YOU CAN SEE THE BEST OF AMERICA ON AMTRAK. And some of the worst, too. The Rockies, the California Coast and the Cascades are beautiful. Likewise Union Stations in both Denver and LA. Unfortunately you must enter the cities through the back door, as it were, to get to the station — not exactly the way the Chamber of Commerce would prefer. As if the train yards weren’t bad enough, the graffiti artists have despoiled them even more. Maybe New York has the right idea — trains enter underground and travelers first glimpses are of Penn Station or Grand Central Terminal.
California Coast from the Coast Starlight
The views on route, sadly, can’t be captured on photos. This is espicially true on the Coast Starlight from LA to Seattle where the scenery flashes by and it’s impossible to predict when an open view will appear. Even if you get lucky, the reflection (and refraction) from the train’s windows — even if they are clean and not rain-streaked — distort cell phone and professional cameras equally. Things are a little better from the observation car.
Tacoma Narrows Bridge
So if you are tired of cramped seats, non-attentive flight attendants, airline food, baggage fees and intrusive TSA checks, try the train.
