trains : The Art of Non-Conformity

Travel

One Free Ticket, 18 Hours on Amtrak, and Many Interesting Passengers

Greetings from the Coast Starlight! I’ve been riding Amtrak 18 hours through Oregon and California, while traveling to San Francisco and eventually (by plane) to San Diego.

A few years ago I took a long train journey from Chicago to Portland, riding the Empire Builder just in time for the launch of the Empire Building Kit.

Aside from some short journeys, though, I haven’t been on “real” Amtrak for quite a while.

So why now? Well, to be honest I don’t think I was aware of how good the points redemption opportunities have been. Amtrak divides the country into zones and charges the same number of points for travel within any particular zone. In other words, there are some great values to be had when booking with points.

The 7-Hour In-Flight Movie on British Airways

Last year I traveled to Norway with a small group of friends, family, and readers. We took the train from Oslo to Bergen, a long trip that winds through the heart of the country. The sightseeing was spectacular—outside the window we could see snow-capped mountains and icy streams of water. I’m not sure I’d want…