5 Myths about the Train
Have you ever thought about taking the train, but decided not to because you weren’t sure what to expect?
I took the Amtrak from Minot, ND to Whitefish, MT and I want to reassure you that some of the things you’ve thought aren’t true.
1. They Take Forever
Yes, it might be faster to drive straight through on your own, but you’re exhausted when you get there, and you’re crammed in the back of the vehicle like sardines in a can. On the train, you can walk around, take a nap whenever you want, sit in the observation car to look at the view, or play a game of cards. If you drive, you have to stop to fill gas, use the restroom and eat anyway, so why not just trade those for a few stops to pick up some fellow travelers?
2. I Won’t be Able to Sleep
Have you ever peeked into first class on an airplane and thought, “must be nice.” Well it is. And I can tell you that, not because I’ve ever flown First Class, but because I was able to experience something similar in coach while traveling with Amtrak. With a generous recline and footrests, I felt like I was sleeping on my reclining couch at home. Sure, you might not get a full night’s rest this way, but you will definitely be restored from your early morning departure. Plus, if you plan on being on the overnight and really do want a full nights rest, you can upgrade to the sleeper car. These come with full beds and free meals. Speaking of meals…
3. I Do not Want Gross Food
Its not! It’s not fine dining, but there are a few options from burgers, a salad, or the daily special for lunch, to the catch of the day, roasted chicken, or pasta for dinner. But here’s a hint — Pack your own! You can bring anything you want on the train. I packed homemade banana bread, jerky, fruit, meat, cheese and crackers. You can even bring a case of your favorite beverage if you really want to.
4. The Bathrooms are Tiny Like on Airplanes
Ok, so you definitely won’t get a bathroom like the one at your house, but what bathroom while you’re traveling is?? They aren’t super spacious or clean, but they are definitely bigger than the ones on airplanes. I do have a hint for the ladies though. Look for the “Lady’s Lounge.” Unfortunately, I didn’t discover this little gem until we were almost home on our return ride. There is a small sitting area, and then a large bathroom that I’m pretty sure nobody used the whole trip because nobody knew what it was. The best part? It says “Women Only” on the door. Not to hate on the guys.. I’m sure it’s hard to stand and pee in a moving train… but you’re disgusting sometimes and it’s nice to have a clean place to squat.
5. I Don’t Want to Pay for Luggage
Well, you don’t have to. Unless you’re planning on using the train to move all of your possessions to your new pad, they allow you more than enough FREE bags to get everything you need and more to your destination. You are allowed 2 free carry-on items and 2 free checked bags, and the regulations are much better than when you fly. Your checked bags still have to be less than 50 pounds, but the dimensions are much more forgiving. I was able to check my snowboard bag and a duffel bag. I brought a large carry on with food and a blanket and my backpack with all of my other things I wanted to use on the train. My husband even brought a cooler on board.
Now that I’ve convinced you to take the train, let me comment on Whitefish. It’s beautiful. If you’ve never been to Glacier National Park, you need to. But if you decide to take Amtrak, you can just sit back and enjoy the view! Yes, these were both taken from INSIDE the train! I love looking at the mountains, so I was in heaven.
As far as the snow, we can’t complain. We had great snow. The first day we could barely see because it was snowing so heavily, But Whitefish got 3 feet of fresh snow less than a week after we left. It’s hard not to be a little bummed about missing out on that! We stayed right on the mountain – like we were able to see the lift from our balcony. It’s a great way to stay because there is a free snow bus that travels up and down the mountain, so you don’t need a car. We took that into town for dinner one night, and had pizza right down the road the next. All-in-all, our trip was a huge success. We are so happy that we were able to take the train out with some great friends, meet up with a friend we hadn’t seen in a long time, and make some amazing memories. Until next time…
