Going Coastal

Isn’t the idea of train travel glamorous? At the first mention of trains images of a starlet standing on a steamy train platform surrounded by hatboxes runs through my mind. When I booked my ticket on Amtrak’s Coast Starlight to take me from LA to Seattle the daydreams began immediately. I’m sitting in the dining car in fabulous clothes, eating off of the finest china, and falling in love with a Cary Grant-esque fellow who just so happened to be placed at my table. How convenient.

As we left LA and the city faded into the distance we chugged up California’s coast. Within hours of beginning our journey we bid adieu to the beaches and coastal towns making our way into the heart of Wine Country in time to see the evening haze rolling in across the vineyards.

It seems easy to see why people shrug off train travel as outdated and inefficient. Why take a 36-hour trip when you could hop a plane from LA to SEA in 45 minutes? But while all those busy bees were zooming by above the clouds I was wandering from my seat to the dining car, to the glass-topped viewing car seeing America’s best scenery. For hours I wandered about basking in the freedom that comes from disengaging from the grind of daily life.

It didn’t take long to realize that 36 hours is a very long time. I didn’t want to admit it, but maybe those business people in their fancy airplanes were onto something. After all when the sun fully set there was nothing but darkness outside the windows. I finally gave in and curled up in my seat hoping to sleep as long as possible and wake in the Pacific Northwest.

I woke from a deep sleep to find a couple of things. First, the sun was rising and we’d finally crossed into gorgeous Oregon! Second, in my slumber I’d completely lost any concept of where my seat ended and the next began. After apologizing to my seatmate for the unsolicited snuggling, I hopped down to the café to get my hands on some coffee and take in the breathtaking PNW views.

Arriving in Seattle I was thrilled to run off the train straight into the open arms and fresh air of the Emerald City. Admittedly, my standards were high - the dining car’s fancy china turned out to be plastic, and instead of getting chummy with a modern Cary Grant I woke to find I’d cozied up to a 16-year-old stranger. I’d take another multi-day trip in a heartbeat, but next time I’ll be ready to take in the dreamy views and relaxing adventure with a travel companion by my side and a reservation for a roomy sleeper car.