People who enjoy travel on long-distance trains can spend a lot time deciding which train to take, but that’s usually where the decision-making ends. That’s OK as far as it...

The third rail leg of this journey has brought me here from Chicago aboard the California Zephyr, Amtrak’s train #5. It’s probably Amtrak’s most popular long-distance train and it’s certainly...

I have had countless numbers of delightful encounters with fellow passengers in Amtrak dining cars, many of which I’ve chronicled here. Friday night was no exception as I found myself...

After many months of rumors that a major Amtrak route was going to be cancelled, it was nice to hear some positive news. The citizen-led group, ColoRail, the Colorado Rail...

One of the giants in retailing—it may have been F. W. Woolworth himself—once said, “I know I’m wasting half of my advertising dollars. The trouble is, I don’t know which...

If we’re talking scenery, the California Zephyr has to be Number One. It runs daily in both directions between Chicago and Emeryville, right across the bay from San Francisco. I’ve...

When pressed to pick Amtrak’s most scenic train, I’ll talk about the Cardinal and the Adirondack and the Empire Builder or the Coast Starlight. But I always end up picking...

When I was a teenager living in a rural part of Connecticut, there was a huge rainstorm that lasted for several days. The result was some serious flooding that caused...

Back home, safe and sound, and thinking once again how wonderful it is that I can come back to Maui when I finish my travels. My ride from cold and...

I’ve recently helped some friends here on Maui plan a ride on the California Zephyr next Fall around Thanksgiving time. As always when I do Amtrak booking, I came across...