Want airline food? Take Amtrak

A few years ago, I had a bit of holiday available, so took it straight after the conference in SF to travel from SF to New York (with the most part of the Zephr train).

I explained what I was doing to one American at the conference and he couldn't get his head around it. "But you can fly" and "but it is cheaper to fly" and "but you can get their faster by flying". I explained I wanted to be on the train, unwinding, watching America move past my window, speak to all sorts of people. Go to sleep in one state and wake up in another. After a long chat, the American was happy to leave me be.

The next day I am talking to someone at the conference and the American from yesterday turns up, I do a little nod and wave to acknowledge him, but he comes over and interrupts. He is with 5 other Americans and says to them "this is the British guy I was talking to you about!" and I had to explain to more people what I am doing and why. It was then like a snow ball effect for the rest of the conference.

I spoke to so many Americans that had never been on a train, which seemed just as bizarre to me as I seemed to them.

Anyway, the Zephr ride was amazing, there was a drought and heat wave in California and Chicago was in -15°C freezing temperatures. I saw the land scale change from sky scrapers to empty space, climbed up and around the Sierra Nevadas, went through your after hour of flat farm land and so the outside change from sun to snow. I spoke to so many people from devout Christians from the South, to a train driver/operator (who told us when the driver wasn't doing as well as he could and explained how various parts of the train work), to a retired couple who are travel regularly to see their kids, to college students to military men.

In the observatory carriage you get an amazing view of the country going by and sometimes have guides come on board to give you some history and information about the area. This was supplemented by eager locals who told me even more and pointed out wildlife as we travelled.

I slept brilliantly in my bed each night and enjoyed nice food three times a day. It was like being on a package holiday where you eat too much, drink too much and sleep too much. Needless to say I really enjoyed it and have been on a few more similar journeys in the US since (but the Zephr was the best).

When I arrived in New York I was only there one night but that was fine for me, I was more interested in the train ride.

After a tiring week at the conference, the train ride was such a breath of fresh air, a chance to decompress and relax, being forced to do nothing except enjoy the surroundings, have a few days off from appointments, to dos, worries and stress.

I have been to quite a few American cities, but felt I got a better sense of what America is from taking that train ride.

Not exciting food, but better than microwave hotdogs, and even with a spartan meal plan the trip is totally worth it.

Also some routes have a stop over which gives you an hour or so to scramble for a hot meal.

Another pro tip for the thrifty, bring a blanket and sleep on the floor in the observation car.

Ear plugs help in case other people are hanging out, but usually it’s pretty quiet for at least 6 hours. You can wake up and watch the sun rise.

You can always grab a nap in your seat later, but I have trouble sleeping more than an hour in a chair, whereas even on a hard floor I can zonk out for hours.