking the train is an experience you will never forget.
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Macy Williams
Let's be honest, it's pretty cool to tell people that you journeyed across the country by train. People don't commonly travel that way anymore. I was nervous to be on a train for such a long period of time, but the truth is that I had an amazing experience and it went by really fast. I highly recommend taking your next adventure on the tracks.
