I'm thinking of taking vacation on the west coast and returning on The Empire Builder from Portland to Chicago during August. Does anyone have experience with this excursion? Any warnings? Advice? Tips?
My son & I rode The Builder from Chicago to Wolf Point, Mt. two years ago, nice ride, very cordial crew. However, the best & most scenic part of the ride is west of there all he way to Washington, so you're lucky there! One word of advice, if you don't already know, BUY YOUR TICKETS AS SOON AS YOU CAN !! Enjoy your ride!
Sounds like a great plan. Like Fred said plan early and get the tickets. One thing I HIGHLY recommend even though it is expensive...Get a Sleeping car Room.more comfortable, and for two rooms it ran about 250-300 for the trip (if I am wrong on that there will be a correction made in the next few hours) It is easier you have access to showers, paper in the morning and just over all a more pleasant trip. It also is a good idea to get to know your car steward a little, just so you know who you can go to, and hear some stories. I took the Seattle to Chicago train #8 back in 99 and one nice thing about leaving from Seattle was we had the dinner the first night. Leaving out of Portland they only have the snack car. That may be rough but in either case the senery is wonderful...and you would have lots of fun..if you want any more info try www.amtrak.com. I know you'll have a blast, report back to us please!
I second the idea of the sleeper, that's the only way my son & I travel (I have a pass so we go for half fare). You've got the privacy to be by yourself at nite to sleep and the option of spending daytime hours in the sightseering dome lounge car - plus your meals are included and your sleeping car attendent usually has complimentary juice, soft drinks & coffee on hand for your consumption - sure beats the hell out of flying!!!
Thank you. I'll take your advice and leave from Seattle. We have never visited the Grand Canyon so the trip will start with a flight to Las Vegas........train tour of the Canyon..... then a flight to Seattle.
Welcome, Glad I could help, hope I didn't change your plans to much by recommending Seattle and not portland, Hope to hear how it went, enjoy the whole trip.
No, my plans didn't really change. I'm still trying to put something together, so any changes I make are not really changes but part of the original plan.
