5 Essential Insider Tips About Portland, Oregon
Named one of Amtrak's 10 best places to visit in 2014, Portland, Ore., is dotted with tons of sights (big and small) that are within walking distance of the train station! But to uncover the city's best gems, it takes some insider info from a local. Molly McHugh is an editor with the Daily Dot who's an Oregon native and loyal Pacific Northwest resident who, ...
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Top Picks for Long-Distance Meals on Amtrak
There’s nothing worse than feeling "hangry" when you’re on the move. So, whether you’re heading home, visiting a friend, or going on a spontaneous weekend trip by train, you’ve got to eat. Luckily, Amtrak has your cravings covered. You can beat your stomach growls with breakfast, lunch, dinner and, of course, dessert across any of the long-distance train rides. Plus, the ...
Read MoreWatch: St. Paul Union Depot to Welcome Amtrak Customers
Customers planning to ride our Empire Builder through St. Paul, Minn., this summer are in for a treat. A total restoration of St. Paul Union Depot (affectionately called "SPUD" by savvy travelers) is now complete, and beginning May 7, Amtrak will begin service to the magnificent building. The service will begin before National Train Day, a free day of family-friendly festivities ...
Read MoreThe Southwest Chief: Video Tour of an Overnight Train
Travel blogger Kelley Ferro recently trained on one of our awesome overnight trains. Check out her video tour above of the epic Southwest Chief which connects Chicago and Los Angeles! If you don't know anything about the Southwest Chief, it's one of Amtrak's long-distance trains. In fact, it's an overnight train that crosses across the mighty Mississippi River, through eight states and past wheat fields, mountains ...
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This Old School Amtrak Art is Awesome
Our train trips are known for being the perfect way to spark your creativity. And this Throwback Thursday, we’re taking you to the artsy side of Amtrak way back in the 1970s, when the great Southwest terrain offered more than just views. It was a source of artistic inspiration! For starters, check out these old school baggage tags that say, "I ...
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Baseball Season Means Taking the Train to the Game
It’s finally spring time which means warmer temps, longer days and baseball! With our 500 destinations, 162 games in the season and 30 ball clubs across the country, it's safe to say we can take you out to the ball game (sorry, Cracker Jacks not included). Check out our list below to see a few stadiums we travel to. Warning if ...
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Kansas City ‘Embraces Trying Out Big Ideas’, Expert Says
Last year Matt Staub was brave enough to race an $80,000 Jaguar against our Southwest Chief. It was the ultimate face-off with Matt enjoying the race from the luxury of one of our comfy long-distance roomettes. To say he keeps Kansas City "Team Train" (he even had the support of elected officials!) would be an understatement. So we caught up ...
Read MoreFrom Stations to Slopes: The History of Amtrak Ski Trains
Our Winter Ski Getaway is in its final days, so we’re using this Throwback Thursday to hit the slopes! Long before we tracked a group of brave free skiers through Montana, Amtrak made a business of delivering customers to some of the best ski terrain in the country. Few people know, however, that it all started in 1936 in the ...
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The Best Family Spots in San Antonio
Family vacations are awesome, but they can get pricey. For affordable travel, you can escape the daily routine on Amtrak, where kids ages 2 - 12 ride half off and infants ride for free. Doesn't get much better than that, huh? And if you’re looking for a destination that won’t break the bank either, then take a trip on our ...
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6 Signs Spring Has Sprung on Amtrak
While the East Coast may still be in the tight grips of Jack Frost, the rest of the country is undergoing its Spring thaw. And we have the pictures to prove it! We took to Instagram to grab the best and, yes, brightest of your Spring photos from throughout our 500-destination system. From the crisp blue skies of the Puget ...
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An Insider’s Guide to the Best Sights in Seattle
Laura Lawson Visconti is a Seattle-based artist, coffee addict and author of Believing is Seeing, a memoir chronicling her battle with retinitis pigmentosa, a rare eye disease which is slowly rendering her blind. More than anything, she loves exploring the world, including the sights in Seattle, with her best friend and husband Nick. We caught up with Laura recently to learn ...
Read MoreAmtrak Teams with Epic TV for New Extreme Web Series
TJ David, Trent Bona, Caleb Brown and Whit Boucher traveled on the Empire Builder to ski some of the best terrain in the country. Even more awesome? All of it has been captured in a new web series called Storm Cycles for Epic TV and on Instagram and Twitter with the hashtag #AmtrakSeason! “I love how skiing is so much more than just sliding skis ...
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Why Wes Anderson Rides Amtrak
Director Wes Anderson is known for his unique perspective and signature aesthetic in the films he creates, including The Grand Budapest Hotel, now out in theaters. What few know, however, is that when not behind a camera that perspective is often out the window of a train. “Each trip is its own adventure, and I'm always looking forward to the next one,” ...
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A Train Soundtrack for Long Distance Travel
Our California Zephyr, which travels from Chicago to Emeryville, Calif., has some of the best views an Amtrak rider could ask for. Most travelers of this route can’t stop snapping photos, and some rail fans might even say you haven’t lived until you’ve seen Truckee River, the Colorado Rockies and Donner Pass from the comfort of our observation car. But ...
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How to Apply for the Amtrak Residency for Writers
#AmtrakResidency is happening! What began as a line in Alexander Chee's interview in PEN Ten and was fueled by Twitter, is now an official Amtrak program. As many of you may know by now, our test-run for Amtrak Residency was done by Manhattan-based writer Jessica Gross, whose piece, Writing The Lakeshore Limited was published in February by The Paris Review. What ...
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