Amtrak from MSP to SEA
 

We will be going to the Seattle area next summer for a wedding. (last weekend of July)We can be flexible with travel times, and are thinking of taking the train. Realizing the possible delays, etc., we are looking for a change of pace from air travel and do not wish to drive the car.

It will be two adults and two kids, ages 6 and 2.

Any experiences with this route in late July are appreciated.

MSP?

Assuming you mean Minneapolis St Paul. The train is the Empire Builder Train # 7. It leaves MSP station (Midway between St Paul and Minneapolis) at 10:50 pm it arrives in Seattle at 10:20 am the second day. It means two nights and one full day if it runs on time which it seldom does. It can run from 20 minutes to over 4 hours of delay.
What you get in coach are reclining seats full diner lounge and terrific late afternoon evening scenery in the rockies of Northern Montana and early morning arrival thru the coast mountains in Washington. If you want to go via sleeping car book early as this trip sells out quickly.
One of my favorite trains.

My son and daughter in law and two grandkids take this train each year in July from the Cities to visit me here in northwest Montana. They really enjoy it and the kids love it. Kids are 3 and 8. It's 24 hours from MSP to my station and yes, they are often late but just except the fact you may be late, relax, and enjoy the ride!

The Empire Builder rides on BNSF's rail on this route, and it tends to be less affected by delays than those on Union Pacific (especially the Sunset Limited). Scenery should be good too.

RKWAN are you a train man too?
I enjoy your airline posts and now find you like the rails as well.

We made the round-trip between Seattle and Chicago a couple years ago in a first-class room. It was uncomfortable, uninteresting, expensive--and we will never do it again.

We walked through coach to get to the dining room and the car with the big glass windows. There were people, clothing, bags, and food everywhere. Not a pretty sight.

The attraction is supposed to be the scenery, but I travel extensively in scenic country and it wasn't any more scenic that what I see on an average day in Seattle.

Most of the young people appeared to be in a daze, but your children may be different.

It may be a great experience for a six-year-old who is old enough to enjoy a new experience and probably young enough to not know about train travel in Japan or Europe.

Here is my #1 tip if you decide on Amtrak: Eat meals in the dining car, if you are lucky enough to book a table there. It is a much better alternative to the expensive "snack bar."

Yes, the route is on BNSF and they generally maintain their tracks better than UP or CSX. As long as you expect delays, we find it a nice alternative at times to the hassles of flying - and the views are better than those at 30,000 ft. Sunsets/sunrises in the mountains can be spectacular. If you can, sleeping accommodations are certainly the way to go. Check into the family bedroom. It is on the lower level (so views not quite as good) but it stretches the full width of the car and has plenty of room for 4. Also, your meals in the diner are included in the sleeping car fare and we've always found them to be quite good. The car with the upper windows is the lounge car. Great views and they show movies during certain times of the day/night. Well worth considering IMO>

Thank you for the valuable insights. We are definetly considering some kind of sleeping accommodation.

Thanks again.