Looking for things to do outside of your routine? Get on the train and head for the experience of your choice. Through my train trips I’ve discovered some of the best, most favorably reviewed places, activities and events located near train stations. I’ve done the research, talked with local experts and traveled to many places by train. In 2017 this blog will be devoted to train-centric details that let you leave your car behind and avoid airport lines but still visit some of the best food and wine festivals, wellness retreats, workshops, outdoor activities and conferences – fun experiences you can reach by train.
Train information is often not included in event travel directions. More than once I drove or flew to a place that was located close to an Amtrak station. I had to pay parking fees and cab fares, struggled through storms while driving and waited in lines at airports just because I didn’t know how to travel by train. Train trips don’t stop at the station. Want to go hiking in the middle of a winter? There are trails in Arizona, Florida and California that you can reach by train. Need a wellness break? Whether a spa, meditation center or yoga retreat trains can take you there.
Why train?
When you get on a train all you have to do is breathe. Your routine is gone. It’s time to improvise and see the world. Train travel is a practical, efficient and environmentally friendly way to travel. Solo travelers, families, people of all ages and abilities can feel comfortable and safe when traveling by train.
It’s fun. You will hear stories from all kinds of people and share a few of your own. You always have the option to move around between cars and stretch your legs in the ample space provided at each seat. It may take you longer to get where you’re going. That’s part of the pleasure. You slow down. I love watching the landscape, sky and light change from the train. Read for hours uninterrupted. Meet people who are different from you. Discover ways of life in America’s countryside, small towns and cities.
Train trips are easy. Amtrak train schedules and ticket and reservation information can be found online. Other rail excursions can be found online as well. When traveling on Amtrak a simple way to save money and support a strong national rail network is to join the non-profit National Association of Rail Passengers (NARP) organization. The $35 annual membership gives you a 10 percent discount on most fares.
Feel free to share your favorite train travel experiences near rail stations in the comments box below. Come back to this site often or subscribe to read about a new place, activity or event that is close to a train station. Traveling by train can be adventurous in itself. Your trip won’t stop at the station if you know where to go and how.
I traveled many miles on Amtrak trains this year and talked with passengers to see what I could learn from them. Some were serious minded, others were funny. They were of all ages – seniors, parents, college kids and children. They were of all religious, geographic, ethnic and racial backgrounds. Here is a summary of some things I learned while traveling by train during 2016.
Many of the people I met on the train were going to visit a family member or attend a family event. Chris from Yazoo City, Mississippi was returning from his daughter’s wedding. 
There were people I met who were unable to manage other transportation options due to a handicap. A military veteran of the war in Afghanistan with PTSD held his service dog in his arms. A 
I have been traveling beyond Amtrak routes and outside of the USA this summer. Most recently I traveled to Sri Lanka, an island country south of India. It operates the highest broad guage railway (5 ½ feet wide) in the world. While I spent most of the time traveling in a vehicle, I had the privilege of riding on the Main Line from Nanu-Oya to Haputale in the hill country. The train traverses through tea plantations, forested mountains and valleys and lots of tunnels. The view was spectacular.
I sat next to a semi-retired Sri Lankan businessman named Kyma. He was wearing a checkered shirt, pants and glasses. I mention pants because traditional garments for Sri Lankan men is sarongs. Kyma was friendly and knowledgeable about the train route. His work at a furniture manufacturer required him to travel twice a month. He spoke English with a heavy accent. Contrary to what is found in many countries, in Sri Lanka it is the older people who are more likely to speak English. Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) was under British rule until 1948 and remained a British dominion until 1972. Only 10 percent of the people speak English fluently. The majority of people (75%) speak Sinhala. In the northern region, Tamil is spoken.
A conductor came by and checked my ticket. Other than that, it felt like the people’s train. There was joy and camaraderie. Two excited young women were lifting their heads and waving their arms from the open doorways as if they were free for the first time. Passengers moved easily from different sides of the aisle to view the wonders of the countryside. A young Sri Lankan man walked through the car balancing a box filled with tea and roti (flatbread). He and his customers exchanged broad smiles. The safety and security of open doors and windows did not seem a consideration at all.
We had a twenty-minute layover at a station stop so I went in to buy some food. I was nearing the front of a long line when I saw the two men. I learned the mustached man’s name is Michael. Upon his request, I bought them a pack of smokes with a $10 bill they gave me. “You can keep the change and buy yourself a cup of coffee,” Michael said. I gave him the change. He was born in Waco, Texas. He and his cousin, Allen, were traveling to Minnesota to find blacktop work. Allen was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma and seemed lost without Michael there to make decisions. I wasn’t sure where they were living but they got on the train in Ft. Worth. I asked them what language they were speaking.
Ed’s sunglasses wrapped around his eyes past his temples. They were not dark glasses, but gray colored. “When I called Amtrak the first woman I talked with said I could travel with my dog. The next woman said she wasn’t sure, but when I got here they let me on.”
