My husband and I are inspired by your videos. We have some trips planned in our hearts and heads. We hope to make them reality soon. You give us great insight for planning. We have a shoestring budget and limited physical ability. All information helps. ❤
Love your channel! My son and I took the Southwest Chief to and from LA in coach in May! We had fun meeting people and seeing the country. We originally planned to take the Texas Eagle, to the Coast Starlite to Southwest Chief, but we did the Southwest Chief to and fro NY instead. Then in July we took the Empire Service to NYC and stayed there for 4 days and then took it back home. LOVE Amtrak! Keep the suggestions coming! ❤
Hour + video! Whoa. What a great trip for cold months. The first meals you showed near 5:07 were both so big you could have split them and saved some cash! Looked very tasty.
Just thought I’d let you know that after a 25 minute search I did find my socks. It appears, as you warned, they had in fact been knocked off by sunset views of the Grand Canyon. Awesome video. Absolutely loved it.
My Goodness, I love the life you guys live. My goal is to emulate your lifestyle, and hope to meet you all someday on a cruise, on the rails, or in the air.
The Great Sand Dunes is very nice to visit, but you missed one of the Best Rail Roading experience in the nation. You drove past a historic rolling rail road operations in Antonito, CO. It runs daily trips to Chama NM with a bus back to your starting point. Lunch is served. Travel back to the steam age in a living museum.
I love the Great Sand Dunes. I grew up in Colorado and we went down there once in July... HOT, windy...and you climb up that first dune and when you get to the top? More, even higher dunes... Great to see that it's a National Park (used to be a State Park).
Hello, thank you for posting so many videos about your Amtrak trips! I enjoyed watching them as I was prepared to take advantage of Amtrak Rail Pass. I had mapped out the itineraries of all 10 segments and was ready to purchase Rail Pass and book tickets for our train trip UNTIL.. I searched for reviews of Amtrak train trips and read so many negative reviews about Amtrak's experience from travelers on Tripadvisor. So disappointed!! Hic!
Great itinerary!! I haven't watched it yet but look forward to doing so. I'm planning to circle the US and Canada on train and am looking forward to taking the Southwest Chief for the first time. Your video may give me some good ideas of places to stop along the way!
Train memorabilia is so cool!! We have Shay No. 5’s sister, Shay No. 7 here in Heston, IN at the Hesston Steam Museum!! And she is usually up and running, hauling museum visitors around the tracks. And, FYI, it’s only about a 10 minute ride from the Amtrak platform in New Buffalo, Michigan…😊❤
Time to do another room tour of the newest refresh on the Superliner! Saw a vlogger on the California Zephyr that showed the new seats and carpet, etc., on her trip to Chicago in a roomette. I'm going in January so hoping I get a car that has gone thru an upgrade.
@GroundedLifeTravel If you every get back to St. Louis you really need to stop in at the Union Station Hotel. Inside the lobby there is a Tiffany triptych window in stained glass that is literally priceless. Interesting story behind it. St. Louis had a massive fire in the downtown waterfront area. With all the burned out buildings it looked like a war zone. A fight scene in the movie Escape From N.Y. was filmed inside the badly damaged Union Station. When the downtown was eventually rebuilt the old train station was turned into a hotel. It wasn't until then that they discovered the Tiffany window. It amazingly survived the fire intact. If you watch the movie the window is there but so covered in soot no one saw it.
Looks amazing, So you had to buy new tickets everytime you got back on the train? I seem to keep asking this question, it confuses me, our system is a little different .
I did get a chance to attend Gateway Arch national Park in February this year . didn't go up to the top of the Arch she's going to go up to the top of the Arch with me when we go.... Missouri ❤️
Wow!!! I've never had the nerve to retrain between end points except at Memphis on The City of NO which is more reliable of all of Amtrak's long distance routes. Arrival times can be extensive. Amtrak's Superliner equipment will not be replaced anytime soon. If parts cannot be found, rolling stock will be mothballed & scavenged. Train consists will become shorter. I'm hoping they'll do something soon or sleeping car passengers may be forced to go coach or find other travel modes.
Is this all new? Last I checked a lot of your recent content is repackaged or compilations. Your drive in Williams showed gas at $2.29. That’s been a long time.
That was a beautiful sunset. At the Grand Canyon, do you have to do a lot of walking to get to it (say from a parking lot)? Would it be a concern for an elderly person or someone with bad knees?
Thanks! They don't have a specific date, but if you sign up for the Amtrak Guest Rewards program with your email they will always send an email to let you know when it is so you don't miss it.
Thank you! I thought maybe you had noted a pattern, for instance, beginning of the year? I’m planning a trip down the east coast in March and wonder if I should gamble and wait until January to book.
How did you handle the logistics with Amtrak? Did you call and tell them what you wanted? I can't imagine getting all the on and off and sleeping rooms booked. So often there's no availability so it seems like you'd have to book a year out.
I love the video!!! The music at the start is head-ache inducing, pulse racing and not relaxing at all. I hope it is not the background throughout the video.
lol is it ever really a fresh air break? there’s always that one asshole that thinks he’s doing everyone a favor by moving far away from the train to smoke, but, they always do it on the end of the platform where everyone else gets to enjoy their smoke downwind.
You have to reserve each segment separately. Sometimes Amtrak has some vacation offers that include hotels and all the segments on their website. Sometimes that ends up being a cheaper alternative
I wonder if the same dining staff were on Southwest Chief during your trip that were on mine in August - Janine and Vinny? Also, my stateroom attendant was Lucy and she was awesome.
Is it possible to skip the room tours? We have seen that already. And less views from graffiti and abandoned old buildings around the tracks and more nature please🙏
My husband and I are inspired by your videos. We have some trips planned in our hearts and heads. We hope to make them reality soon. You give us great insight for planning. We have a shoestring budget and limited physical ability. All information helps. ❤
Love your channel! My son and I took the Southwest Chief to and from LA in coach in May! We had fun meeting people and seeing the country. We originally planned to take the Texas Eagle, to the Coast Starlite to Southwest Chief, but we did the Southwest Chief to and fro NY instead. Then in July we took the Empire Service to NYC and stayed there for 4 days and then took it back home. LOVE Amtrak! Keep the suggestions coming! ❤
Your astrophotography is absolutely stunning 🤩
Wow, thank you!
Hour + video! Whoa. What a great trip for cold months. The first meals you showed near 5:07 were both so big you could have split them and saved some cash! Looked very tasty.
Yes, it would be great in winter!
I love watching your travel videos. I enjoy being an armchair traveler seeing these different travel videos.
I love your amtrak videos. ❤
Yes that lyric is from Eagles' Take it Easy❤ Thank you for showing the Wigwam Motel. I have new places of interest to vacation to!
It was fun!
love your vids always. makes me feel as though I'm there with you. thank you
Happy to hear that!
oh my teen would love this trip. we have been traveling since I got cleared to drive from my c section, but we are new to Amtrak.
Last time I was this early, the train hadn’t left yet.
Just thought I’d let you know that after a 25 minute search I did find my socks.
It appears, as you warned, they had in fact been knocked off by sunset views of the Grand Canyon.
Awesome video. Absolutely loved it.
Haha, thanks!
Rob and Ally doing really cool things so we don't have to. I'm glad you did the hike in Death Valley, because I don't have to now.
Allie and Rob. This is why they call it "Death Valley". 125 F is not unusual.
You really need to carry water with you when in Death Valley.
LA. An hour away from me😊. So loved this. Giving ideas for future vacations.
My Goodness, I love the life you guys live. My goal is to emulate your lifestyle, and hope to meet you all someday on a cruise, on the rails, or in the air.
Thanks! That would be awesome!
Love the tours.
Wow! What an adventure, great vid
Glad you enjoyed it!
The Great Sand Dunes is very nice to visit, but you missed one of the Best Rail Roading experience in the nation. You drove past a historic rolling rail road operations in Antonito, CO. It runs daily trips to Chama NM with a bus back to your starting point. Lunch is served.
Travel back to the steam age in a living museum.
I love y'all's life and video's.and you and your husband is close.
Excellent video
Wish I knew when you guys were in Tucson would have bought you breakfast lunch or dinner. Death Valley you looked like you were on the moon.
I love the Great Sand Dunes. I grew up in Colorado and we went down there once in July... HOT, windy...and you climb up that first dune and when you get to the top? More, even higher dunes... Great to see that it's a National Park (used to be a State Park).
Hello, thank you for posting so many videos about your Amtrak trips! I enjoyed watching them as I was prepared to take advantage of Amtrak Rail Pass. I had mapped out the itineraries of all 10 segments and was ready to purchase Rail Pass and book tickets for our train trip UNTIL.. I searched for reviews of Amtrak train trips and read so many negative reviews about Amtrak's experience from travelers on Tripadvisor. So disappointed!! Hic!
Great video. Thanks a lot.
Outstanding shots!
Many thanks!
Great itinerary!! I haven't watched it yet but look forward to doing so. I'm planning to circle the US and Canada on train and am looking forward to taking the Southwest Chief for the first time. Your video may give me some good ideas of places to stop along the way!
Awesome!
Awesome video! Thankyou!
Train memorabilia is so cool!! We have Shay No. 5’s sister, Shay No. 7 here in Heston, IN at the Hesston Steam Museum!! And she is usually up and running, hauling museum visitors around the tracks. And, FYI, it’s only about a 10 minute ride from the Amtrak platform in New Buffalo, Michigan…😊❤
I'd go to Pizzeria Uno or Due in the near-north side.
Awesome
Time to do another room tour of the newest refresh on the Superliner! Saw a vlogger on the California Zephyr that showed the new seats and carpet, etc., on her trip to Chicago in a roomette. I'm going in January so hoping I get a car that has gone thru an upgrade.
@GroundedLifeTravel If you every get back to St. Louis you really need to stop in at the Union Station Hotel. Inside the lobby there is a Tiffany triptych window in stained glass that is literally priceless. Interesting story behind it. St. Louis had a massive fire in the downtown waterfront area. With all the burned out buildings it looked like a war zone. A fight scene in the movie Escape From N.Y. was filmed inside the badly damaged Union Station. When the downtown was eventually rebuilt the old train station was turned into a hotel. It wasn't until then that they discovered the Tiffany window. It amazingly survived the fire intact. If you watch the movie the window is there but so covered in soot no one saw it.
Can’t believe you guys didn’t go up the arch while y’all were in St. Louis
Looks amazing, So you had to buy new tickets everytime you got back on the train? I seem to keep asking this question, it confuses me, our system is a little different .
Yes, new tickets each time
I road on this trian before it was fun
Just got off the Southwest Chief. Had the roomette, thought it was a very rough ride. Did you think so?
This was really interesting. Rather like trai hopping.
I went as a kid with my dad, bro and mom to Grand Caynon. My brother goes we saw the hole can we go now?
I did get a chance to attend Gateway Arch national Park in February this year . didn't go up to the top of the Arch she's going to go up to the top of the Arch with me when we go.... Missouri ❤️
I haven't got a chance to ride the Southwest Chief yet I'm going to ride it with my wife when we get Married.❤
❤❤❤ !
Wow!!! I've never had the nerve to retrain between end points except at Memphis on The City of NO which is more reliable of all of Amtrak's long distance routes. Arrival times can be extensive. Amtrak's Superliner equipment will not be replaced anytime soon. If parts cannot be found, rolling stock will be mothballed & scavenged. Train consists will become shorter. I'm hoping they'll do something soon or sleeping car passengers may be forced to go coach or find other travel modes.
Lou Malnati’s opened up a carry out and delivery only restaurant in our city, Oak Creek WI. I like their thin crust pizza.
Is this all new? Last I checked a lot of your recent content is repackaged or compilations. Your drive in Williams showed gas at $2.29. That’s been a long time.
I am not big on Chicago style pizza, but if I am going to have it, I go to Pequod’s in Lincoln Park.
That was a beautiful sunset. At the Grand Canyon, do you have to do a lot of walking to get to it (say from a parking lot)? Would it be a concern for an elderly person or someone with bad knees?
I love all of your videos! Preparing for retirement travel on Amtrak in 2024. When does Amtrak usually offer their discounted USA Rail Pass?
Thanks! They don't have a specific date, but if you sign up for the Amtrak Guest Rewards program with your email they will always send an email to let you know when it is so you don't miss it.
Thank you! I thought maybe you had noted a pattern, for instance, beginning of the year? I’m planning a trip down the east coast in March and wonder if I should gamble and wait until January to book.
Earlier this year (2023) the sale was from January 10th to January 20th.
How did you handle the logistics with Amtrak? Did you call and tell them what you wanted? I can't imagine getting all the on and off and sleeping rooms booked. So often there's no availability so it seems like you'd have to book a year out.
Guys lose voice at route66 in a couple of places have music nice mime tho.
Do you have a hotel recommendation for around LAX train station?
Costs?
I love the video!!! The music at the start is head-ache inducing, pulse racing and not relaxing at all.
I hope it is not the background throughout the video.
Did you pre-book your hire car?
Yes
lol is it ever really a fresh air break? there’s always that one asshole that thinks he’s doing everyone a favor by moving far away from the train to smoke, but, they always do it on the end of the platform where everyone else gets to enjoy their smoke downwind.
When you got off the train, do you need to make a new reservation; or does Amtrak have "hop off hop on"?
You have to reserve each segment separately. Sometimes Amtrak has some vacation offers that include hotels and all the segments on their website. Sometimes that ends up being a cheaper alternative
I could not hear the last part of this video as you were talking into the wind
Is rail runner a tourist train?
connies pizza in bridgeport. But Gino's isnt bad either. I hate Lou's pizza
I wonder if the same dining staff were on Southwest Chief during your trip that were on mine in August - Janine and Vinny?
Also, my stateroom attendant was Lucy and she was awesome.
Man I bet this is expensive
Is it possible to skip the room tours? We have seen that already. And less views from graffiti and abandoned old buildings around the tracks and more nature please🙏
I'm sure lots of people smoke on the fresh air breaks and they don't need any encouragement from the announcer.
Yikes
the music is terrible