Did we pass through your state or hometown?? What a journey- okay hands down the most fun we’ve had in a while!! We already miss the train life. What did you enjoy most? Would you ride this sleeper train? 😍
Did the sleeper train with my Mom from Chicago to New York back in the 70s. Still remember the soothing rattle and swaying as I drifted off to sleep. ☺️
My daughters left the East Coast last year to start their own business in South Lake Tahoe. They do most of their shopping in Reno which is not too far from where they live. I call them Pioneer Women, proud of them but miss them terribly. I still live in Charlotte, NC but thinking about moving out there with them, 2 grandkids, and a great-granddaughter. I Facetime them but not the same as being with them. You two remind me of them, also adventuring on our beautiful earth.
Me and my mom did the California Zephyr from Denver, CO to San Francisco back in 2022. We both got our own roomettes. One of the best trips we've ever done. I recommend going in late April or early May like we did as there is still snow on the mountians but not bad for weather.
As someone who did a 7,000-mile, 13-day rail "marathon" in 2019 (essentially a double cross country plus) and enjoyed it so much AND (thanks to COVID) an even larger one (13,000 mile, 27-day circumnavigation of North America) in 2023 it was fun to watch you really enjoy your journey. Great relaxing way to travel!
@@cindytachell6729i planning on a NYC to Seattle and normally just do 1 night but this be the longest(Currently only NYC to Topeka) same transfer in Chicago though
What a onderful experience and memory. The last time i was on a train was in 1961 on a three day trip from southwest Florida to Seattle (with transfers on the way). It, of course, was quite different then. You reminded me of the excitment I had as an 18 year old youngster on my first trip our of Florida. i jouneyed on to Adak, Alaska as the beginning of my 24 year adventure in the U.S. Navy. I had the good fortune of going to many countries. I am retired now and 81 years old and get to relive my many adventures in my life through your u-tube videos. Thank you do much and God bless, Jim
An even better train trip is the Canadian from Toronto to Vancouver. I met folks from all over the world, the scenery was spectacular, and the staff provided fun activities and lots of information about the land we were travelling through.
I traveled on trains a lot in Canada as a small child. I still remember taking the train from Vancouver to Calgary to see my grandparents. I still remember how it felt, the noises, and the dining car!
I've taken the Canadian in both directions and highly recommend it. The food is way better than Amtrak's. The cars are older (1957 vintage) but have been remodeled inside and are quite comfortable. And the scenery is spectacular. Plus, you don't have internet or cell service for much of the route, forcing you to disconnect and just enjoy the ride.
Looks like such a fun adventure! I haven't been on a sleeper train before, but this definitely makes me want to try it out. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Got teary-eyed when you showed Donner Pass and Truckee. Spent my years from ten to twenty-one, spending summers and weekends at Donner Lake. My folks had an A-frame cabin at the lake. Climbed from lake up to the train tracks as kids with my brother. We snuck up and under the cover of the tracks. We found antique equipment used for building the tracks in 1800's. It was all a long time ago now when I was young.
I love the Amtrak blanket! When I was 8 our friend Roberto worked for Amtrak and brought me home the blanket. It was a little darker blue than they have now. That blanket became my Woobie, another name for a blanket.It was so soft and warm and I kept it until I was about 20, somehow it got lost when I moved and I was broken hearted. I loved that blanket it brought me comfort and it was one of my favorite gifts ever... I'm so glad you ladies had fun, been thinking about taking a train ride really soon. I think the scenery would be worth it alone .. Blessings to you both and Izzy and Bella ❤
I enjoyed this video so much! My husband and I are planning a train trip in May of 2025 to celebrate his retirement. We are traveling from Chicago Ill, west to California, following the California coast south and back east to Chicago. It is a total of 15 days! We are very excited. Hope our trip doesn't have many delays!
I am heading on a cross Canada trip in April. 4 days. Lower berth, meals included, always stunning views and a much slower, relaxing way to travel. Then an overnight train in a cabin from Montreal to NB, which I have never done. I love this mode of travel.
you guy's were randomly recommended to me (probably because I have watched quite a few amtrack videos from different creators). This is by far the best/most informative of all the videos I've seen. thx for making the vid
I've worked on the UK's Railways for over 35 years. It's on my bucket list along with a trip across the Canada. Thank you for sharing and wetting my appetite. 🥰😃
Forget train journey in Canada....unless you are very rich, the cost is ridiculously prohibitive...lived here for a long time but could never afford the cost...it is cheaper for us to travel to Europe for a long trip...
I try to ride overnight trains every time I visit the US and it *is* such a great way to travel. (In fact I just had a brilliant idea about doing a giant zigzag trip from the west coast to Chicago three times on my next visit!) It's so great to see people fall in love with riding the train. If you ever come out to Australia, you'll have to train it between Melbourne and Sydney, and maybe even do the Indian-Pacific!
I took this route on Amtrak in September 2023 solo!!! And it really is a trip of a lifetime!!! Definitely made me fall in love with traveling by train. The food is actually really great as well!!! You just cant see the landscape by plane or a car like you can by train. I went from Chicago to San Francisco. So just the opposite way lol definitely planning on another this year! They are absolutely amazing traveling on!!
I'm glad I followed you two. I did so, after you helped build the connex shed with Ambition strikes. I am 74 and I have never been aboard a cross country train. I think I am convinced now after watching you two. Thanks for the great video and the sage advice.
Back in the 80s, my family took the same train back from Chicago to San Francisco. I am in my 60's and I still remember that trip. It was so special. You see parts of the country that you would not see from a car.
Does this bring back memories of my time with Amtrak from 2010 to 2012. I worked in Aviation for over 30 yrs before hiring on with Amtrak at their Beach Grove Facility in 2010. We didnt see a lot of California cars at the shop I worked but the ones we worked I replaced windows, installed bunks, rebuilt stairways and hallways as well as installing seats and flooring. I loved the job but moved back to Aviation. I cant wait to see this entire video. One of the perks I never took advantage of while at Amtrak was the one free train trip for your family and having triplets who turned 15 I know they would love a trip like yours which gives me an idea. Thanks for choosing Amtrak was a great company to work for.
Canuck in Thailand here. LOVE trains! Just vlogged the new train from Bangkok-Hua Hin, amazing views. CM-Bkk I like too but fewer views as it's mostly at night. Thanks for sharing your Amtrak trip, looks fantastic deffo gotta try that some time. Cheers! STL
Awesome!!! How exciting!!! Nothing quite like hopping aboard one of Amtrak’s Long-Distance trains whether it’s this train the California Zephyr running from the San Francisco Bay Area to Chicago, Illinois or any of Amtrak’s other long distance trains such as the Coast Starlight running from Los Angeles, CA to Seattle, WA or the Southwest Chief that also runs from Los Angeles, CA to Chicago, Illinois as each route provides passengers with amazing views and onboard amenities. I myself have briefly rode on Amtrak’s Coast Starlight from Santa Barbara, CA and even that short experience was absolutely phenomenal with the amazing breathtaking views and everything else that Amtrak has to offer. It is unfortunate though that in the US, train travel tends to be more of an afterthought since most Americans are more concentrated on driving and flying, compared to other countries like Europe and Asia. But despite that, Amtrak still does everything they can to make sure that everyone who rides onboard have an amazing and relaxing experience just like you guys with all the different amenities they provide. Glad you both enjoyed it!!! :) Also a quick Fun Fact: The main locomotives that have pulled many of Amtrak’s long-distance trains for over 20+ years now are part of a series of locomotives known as the General Electric “Genesis” series of locomotives with these ones being known as the P42DC that were first built by the company General Electric between 1997 and 2001 with 207 having been produced for Amtrak. P= Passenger Gearing, 42= 4,250 horsepower, and DC= Direct Current Traction Motors. I’m a huge train fan so I know quite a lot about everything that’s railroad and train-related; locomotives, rolling stock, horns, you name it. It’s a pleasure to see and hear those P42s with locomotives 27 and 78 leading your train!!! Fantastic video, I really enjoyed it!!! :)
You brought back memories of my sister and I. We were around your age when she won an all exclusive trip to Germany, Switzerland and Austria. We were introduced to the owner's of Schmitt Söhne Wine Company; who paid for the 3 week vacation. We saw castle's, vineyards, wine cellars and even went on a log boat ride. It was a once in a lifetime experience. ❤ It looks like you ladies had a blast! Enjoy it while you're young!!! 🐾 💜
It was nice to see young people enjoying the train ride. My wife and I took the Zepher round trip. We were in the economy bedroom. To see the other option was enlightening. I imagine that this was like a time capsule going through the country. A train ride was one of the most relaxing trips that we took. The other one is the California Amtrak going along the west coast to Oregan. They also refuel the engine and change crews when stopping at stations. JH
Glad you girls did the train ride. I grew up on the trains when I was younger. It was back in the 80 and 90. My father was one of the person working on the trains. So we travel a lot. It is really a great way to travel and see landscape. Love you girls, love seeing your videos.
You two just don’t have a down moment at all. Both of your attitudes, excitement levels, life’s outlook along the way, love of history and nature…are just so cool. Your enthusiasm makes your video well worth watching. I wish you two would make it over to North Carolina, friends of mine own a railroad and he buys many antique passenger cars. Most are from the early 1900’s..and are rebuilt to the utmost class. Currently he has two coaches (these are heavyweights) that are Amtrak qualified. It’s been said from many folks that do train travel and have their own private cars…say that the ACWR cars are the nicest they’ve ever seen. If you two ever make it this way…I’d love to show you around…I’m on Facebook, my wife and I will welcome you in…
OMGOSH!!! This is a bucket list item for me!!! I think I saw an eagles nest! The ski fence in Winter Park is awesome! I am 63 this month and really need to get this one checked off because it looks like an amazing experience! But...did you get much sleep? How was sleeping on a train? We love sleeping on a cruise ship! Hmmm....next trip for y'all?
Yes, how was sleeping? It's my only worry about taking this trip w/ the hubby. Everyone, please weigh in if you've slept in a sleeper car, I'm worried I won't be able to sleep!
We have done 2 train trips- Chicago to Seattle and Chicago to New Orleans. We had roomettes both times. Hubby slept better than I did. He had the top bunk. I think the noise was harder for me to overcome than the swaying. Bring ear plugs to help with that. We loved both trips and will do more.
I find the motion of the train puts me to sleep. The first night I wake up at stops because of the change in motion, but after that I don't notice it. The beds are more comfortable than you might think. If you are sensitive to noise, then ear plugs would help. Roomettes can be a bit claustrophobic for some people, but I find them cozy. Like on a boat, every bit of space is utilized for something. The only other thing that wakes me up might be significant altitude changes as my ears will pop.
oh my goodness you passed thru all my parts! Sac-Truckee and seeing the american river move, in all her glory brought me to tears. Eternally thankful I get to live in the earths heart
Longest train trip for me was 16 hours overnight Albany, NY to Chicago, IL on Amtrak. I love trains so I enjoyed it thoroughly. It's also a more sustainable method than flying, and just more relaxing. (Second longest was Den Bosch, Netherlands to Pau, France, many moons ago.) Thanks so much for sharing your adventure! Have a great week! ~Maarten
Grew up in Sacramento, best thing it’s two hours from San Francisco and two hours from Tahoe. I camp at Donner several times a year and just North of San Francisco as much as I can in summer in my camper van. Thanks for taking us along on your trip, I may have to do this some day!
When I was about 18 years old I took the Empire Builder from Chicago to Portland. I took the regular seat option because it was the cheapest. I have always wanted to take the sleeper car out west. I love your attitude. Train travel is wonderful!
We took the train from Chicago to California when I was little. We loved it!!! Mom, Dad and two little girls and a little boy. My Dad was a Steam locomotive engineer for the C&EI Central and Eastern Illinois line.
I thought "Oh no this is gonna be amateur and they know nothing about trains"... and that's exactly what made it SO great. I took the Southwest Chief, Chicago to Los Angeles and I got to watch you make the little discoveries the way I did. Best videography I've seen in this kind of piece. You did a great job of really showing the size and features of a bedroom. Diner, Lounge, station stops, you missed nothing. Really good stuff.
So interesting such s lovely train. Beautiful scenery. My Mom as a little girl used to catch a train from Zambia to Zimbabwe through to Cape Town South Africa for her schooling. A four day trip. In those days you could open the windows. She loved it. She speaks of her many journeys often.
Oh wow…this is the content that I didn’t know I needed! Thank you RUclips for showing me this video. You guys have truly inspired me to look into traveling by train. It looks like so much fun. What an adventure! Can’t wait to see more of your videos. Thanks for sharing
In the mid-60s... my Dad was in the navy and went overseas. My mom, my two sisters, and I rode a train from CA to NY. We were very young, but it is one of my favorite childhood memories ♥️
Just watched your journey and it was amazing. Your camera takes amazing footage that is so clear. What a lovely way to experience travelling. So much better than air travel because you can get on and off and take in the scenery and surroundings. We have sleeper travel in the UK but nothing like America. You get so much longer to experience everything. 52 hours is amazing.
What a great video! I started riding trains when I was 5 years old because my grandfathr was an engineer and our family could ride for free because of that... I'm 77 now and still love riding them (even though there are sometimes delays.) I've ridden them all over the U.S. and Europe and prefer them to airplanes because it's not only more elegant but also because you have so much more room (and time) to enjoy the trip. You also have the opportunity to meet new people and have real conversations (and the food is MUCH better.) A friend once told me (and I think this is true,) that talking to someone on a train is a conversation, talking to someone on an airplane is verbal graffiti. One of my favorite rides is from Barcelona to Paris but that's just one of many. The trip I'd like to take before I shuffle off this mortal coil is Toronto to Vancouver through the Canadian Rockies. That would, I think, be spectacular. Thanks for sharing this trip.
I love Amtrak and have taken this trip MANY times. I was born in SF actually and now live in Chicago, so I have lived at both ends of the California Zephyr! Once while I was on the CZ riding in a roomette, I observed a live birth take place on the train, I’m not joking. Back in late March 2019, I was on the California Zephyr going from Davis to Glenwood Springs and on the train, there was pregnant 19 year old girl from SFSU traveling from Emeryville to Denver with her boyfriend. They normally fly home from college for holidays/breaks but because their due date was close (due date was April 5th and they departed on March 29th), they had to use the train since airlines do not allow women to fly in the last 6 weeks of pregnancy. During the ride at 1 AM, the girl’s water broke and the attendant for our sleeping car (Justin Woods, a young guy in his early 20s) volunteered to deliver the baby since he had seen how it was done online. The girl agreed and Justin did so in which he went into the first aid kit, got his gloves on, then squeezed himself into the roomette to have the girl push while he caught the baby when she was born. The baby ended up being born on the train - a healthy baby girl in a ROOMETTE!!! It was a fabulous story and the girl, her newborn and boyfriend were taken off the train by paramedics at the next railroad crossing (train was in a remote location between Elko and Salt Lake City at the moment which required a helicopter ambulance to meet the train). As it is, I observed the whole thing as I was holding the girl’s left leg as well as recording this with her boyfriend’s phone. I’ve wondered - if you are female, suppose this happened to you where you (or your wife/girlfriend) suddenly went into labor on an Amtrak train and the train was going across a remote location at the moment. Would you at all be able to tolerate giving birth unmediated, while crammed into a Roomette, on a bed that was not flexible (unlike in the hospital), on a train that speeding up to 90 MPH, the baby’s umbilical cord having to stay attached to you until you got to a hospital (no scissors/clamps on the train), and the person delivering your baby is an Amtrak conductor/attendant with no medical training or license of any kind??? Seriously, this girl was incredibly brave and was lucky that there were no complications, PLUS it only took 20 minutes for her to push the baby out (water broke at 1 AM, and the baby was born at 1:22 AM) What do you think of all this!!!???
Thank you for the journey! Who else paused the video on the dinner menu to check it out?! I've only been on Chicago's, NYC's, and Boston's city rails, never something long distance. On the bucket list with the hubby for sure. :)
Something I have always wanted to do ... I dont think i will get to due to my recent diagnosis, but I got to see it through you two. Thank you 😊 Stay healthy folks. Cancer sucks.
Several years ago, we took an Amtrak See America tour. Went from Houston to Miami and stayed there 5 days, then up to coast to Washington DC one day, then across to Chicago one day, back down to Texas. It was 14 days total counting stops. Wonderful experience! Yet, lots of delays caused by other trains on shared tracks. But a wonderful experience. I've thought of taking train from San Antonio to California and eventually up to Oregon and Washington. Now I want to go...lol ❤️❤️. Great video !
When my sister and I were 10, our mom took us on a train from LaCrosse, WI out to Aneheim CA to disneyland. She used the insurance money from when out dad died, and it's something we always thanked her for. We slept in the chairs and had to do homework on the trip as she took us out of school. Anyway, your trip was s awesome. My favorite part was going through the rookies....beautiful and that bald eagle nest was the best. The whole train so so nice unlike the 61 year old train we were on, lol. I'm glad you ladies had so much fun. Can't wait for more excitement from you two. Hugs to you and the fur babies. Bernie ❤
Girls-omg I loved this one. Born and raised in Chicago. Lived in San Francisco from my 20’s -50’s. Not only that, but when I was 12, my family of 5 traveled another famous trail line, The Panama Limited, from Chicago to New Orleans, and back. It was amazing for all the reasons you covered. One of the best, most special traveling of my life. I felt so grown up when I began going to the ClubCar every morning for breakfast, by myself. Woohoo!
Hi, I have my own small modest channel as well, and my content is mostly about music. I only traveled by Amtrak once, taking the Autotrain from just south of Alexandria, Virginia to Sanford, Florida. I wanted to be able to have my car, get some sleep, and get to Miami for a football game, and this service did it for me. I traveled in coach as I was looking to save money. Took my back about a week to recover, lol, but it was fun. I am looking to branch out and have more travel related videos myself. Thanks for enlightening me on your train journey.
I am enviousness of you two, the most relaxing way to travel. I bet you never stopped smiling. When I was young it was the best way to travel, in my day it was steam trains. I hope the rest of your travel is just as enjoyable. Love from Mike. ❤❤
I’ve always wanted to take a long Amtrak train ride. Now I’m old and don’t get around very well so it most likely will never happen. It was so much fun seeing how excited you two were. Love your enthusiasm ! Thank you for taking us along !
Your video brought back memories! I've taken the Zephyr between Chicago and San Franisco twice, both times roundtrip. Enjoyed it each time. Then one year with 3 weeks to spare, we took the Empire Builder from Chicago to Portland, OR to spend a few days. We then caught the Coast Starlight from there to Sacramento and then to Los Angeles to spend a few days in each, after which we caught the Southwest Chief back to Chicago. A long but relaxing journey. For me, if you have the time and want to just sit back and relax and not have to drive or fly, Amtrak is a good way to travel. Of all the routes, the Zephyr is the best. Thank you for your video.
What a fantastic video. You girls keep on outdoing yourselves. Since i will never experience a cross country train ride in person i enjoyec the next best thing going with you girls. Thank you for sharing with us. You two r my favorite youtube couple.
Great video. I rode that route back in 1979 all the way back to Dearborn Michigan, changed trains in Chicago,awesome trip. I had a blast traveling by myself (mostly 😊). Loved the experience had a blast and the views were phenomenal! Years later I went from Toledo Ohio all the way to Boston so I have ridden from coast to coast, my favorite way to travel.
This was fun, especially because of your wonderment! A couple more tips: The Canadian cross-country train is much better, and I'm a US American. Yes, it's possible. Better accommodation, better food, at least as good views. Second: Chicago is 2/3 of the way across the US from the west coast, like Ottawa in Canada.
I have always preferred train travel, time to relax, watch the countryside go past and meet new people. In Europe you have plenty of routes to pick from. London to Innsbruck, Barcelona to Venice and London to Warsaw are amongst my favourites. I always dreamed of the Trans Siberian and the Coast to Coast across Canada. I am glad you enjoyed yourselves in spite of the delay.
A tip from a retired photographer and manager of a pro camera store for 25 years. If you're shooting out a window get yourself a collapsible rubber lens hood. That way you can press the lens hood against the glass eliminating reflections, and being flexible you can angle the camera against the glass. Also great for protecting the camera lens if you drop it. In a pinch you could use a jacket or top that won't let light through and wad that up around the lens, but it's really a pain in the you know what.
Fantastic video. I took a sleeper train way back in 1999 from Chicago to Seattle. Your video makes me want to do a SF to Chicago sleeper this summer. I love delays if I am not in a hurry to get to a destination. The Rocky Mountains scenery will never get old.
Always start my Sunday morning watching vanwives! Thanks for another impressive video of your adventures. Perhaps one of your next ventures would be a train trip across Canada. Have an amazing week ladies!!
I spent the last month of my gap year traveling from Vancouver all the way to Halifax using the train and the trip on the Canadian is to this day one of my favorite memories. Thank you for taking us on your train journey, it looked incredible and like so much fun!
Loving these new adventures and am so happy to see you both enjoying something fresh and new! Watching while cuddling in my new Pack merch. I love it ❤️
I thought you ladies were doing a trip across South America (to Argentina) especially after you found a reasonable vehicle for that in Colombia! Imagine my surprise when you were traveling across 2/3 of the U.S.! Though you went through about 15% of the U.S. states, you did not go through mine! I am not anxious to ride Amtrak anytime soon. That was assured by the poor experiences (maybe a dozen of them) between Portland and Seattle in the 1960s and 1970s. It is only a three-and-a-half-hour drive but Amtrak could take anywhere from five hours to 20-some hours. The delays seemed pretty random but were virtually guaranteed to occur on _every_ trip. Driving is far more reliable, costs less, and solves the problem of getting around after reaching the destination. I have really enjoyed trains in Europe though! You said that meal costs were part of the fare. Really! That is so unlike the old days. Food was quite expensive then so dieting was a guarantee on every train trip.
Very interesting trip. I had to laugh when you said you were traveling all the way across the USA. San Francisco to Chicago is like going from Vancouver to Thunder Bay. 😅I love your videos. Thanks for posting.
The Sierra Nevadas' (North America's smaller version of the Alps) stunning beauty truly mesmerizes and fascinates throughout with railroad, mining, and timber town pioneer history. Truckee really is charming! Utah's diversity and CO Rockies and rivers are breathtaking! I'm excited for you, Chrys and Jaz to see so much more by daylight in your van when you can! I'm glad that you had some (limited) food options and hope Amtrak brings more plant foods aboard. 🌱🙌💜Happy Trails from a fellow van traveler who loves you!🫂💛💚🕊
This trip has been on my bucket list for a while now. I want to take this trip with my Sister but so far we have not been able to get our schedules together to do so. Thank you for taking us along.
You two just went through our gorgeous Sierra mountains which are today now under feet and feet of snow, my area including Lake Tahoe, Truckee and Reno🎉 What a beautiful trip! Who knew? (Much faster driving, but this train looks fun!)
You girls should have your own travel channel. I love watching your travel adventures. Your smiles, vocabulary, descriptions, and energy is a delight to watch. Great job.
It looks like a great trip and that scenery was incredible. I’ve done the 4 days, 3 nights, nearly 4,500 km Indian Pacific trip from Sydney to Perth, Australia. It only makes 4 stops along the way but they are for an hour or two with tours you can take while there. The air system must be different because we never noticed a lack of fresh air. Of course there were no snow capped mountains along the way, the Blue Mountains only occasionally get snow and certainly not in spring when we travelled but we did get to see different landscapes, including treeless plains and desert as we crossed the centre of the country. Our cabin was similar to yours with double bunks and our own bathroom. The bunks were slightly narrower giving more legroom and the bathroom was a tiny bit bigger than yours and the top bunk folded down from the wall rather than the ceiling. We had three course meals in a fancy dining car and the lounge car had curved benches where people could gather and chat rather than tables with seating either side. I would recommend it for anyone’s bucket list.
Wow, that is a wonderful experience. A worthy 3 days vacation with a changing landscape every minute, you can sit and doing nothing, just enjoying every minute of the view.
Train travel is my absolute favorite way to go. I've done many trips, but the most incredible is the Zeffer, The views cannot compare with anything else. Glad you girls had fun..... ❤❤❤
Thank you for taking me with you on your beautiful adventure. I’m 40 miles north of Denver, so not far from one of your stops/break down, I would definitely ride a train now! Much love from Colorado ❤
In 1972 when I was ten years old me my mom and my sister took a train across Canada from Washington state to Victoria BC It was amazing we saw the Canadian Rockies and other beautiful sites we didn't have a private room but our seats turned into bunk beds my mom took the top bunk and me and my older sister shared th e bottom bunk my mom wanted us to still see the views I think the trip was for a week with a ton of beautiful views we had to stay in Bamph for about 4 hours because We needed to wait for a new engine to arrive that part was a little frustrating because we couldn't get off the station to explore the town anyway I will always remember that wonderful trip I have always loved train s and this video is amazing I love you guys and all your videos ❤❤❤
I've watched many Amtrak video's but yours are the most entertaining! Really love seeing what the insides of the different Stations look like. You girls did a great job making this video! I subscribed!!
My grandfather and uncle were both train folks. My grandfather designed steam locomotives at the Baldwin Locomotive factory and my uncle was an engineer on the newer diesel electrics like the one you are on. He was stationed in Florida working for the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad in the day. Glad you had a great trip.
What a lovely surprise to go on this journey! My grandad did this back in the ‘60s and we enjoyed seeing his holiday slides afterwards! Enjoyed seeing you dressed up posh in the diner! From Norfolk in England.xx
Truckee is charming, but if you go there, PLEASE visit Lake Tahoe! I took the Zephyr with my kids from San Francisco to Nebraska roundtrip twice when they were little, and loved it! Once, we had the tiny roomette (my kids were 1.5 and 4) and the next time I got the family bedroom on the bottom floor at the end of the roomette corridor-it's as wide as the train! There are 4 berths (2 big, 2 small) and windows on both sides. We stopped in a beautiful town in the Rockies at night and I turned off the lights so the kids and I could watch it snowing outside. Magical. It's hard to sleep well on trains but it's worth it, I love them.
I've been thinking about trying an Amtrak adventure for a while, but it's always seemed a little overwhelming. Thanks for showing a little slice of it and making it feel more accessible.
I did this for my bday as a solo trip in 2023 and it was amazing! Meet people from all over, Even a father/son from New Zealand. I had a roomette. And the food was really good. Am planning my Via Rail trip in Canada soon. ❤
I really enjoyed this video. For two 70 y/o folks, I think we’ll pass 26:31 . Oh to be 30 again. But you guys are fun and young and you are more versatile than us. This was very well done. Thank you!
I love this video! I’m so glad you got to enjoy the ride. I rode on this train back in 2015 and it is one of my favorites! There is nothing like train travel. I’d love to see more train travel videos from you. There are so many I have been on, but some of the other memorable ones for me are the Grand Canyon Railway in Arizona, the Cass Scenic Railroad with historic steam locomotives in West Virginia, and the Durango & Silverton Steam Train in southwestern Colorado!
Hey, you should have called when you were in Omaha! I am 15 minutes from the station. Looks like you were here during our -41 windchill and snow. Honestly, next time you go through, call! You would love the Old Market area, it is a great time! Chrystal, it looked like you were having some motion sickness or vertigo. I felt terrible for you. I have vertigo daily, and there is no train involved! Thanks for sharing your trip with us.
Watched this video last night and booked this train trip today. Gfriend and I will be flying from Edmonton to Chicago, riding the train to Sacramento then flying back to Edmonton. Thank you for the idea, super excited for this new experience.
Yes, you passed through, and got off the train where we live. My wife and I live in Reno. I grew up in Truckee. It is an awesome place to live or visit if you like the outdoors. Thank you for showing my hometown.😊❤️
I grew up in Colorado and went to photography school in Glenwood Springs and i love how you guys talk about it 🥹 thank you for sharing this amazing journey!
I’ve only done two rides on Amtrak. From Paso Robles to Seattle and back. It was so much fun with tons of great sights. I’ve watched this one before but had to watch it again 😊. Blessings from Paso Robles, California, Carlos
I have ridden Amtrak sleepers many times between Denver and Glenwood Springs. Most trips haven't been good. I did it again this week and it's my last time on Amtrak. The train was late (as usual) and it took us almost 7 1/2 hours to get back to Denver from when we started moving. The Superliner cars are old and tired and there was no heat in our car for the return trip. I had dinner in my room on the way back. The food was lukewarm, no salt and pepper, and no salad dressing. Your mileage may vary, but in my opinion Amtrak is a dsigrace.
I took the Zephyr from Omaha to Emeryville during COVID in a roomette and back in the summer. I just came back from Osceola, IA to Grand Junction over a weekend (left Friday afternoon for Osceola from KC) spend Saturday night at Tru by Hilton right near the station enjoying a nice pub dinner and drink then home Sunday morning in a bedroom which was awesome. Loved the difference between winter and summer. I saw deer, elk, bunnies, turkey and an eagle. It was relaxing and mostly on time.
Awesome!! This train route has been number one on my bucket list for many years. #two on the list is the southern route, I think it’s called the Sunset Unlimited. Have been on couple of other routes. Word to the wise, if you are a person that can’t really get a deep sleep unless you are completely horizontal….don’t travel coach….miserable. Agree it’s the very best way to see the America. Thanks for taking us along.😃👍💜
Lol, I was born in this country we call the United States and have traveled extensively around it.. Listening to the shock and aww of the sights you see, is fantastic. Enjoy the many splendors the US has to offer, and do come back and visit us in a more slow manner. Cheers
Did we pass through your state or hometown?? What a journey- okay hands down the most fun we’ve had in a while!! We already miss the train life. What did you enjoy most? Would you ride this sleeper train? 😍
You passed through 3 I’ve lived in, and I’ve spent time in all that you went through, but Vermont is home. 💛
Did the sleeper train with my Mom from Chicago to New York back in the 70s. Still remember the soothing rattle and swaying as I drifted off to sleep. ☺️
My daughters left the East Coast last year to start their own business in South Lake Tahoe. They do most of their shopping in Reno which is not too far from where they live. I call them Pioneer Women, proud of them but miss them terribly. I still live in Charlotte, NC but thinking about moving out there with them, 2 grandkids, and a great-granddaughter. I Facetime them but not the same as being with them. You two remind me of them, also adventuring on our beautiful earth.
I would most definitely do this! The views are amazing! ❤
omg life goals. I want to do this so badly.
Me and my mom did the California Zephyr from Denver, CO to San Francisco back in 2022. We both got our own roomettes. One of the best trips we've ever done. I recommend going in late April or early May like we did as there is still snow on the mountians but not bad for weather.
Awe thank you for sharing with us. Happy you and your mother had some family time together. Truly the best. 😊🐶
As someone who did a 7,000-mile, 13-day rail "marathon" in 2019 (essentially a double cross country plus) and enjoyed it so much AND (thanks to COVID) an even larger one (13,000 mile, 27-day circumnavigation of North America) in 2023 it was fun to watch you really enjoy your journey. Great relaxing way to travel!
As someone who worked on the train for 36 years, I thoroughly enjoyed your video and I think Amtrak should be thanking you appropriately! Go Pack!
Awe thanks Tim, we had a wonderful experience. 💛🐶
I worked on the Empire Builder Seattle to Chicago and back.
is love playing this sunday ?
Thanks for your service I love Amtrak
@@cindytachell6729i planning on a NYC to Seattle and normally just do 1 night but this be the longest(Currently only NYC to Topeka) same transfer in Chicago though
What a onderful experience and memory. The last time i was on a train was in 1961 on a three day trip from southwest Florida to Seattle (with transfers on the way). It, of course, was quite different then. You reminded me of the excitment I had as an 18 year old youngster on my first trip our of Florida. i jouneyed on to Adak, Alaska as the beginning of my 24 year adventure in the U.S. Navy. I had the good fortune of going to many countries. I am retired now and 81 years old and get to relive my many adventures in my life through your u-tube videos. Thank you do much and God bless, Jim
An even better train trip is the Canadian from Toronto to Vancouver. I met folks from all over the world, the scenery was spectacular, and the staff provided fun activities and lots of information about the land we were travelling through.
I have heard that.
I traveled on trains a lot in Canada as a small child. I still remember taking the train from Vancouver to Calgary to see my grandparents. I still remember how it felt, the noises, and the dining car!
I'm hoping to do this next yr
We did that in 2016, we we went from Vancouver to Toronto .
I've taken the Canadian in both directions and highly recommend it. The food is way better than Amtrak's. The cars are older (1957 vintage) but have been remodeled inside and are quite comfortable. And the scenery is spectacular. Plus, you don't have internet or cell service for much of the route, forcing you to disconnect and just enjoy the ride.
Looks like such a fun adventure! I haven't been on a sleeper train before, but this definitely makes me want to try it out. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Happy to have you join us on our adventure. It was so interesting and beautiful. 💛🐶
Cool@@Vanwives
Got teary-eyed when you showed Donner Pass and Truckee. Spent my years from ten to twenty-one, spending summers and weekends at Donner Lake. My folks had an A-frame cabin at the lake. Climbed from lake up to the train tracks as kids with my brother. We snuck up and under the cover of the tracks. We found antique equipment used for building the tracks in 1800's. It was all a long time ago now when I was young.
Joanne such a beautiful memory you have. 💛🐶
I love the Amtrak blanket! When I was 8 our friend Roberto worked for Amtrak and brought me home the blanket. It was a little darker blue than they have now. That blanket became my Woobie, another name for a blanket.It was so soft and warm and I kept it until I was about 20, somehow it got lost when I moved and I was broken hearted. I loved that blanket it brought me comfort and it was one of my favorite gifts ever... I'm so glad you ladies had fun, been thinking about taking a train ride really soon. I think the scenery would be worth it alone .. Blessings to you both and Izzy and Bella ❤
Tony!!! He was my attendant when I took this train last spring! So fun to get a snippet of his wonderful energy here!
No way!! You’re the second person to say that… so cool… Tony is great 😁
Tony was also my attendant in March 2022, he was great.
I enjoyed this video so much! My husband and I are planning a train trip in May of 2025 to celebrate his retirement. We are traveling from Chicago Ill, west to California, following the California coast south and back east to Chicago. It is a total of 15 days! We are very excited. Hope our trip doesn't have many delays!
I am heading on a cross Canada trip in April. 4 days. Lower berth, meals included, always stunning views and a much slower, relaxing way to travel. Then an overnight train in a cabin from Montreal to NB, which I have never done. I love this mode of travel.
you guy's were randomly recommended to me (probably because I have watched quite a few amtrack videos from different creators). This is by far the best/most informative of all the videos I've seen. thx for making the vid
Welcome to our pack. Thanks for your kind words. 💛🐶
I've worked on the UK's Railways for over 35 years. It's on my bucket list along with a trip across the Canada. Thank you for sharing and wetting my appetite. 🥰😃
A lot better trains than the Virgin or northern (I’m in Manchester) lot more cosy and relaxing! 😊
Canada? 😂😂😂😂 This is the USA.
@@sophiarose7610 I believe he means he would also like to ride the train across Canada on the Ocean/The Canadian.
Thank you for watching!! Such a fun journey- we also hope to rise across Canada too! 😍
Forget train journey in Canada....unless you are very rich, the cost is ridiculously prohibitive...lived here for a long time but could never afford the cost...it is cheaper for us to travel to Europe for a long trip...
I try to ride overnight trains every time I visit the US and it *is* such a great way to travel. (In fact I just had a brilliant idea about doing a giant zigzag trip from the west coast to Chicago three times on my next visit!) It's so great to see people fall in love with riding the train.
If you ever come out to Australia, you'll have to train it between Melbourne and Sydney, and maybe even do the Indian-Pacific!
I took this route on Amtrak in September 2023 solo!!! And it really is a trip of a lifetime!!! Definitely made me fall in love with traveling by train. The food is actually really great as well!!! You just cant see the landscape by plane or a car like you can by train. I went from Chicago to San Francisco. So just the opposite way lol definitely planning on another this year! They are absolutely amazing traveling on!!
Cost??
We felt the same way, the views are breathtaking. We definitely had a memorable journey. 💛😊
I am thinking of doing this same trip solo.... So glad to hear that you have a trip of a lifetime.
I'm glad I followed you two. I did so, after you helped build the connex shed with Ambition strikes. I am 74 and I have never been aboard a cross country train. I think I am convinced now after watching you two. Thanks for the great video and the sage advice.
Back in the 80s, my family took the same train back from Chicago to San Francisco. I am in my 60's and I still remember that trip. It was so special. You see parts of the country that you would not see from a car.
So beautiful, the scenery is breathtaking. Happy you have your memories.💛🐶
Does this bring back memories of my time with Amtrak from 2010 to 2012. I worked in Aviation for over 30 yrs before hiring on with Amtrak at their Beach Grove Facility in 2010. We didnt see a lot of California cars at the shop I worked but the ones we worked I replaced windows, installed bunks, rebuilt stairways and hallways as well as installing seats and flooring. I loved the job but moved back to Aviation. I cant wait to see this entire video. One of the perks I never took advantage of while at Amtrak was the one free train trip for your family and having triplets who turned 15 I know they would love a trip like yours which gives me an idea. Thanks for choosing Amtrak was a great company to work for.
Canuck in Thailand here. LOVE trains! Just vlogged the new train from Bangkok-Hua Hin, amazing views. CM-Bkk I like too but fewer views as it's mostly at night. Thanks for sharing your Amtrak trip, looks fantastic deffo gotta try that some time. Cheers! STL
Awesome!!! How exciting!!! Nothing quite like hopping aboard one of Amtrak’s Long-Distance trains whether it’s this train the California Zephyr running from the San Francisco Bay Area to Chicago, Illinois or any of Amtrak’s other long distance trains such as the Coast Starlight running from Los Angeles, CA to Seattle, WA or the Southwest Chief that also runs from Los Angeles, CA to Chicago, Illinois as each route provides passengers with amazing views and onboard amenities. I myself have briefly rode on Amtrak’s Coast Starlight from Santa Barbara, CA and even that short experience was absolutely phenomenal with the amazing breathtaking views and everything else that Amtrak has to offer. It is unfortunate though that in the US, train travel tends to be more of an afterthought since most Americans are more concentrated on driving and flying, compared to other countries like Europe and Asia. But despite that, Amtrak still does everything they can to make sure that everyone who rides onboard have an amazing and relaxing experience just like you guys with all the different amenities they provide. Glad you both enjoyed it!!! :) Also a quick Fun Fact: The main locomotives that have pulled many of Amtrak’s long-distance trains for over 20+ years now are part of a series of locomotives known as the General Electric “Genesis” series of locomotives with these ones being known as the P42DC that were first built by the company General Electric between 1997 and 2001 with 207 having been produced for Amtrak. P= Passenger Gearing, 42= 4,250 horsepower, and DC= Direct Current Traction Motors. I’m a huge train fan so I know quite a lot about everything that’s railroad and train-related; locomotives, rolling stock, horns, you name it. It’s a pleasure to see and hear those P42s with locomotives 27 and 78 leading your train!!! Fantastic video, I really enjoyed it!!! :)
You brought back memories of my sister and I. We were around your age when she won an all exclusive trip to Germany, Switzerland and Austria. We were introduced to the owner's of Schmitt Söhne Wine Company; who paid for the 3 week vacation. We saw castle's, vineyards, wine cellars and even went on a log boat ride. It was a once in a lifetime experience. ❤ It looks like you ladies had a blast! Enjoy it while you're young!!! 🐾 💜
How exciting for you and your sister beautiful memories. Our plan is to travel as much as we can but still have a balance with our projects. 💛🐶
It was nice to see young people enjoying the train ride. My wife and I took the Zepher round trip. We were in the economy bedroom. To see the other option was enlightening. I imagine that this was like a time capsule going through the country. A train ride was one of the most relaxing trips that we took. The other one is the California Amtrak going along the west coast to Oregan. They also refuel the engine and change crews when stopping at stations. JH
Glad you girls did the train ride. I grew up on the trains when I was younger. It was back in the 80 and 90. My father was one of the person working on the trains. So we travel a lot. It is really a great way to travel and see landscape.
Love you girls, love seeing your videos.
You two just don’t have a down moment at all. Both of your attitudes, excitement levels, life’s outlook along the way, love of history and nature…are just so cool. Your enthusiasm makes your video well worth watching. I wish you two would make it over to North Carolina, friends of mine own a railroad and he buys many antique passenger cars. Most are from the early 1900’s..and are rebuilt to the utmost class. Currently he has two coaches (these are heavyweights) that are Amtrak qualified. It’s been said from many folks that do train travel and have their own private cars…say that the ACWR cars are the nicest they’ve ever seen. If you two ever make it this way…I’d love to show you around…I’m on Facebook, my wife and I will welcome you in…
OMGOSH!!! This is a bucket list item for me!!! I think I saw an eagles nest! The ski fence in Winter Park is awesome! I am 63 this month and really need to get this one checked off because it looks like an amazing experience! But...did you get much sleep? How was sleeping on a train? We love sleeping on a cruise ship! Hmmm....next trip for y'all?
Yes, how was sleeping? It's my only worry about taking this trip w/ the hubby. Everyone, please weigh in if you've slept in a sleeper car, I'm worried I won't be able to sleep!
We have done 2 train trips- Chicago to Seattle and Chicago to New Orleans. We had roomettes both times. Hubby slept better than I did. He had the top bunk. I think the noise was harder for me to overcome than the swaying. Bring ear plugs to help with that. We loved both trips and will do more.
I find the motion of the train puts me to sleep. The first night I wake up at stops because of the change in motion, but after that I don't notice it. The beds are more comfortable than you might think. If you are sensitive to noise, then ear plugs would help. Roomettes can be a bit claustrophobic for some people, but I find them cozy. Like on a boat, every bit of space is utilized for something. The only other thing that wakes me up might be significant altitude changes as my ears will pop.
oh my goodness you passed thru all my parts! Sac-Truckee and seeing the american river move, in all her glory brought me to tears. Eternally thankful I get to live in the earths heart
Longest train trip for me was 16 hours overnight Albany, NY to Chicago, IL on Amtrak. I love trains so I enjoyed it thoroughly. It's also a more sustainable method than flying, and just more relaxing. (Second longest was Den Bosch, Netherlands to Pau, France, many moons ago.) Thanks so much for sharing your adventure! Have a great week!
~Maarten
Grew up in Sacramento, best thing it’s two hours from San Francisco and two hours from Tahoe. I camp at Donner several times a year and just North of San Francisco as much as I can in summer in my camper van. Thanks for taking us along on your trip, I may have to do this some day!
What a fun trip - sleeper trains are my favourite mode of travel. And girls, you scrub up good 16.30! Thanks for taking us along!
When I was about 18 years old I took the Empire Builder from Chicago to Portland. I took the regular seat option because it was the cheapest. I have always wanted to take the sleeper car out west. I love your attitude. Train travel is wonderful!
We took the train from Chicago to California when I was little. We loved it!!! Mom, Dad and two little girls and a little boy. My Dad was a Steam locomotive engineer for the C&EI Central and Eastern Illinois line.
I thought "Oh no this is gonna be amateur and they know nothing about trains"... and that's exactly what made it SO great. I took the Southwest Chief, Chicago to Los Angeles and I got to watch you make the little discoveries the way I did. Best videography I've seen in this kind of piece. You did a great job of really showing the size and features of a bedroom. Diner, Lounge, station stops, you missed nothing. Really good stuff.
So interesting such s lovely train. Beautiful scenery. My Mom as a little girl used to catch a train from Zambia to Zimbabwe through to Cape Town South Africa for her schooling. A four day trip. In those days you could open the windows. She loved it. She speaks of her many journeys often.
I'll bet the cinders blew in.
@@b43xoit yes😂
Oh wow…this is the content that I didn’t know I needed! Thank you RUclips for showing me this video. You guys have truly inspired me to look into traveling by train. It looks like so much fun. What an adventure! Can’t wait to see more of your videos. Thanks for sharing
In the mid-60s... my Dad was in the navy and went overseas. My mom, my two sisters, and I rode a train from CA to NY. We were very young, but it is one of my favorite childhood memories ♥️
Awe such a beautiful memory. Trains are a cool experience for sure. 💛🐶
Just watched your journey and it was amazing. Your camera takes amazing footage that is so clear. What a lovely way to experience travelling. So much better than air travel because you can get on and off and take in the scenery and surroundings. We have sleeper travel in the UK but nothing like America. You get so much longer to experience everything. 52 hours is amazing.
What a great video! I started riding trains when I was 5 years old because my grandfathr was an engineer and our family could ride for free because of that... I'm 77 now and still love riding them (even though there are sometimes delays.) I've ridden them all over the U.S. and Europe and prefer them to airplanes because it's not only more elegant but also because you have so much more room (and time) to enjoy the trip. You also have the opportunity to meet new people and have real conversations (and the food is MUCH better.) A friend once told me (and I think this is true,) that talking to someone on a train is a conversation, talking to someone on an airplane is verbal graffiti. One of my favorite rides is from Barcelona to Paris but that's just one of many. The trip I'd like to take before I shuffle off this mortal coil is Toronto to Vancouver through the Canadian Rockies. That would, I think, be spectacular. Thanks for sharing this trip.
Check.
I love Amtrak and have taken this trip MANY times. I was born in SF actually and now live in Chicago, so I have lived at both ends of the California Zephyr!
Once while I was on the CZ riding in a roomette, I observed a live birth take place on the train, I’m not joking. Back in late March 2019, I was on the California Zephyr going from Davis to Glenwood Springs and on the train, there was pregnant 19 year old girl from SFSU traveling from Emeryville to Denver with her boyfriend. They normally fly home from college for holidays/breaks but because their due date was close (due date was April 5th and they departed on March 29th), they had to use the train since airlines do not allow women to fly in the last 6 weeks of pregnancy. During the ride at 1 AM, the girl’s water broke and the attendant for our sleeping car (Justin Woods, a young guy in his early 20s) volunteered to deliver the baby since he had seen how it was done online. The girl agreed and Justin did so in which he went into the first aid kit, got his gloves on, then squeezed himself into the roomette to have the girl push while he caught the baby when she was born. The baby ended up being born on the train - a healthy baby girl in a ROOMETTE!!! It was a fabulous story and the girl, her newborn and boyfriend were taken off the train by paramedics at the next railroad crossing (train was in a remote location between Elko and Salt Lake City at the moment which required a helicopter ambulance to meet the train). As it is, I observed the whole thing as I was holding the girl’s left leg as well as recording this with her boyfriend’s phone. I’ve wondered - if you are female, suppose this happened to you where you (or your wife/girlfriend) suddenly went into labor on an Amtrak train and the train was going across a remote location at the moment. Would you at all be able to tolerate giving birth unmediated, while crammed into a Roomette, on a bed that was not flexible (unlike in the hospital), on a train that speeding up to 90 MPH, the baby’s umbilical cord having to stay attached to you until you got to a hospital (no scissors/clamps on the train), and the person delivering your baby is an Amtrak conductor/attendant with no medical training or license of any kind??? Seriously, this girl was incredibly brave and was lucky that there were no complications, PLUS it only took 20 minutes for her to push the baby out (water broke at 1 AM, and the baby was born at 1:22 AM) What do you think of all this!!!???
Thank you for the journey! Who else paused the video on the dinner menu to check it out?! I've only been on Chicago's, NYC's, and Boston's city rails, never something long distance. On the bucket list with the hubby for sure. :)
Choo-Choo trains 🚂 rock! Thanks for the ride❤
Something I have always wanted to do ... I dont think i will get to due to my recent diagnosis, but I got to see it through you two. Thank you 😊
Stay healthy folks. Cancer sucks.
🙏🏽💪🏽
When you can wear the "Cancer survivor" tee shirt, make a train trip your reward.
Rick Rick IS a cancer survivor as they posted here, meaning still alive.🙏🏽❤️
Several years ago, we took an Amtrak See America tour. Went from Houston to Miami and stayed there 5 days, then up to coast to Washington DC one day, then across to Chicago one day, back down to Texas. It was 14 days total counting stops. Wonderful experience! Yet, lots of delays caused by other trains on shared tracks. But a wonderful experience. I've thought of taking train from San Antonio to California and eventually up to Oregon and Washington. Now I want to go...lol ❤️❤️. Great video !
When my sister and I were 10, our mom took us on a train from LaCrosse, WI out to Aneheim CA to disneyland. She used the insurance money from when out dad died, and it's something we always thanked her for. We slept in the chairs and had to do homework on the trip as she took us out of school. Anyway, your trip was s awesome. My favorite part was going through the rookies....beautiful and that bald eagle nest was the best. The whole train so so nice unlike the 61 year old train we were on, lol. I'm glad you ladies had so much fun. Can't wait for more excitement from you two. Hugs to you and the fur babies. Bernie ❤
Girls-omg I loved this one. Born and raised in Chicago. Lived in San Francisco from my 20’s -50’s. Not only that, but when I was 12, my family of 5 traveled another famous trail line, The Panama Limited, from Chicago to New Orleans, and back. It was amazing for all the reasons you covered. One of the best, most special traveling of my life. I felt so grown up when I began going to the ClubCar every morning for breakfast, by myself. Woohoo!
Wow. Brought me to tears. So happy you had that experience and I will put the train trip on my bucket list. Thank you.
Hi, I have my own small modest channel as well, and my content is mostly about music. I only traveled by Amtrak once, taking the Autotrain from just south of Alexandria, Virginia to Sanford, Florida. I wanted to be able to have my car, get some sleep, and get to Miami for a football game, and this service did it for me. I traveled in coach as I was looking to save money. Took my back about a week to recover, lol, but it was fun. I am looking to branch out and have more travel related videos myself. Thanks for enlightening me on your train journey.
I am enviousness of you two, the most relaxing way to travel. I bet you never stopped smiling. When I was young it was the best way to travel, in my day it was steam trains. I hope the rest of your travel is just as enjoyable.
Love from Mike. ❤❤
I’ve always wanted to take a long Amtrak train ride. Now I’m old and don’t get around very well so it most likely will never happen. It was so much fun seeing how excited you two were. Love your enthusiasm ! Thank you for taking us along !
Your video brought back memories! I've taken the Zephyr between Chicago and San Franisco twice, both times roundtrip. Enjoyed it each time. Then one year with 3 weeks to spare, we took the Empire Builder from Chicago to Portland, OR to spend a few days. We then caught the Coast Starlight from there to Sacramento and then to Los Angeles to spend a few days in each, after which we caught the Southwest Chief back to Chicago. A long but relaxing journey. For me, if you have the time and want to just sit back and relax and not have to drive or fly, Amtrak is a good way to travel. Of all the routes, the Zephyr is the best. Thank you for your video.
What a fantastic video. You girls keep on outdoing yourselves. Since i will never experience a cross country train ride in person i enjoyec the next best thing going with you girls. Thank you for sharing with us. You two r my favorite youtube couple.
Great video. I rode that route back in 1979 all the way back to Dearborn Michigan, changed trains in Chicago,awesome trip. I had a blast traveling by myself (mostly 😊). Loved the experience had a blast and the views were phenomenal! Years later I went from Toledo Ohio all the way to Boston so I have ridden from coast to coast, my favorite way to travel.
This was fun, especially because of your wonderment! A couple more tips: The Canadian cross-country train is much better, and I'm a US American. Yes, it's possible. Better accommodation, better food, at least as good views. Second: Chicago is 2/3 of the way across the US from the west coast, like Ottawa in Canada.
Yes-I have definitely added this trip to my Wishlist. Thank you all for sharing!
I have always preferred train travel, time to relax, watch the countryside go past and meet new people. In Europe you have plenty of routes to pick from. London to Innsbruck, Barcelona to Venice and London to Warsaw are amongst my favourites. I always dreamed of the Trans Siberian and the Coast to Coast across Canada. I am glad you enjoyed yourselves in spite of the delay.
A tip from a retired photographer and manager of a pro camera store for 25 years. If you're shooting out a window get yourself a collapsible rubber lens hood. That way you can press the lens hood against the glass eliminating reflections, and being flexible you can angle the camera against the glass. Also great for protecting the camera lens if you drop it.
In a pinch you could use a jacket or top that won't let light through and wad that up around the lens, but it's really a pain in the you know what.
Thank you for the great tip. It is on my list of things to buy. 💛🐶
@@Vanwives you’ll want a hood that collapses in sections so you can adjust it to fit different focal lengths of lenses or zooms.
Fantastic video. I took a sleeper train way back in 1999 from Chicago to Seattle. Your video makes me want to do a SF to Chicago sleeper this summer. I love delays if I am not in a hurry to get to a destination. The Rocky Mountains scenery will never get old.
Putting the announcement of stations over that video montage was excellent film-making. Brava!
Thanks for the kudos John.💛🐶
Loved going on this train ride with you. Just yesterday I took the same trip with Trek Trendy and both videos were really fun. Thanks ladies!!!
Always start my Sunday morning watching vanwives! Thanks for another impressive video of your adventures. Perhaps one of your next ventures would be a train trip across Canada. Have an amazing week ladies!!
I spent the last month of my gap year traveling from Vancouver all the way to Halifax using the train and the trip on the Canadian is to this day one of my favorite memories. Thank you for taking us on your train journey, it looked incredible and like so much fun!
Loving these new adventures and am so happy to see you both enjoying something fresh and new!
Watching while cuddling in my new Pack merch. I love it ❤️
Thanks for supporting us. Send us a pic of you in your pack merch. We are happy you love it. 💛🐶
I thought you ladies were doing a trip across South America (to Argentina) especially after you found a reasonable vehicle for that in Colombia! Imagine my surprise when you were traveling across 2/3 of the U.S.! Though you went through about 15% of the U.S. states, you did not go through mine!
I am not anxious to ride Amtrak anytime soon. That was assured by the poor experiences (maybe a dozen of them) between Portland and Seattle in the 1960s and 1970s. It is only a three-and-a-half-hour drive but Amtrak could take anywhere from five hours to 20-some hours. The delays seemed pretty random but were virtually guaranteed to occur on _every_ trip. Driving is far more reliable, costs less, and solves the problem of getting around after reaching the destination. I have really enjoyed trains in Europe though!
You said that meal costs were part of the fare. Really! That is so unlike the old days. Food was quite expensive then so dieting was a guarantee on every train trip.
Very interesting trip. I had to laugh when you said you were traveling all the way across the USA. San Francisco to Chicago is like going from Vancouver to Thunder Bay. 😅I love your videos. Thanks for posting.
Thanks for sharing Bill. Happy to have you in our pack. 💛🐶
My guess .. this is part 1 travel across US by rail.
Right? This is a little more than halfway.
🙄
The Sierra Nevadas' (North America's smaller version of the Alps) stunning beauty truly mesmerizes and fascinates throughout with railroad, mining, and timber town pioneer history. Truckee really is charming! Utah's diversity and CO Rockies and rivers are breathtaking! I'm excited for you, Chrys and Jaz to see so much more by daylight in your van when you can! I'm glad that you had some (limited) food options and hope Amtrak brings more plant foods aboard. 🌱🙌💜Happy Trails from a fellow van traveler who loves you!🫂💛💚🕊
Good morning Ladies! This looks like so much fun! What an adventure to add to the Pack library! 🐾🐾💛💛
Good Morning Suzy. It was a really cool experience we shared lots of fun. 💛🐾
This trip has been on my bucket list for a while now. I want to take this trip with my Sister but so far we have not been able to get our schedules together to do so. Thank you for taking us along.
When I was stationed in Italy we would take sometimes take Friday and Monday off and get a sleep car on a train and town hop all weekend. Best times.
You two just went through our gorgeous Sierra mountains which are today now under feet and feet of snow, my area including Lake Tahoe, Truckee and Reno🎉 What a beautiful trip! Who knew? (Much faster driving, but this train looks fun!)
I can tell your break and traveling are feeding you both on a soul level 🥰
Yes the break has been good. Inspiring! Thank you 💛
You girls should have your own travel channel. I love watching your travel adventures. Your smiles, vocabulary, descriptions, and energy is a delight to watch. Great job.
I took the Zephyr from Denver to San Fran 37 years ago. Still a fantastic memory of mine! I'm definitely watching this video more than once.
It looks like a great trip and that scenery was incredible. I’ve done the 4 days, 3 nights, nearly 4,500 km Indian Pacific trip from Sydney to Perth, Australia. It only makes 4 stops along the way but they are for an hour or two with tours you can take while there. The air system must be different because we never noticed a lack of fresh air. Of course there were no snow capped mountains along the way, the Blue Mountains only occasionally get snow and certainly not in spring when we travelled but we did get to see different landscapes, including treeless plains and desert as we crossed the centre of the country.
Our cabin was similar to yours with double bunks and our own bathroom. The bunks were slightly narrower giving more legroom and the bathroom was a tiny bit bigger than yours and the top bunk folded down from the wall rather than the ceiling. We had three course meals in a fancy dining car and the lounge car had curved benches where people could gather and chat rather than tables with seating either side.
I would recommend it for anyone’s bucket list.
Trains are under appreciated. Great views.
Right! We loved our experience.😊
Wow, that is a wonderful experience. A worthy 3 days vacation with a changing landscape every minute, you can sit and doing nothing, just enjoying every minute of the view.
Did you forget there’s another whole half of the country?
No, that’s the entirety of the United States.
Train travel is my absolute favorite way to go. I've done many trips, but the most incredible is the Zeffer, The views cannot compare with anything else. Glad you girls had fun..... ❤❤❤
We sure had a fun journey. Thanks for sharing your memories with us.💛🐶
YAHOOOO! How do you put off doing chores on a Sunday morning? @Vanwives of course! lol
Ohh David you are funny.😊
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Thank you for taking me with you on your beautiful adventure. I’m 40 miles north of Denver, so not far from one of your stops/break down, I would definitely ride a train now! Much love from Colorado ❤
San Francisco to Chicago is not clear across the United States-there is Indiana, Ohio, Penns, NY and Maine to get across this country.
She means well. She’s a result of her generation’s poor education system.
Sadly I agree 💯 the trains on pretty cool especially Amtrak they're planning to expand
That’s what I thought when she said it. Lol
There may or may not be a few states between NY and Maine …since we’re calling out people’s geography
Okay Mr exacto 😂🤡🤦🏻♂️. It’s nearly the whole way across, minus a small handful of states past Illinois. No need to be right 100% of the time.
In 1972 when I was ten years old me my mom and my sister took a train across Canada from Washington state to Victoria BC It was amazing we saw the Canadian Rockies and other beautiful sites we didn't have a private room but our seats turned into bunk beds my mom took the top bunk and me and my older sister shared th e bottom bunk my mom wanted us to still see the views I think the trip was for a week with a ton of beautiful views we had to stay in Bamph for about 4 hours because We needed to wait for a new engine to arrive that part was a little frustrating because we couldn't get off the station to explore the town anyway I will always remember that wonderful trip I have always loved train s and this video is amazing I love you guys and all your videos ❤❤❤
Aww so many beautiful memories. We will always cherish this journey too.💛🐶
“The entirety of the United States” is a stretch
At least 1000 mi
Entirety of the United States if you don’t count the entire Eastern time zone.
Missed a third of the country, if just talking about getting from west coast to east coast.
Same as the Trans-Canada railway. Vancouver to Montreal.
Female Dumb and Dumber
I've watched many Amtrak video's but yours are the most entertaining! Really love seeing what the insides of the different Stations look like. You girls did a great job making this video! I subscribed!!
My grandfather and uncle were both train folks. My grandfather designed steam locomotives at the Baldwin Locomotive factory and my uncle was an engineer on the newer diesel electrics like the one you are on. He was stationed in Florida working for the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad in the day. Glad you had a great trip.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us. So cool to have rail history within your family. 😊🐶
What a lovely surprise to go on this journey! My grandad did this back in the ‘60s and we enjoyed seeing his holiday slides afterwards! Enjoyed seeing you dressed up posh in the diner! From Norfolk in England.xx
It was such a fun experience. Thanks for sharing with us.💛🐶
Taking a train is on my bucket list now! Never thought of this great experience!
Truckee is charming, but if you go there, PLEASE visit Lake Tahoe! I took the Zephyr with my kids from San Francisco to Nebraska roundtrip twice when they were little, and loved it! Once, we had the tiny roomette (my kids were 1.5 and 4) and the next time I got the family bedroom on the bottom floor at the end of the roomette corridor-it's as wide as the train! There are 4 berths (2 big, 2 small) and windows on both sides. We stopped in a beautiful town in the Rockies at night and I turned off the lights so the kids and I could watch it snowing outside. Magical. It's hard to sleep well on trains but it's worth it, I love them.
I've been thinking about trying an Amtrak adventure for a while, but it's always seemed a little overwhelming. Thanks for showing a little slice of it and making it feel more accessible.
I did this for my bday as a solo trip in 2023 and it was amazing! Meet people from all over, Even a father/son from New Zealand. I had a roomette. And the food was really good. Am planning my Via Rail trip in Canada soon. ❤
I really enjoyed this video. For two 70 y/o folks, I think we’ll pass 26:31 . Oh to be 30 again. But you guys are fun and young and you are more versatile than us. This was very well done. Thank you!
I love this video! I’m so glad you got to enjoy the ride. I rode on this train back in 2015 and it is one of my favorites! There is nothing like train travel. I’d love to see more train travel videos from you. There are so many I have been on, but some of the other memorable ones for me are the Grand Canyon Railway in Arizona, the Cass Scenic Railroad with historic steam locomotives in West Virginia, and the Durango & Silverton Steam Train in southwestern Colorado!
Hey, you should have called when you were in Omaha! I am 15 minutes from the station. Looks like you were here during our -41 windchill and snow. Honestly, next time you go through, call! You would love the Old Market area, it is a great time! Chrystal, it looked like you were having some motion sickness or vertigo. I felt terrible for you. I have vertigo daily, and there is no train involved! Thanks for sharing your trip with us.
Watched this video last night and booked this train trip today. Gfriend and I will be flying from Edmonton to Chicago, riding the train to Sacramento then flying back to Edmonton. Thank you for the idea, super excited for this new experience.
Yes, you passed through, and got off the train where we live. My wife and I live in Reno. I grew up in Truckee. It is an awesome place to live or visit if you like the outdoors. Thank you for showing my hometown.😊❤️
I grew up in Colorado and went to photography school in Glenwood Springs and i love how you guys talk about it 🥹 thank you for sharing this amazing journey!
I’ve only done two rides on Amtrak. From Paso Robles to Seattle and back. It was so much fun with tons of great sights.
I’ve watched this one before but had to watch it again 😊.
Blessings from Paso Robles, California, Carlos
I have ridden Amtrak sleepers many times between Denver and Glenwood Springs. Most trips haven't been good. I did it again this week and it's my last time on Amtrak. The train was late (as usual) and it took us almost 7 1/2 hours to get back to Denver from when we started moving. The Superliner cars are old and tired and there was no heat in our car for the return trip. I had dinner in my room on the way back. The food was lukewarm, no salt and pepper, and no salad dressing. Your mileage may vary, but in my opinion Amtrak is a dsigrace.
I took the Zephyr from Omaha to Emeryville during COVID in a roomette and back in the summer. I just came back from Osceola, IA to Grand Junction over a weekend (left Friday afternoon for Osceola from KC) spend Saturday night at Tru by Hilton right near the station enjoying a nice pub dinner and drink then home Sunday morning in a bedroom which was awesome. Loved the difference between winter and summer. I saw deer, elk, bunnies, turkey and an eagle. It was relaxing and mostly on time.
Awesome!! This train route has been number one on my bucket list for many years. #two on the list is the southern route, I think it’s called the Sunset Unlimited. Have been on couple of other routes. Word to the wise, if you are a person that can’t really get a deep sleep unless you are completely horizontal….don’t travel coach….miserable. Agree it’s the very best way to see the America. Thanks for taking us along.😃👍💜
Lol, I was born in this country we call the United States and have traveled extensively around it.. Listening to the shock and aww of the sights you see, is fantastic. Enjoy the many splendors the US has to offer, and do come back and visit us in a more slow manner. Cheers