Comments on: Riding the Rails https://www.deucecitieshenhouse.com/2015/04/riding-the-rails.html Mon, 06 Apr 2026 19:27:51 +0000 hourly 1 By: Alia https://www.deucecitieshenhouse.com/2015/04/riding-the-rails.html#comment-877049 Mon, 06 Apr 2026 19:27:51 +0000 https://www.deucecitieshenhouse.com/?p=9785#comment-877049 It sounds like your Amtrak journey on the Empire Builder was such a memorable family adventure! There is something truly special about seeing the landscape change from a train window, especially when it is more affordable and comfortable than flying. It’s great that Gus got to experience his fascination with trains firsthand, and having that extra legroom and the observation car definitely makes the eight-hour trip to Chicago much more enjoyable. That dream of taking the rails all the way to Glacier National Park or Oregon sounds like a fantastic way to see the country, much like the scenic rail journeys often included in New Zealand tours that showcase stunning mountain vistas. Thank you for sharing such a fun and practical recap of your spring break trip!

]]> By: Jillian https://www.deucecitieshenhouse.com/2015/04/riding-the-rails.html#comment-537269 Wed, 03 Jun 2015 18:46:08 +0000 https://www.deucecitieshenhouse.com/?p=9785#comment-537269 If you ever do the westward thing, I’ll meet you at the train station!! I live in Havre, MT and Amtrack hits town just after lunch. I’d love to meet you. I own a historic home here in town and take a lot of inspiration from your blog.

PS, I am not a creep :)

]]> By: Dawn FP https://www.deucecitieshenhouse.com/2015/04/riding-the-rails.html#comment-500795 Wed, 22 Apr 2015 19:48:18 +0000 https://www.deucecitieshenhouse.com/?p=9785#comment-500795 My in-laws took the Mpls to Glacier National Park train trip. They said it was amazing. Alas, I was not invited.

]]> By: Scoops https://www.deucecitieshenhouse.com/2015/04/riding-the-rails.html#comment-494366 Wed, 15 Apr 2015 15:00:56 +0000 https://www.deucecitieshenhouse.com/?p=9785#comment-494366 In reply to Elise.

Yes, you should totally tell your Chi friends they should do that and EVERYONE likes trains ;)

]]> By: Scoops https://www.deucecitieshenhouse.com/2015/04/riding-the-rails.html#comment-494365 Wed, 15 Apr 2015 15:00:14 +0000 https://www.deucecitieshenhouse.com/?p=9785#comment-494365 In reply to Jodi.

Hey Jodi, I don’t think the Empire Builder would ever be delayed that much coming out of Chicago, since that is where it originates on the journey west, but it is likely to be delayed coming back. Amtrak doesn’t own the lines, so if a freight train slows thing down on the line, it slows everything down. It was fun though, and the delay wasn’t that extreme in the end.

]]> By: Scoops https://www.deucecitieshenhouse.com/2015/04/riding-the-rails.html#comment-494360 Wed, 15 Apr 2015 14:56:44 +0000 https://www.deucecitieshenhouse.com/?p=9785#comment-494360 In reply to Staci.

Oh man, I’d love to take the train to all these different places, I think it would be a great way to see the US. They should make dog-friendly cars, it seems logical to do so.

]]> By: Elise https://www.deucecitieshenhouse.com/2015/04/riding-the-rails.html#comment-493698 Tue, 14 Apr 2015 15:24:13 +0000 https://www.deucecitieshenhouse.com/?p=9785#comment-493698 Great post! I used to take the Empire builder from Chicago to Mpls and back, when I was in IL and my boyfriend was up here. (Now I am here and who knows where the hell that guy lives!) I loved boarding, getting settled, visiting the bar car, watching a movie in the movie car…SO much better than making that interstate drive by myself! Glad the kidlets had fun. Sleeper car sounds like it was perfect! Maybe I’ll talk my Chicago friends into coming up on the train. They have girls but girls like trains too, don’t they?

]]> By: Jodi https://www.deucecitieshenhouse.com/2015/04/riding-the-rails.html#comment-493047 Mon, 13 Apr 2015 18:22:10 +0000 https://www.deucecitieshenhouse.com/?p=9785#comment-493047 I’m so glad you posted this! We’ve been tempted by the train (we live in Chicago and visit my family in Minneapolis quite often), but haven’t taken the plunge yet. I’ve heard that the trains are often delayed, and I’ve been nervous about bringing all our crap on the train. Good to hear that the baggage limits aren’t strictly enforced!

]]> By: Staci https://www.deucecitieshenhouse.com/2015/04/riding-the-rails.html#comment-491931 Fri, 10 Apr 2015 20:58:18 +0000 https://www.deucecitieshenhouse.com/?p=9785#comment-491931 I had the pleasure of riding CO-CA when I was in 6th grade and it was awesome!! I then had the not-so-pleasure of riding KS-CA as a chaperone for a group of rowdy teenagers and the shine wore off really fast. For $75 more per person we could have flown and saved ourselves 20 hours! Good to note for large groups looking to pinch pennies— pinch elsewhere. That being said I think it’s pretty fun and perfect for families (or friends you don’t mind being in close quarters with). Love the scenery on the southwest route I’ve done twice. I wish Amtrak would make dog-friendly cars– I would be going EVERYWHERE all the time!!

]]> By: Scoops https://www.deucecitieshenhouse.com/2015/04/riding-the-rails.html#comment-491815 Fri, 10 Apr 2015 15:47:37 +0000 https://www.deucecitieshenhouse.com/?p=9785#comment-491815 In reply to meghanssj.

You can comment all the time if you wanna ;) That’s right, you guys got the Minot connection going on. Our friends also have the family back in Minot and they travel up there by train too, it seems like the only way to do it. So yeah, you went out to Portland, that is awesome, I bet it was a pretty ride! I’m glad I’m not the only one with the drink stash idea, it seems practical, right? In my dreams I would hang out with Sleater-Kinney, if only.

Good music suggestions, I never realized Mason Jennings had a record called empire builder, that’s awesome. I’ll give it a listen for sure. I actually like Mason Jennings, especially the CD EP that came out in the late 90’s. It was one of my favorites, I know all the words.

]]> By: Scoops https://www.deucecitieshenhouse.com/2015/04/riding-the-rails.html#comment-491809 Fri, 10 Apr 2015 15:39:08 +0000 https://www.deucecitieshenhouse.com/?p=9785#comment-491809 In reply to Theresa.

Oh man, I can’t even imagine how fun it would be to do as a couple sans kids. Someday, right?

]]> By: Scoops https://www.deucecitieshenhouse.com/2015/04/riding-the-rails.html#comment-491808 Fri, 10 Apr 2015 15:38:35 +0000 https://www.deucecitieshenhouse.com/?p=9785#comment-491808 In reply to AnnMarie.

Yeah! You gotta do it!

]]> By: Scoops https://www.deucecitieshenhouse.com/2015/04/riding-the-rails.html#comment-491807 Fri, 10 Apr 2015 15:38:21 +0000 https://www.deucecitieshenhouse.com/?p=9785#comment-491807 In reply to Lizzie.

Hey Lizzie! We road in that family car too – just like you guys. New Orleans sounds like a pretty fun destination.

]]> By: Lizzie https://www.deucecitieshenhouse.com/2015/04/riding-the-rails.html#comment-491754 Fri, 10 Apr 2015 12:50:16 +0000 https://www.deucecitieshenhouse.com/?p=9785#comment-491754 We took the Amtrak from Chicago to New Orleans with our kids and it was probably our favorite vacation ever. I blogged about it here: http://www.livingprettyblog.com/2014/04/amtrak-review-family-bedroom-chicago-to-new-orleans-with-kids.html?m=1

]]> By: AnnMarie https://www.deucecitieshenhouse.com/2015/04/riding-the-rails.html#comment-491310 Thu, 09 Apr 2015 22:57:52 +0000 https://www.deucecitieshenhouse.com/?p=9785#comment-491310 That would be so nice! This has been on my To Do list for a few years now, after a friend took a cross-country train trip and loved it.

]]> By: Theresa https://www.deucecitieshenhouse.com/2015/04/riding-the-rails.html#comment-491217 Thu, 09 Apr 2015 20:42:49 +0000 https://www.deucecitieshenhouse.com/?p=9785#comment-491217 We took a couple train trips pre-kids and it was such a relaxing way to travel. Such a nice way to ease into vacation versus the chaos of a plane trip. We can’t wait to do it with kids someday.

]]> By: meghanssj https://www.deucecitieshenhouse.com/2015/04/riding-the-rails.html#comment-491210 Thu, 09 Apr 2015 20:31:34 +0000 https://www.deucecitieshenhouse.com/?p=9785#comment-491210 I’m the queen of commenting lately…. But I have to! I am obsessed with riding the rails! We got started because my husband is from Northwestern North Dakota. The Empire Builder departs Saint Paul in the evening, and rolls into Minot in the morning, so we take it often to avoid the beastly 9 hour drive to visit family. We used to do coach overnight which had its ups and downs. If you get 2 seats to yourself, its okay for sleeping, but it isn’t grand . In recent years, we’ve been doing sleeping cars, and it is worth it. Inspired by our love of taking the train up to Minot, we decided to take a longer trip last fall. We went all the way to Portland, and it was so awesome!! With good reading material, music, a drink stash and snacks, and a complimentary wine tasting, and the train’s veggie friendly meals we thought that the first 3 days of vacation were like a decompressing vacation all in and of itself. Then we got to Portland and a new vacation began. I know that it would be a little stir crazy for kids, but you can get off the train a couple of times a day on those longer trips to breathe some fresh air. I have a friend who did it with her 3, who were all under 5. I would definitely consider your dream trip some time! Especially if you can swing that hang out sesh with Sleater-Kinney, cause that would be cool. I’ve said enough, but I have to add 3 tidbits. #1 In the stretch from Wisconsin to North, MN, a lot of Amish people get on board. It is so interesting to roll into Detroit Lakes, MN in the middle of the night and see a family in hats, bonnets, beards and polished boots jump on board. #2 next time you ride the rails home from Chicago, make sure to listen to Crown and Empire Builder by Mason Jennings. They are apropos, even if you aren’t much into folk music. #3 “Wisconsin looks alright sometimes” was another laugh aloud line for me. Peace!.

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