Auto Train Revisited
 

Another opportunity to visit friends has arisen and the names of different places to scout out have popped up also. Since having my own car trumps getting tossed around on the train, I'm taking Auto Train ("AT") again.

I like speaking with a person when ordering tickets and the person was very patient. Ironically, it costs a tad more to go round trip on the passenger train than on the AT! Because so few people are going north, the car train gets good prices for returning. It cost $675 for a one-way ticket on the AT with a roomette. A bit more than airfare and car rental for the most part, but again, it's great having one's own car.

I just re-read my 2011 notes and hope I don't feel so claustrophobic this year. Think I'll use my coat as a pillow so I don't have so much to lug around.

Am bringing my computer this time so will try to add some more on the train.

Looks like the Auto Train still hasn't added WiFi. An overview of where wifi is available in the Amtrak system is here: http://tinyurl.com/7l2wlfa .

WiFi is available at Lorton, and I believe at Sanford as well.

So many folks had 4-G (or whatever G), they didn't need wifi. Thanks bookhall!

I left home at 10:10 and arrived at Lorton at 11:11. Loading didn’t begin until 11:36 so I listened to much of “Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me!” while waiting in a long line.

Was at the ticket counter by 12 and chose 5 for dinner. 7 and 9 were also available. I was told that my sleeper car would be 8 down from the door. It will be a longish walk and the cars weren’t in numerical order so folks will get confused. I bought a “New York Times” and spent the next 2.5 hours doing the crossword and chatting with some of the folks who managed to grab the few available tables. Unfortunately, there didn’t seem to be enough chairs for the almost 500 folks on this full train. A woman on her phone complained that only the 9 p.m. time was available for dinner. √Get to the station earlier than 2.

At 2:30 everyone started loading up. I didn’t hear them calling for people who needed extra help. My roomette this time is on the lower level and it doesn’t seem as small as last time. This car has showers at one end and only one bedroom so perhaps the roomettes have a tad more space. I’ll see when I go to dinner.

Anyway, there is a complimentary paper (“USA Today”) and 2 bottled waters. The porter is Daniel and he goes around getting turn down times. A nearby couple are “oohing” in a not good way. “It’s so small!” I” brought changes of clothing and a suitcase!” “I was misinformed!”

The roomettes are efficiently laid out and pretty good for one person but would be tight quarters for two people with any extra weight. There are 2 coat hangers and a space for an extremely narrow overnight bag. I get out my computer and find there is no wifi. The folks with 4-g (?) say they have no trouble.

I type up some trip notes and then proceed to the snack car. Almost all of the tables are filled already and a nice woman is passing out red or white wine. The snacks are almost wiped out as well—broccoli, cheese, celery, carrots and a chex-type mix. I grab a wine and some cheese and find an empty place.

Back to the room to wait for the dinner call, and I hear football scores being announced.. A nice touch for a Sunday.

My dinner companions were I and G, and K. We had a very congenial talk through dinner with cards and telephone numbers exchanged. I is a retired teacher, her hub G. an inventor and K a retired accountant and mother of 6. Two of us had skirt steaks, one had a Mediterranean pocket (phyllo with vegetables) and the 4th had crab cakes. All happy with their meals. Again, I’d say Bor B+. American wines throughout.

Back to the room by 6 and I read and dozed until Daniel came at 9:30 to make up the bed. I was OK without my pillow by being single so I got all 4 small ones to myself.

Monday, December 31, 2012

Cereal, banana, bagels, orange muffins and OJ are good. I didn’t sleep much—the train was just as rocky as I remembered it. We are also going to be much later than we were 2 years ago, when I was on the road at 9:30. Today we didn’t’ even get in the station until 11. My car came out at noon. Fortunately, it was only an hour to Tavares where I would be staying. Unfortunately, I have missed my tour of The Villages.

If you really want to have your car in Florida, remember the wait to load and unload your car and don’t make plans for the day you travel.

Some other cons: If you are a light sleeper, I don’t think you’ll sleep well. On 2 occasions, my neck went in one direction and my torso in another! If you are oversized in any way, you will not be comfortable. On my first thread about this, someone said if you can sleep in a recliner, you can sleep on the non-room seats on the train—I have to disagree about the comfort of the train seats compared to a recliner.

Good things are having a nice dinner and meeting interesting people and not driving on Rte. 95 for quite a few hours. Plus you can pack more and just stow it in the car. My little overnight bag on wheels was very easy to maneuver.

My GPS (Dundee) had a little trouble getting me to Tavares but only the last 100 feet—it had me overshoot an unmarked left turn. Since the Holiday Inn Express (HI) where I stayed is newish, I wondering if my GPS map is up to date. On the way, I passed two “bear crossing” signs but don’t see any bears. There were quite a few detour signs for Route 4—so if you are in the area, check ahead. The ride to Tavares was very easy. Mostly 2-lane roads with 55 mph limit which most folks seem to obey.

Anyhow, HI is fine and my room is ready at 1:30. A king bed, small fridge and microwave are good touches. If you have stayed at HI, you know there is a free breakfast and you have used the pancake machine. (Kids and young at heart love it). I get unpacked and check phone messages, e-mail and google a café in Mt. Dora. I figure that any place that has one will have a downtown. And I am correct. Also, there is a restaurant on the water very near the HI so I make a 7 p.m. reservation before leaving for Mt. Dora.

Dundee’s route to Cecile’s French Corner takes me by Lake Dora on the right and some lovely homes on a little bluff on the left. Did I say there are quite a few lakes in Lake County? And the downtown is very much like Annapolis or Easton, Md. I will find out I have landed in the so-called Gallery District.

I park and meander and my first stop is Ka Dee Kay’s kitchen store. It is so sweet and the back door opens to an alley way where a wine and beer tasting is going on. The owner has stayed in business for the 2 years since she opened and loves the area. I proceed to Cecile’s and am greeted by a young man in black with shoulder-length black hair and a gray beret. I get an interior giggle when he pronounces a nearby diner’s choice of iced tea as “Perfect, monsieur”! Since it is in the 70s (sigh!) I sit outside and get a quiche and glass of shiraz and enjoy a little bit of lake view and quite a few tourists. After lunch, I meander some more and find another entrance to the alley. Very attractive with one place vacant and for rent. Am tempted to find out the rate but don’t.

The sun is lowering so I head on back to HI and sit down to write some notes and get so tired that I know I won’t make it for dinner. Another call and they say come on over now. So I do and get a B+ rib steak and another glass of shiraz. At about ½ way through, I’m done for so they give me a box and I go home. Asleep by 7 and go all to 8 a.m.!

January 1, 2013 Happy New Year!

Today, Beverly Hills!

Thanks for the report, TDude. I fear I would never sleep!

WiFi on Amtrak is illusory - even where they say they have it.

Have tried to use it on the NYC to Bos and NYC to DC corridor and it continually cuts off - makes it impossible to send any emails with attachments - really useless except for work on the computer - but very little sending or receiving.

We did a R/T last year. No issues sleeping. The roomette was little tight but we managed. The included dinner and breakfast, while not exceptional, was okay. The free wine was a plus. We had to wait about 1 hour to get our car at both stations but we did not mind. We just enjoyed the fact that we did not had to drive on I-95 for over thousand miles, saved the wear and tear on our car and did not have to spend all the money on gas. At the end the car charge was probably the same or cheaper than the wear and tear and ga$oline. We're thinking about doing it again.

Having the 4G (is that right?) seems more reliable, nytraveler.

That's good to read AAFF. A lot of people must agree with you as the train was filled both times I've travelled.

I liked the food-particularly when compared to U.S. airline food these days.

DOes the trip end in Sanford, FL?

Sanford to Lorton, no stops except for crew change somewhere in Carolinas in the middle of the night.

You do need a car to book this train.

http://tickets.amtrak.com/itd/amtrak/autotrain

Crew change is at Florence, SC
About 1 am in morning.

Just clicked on my name and found my old (and first) Auto Train trip report from 2008. And we're leaving for our 6th (has it been that long?) in a week. Guess we like it....

The only thing I'd add is that the trips have been more timely than that first. We always leave Lorton on a Thursday--don't know if that makes any differenc.

A side note on the 2010 return trip (we always go down for a month.) That February was the east coast blizzard(s.) The AT didn't run for a week. Not only that, they didn't answer their phone for a week. Anywhere. There were occasional updates on the Washington post website (about every other day.)

When our scheduled return date rolled around, we drive over to Sanford to find out what's going on. There was one young lady behind the counter, and she didn't know much more than we did. (No phones ringing there, either.) She said that her understanding was that she would be notified at 5PM the day before the trains would start running again. And she told us she could process an instant rerund for the return trip if we wanted to drive back.

We took it, spent that night in Jacksonville. Got a reservation (off Priceline, for $50,) for the following night (a Thursday,) at the Hilton Head Resort at Hilton Head. Nice digs. Made a reservation there for Friday in Blacksburg VA. It's on I-81, and we live in Harrisburg PA, so we were able to shoot up home on Saturday.

One quick lesson learned: Always keep a full set of road maps between FL and your home destination. Don't count on visitor centers, GPS or anything else--physical maps will allow you to really visualize alternate routes.

Yes, the train ends in Sandford.

January 1, 2013 Happy New Year!

I forgot to say last night’s resto is Hurricane Grill. It’s on water—maybe Lake Dora but I can’t tell for certain from the map. They have made a cute little beach. Their Christmas tree is covered with flip flops and baseball caps. Very cute. Great service and nice young people who all call me “Sweetie”.

Today will be in the 70’s again. My friend in Citrus County called and we set up a time for me to fetch her for a mini-tour of her area.

It takes about one hour and, as yesterday’s drive from Sanford, the roads are not too busy. I pass The Villages on route 44 and then a resto called “Speckled Butterbean”—do I really want to eat there?? LOL.

My friend (K) and I drive around the downtown of county seat, Inverness. It is very small. Town is on several lakes and I’m not certain which one I passed over. This area is older and development, though there, is less rampant. Beverly Hills has quite a few homes built in the 1970s that look like a real combo of full-timers and renters. More a change of season according to K.

Back home to regroup and then drove to Eustis as someone suggested it has a nice downtown—I am looking for Gianna’s Café and find it but it is closed. And I’m not thrilled with the general area coming into Eustis.

Made a trip to the Publix to pick up some supplies then back to the room to zap my steak and check emails.

Tuesday, January 2, 2013-70s weather predicted

Breakfast was scrambled eggs, bacon, juice, coffee and English muffin. All but the eggs, very good. On the road for my tour of The Villages at 10:00 a.m. I meet P. and he has sold homes here for 3 years but just moved in with his wife and dog.

In many ways The Villages is a Disney World for adults. Several sections each with a community center. I meet P at the town square which is very cute. Unlike the line of strollers outside “It’s a Small World” in Disney, there are lines of golf carts at The Villages. No big box stores but many smaller places line both sides of the street in attractive coastal-looking pastel buildings. Panera bread was one of the larger restaurants.

Anyhow, I’ll leave it up to you to decide if you like this concept. One owns and maintains one’s home and must have grass and landscaping.

On the road by noon and make it to Naples by 4—I made two pit stops along the way and went at exactly 65 m.p.h. on the road (Rte. 75) with a 70 m.p.h. limit so I was left alone after each clump of cars passed me by.

My friend, M, owns a sweet 2 br, den condo. We talk and eat and drink some wine then go to our respective rooms. Good sleep.

Wednesday, January 3, 2013 80’s predicted weather

We piddled around in the morning then M drove me around Naples. 5th Avenue in old Naples, with many high-end shops, puts The Villages main street to shame a bit. We drove through areas with amazingly huge homes that must be hotels but are not.

Out to lunch at a place M and her DH have already visited so know the owner is from our hometown in Annapolis! Back to the condo for naps. M has filled a basket with site-seeing and realty brochures. We might call her realtor about a condo with a price so appealing that there must be something wrong!

Dinner is just raiding the fridge and talking.

Thursday, January 4, 2013 Rain!

M says the rain is a surprise but says it never lasts very long. She has an appointment so I do some laundry and get back to this TR. M returns and we drive to Isles of Capri. It is just before Marco Island. We have a fabulous lunch of fresh grouper and talapia in a shacky, screened in restaurant right on the water. As far as I can tell, we are on the Gulf and ICW. M calls the east-west road Alligator Alley and it’s 50 miles of road and nothing else so do have enough gas!

Then we drove around Marco Island which is waaay larger than I thought. M has been picking up brochures and mags about the area. Prices run the gamut but I’d say the Naples area is not terribly depressed.

Rain did indeed stop and it's 83 degrees outside. Back home and we are both pooped so go to our respective rooms and then start e-mailing each other! So funny.

Tdudette-- Thanks for this trip report. That's useful to know about the train not running during that winter storm 2010 for a week. Luckily I've never had to fall back on a backup plan when I've travelled by train.

Sorry to hear you couldn't sleep; some people sleep well while others have trouble konking out on the train. I remember one teenage girl dining companion couldn't sleep on the San Francisco to Chicago train; boy was she an unhappy zombie on day 3.

Saturday, January 5, 2013, Foggy start, low 80s as day elapses

Well, I’ve written the dates incorrectly. No big deal until I thought I’d lost a day mentally. Every day I’ve written above is one day off--We went out for breakfast and I tried cheese grits. Will try again at some other place—I wasn’t too impressed.

We then went to a Saturday market and M. left me at a shopping area called Tin City. I bought a ticket for a planned excursion boat ride and then walked around and shopped. Saw some cute expandable bags but didn’t buy. Tin City had been a fisheries place then repurposed into shops and fresh fish restos.

At the boat dock, I met B & J, brothers from the Midwest and we chatted about the area and our lives. The excursion takes about 1.5 hours and basically shows the gorgeous homes on the way out to the Gulf of Mexico. We do learn that the mangrove trees produce a brownish tannic acid that stains the water (and boats). I also learn that property tax is 4 1/2% but less for the billionaires. Ironically, one of the big developers would not sell to entertainers or sports figures—afraid they’d be too flashy.

After the tour, I walk over to 5th Avenue where a huge art fair is going on. Quite a few blocks have been pedestrian-ized and hundreds of artists’ tents line both sides of the street. It’s a little warm in the sun so I stick to the shady side of the street.

I call M at the appointed time and she fetches me for home and a late lunch of homemade chicken/noodle/veggie soup from the market. We talk and talk then go to our respective rooms to decompress.

We're doing it again, but this time it's only one-way, from Sanford to Lorton, then we're visiting friends in NJ and doing a drive back with few 2-3 day stops along the way.

We're leaving on June 14th, my b-day :-), celebrate with dinner on the train, hangout at the lounge, retire to our cabin, celebrate some more :-D, then sleep. Rested and after breakfast we will be on our way to Ocean City in the morning.

Hi TDudette, following your trip with interest. I took the train about 25 years ago with my 2 year old and my MIL. Quite an adventure for the 2 year old. Are you thinking of relocating?

Hi LouisaH, Have been scouting various Florida venues. Some by visiting friends there, other places staying in Holiday Inn. It's so much easier for me to have my own car.

Sunday, January 6, 2013, another foggy start.

We spend the morning reading and drinking coffee. Today we are going to the “Phil” (Philharmonic} to see “Sister Act”. It is a large facility with nice auditorium, 2 adjacent galleries and a separate museum. There’s a nice outdoor patio and what looks like shopping as well although we won’t explore today.

The play is great fun despite lukewarm reviews. Playbill shows actors from the original Broadway cast. I know M will take advantage of this nice facility. We eat at an Italian restaurant. M has fettuccine with shrimp and I have papparadelle with salmon. Both are good but filling. A Ruffino Chianti goes nicely with it. Oh, our waiter tonight also works at resto where we had lunch the other day.

Back home to pack.

Monday, January 7 2013 Rainy 70s

We share a coffee and I’m off to Venice to have brunch with more Annapolis pals (G & B). Place is called Peach’s and B’s one pancake covers the plate. G has a Greek omelet and I have eggs Benedict with turkey and avocado instead of Canadian bacon. It is great seeing them but time for me to drive to Bradenton to see the Village of the Arts there.

According to an older magazine article, the houses in this area of town have been rehabbed and artists given a break with taxes or loans (this is what I want to find out). I had emailed ahead but was never contacted but thought I’d at least see things. I drove all around and must say I was not impressed. I didn’t see any homes with the charm of those in the magazine photo!

So, I give Dundee the Port Saint Lucie address of my next and final Florida visit. This will be a 3-hour drive almost due east. Employing Rhody’s first rule of travel (“Always take advantage of bathroom opportunities”), I then get onto route 70. Fortunately, there weren’t many folks on this mostly single-laned highway. There weren’t any places to stop either! I passed small ranches for sale and huge ones not for sale. I passed horses, cows, cattle egrets, orange groves and a dead wild pig.

Civilization was not reached until Arcadia and Lake Okeechobee. Dundee did a great job taking me across Florida but I do caution you to have a full gas tank and an empty bladder before you drive this route. This reminds me that M had the same advice for an east-west route from Naples to Miami (Tamiami Trail?).

My friends are B and F . B and I worked together and have stayed friends for 30+ years. Our hubs sailed together as well. F fixed dinner while B and I chatted and chatted. He made a nice blackened tuna, asparagus and red beans and rice. We sat around the table until after 10:30….talking!

Tuesday, January 8, 2013—Showers off and on. Sticky 70s

We all make our own breakfasts as each arises at different times and B and F have stocked the fridge with all sorts of foods. We each get on to our computers and started talking with each other and forwarding links as we chat. This is too funny-a repeat of M and me except this time we are 3 feet apart!

We finally get ready for the day and first visit a favored consignment store to meet the owner who is a neighbor. Then we drive to Stewart for lunch. The parking lot for their first choice is filled so we go to second choice and it’s fine. Salad, fajitas and hash fill us up. Then to the wine store and finally to Publix. Dinner will be a picnic of chicken, potato salad and a Pepperidge Farm cake! F says that the locals are so happy to see the backs of the snow birds--restaurants are crazy busy.

We spend the rest of the afternoon reading and snoozing before we eat. B shows me how to run their TV. While they are out for dancing lessons, I’ll watch “Jeopardy” with our own Mrs. Pickle!

Sounds like a great trip. I've spent a lot of time in Venice and it's one of my favorites, with a small artist community. Agree with you about Bradenton. Did you get to see Sarasota at all? Lots of fun neighborhoods.

We visited Sarasota some years back when ILs stayed in the area. I agree, Louisa, it's very nice. Don't know why it doesn't beckon to me though.

Forgot to mention that I saw signs for Wild Pig Hunting on route 70.

FYI, it is possible to get a wifi signal in the Sanford Auto Train station! This is a true statement beginning at noon on today.

My goodness, Daniel, I feel for that person! No sleep for that many days--hope she didn't have to drive right away.

Tuesday, continued.

Good job, Lee Ann! I think my friends are worried about the fact that I wanted to see a stranger on TV! Great show and exciting finish! I went to bed before B and F returned from dancing.

Wednesday, January 9, 2013, 80s, cloudy

Delray Beach is the goal today. We took our time facing the day. Each ate when/what we felt like, thinking lunch out would be our big meal.

Delray is about an hour south from here. We cross west to Rte. 95 and took Atlantic Avenue exit. This took us to an extremely crowded main street. It reminded me of an older, slightly less pretty Naples’ 5th Avenue. There were more outdoor cafés though. We were in the center of 3 lanes when a woman in the left-turn-only lane decided to turn right! F had just started to accelerate when she pulled in front of us and the person to our right. Egad, we almost got clipped.

Anyhow, when we came to within a couple of blocks of the ocean, we found a parking place and snagged it. Walking along Atlantic Avenue, we spy an empty sidewalk table at Boheme Bistro ( http://bohemebistro.com/ ) so decide to eat first and walk after. Nice place and we had Falafel, Lamb gyro, and prosciutto sandwich. All pronounced great. Inside pit stops revealed more bars, nice indoor spaces and a patio space.

Walked to the ocean and then strolled back window shopping along the way. Drove up the A1A back to PSL. We passed a nice area called Ocean Ridge and the hedges of Palm Beach. We speculated how many ways the developers would get the words “Palm Beach” incorporated into the names of their towns. Such a caché! B reads auto ads from the PB paper—a real who’s who’s of overpriced cars!

Back home and we graze again and sit around and talk.

Thursday, January 10, 2013, partly cloudy low 80s and pleasant breeze.

B fixes bacon and eggs and then we all putter on our computers and take showers at leisure before we head north to Ft. Pierce. We will visit the A.E. Backus Museum. He, along with the Highwaymen, known in the area for land/seascapes. We chat with the manager and it turns out that her daughter is from my area.

From Ft. Pierce, we continued north to Vero Beach. I thought it was very nice. We also drove on Hutchinson Island (a barrier) and saw some nice places. B’s mother stayed at some of the rentals when she visited. Lunch on the ocean again. This time at Mulligan’s ( http://mulligansrestaurant.net/locations/vero/ ). Two burgers, a spiced shrimp, beer and wine later, we go back home and spend another night raiding the fridge, watching TV, talking and drinking wine.

Friday, January 11, 2013—High 70s and muggy--Going Home!

On the road by 8:30 and was the first one in line for Auto Train. Rte. 95 to SR 46 and either follow the Amtrak signs (or listen to Dundee). So many fewer folks going north this time of year! Sanford provides a shuttle run every 20 minutes to the downtown so I take advantage of it. Bob, the driver, left New Jersey 12 years ago after he stumbled upon Sanford, found out the tax rate and heard about the snow he’d be returning to in Jersey.

It has a nice down town area (First Street). There is a German restaurant that is rather well-known. A nice condo but Bob says 80% unoccupied and too expensive—starting at $250K for a first floor unit. Nice little marina and park on Lake Monroe. I could stay here as well.

Back to the station and I decide to at least put some of this TR on Word and surprise, there is a wifi signal!

So far, I do believe finding a town in Florida where one can walk to most things may not be a successful mission. More thoughts later--possibly not until tomorrow.

Saturday, January 12, 2013-Misty outside no wifi

Mr. Sanford grew all sorts of veggies but a giant frost wiped out all but the celery. For a time, Sanford was the celery capital of the world.

Dinner last night was the same as the trip down and I had another nice steak. Pumpkin Bundt for dessert was delicious.

Spoke for at least an hour with G and T, golfing couple who have traveled the world. Had dinner with E and her little 2 yo-very cute.

It is going on 8 a.m. now and the train has broken down. We will be 2 hours late at this point. Grrr. They extend breakfast so I go ahead and get some cereal. Sit with man and his son who have 10 more hours to drive to get to Montreal.

It was around 11:45 by the time we arrived. It takes some time for the train to unleash the auto cars. First in meant almost last out in this case but I’ve been told there is no special order ever. I get home by about 1:30.

In retrospect, the trip is long and quite expensive (around $1,000 both ways). Others have suggested having the car shipped and getting a cheap air fare as a better alternative. On the other hand, people use their cars as giant extra suitcases—does anyone know if that’s possible on the car carriers? It is certainly something I’ll look into.

My next step is to rent in Mt. Dora during August. I’m assuming that would be one of the hottest months—we’ll see if it can hold a candle to sultry DC summers!

<i> In retrospect, the trip is long and quite expensive (around $1,000 both ways) </i>

well lets take a look at the price

Car R/T @ ~$4 a gallon = ~$400
Overnight hotel both ways = ~$100 a night
Food = ~$200-300 both ways
wear and tear on the car = $?
and then you have to drive = whatever that mean$ to you

instead,

you can "park your car", enjoy a nice dinner and breakfast, have few glasses of wine, sleep comfortably. Arrive at your destination in the morning and be totally relaxed.

I don't know about you but we decided to do it every time we want to go north east US with our car.

Makes sense AAFF. Although, I'd say 2 nights in a hotel would be more than $100/night would be more likely. I stayed with friends on my first trip back but took each set to dinner so probably spent as much or more as staying in a hotel!

Also, I should have said "round trip" rather than both ways to be more clear.

I do hope auto train extends its routes. It can be a nice way to get one's car to Florida. As you say, park your car and enjoy the ride!

Be aware that the price of the AutoTrain depend son two factors:

the time of year

the number of sleeping accommodations ALREADY sold.

Last year, for example, I took it from Sanford ON Thanksgiving Day. the base price was $97. I got a roommette for $98.00 There were so few people on the train they only had one dinner seating and that was half empty.

Are you sure you're talking about the same train?

The reason I ask is that you also had to pay for your car and it's mandatory for this train and you don't mention that in your post.

We changed our plans. We're doing a R/T on the Auto Train.

Celebrating my BD on the train on 6/14 and then coming back on the 21st.

That's great news, Dukey. I'm thinking about an "tryout" visit in August. It would change my plans to fly/rent a car.

Make that a "tryout"

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