aviva_dawn
Train Attendant
It's been a long time since I last posted, but I'm back!
I graduate with my BA in May and my family is giving me a 15 day USA Rail Pass as a graduation present. I'm very happy about this, being that I love trains, and Amtrak especially. I just have to pay for the upgrades on the trains that I want to upgrade on (for me, that's the Starlight and the Builder) which is fine with me. I also plan to have a break in using the pass because I want to ride the Acela from WAS to BOS and the pass doesn't cover that.
I'm in a bit of a quandary and I hope for some advice about the routing.
I can leave either on May 21st from Reno or May 22nd from Los Angeles.
I have planned the May 21st Routing to be.
RNO-CHI-WAS (Break) BOS-NYP-CHI-SEA-LAX-EMY-RNO (There is an overnight layover between the Starlight and Zephyr in EMY.)
I have planned the May 22nd Routing to be:
LAX-SEA-CHI-WAS- (Break) BOS-NYP-CHI-EMY-SBA-SAN (Then I'm getting a California Rail pass myself to go all over California for a week and back to RNO. )
Obviously, I am wanting to use the pass to travel on the entirety of the Builder, Starlight and the Zephyr and try to squeeze in what I can of scenery wherever and whenever. In your opinion, which journey offers the most scenery to be seen in the daytime and seems to give me the most bang for my buck?
My other question: Do the 15 days have to be continuous? Does that count days that I'm NOT on a train at all? The answers will determine whether I might extend my trip to visit other places as well (NOL, ATL, MIA....)
Thanks!
I graduate with my BA in May and my family is giving me a 15 day USA Rail Pass as a graduation present. I'm very happy about this, being that I love trains, and Amtrak especially. I just have to pay for the upgrades on the trains that I want to upgrade on (for me, that's the Starlight and the Builder) which is fine with me. I also plan to have a break in using the pass because I want to ride the Acela from WAS to BOS and the pass doesn't cover that.
I'm in a bit of a quandary and I hope for some advice about the routing.
I can leave either on May 21st from Reno or May 22nd from Los Angeles.
I have planned the May 21st Routing to be.
RNO-CHI-WAS (Break) BOS-NYP-CHI-SEA-LAX-EMY-RNO (There is an overnight layover between the Starlight and Zephyr in EMY.)
I have planned the May 22nd Routing to be:
LAX-SEA-CHI-WAS- (Break) BOS-NYP-CHI-EMY-SBA-SAN (Then I'm getting a California Rail pass myself to go all over California for a week and back to RNO. )
Obviously, I am wanting to use the pass to travel on the entirety of the Builder, Starlight and the Zephyr and try to squeeze in what I can of scenery wherever and whenever. In your opinion, which journey offers the most scenery to be seen in the daytime and seems to give me the most bang for my buck?
My other question: Do the 15 days have to be continuous? Does that count days that I'm NOT on a train at all? The answers will determine whether I might extend my trip to visit other places as well (NOL, ATL, MIA....)
Thanks!