Sleeping Cars -AMTRAK

I was in my own little cabin when I moved from NC to FL to live with my grandpa when I was 16. My grandpa didn't want me traveling coach alone so he paid the $300 for a one way ticket for me to have a private room. It was small but nice. It had a little toilet in there so I didn't have to leave my cabin. To me it was really nice when I could see out my window or go to the dining car and eat. Other wise to me it was a really long and boring ride hahaha.

My daughter's family did this and loved it!

It will be so fun!

Only the hubby and I have done it but we can't wait to do it with our kids, just so expensive!!!

Make sure to pack the portable DVD player and some movies and the laptop and the gameboys/DS' and some cards and you guys are good to go...21 hours might seem like a long time but you will be sleeping for a
good chunk of it! Yes, the space is kinda tight but your seated or lying down most the time....oh! It will be so much fun! Just wait!

We've taken 2 trips. one from MI to Chicago and then one from MI to Omaho, NE. I think it was 17hrs. It was so worth it. We didn't get the sleeper car. We just had our 2yr old with us, and it was a great experience. They had an observation car that our 2yr old loved sitting in.
Since we had to deal with our baggage we packed the smallest toys with the biggest entertainment value. our neices and nephews were with us on the chicago trip, about the same age as your kids, they absolutely loved it. Very exciting to watch the world go by. Lots to talk about.

The way home was less exciting and we were really ready to get off at that point. Maybe you could plan a surprise something to brighten up the long ride home. :)

we took a train from Florida to California and it was such a blast! the first two nights we were in the regular coach and it was miserable. those chairs are not comfortable at all! and the bathrooms were gross. people just dont pick up after themselves anymore! the second two nights we had a sleeper car and oh what a wonderful difference! it was like our own private train! clean bathroom, a shower, nobody but us in the car, room for the kid to roam without me worrying about the other passengers! my son was 6 at the time and he loved it. we got out and stretched at each stop, made up adventure stories and spotted animals and people out in the middle of nowhere while looking out the window at the awesome scenery, and we had bought him a gameboy just for the trip. the food was yummy and there was a domed viewing car for a better view. we all got along for once with no arguing or crying. it's a memory i really cherish. you're gonna love it!

I have never done that but it sounds DELIGHTFULL!!! I often have made the statement that sleeping on a train has got to be VERY relaxing!!!

I might just be with you....sounds better in my head!!!!

Good Luck!!! Remember, it STILL has to be better than a plane ride!!!

I think having some preparation for things they might see from the train would make some of the trip more fun. For instance, when we traveled in Utah we bought a book that told of things to look for as we traveled up each highway, such as rock formations, arches, bridges, rivers, etc...if made the trip much more fun for me. The library will have lots of travel books and give lots of information about the areas you'll be going through during the days.

I have never done this in the U.S. but did a lot of train travel in Europe and the sleeping cabins were simply small bunk beds. But you could at least stretch out and there was a door to offer privacy.

It sounds like a great trip to me and your kids will probably love it! Probably more than you. :)

My brother, SIL, and 2 nieces did it 2 summers ago. They just did it one way (DC to FL). They thought it would be great for the kids and the kids were so excited (4 and 7 at the time). They all hated it! He said they will never do it again! The sleeping car was very small and it took so long. My brother is also wealthy--travels 1st class, etc. So, that may have been part of the problem.

My kids and I rode the Pacific Starlight down the coast of California to Santa Barbara. We stayed there for two weeks and rode the train back.

We even had our own shower. It was so nice to have a place to have all our stuff. As you can imagine, we had quite a bit to take with us.
Also, there was a movie car, a kids car with with all kinds of games and toys, a beautiful observation car.....
Each evening they had wine and cheese tasting.

Anyway, that's what was included in our package.
The kids loved it and still talk about it years later.
It really was the experience of a lifetime!

Best wishes!
All our meals were included in the price of our tickets, even the wine and cheese tasting. All drinks were complimentary, with the exception of alcoholic beverages. (Aside from the wine tasting).
We met some of the nicest people too.

P.S. It was Amtrak. I think Pacific Starlight is the name of the route we took.