PBS has had several programs on traveling the country by train..just had one last week about traveling through the Rockies. I have watched a couple of them. You might try PBS web site and see if they are going to show any of these programs in your area and also see if maybe your library might have some videos or CD's on this. I think it's a great idea. I will say that a lot of the people were probably retired. I'm still at the age where I don't have a lot of time off so I end up getting to where I want to go as quickly as I can, but boy, if you have the time...go for it. What's the worst? Maybe end the trip early and have to fly home if your son gets especially cranky or bored? I'd say give it a go.

Again, thanks for the great comments. About the book, it will start off as a daily diary spiced with words of wisdom from an 8-year old. In the end, if there is not enough material for a real book, at least he will have an invaluable memory book.

We plan to spend three days in Washington DC, how many days should I allocate to the Smithsonian?

Check Amtrak's website for specials. Also, if you have AAA, you can get a discount on the fares.

Regarding Smithsonian - I am assuming you know it is a collection of museums, not just one. It is easy to get museum-overload. I would have your son pick perhaps 2 (likely Air and Space and something else) and devote a half day to each - doing something else the other half day.

Ewww train travel. I did the Amtrak route Pittsburgh to D.C. and hate train travel. It will get boring to an 8 yr old. Unlike driving a car, you don't get the option of taking a break, and if you see something interesting or fascinating from a train, you will not have the option of stopping and exploring.

a couple years ago my parents (in their 60s) took amtrak from dc to seattle just for the experience of the cross country train ride.

included in their package was the train, 1st class sleepers, all meals, a hotel for a couple nights in glacier national park, a hotel in seattle for a few days and then a flight back to dc.

they loved it, but were definitely ready to fly back and not get back on the train. so i'd think about doing something like that.

have a great time!

Can't imagine skipping WashDC with an 8-yr. old -- within walking distance from Union Station (an experience in itself) is the Capital and all the Smithsonian museums, esp. Air and Space!

Don't try to do any of it without a compartment, but do bring yourself and your son out to the lounge car on longer trips to meet people. Some of the best parts of otherwise funky, sometimes 3rd-world rail experiences in our sadly abused and neglected system is talking with other people who love trains "unconditionally" -- and there may be another child or two there.

Bring playing cards.

Not only maybe bring a notebook pc, but have wireless access as well. Here's on recent train adventure:

http://www.manyhighways.com/riding_a...rica/index.php

Hey Longboardsteve,

I've done one of these routes by Amtrak twice; New Orleans to Washington, DC... I generally enjoyed it and found the food in the dining car (different from the cafe car on the short hauls) to be not half-bad, the meals are complementary with the price of the sleeping car ticket. I loved seeing the countryside and that you meet people due to limited seating in the dining car; gives you a window on perspectives from different parts of the country sometimes. I was alone though, I find I sleep well on the train and know how to while away the day with reading, writing, scenery-watching and craft. I go into calm, stoic mode during these trips, and it's hard for me to say whether 8- or even another 45-year-old could do the same.

One warning: I understand the Sunset Limited from LA-New Orleans is *notoriously* EXTREMELY LATE, like we're talking it's *often* 8 hours late. This is not indicative of other runs necessarily as The Crescents DC-New Orleans I took (wintertime mind you) were close to on-time 3 times out of 4 and two hours late once. If the tracks are very hot (summertime temps), this can cause delays too. Prepare your mind for possible delay.

Best wishes, DAN

My kids like the train better than planes or cars because the seating is more spacious, you have battery power for your electric stuff, and you can get up and walk around when you get bored. You can play cards and board games and draw at the tables in the dining car; you can even buy stuff from the snack bar.

I think it will be great fun, for a while, especially since it is your son's idea. But don't plan on getting much writing done -- it is hard on the eyes, and he'll need company, no matter what transportation mode you choose.

We took the route from Seattle to L.A. with our son, who was about 8 at the time. There was a magician on board and a car area for kids to play and hang out, watch videos, and it was a lot of fun for him.

It IS expensive though.

When we were kids we used to travel by the Chieftain from L.A. to Chicago, then change trains and continue on to Washington D.C., where my grandparents lived. We loved it, but Amtrack's amenities I don't think compare to my memories of the Chieftain. I do remember stopping in some town, I think in Arizon or New Mexico, where indian items were sold, which was a lot of fun.

My favorite memory back then was the night light in my bunk. Don't ask me why, I just remember it had a chrome swith and went from bright to dim to off. Weird stuff we remember, right?

Anyway, other than the L.A. - Seattle trip, the only other train experiences our son has had has been traveling around by train in Europe. We've done that with him for the last 14 years, and I must say, the experience is FAR better, both in accommodations and what you see out the window. Ultimately, for you, it might even be cheaper than Amtrack.

Meant Super Chief, not Chieftain. The latter was the name of my high school yearbook, lol.

I've been living in Europe for the past 5+ years and will take trains almost anywhere and love it. But no thanks to long distance travel on Amtrak. When I was back in the U.S. for several weeks last year, I thought it would be fun to take the overnight train from central Florida to Philadelphia so I could see some scenery along the way.
The verdict: Eccch. What a negative experience. First of all the train station I originally planned to leave from was completely unmanned, was falling apart and looked like something out of a grade B horror movie. Creepy. I ended up boarding the train in Winter Park (which isn't a bad little station and there are some nice shops and restaurants nearby to while away the waiting time).
The train arrived 3 hours late. So it became dark pretty early in my trip and I couldn't take in much scenery. The food was nearly inedible and service was perfunctory at best. The sleeping compartment wasn't that bad, actually, pretty similar to the private sleeping compartments I've had on European trains, but everything else compared VERY poorly to European train travel.(And yes, I know all about Amtrak's funding and other problems; knowing that some of the problems aren't Amtrak's fault doesn't make the trip any better!)
IMHO, you'd be better served to pick some destinations, fly there and then use a rental car to explore the back roads (a tape recorder will catch your son's observations), stopping where and when you feel like it. Take some local trains (in the Colorado Rockies or in the Mount Hood valley in Oregon or in New England, etc.).
If seeing the U.S. is the goal, unfortunately, it's not done well by train--you really do need a car. If long train rides are the focus of the trip, come to Europe where you will enjoy the ride a LOT more.

Although train travel in Europe is certainly different from train travel in the US (and might be better), there is nothing like relaxing on the train and just looking out the window. My husband and I have taken several train trips and plan on doing more as time allows.

I agree with those who have suggested springing for a sleeping compartment. We tried one night of just having a regular seat and I didn't sleep at all and wound up a bit crabby the next day. The sleeping car also includes your meals in the dining car which are quite good and you get to meet such interesting people since they try to fill each table with four people.

Five legs might be a bit much. We did three one time and that was plenty. Took us about 3 1/2 weeks (so almost your time frame) and we spent about 5 days in each location. The Coast Starlight from LA to Seattle is by far one of the prettiest runs. And the train through Glacier (Empire Builder) is fabulous also. The eastern trains are smaller that the western trains (single deckers instead of double deckers) so you don't have the great viewing cars like in the west.

Have a fun trip, longboardsteve. I'm sure you and your son will have fun. Oh, and assume that the trains will be late. In this country freight has right of way over passenger trains, it seems, so Amtrak ends up slowing down and letting other trains go by and ends up being (on average for us) 2 hours late. Make sure you don't have any connections to make that will be troublesome.

Lonngboard Steve, what a great plan. You will build memories and connections with your son that will last a lifetime for both of you. Sure, the train may not be for everyone -- but he specifically requested it. (Maybe he had Thomas trains as a toddler?!)

Here's my train story. To celebrate 25 years of living in the US (we're Brit expats), DH and I took a 3 1/2 week cross-country trip to see more of our adopted country. Had a wonderful, memorable time and would do it again tomorrow. Sure, there were some minor hitches and "interesting" experiences -- but those are the things you look back on with nostalgia!The train takes you through parts of the country that you won't see from the interstate -- some gritty and grimy, but more that are awesomely beautiful, and all are part of this amazing landscape we live in. It truly gives you a feel for the size and diversity of the country, that would be hard to get any other way.

We decided to plan so that there was not more than one night on the train per leg, and to break the trip up with 3+ day visits to places we particularly wanted to see more of (rented cars for that). I also spent a lot of time in planning, poring over Amtrak schedules to make sure it was daylight when we went through places we really wanted to see. I enjoyed that part of the trip too!

Our trip started in Connecticut, and took us to Washington DC then overnight to Chicago. Saw that city, then took the Southwest Chief to Flagstaff AZ for the Grand Canyon. Stayed there a few days, spent time at the North Rim (fabulous!) and Sedona. Back on the train overnight into LA, where we changed to the Coast Starlight to San Francisco. Spent a few days there seeing the city and a side trip to stay in Yosemite. Then back on the train in SF, overnight to Seattle for another 3-night layover.

Our last train leg took us from Seattle to Whitefish MT, where we rented a car and visited Glacier NP and Yellowstone. From there, we drove over the Chief Joseph route to Red Lodge then to Billings to fly back to CT.

It's a great idea to have a tape recorder and laptop along to use as you travel -- I kept a journal, and your son might like to do that too. It's a good place to keep the best photos, or postcards and souvenirs you collect along the way. I think a "roomette" would be essential, and it's an adventure to sleep on the train. At mealtimes and in the observation car etc. you meet folks from all over the US and many from overseas, travelling for all kinds of reasons. Amtrak gives you maps and information, sometimes local commentary, about what you are seeing. And you sit back and take it all in as America rolls past your window.

Books like USA By Rail and All Aboard can help with details and planning (seach Amazon for suggestions).

Go for it Steve, just carpe diem. Have a wonderful trip, and let us know how it went when you get back.

By the way, we've visited Washington DC many times, with children and now young grandchildren. So much to see and do there -- don't miss it. (Our daughter liked it so much that she now lives there.)

Happy (t)rails! :-)

Surfergirl --

The stop that the Superchief used to make was in Albuquerque, NM. My mom and I used to take that train every year, during the early-mid 1960's to Chicago (then switching to a train to Detroit) and I remember buying souvenirs at that stop every year, as well as getting to walk around outside. I loved sleeping in their compartments and playing with the other kids in the lounge car. Fond, fond memories.

By the way, if your yearbook was the Chieftain than you must have gone to Uni High -- me too! (small world...)

A friend and her 86-year-old father just returned from a cross-country trip on Amtrak. They took the Califonria Zephyr from Emeryville all the way to Chicago. Then they immediately took the Lakeshore Limited east, ending in New York City. Total, 3.5 days on the rails.

They found their sleeping accomodations fine and the food in the dining car was delicious and plentiful. At meals they were seated with other travelers, all of whom had interesting stories to tell.

The first two days had wondrous scenery through gorges and mountains, and the stretch finishing down the Hudson River to NYC is one of the nicest rides in the US. However, even these open-minded people were not intrigued by a full day of views of the flat interior plains of the US, nor the unfortunate "bad side of town" that most trains seem to pass through.

My friend, who to me seems able to sleep anywhere at anytime, couldn't sleep very soundly. They brought along books and a personal DVD player to pass the time in the evenings and at less scenic points.

There were lots of families with kids traveling the Zephyr portion of the trip. My friend never used the well-advertised dome cars because it seemed pretty raucous with all the kids--perhaps good for your son.

Wow! This thread has amazed me. I tried the Chicago to Carbondale run for a tester. IMHO, I wouldn't want any 8 year old to be doing hand held electronic games etc. that long. I really do hope you have a great run of luck and total experience, because as someone said- all kids are different. My 8 year old grandson can hardly get through 2-1/2hours to the lake in Michigan inside an enclosed space. Can you say backseat dodgeball?

You will need the dome cars. And I would very, very strongly suggest you try one leg or two before you decide on the entire ticket package. You could see a whole lot more together if you flew to different cities. Amtrak has real delay problems consistently. And the costs are huge.

Follow up; thanks for the great messages. Here is what we have decided to do:

LA to San Antonio; 3 days in San Antonio to visit family.

San Antonio to Orlando; 3 days at Disneyworld.

Orlando to Washingon DC; 3 days at Smithsonian and memorials, etc.

Washington DC to Boston; ???? (3 days / any suggestions / we are surfers and love the beach but know nothing about the east coast).

Boston to Toronto; 2 days rest plus Niagara Falls.

Toronto to Vancouver to Seattle by way of Canadian Railway; 5 days in Seattle with family.

Seattle to LA; trip over.

A couple of notes. We spent a week in France at wedding two years ago. No problems with the train or the flight.

Here is a summary of Amtraks Rail Pass; Offered jointly by Amtrak and VIA Rail Canada, the North America Rail Pass provides you with 30 consecutive travel days with unlimited rides and stopovers throughout the United States and Canada. VIA Rail Canada is Canada's premier passenger rail provider all for $700 dollars.

my2cents -- thanks for letting me know it was Albuquerque. I thought so, but wasn't sure. And yes, it was Uni High. Class of '70, go Warriors!