Definitely an Experince....
A few months of preparations to get our ducks in order, and away we went...
If you ever think of going across country with Amtrak (train), go SLEEPER car. Train seats are better then aircraft seats, but not much. Also, make a definite point of telling someone in charge if you need special needs. Be aware that access to the seating deck is very narrow. There is seating on the track level but it does not offer much in the way of sightseeing. Also, be aware that most restrooms are very cramped. There are handicap restrooms, but they can be blocked off at stops. Last, some of the "stops" do not have stations. Some are just a platform - nothing else, or a closed building.
The good side is seeing the countryside. Our train traveled from Ontario, CA to New Orleans, LA and was called the Sunset Limited, which followed Interstate 10 for the most part. Texas was different from what we expected - namely open prairie. Some places were hilly, forested, even some mountains. My favorite place? Alpine, Texas. Least favorite was the San Antonio station... BTW - the Alamo is not visible from the train.
Recommendation? Go AIR or automobile instead, unless you go Sleeper. It might be more expensive, but it is more comfortable. Also, be aware of stopovers. San Antonio, Texas had 2 hours... grr...
Where did we go that featured Amtrak? The America Queen steamboat river cruise on the Mississippi River from New Orleans to Vicksburg and back. Our fourth deck stateroom was the high-point. IF you go, try to get the Louisville room (404). It has a bit of obstruction from the doorway, but your 'veranda' is tucked in a bit from the promenade. The food was not as varied as we had hoped, but Sandy enjoyed some variety. The show was fairly good, but not the showboat-style of music we thought would be on board a Southern Paddle-boat. Only 400+ passengers, so the elevators were not too bad a wait. The room had satellite TV, so we kept track of weather and the new episodes of some favorite shows.
The cruise had several stops along the Big Muddy. For us? New Orleans to Vicksburg. One problem - some of the excursions COST EXTRA. I did not know that the Vicksburg battlefield was $80 MORE!...However we did see Oak Alley - the site of several period plantation movie scenes. The city tours did have some wonderful museums and beautiful Southern houses. The boat would nudge against the banks and let down a gangway to access the cities along the way. A set of tour coaches followed us for excursions. To get to them is just a matter of crossing over the gangway and out to the coach stop.
NO MOSQUITOES!
Little rain, but not enough to ruin sightseeing. Like Texas, we did not expect what the River would be like. Thick woods took over right at the waterline. And most of the occupants on the open space were filled with manufacturing, refineries, and the like. Only the few cities on the shores and they sat on bluffs or behind levees and flood barriers. We saw a little evidence that the Mississippi was higher then recent normal by having trees slightly under water.
Souvenirs were limited to lapel pins, and they were purchased afterwards. Cameras captured the rest. This time, we were definitely ready to go home... The return trip did not go any better. IF we go via Amtrak again, we will go sleeper car, and get our meals and a comfortable bed...
gb
If you ever think of going across country with Amtrak (train), go SLEEPER car. Train seats are better then aircraft seats, but not much. Also, make a definite point of telling someone in charge if you need special needs. Be aware that access to the seating deck is very narrow. There is seating on the track level but it does not offer much in the way of sightseeing. Also, be aware that most restrooms are very cramped. There are handicap restrooms, but they can be blocked off at stops. Last, some of the "stops" do not have stations. Some are just a platform - nothing else, or a closed building.
The good side is seeing the countryside. Our train traveled from Ontario, CA to New Orleans, LA and was called the Sunset Limited, which followed Interstate 10 for the most part. Texas was different from what we expected - namely open prairie. Some places were hilly, forested, even some mountains. My favorite place? Alpine, Texas. Least favorite was the San Antonio station... BTW - the Alamo is not visible from the train.
Recommendation? Go AIR or automobile instead, unless you go Sleeper. It might be more expensive, but it is more comfortable. Also, be aware of stopovers. San Antonio, Texas had 2 hours... grr...
Where did we go that featured Amtrak? The America Queen steamboat river cruise on the Mississippi River from New Orleans to Vicksburg and back. Our fourth deck stateroom was the high-point. IF you go, try to get the Louisville room (404). It has a bit of obstruction from the doorway, but your 'veranda' is tucked in a bit from the promenade. The food was not as varied as we had hoped, but Sandy enjoyed some variety. The show was fairly good, but not the showboat-style of music we thought would be on board a Southern Paddle-boat. Only 400+ passengers, so the elevators were not too bad a wait. The room had satellite TV, so we kept track of weather and the new episodes of some favorite shows.
The cruise had several stops along the Big Muddy. For us? New Orleans to Vicksburg. One problem - some of the excursions COST EXTRA. I did not know that the Vicksburg battlefield was $80 MORE!...However we did see Oak Alley - the site of several period plantation movie scenes. The city tours did have some wonderful museums and beautiful Southern houses. The boat would nudge against the banks and let down a gangway to access the cities along the way. A set of tour coaches followed us for excursions. To get to them is just a matter of crossing over the gangway and out to the coach stop.
NO MOSQUITOES!
Little rain, but not enough to ruin sightseeing. Like Texas, we did not expect what the River would be like. Thick woods took over right at the waterline. And most of the occupants on the open space were filled with manufacturing, refineries, and the like. Only the few cities on the shores and they sat on bluffs or behind levees and flood barriers. We saw a little evidence that the Mississippi was higher then recent normal by having trees slightly under water.
Souvenirs were limited to lapel pins, and they were purchased afterwards. Cameras captured the rest. This time, we were definitely ready to go home... The return trip did not go any better. IF we go via Amtrak again, we will go sleeper car, and get our meals and a comfortable bed...
gb