G
Grant
Guest
I graduated college a year and a few months ago, with no luck on a "real job". I've found employment, enough to manage myself, but i'm bored. I can save enough for a 45 day ticket, but may for the 30 day pass. I will plan my trip based on the 30/12 ticket.
My initial plan is goes something like this...
New Orleans, LA -> Chicago, IL
Chicago, IL -> Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis, MN -> Portland, OR
Portland, OR -> Sacramento, CA
Sacramento, CA -> Denver, CO
Denver, CO -> Raton, NM
Raton, NM -> Kansas City, MO
Kansas City, MO -> Chicago, IL
Chicago, IL -> DC
DC -> NYC
NYC -> Charlotte, NC
Charlotte, NC -> New Orleans, LA
This is (obviously) a LOT of traveling in 30 days, but I am up for a challenge and it seems like an amazing group of cities to travel to and enjoy for a day at a time. Now, I didn't run a full schedule on these, but I believe the longest trip is from Minneapolis to Portland as it takes 2 days. I think I can manage a full day in every city, but hopefully 2.
I want to hear from those of you who have done something similar, if there are those of you on this board. I've never done anything this intense and I honestly worry a little about numerous things. Food is no worry, but hydration is. Do the carts offer water fountains at all? Do they allow you to bring liquids aboard or do they check for and take them upon boarding?
Do most of these routes stop within a reasonable walking to distance to hotels and/or possibly hostels?
Is Amtrak a busy system as far as crowds on these trips? Can you relax more times than not on these longer trips?
I plan to plan more in depth as I move along as this is a trip for later in the year.
Thanks a lot for any help available.
My initial plan is goes something like this...
New Orleans, LA -> Chicago, IL
Chicago, IL -> Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis, MN -> Portland, OR
Portland, OR -> Sacramento, CA
Sacramento, CA -> Denver, CO
Denver, CO -> Raton, NM
Raton, NM -> Kansas City, MO
Kansas City, MO -> Chicago, IL
Chicago, IL -> DC
DC -> NYC
NYC -> Charlotte, NC
Charlotte, NC -> New Orleans, LA
This is (obviously) a LOT of traveling in 30 days, but I am up for a challenge and it seems like an amazing group of cities to travel to and enjoy for a day at a time. Now, I didn't run a full schedule on these, but I believe the longest trip is from Minneapolis to Portland as it takes 2 days. I think I can manage a full day in every city, but hopefully 2.
I want to hear from those of you who have done something similar, if there are those of you on this board. I've never done anything this intense and I honestly worry a little about numerous things. Food is no worry, but hydration is. Do the carts offer water fountains at all? Do they allow you to bring liquids aboard or do they check for and take them upon boarding?
Do most of these routes stop within a reasonable walking to distance to hotels and/or possibly hostels?
Is Amtrak a busy system as far as crowds on these trips? Can you relax more times than not on these longer trips?
I plan to plan more in depth as I move along as this is a trip for later in the year.
Thanks a lot for any help available.