Happy Trails on the Rails: Make the Most out of Traveling by Train

When we got the invitation to my cousins wedding in Oklahoma, I knew we had to go!  My husband and oldest son couldn’t go.  That left me, our 16, 5 and 2 year old needing a ride to OK.  Upon the encouragement of family members who recently traveled to Montana by train, I decided to hit the rails. 

All aboard for my tips and tricks on how to not only survive but totally enjoy your family adventure by train!

PLANNING YOUR TRIP: If you are thinking about a vacation with no destination in mind, check out the Amtrak website to see all of the cities that Amtrak stops in, and go from there!  If you live in Mid-Michigan, chances are there is a train station relatively close to you.  We boarded right at the Lapeer Depot.  The train travels west from Port Huron in the morning, and east from Chicago in the evening.

BOOKING: Booking your tickets is simple.  Visit the website and select your departure city, arrival city, number of passengers, round trip or one way, dates and then make your purchase.  Hot tip: kids are half price!

PACKING:  Less is more!  Each passenger is allowed two carry-on bags plus a laptop and personal bag.  Strollers and diaper bags do not count in your total, so you can bring a lot. Keep in mind that you have to carry ALL OF IT.  You can check baggage on some portions of the trip, we did not.  You are allowed to bring a cooler the size of a carry-on bag.  I encourage you to pack snacks and drinks as food is available on the train but it is very pricey. Trail mix, jerky, crackers and cheese, fruit cups, basically whatever your kiddos like to munch on.  You can even bring adult beverages if you’d like.  There are very few restrictions.  We enjoyed a dinner of fresh veggies, crackers, cheese, salami and fruit with a view of the St. Louis Arch.

BOARDING: Have your printed or email ticket available, the conductors may or may not scan it when you board.  There is no security check or TSA whatsoever.  The train stops for less than five minutes at most stations. Say your goodbyes and have your bags ready as the train pulls in.  I was surprised at how abrupt it was when we boarded in Lapeer.  It is quite a hike from the train into the building at the big stations.  Train stations are loud and busy.  Boarding at the big stations begins about 40 minutes before departure time.  Families can board first. Take advantage of this because seats are not assigned.

 SETTLING IN FOR THE LONG HAUL:  We packed a few games, favorite toys, coloring books, crayons and movies.  The kids enjoyed sharing their toys with other kids they met on board.  The WiFi to Chicago was intermittent, WiFi is not available on the long distance train.   Our trip was near screen free and it was glorious!  If your family is used to more screen time, I recommend downloading movies or bringing some DVDs to play on your laptop.  The staff is strict about using headphones with any devices, and being courteous to others.  I made a print-out to keep track of things we might see, things we did, what we ate and experienced.  My five year old really enjoyed this.  She would say, “Oh!  That’s on the list!” 

OVERNIGHT:  We did not get a sleeper car, they are quite expensive and I heard they just aren’t worth it.  It is important to stick to your evening routine as best you can, but be flexible.  After dinner, the kids washed up with wipes and put jammies on, we read and snuggled.  The train is quite peaceful and soothing; my kids did not have trouble sleeping.  Bring blankets and neck pillows. 

LAYOVERS: I ordered ahead and had  a  Chicago style pizza delivered to Union Station. The kids loved it!  In Fort Worth we rode the free trolley around the city, ate BBQ and toured the Fort Worth Water Gardens.  I encourage you to research your layover locations ahead of time so you can get the most out of each place you visit. Just watch the time.

FINAL THOUGHTS: My family enjoyed the 38 hour train ride to Oklahoma.  The observation car was amazing and the freedom to move around was perfect for the kids.  The view was incredible the entire trip. The kids loved looking at the sights as the scenery changed. The only complaint I have is the quality of the bathrooms, and that is mostly because my two year old decided he wanted to start potty training as we were leaving Oklahoma. But that’s another post!

Have you ever considered traveling by train?