Another Trip On The Empire Builder

The route of the Empire Builder. Wikimedia photo by Sharemap.org

Once or twice a year we take the Amtrak from Williston east or west. I call it our "land cruise" because it is like being on a long thin cruise ship. Unlike flying or a long cross country drive, I look forward to jumping on the train and relaxing. Instead of stressful airports and navigating icy roads or traffic, we sit back and enjoy the 25 hours as a captive on a train where we can do nothing but relax, read, write, eat and look out the window. Instead of dreading the flight or drive, I look forward to an opportunity to relax. 

Every time we ride and get a room, one of the four (included) meals is the Amtrak steak. Even in first class on an airplane, the food isn't this good. There is nothing better than eating while watching the scenery go by. photo from Wikimedia Commons

 As the train makes its way west, we start with the included lunch in the dining car, the first of four meals included in our "stay".  The train is a bit like a rolling hotel. The meals are excellent and filling. Next, we settle into our narrow bunk room and change the seats over to beds. Later, we can walk down to the snack bar and settle in to the observation car and look out the windows to watch the sun set across central Montana. 

Sitting in the observation car, I always get into a conversation with someone or read while looking at the scenery. Summer is the best time to ride and observe when the sun is up more than it is down. The same happens during the meals we will eat in that the two of us are always seated with two others and have interesting conversations with people we didn't know before. I've never been on a cruise ship, but I think they do the same sort of thing. 

After supper, we go back and settle into the room. One of my favorite things about the train is that there is no internet, and spotty phone service for much of the trip which means it is perfect for reading. I usually, get at least one book read on the trip. 

On Amtrak, there are almost always delays, but the train usually makes up much of that time. The way to look at a cross country train trip is that you will leave, not one time, but in a range of hours and arrive during a range of hours the next day. All the time between is time to relax. If you have a buffer on either side of your trip, you can relax even more.

Settling in to sleep, it is fun to wake up and go to breakfast in another state and see a new view out the window as we eat our eggs. 

When we finally arrive at Portland's Union Station sometime in the middle of the next day, unlike the tortuous two day drive or the restless day of flying, we feel rested instead of exausted, ready for our visit.

How much did it cost to stay in a rolling hotel with free meals as opposed to flying? Flying out of North Dakota is for some reason always expensive. In addition to its expense, the carbon footprint of the short hop flights is high. For us to fly and suffer all the indignities of flying it would have been 800 dollars each from Williston or Bismarck. To spend a day in a rolling hotel worked out to about 500 dollars each. Which would you choose?