While planes sure are nice for getting around the world quickly, there’s no denying the outright romanticism of getting to watch the world pass by through the windows of a train.
And even if you’re not jumping at the bit to let your inner poet have some fun, train rides are really just like fancy road trips. You’ll have access to bathrooms, snacks, wine, and incredible views essentially the entire time.
Here are some cool places you can go via Amtrak from Seattle’s King Street Station.
San Diego (OLT)
Pass through cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles as you glide down the California coast. Pro tip: Grab a bus from various stations along this route to check out Monterey, Santa Cruz, and the Yosemite Valley.
- $221+ one-way
- 39-hour journey
Chicago (CHI)
Travelers heading to the windy city can choose to either take a route through eastern Washington, Montana, and down through Minnesota; or head straight down along the West Coast to Sacramento for a ride across Nevada, Utah, and Colorado. You’ll get great mountain views regardless.
- $201+ one-way
- 45-hour journey
Glacier National Park (GPK)
Heading to Chicago through Montana? Take a pit stop and enjoy one of the country’s most beautiful national parks. Amtrak also offers trip packages for Glacier National Park that include boat cruises and a drive along the Going-to-the-Sun Road.
- $114+ one-way
- 15-hour journey
Miami (MIA)
OK, this trip will definitely require quite a few transfers, but you can do it without much booking hassle. On your way to the exact opposite end of the US, you’ll pass through Chicago, Washington D.C., and Orlando — all great places to have a mini trip on your way down to the Magic City.
- $518+ one-way
- 95-hour journey
