Blogger Bound for Seattle

Claire was bored traveling by car between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., so she decided to leave the driving to us.

“I like riding trains because they’re glamorous,” she says. “But this was my first time on the Amtrak Cascades.”

Claire, who also logged the trip for her blog “Claire from YVR,” says the recent trip from Vancouver to Seattle was relaxing and allowed her to get work done while she traveled.

“The nice thing about the train is that you can get up and move around,” says Claire, who spent half her trip in her coach seat and the other half hanging out in the bistro car. “When I was in the bistro car, I had coffee and a morning breakfast sandwich, which I thought was priced really reasonably.”

In addition to the great views on the west side of the train, passengers on the Cascades, which travels multiple times a day between Eugene, Ore., and Vancouver, can also see the newly renovated Seattle King Street Station.

“It’s just beautiful, and the nice thing about train stations is they’re really accessible, right downtown in the city centers,” Claire says. “Getting into Seattle and seeing the station thriving right downtown is great to see.”

For her next trip, Claire is planning to experience business class on the Cascades. “My passion is traveling, and I love exploring new places,” she says.

Amtrak Guest Rewards members wanting to take Claire’s trip will earn double points on qualifying Cascades travel from July 17 through Aug. 31 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays or Saturdays. Not an Amtrak Guest Rewards member? Sign up here and earn 500 bonus points!

For more photos of Claire’s Northwest adventure and her review of the trip, click here.