Trains Are A Great Way To Travel For Family Vacations

Many years ago our family decided to visit my family living way out west.

We live in the Chicago area and didn't have the time nor energy to drive to Utah, California and Washington - especially with a 5, 3 and not quite 1 year old, who was not walking.

We decided to fly to Salt Lake City, Utah, with a bounce in Denver, to visit my Dad's 92 year old mom. We arrived with our MOUND of luggage, including a double stroller and a car seat, to take a taxi to Grama Daley's house.

We drove up to her house and had to go around the side down steep stairs to the 'front door' of the part of the house she had lived for 60 years. You see, she had always rented the main floor and lived in the walk out basement facing out over Salt Lake City. It's a good thing all was the same since by then she was almost 100% blind and had to light her stove with a match.

We had a wonderful visit with Grama, mixing visiting with some sightseeing, even going to Park City where my dad was born, seeing the mountains Grama used to walk over.

Then it was time to travel on. In the middle of the night we took a taxi to the train station and lugged our baggage and three sleepy children into a sleeping cabin. We went to sleep to the rickety-rack of the train since all was pitch black in the night mountains.

We had fun eating in the dining car and sitting in the window filled viewing cars. Marky, 3, even decided to fall out of the bunk bed, but he's got a hard head! It was nice having room to move around and to sight see. I think we even went past Donner's Pass, but that was 12 years and many moons ago!

We arrived in Sacramento, California. Mark took a picture of me next to the kids and our luggage, it's a funny sight. If it was on digital, or my scanner was set up I'd post it - it makes me laugh just thinking of it. Did we ever think to pack light and borrow a washer / dryer?

Repeated the routine, this time with my mom's parents, except we had a bit more excitement.

Again, departure was late at night, we packed the rented mini-van, got the kids, hugged Grama and Grampa, went to get in and but the doors had automatic locks on them - shut the door and they locked. The keys? In the car with a train to catch! We called a locksmith, took 30 minutes to get there, got us in. We RACED to the train station. THANKFULLY, the train was late, we just made it with the conductor's last call. RUN, HURRY, frantic panic!

A restful sleeping cabin for the night ride up California's coast and over to Seattle, Washington. Trains are the way to go - we can stretch our legs, play, eat, nurse easily, sitesee. And not only that, I can be on the side of a steep mountain without panicing that the car will go off the cliff! Remember - I live near Chicago where most of the land is FLAT! And most roads are fairly straight. Though, we do have the craziest drivers around.

We arrived in rainy Seattle to spend some rainy days with my brother and his wife. One good thing, I had my first latte - yum! If you go to Seattle, take rain gear.

We ended our trip flying home with another hop through Denver.

Here is an article that got me remembering - Enjoyable Amtrak ride

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