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spiritedpause@lemmy.world

Help me plan a roomette trip? Chicago to... Somewhere out West. Best train to take? I've got an $800 voucher that expires in two weeks, I need to book ASAP. (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 1 week ago by hereiamagain@sh.itjust.works to c/amtrak@lemmy.world

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We've never been on a trip before, we booked a roomette to Tucson once before, but missed our train because an employee looked at our ticket and told us to sit and wait for him to call us. He never did and our train left, then he was very rude, convinced us to cancel our ticket (which was the wrong advice). It's a long story, needless to say, we got our money back, plus repayment for last minute flights (we needed to be in Tucson), plus this voucher for another trip.

The trip can be any time of the year next year, not February, March or April. Assuming summer is best?

The plan is to ride out west somewhere, California? And then rent a car to road trip home. It'll be the first and probably only time we can afford something like this, so we wanna make it count. It might make more sense to drive out and train back? But... I worry about missing the train... Again.. no no, we're leaving from Chicago.

I know some routes are better than others, and I know they change sometimes, what they're offering, what they used to offer, etc.

We'd like a roomette, and we wanna see the sights in one of those glass roof cars, and I know the food options vary too, so whatever the better of the food options would be ideal.

Bonus points if you have suggestions of things to check out on our way back east. We've never been out west before, besides Tuscon. Maybe see the Sequoias? Grand canyon? We like backpacking so the return trip will probably involve some car camping, or real camping, for the fun of it.

Thanks!

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[–] broja@piefed.social 9 points 1 week ago

I'm not sure where you're going to end up, but I took the Amtrak from San Francisco to Seattle and the ride is incredibly gorgeous. Plus, San Francisco and Seattle are both excellent places to visit.

[–] Crackhappy@lemmy.world 5 points 1 week ago

I highly recommend Portland Or, especially in summer, since it's never super hot and it's always beautiful and fun.

[–] Concussed@lemmy.zip 4 points 1 week ago

The train ride from Denver to Reno is legitimately supposed to be the most beautiful in the country! So I'd do whatever you can to ensure that's a part of your journey!!

[–] Zonefive@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 week ago

We just spent a week in Flagstaff, AZ and had a great time. We spent our time waking around downtown trying a bunch of excellent restaurants and local coffee joints. It’s just a cool little town.

One of our days we made the couple hour drive to the Grand Canyon, which is obviously highly recommended. Bonus: if the Govt is still shutdown, you’ll probably get into the park free like we did.

It looks like Amtrak’s Southwest Chief will take you the whole way.

[–] Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Okay I think you should take the coming-back weather into account, driving in your rental. In summer, the less desert driving the better, whereas it's easy in a train, so maybe the Southwest Chief that goes near the Grand Canyon. It ends in Los Angeles at Union Station, where you could catch the Coast Starlight and head north, or go Metro on the Expo Line to Santa Monica, to stick your toes in the Pacific and/or rent a car.

Then come back over the Rockies, or if you have time drive north along the coast first and come back across the top.

The Sequoia National Park (Kings Canyon visitor center) is about a 5 hour drive from Santa Monica if traffic cooperates, though it never does in LA. It's uniquely beautiful imho, worth it even though it's out of your way for the rest of your trip.