
Seattle or San Antonio? Nebraska or New Orleans?
Give me train travel any day over flying. I know it’s a luxury of time most people can’t afford. I call it an investment in modern anthropology and a writing desk on rails. I could tell you about all the people I meet, but then I’d spoil all the interesting essays I’m submitting for publication.
In February I will attend the Southern California Writer’s Conference (SCWC). It is one of the first writing conferences I attended and still my favorite, because it’s practical publication and platform without pretense and posturing. (Okay, well maybe a little posturing, but I’m working on that π ).
I’ll give you a taste of the conference after it’s over, but in the meantime, help me pick a route or two! I’m taking Amtrak both ways, so here are the route choices I’m considering:
TO the Conference:
Option 1: California Zephyr through Denver and the Rockies to Emeryville, then Pacific Surfliner to San Diego (with a stop at cousin Emily’s)
Option 2: Texas Eagle to New Orleans and the Alamo to Los Angeles, then Pacific Surfliner to San Diego

FROM the Conference:
Option 1: California Zephyr (as noted above)
Option 2: Coast Starlight to Seattle (and a visit to cousin Lauren, and a couple of friends there), then the Empire Builder across Glacier and the northwest.

The Southwest Chief is one of my favorites, but I’ve done it many times already. These others I’ve only done in segments.

What tasty choices. Do any of you have favorite Amtrak routes? Feel free to explore the ones I’m choosing between and give me your opinion!

Thanks, as always, for reading and commenting!
Love, Marla
P.S. Here is yesterday’s daily fitness check-in. There is NO STOPPING this fitness train!

Have fun in SoCal. I hope you will have a time to explore San Diego even just for a little … hopefully, a lot. π
Thanks. I love SoCal and San Diego. We lived in Marina del Rey for a year and I have to get back out there at least once or twice a year or I go into withdrawal (seriously, shakes and everything haha).
I wish I had more time to explore San Diego but the conference will be taking up a lot of the time. I’m enjoying your posts by the way. You’re quite an adventurer!
Just wanted to know how much I love your blog – I nominated you for the Versatility Blog Award! http://shareenayoub.wordpress.com/2013/01/13/day-6-versatile-blog-award/
Wow, thanks Shareen, that’s so cool. I’m finally getting caught up after computer troubles, so I’ll come check it out!
I’d take option 1 going to the conf. and 2 coming back – without having done either, but I’d have to ditto the above for the Rockies in wintertime. I lived in Boulder, CO for a while …took my breath away every day. And Seattle? It’s where I grew up. I’ve never lived far away. Wonderful city to write and play and exercise in. Have fun at the conference, too!
Yeah, I love taking a train in the winter. I used to do it to visit my mother in North Dakota but never did the rest of the way out, so I’m pretty excited.
Starlight all the way to Seattle – awesome ride. You’ll be doing in cold weather, maybe a beautiful snowy trip. I did it a number of years ago and had the BEST time. Love taking the train. I am sooooo jealous.
I’m really excited for it. I just hope I worked it out right and got my roomette on the correct side of the train or I’ll be in the sightseer lounge the whole time, haha. Can’t wait to see you in San Diego!
I’ve never done this! I can’t wait to hear some tidbits from your trip.
I’ll send updates from the train!
I would take both Option 2s, to and from. Man, I’ve driven across country twice, and that was fun, but I’ve never taken the train across. That seems like a really swell thing to do, with or without a destination.
P.S. I had an Amtrak awards membership because it got me a discount when I took the train up to see Anthony in NY every few months. I used it once before I was notified that the discount no longer applied to the particular route I took (the only route I could take to where I needed to go). That really sucked. =(
I ended up going with 1 and 2 so I can make sure to see my cousin on the way out. Yeah, Amtrak has a lot of stupidity on their rewards program and their website is a piece of crap, but I just love riding the rails!
Well, of course, you should come visit ME! π Will and Tim would love to see you as well. If you let me know the timing, I can tell you if it would be better to stop going east or west. Is this a fly-by or can you stay for a day or two?
Glad we’re scheduled, Emily! It’ll be nice to see you!
I’m so envious Virgin Trains are nothing like that!
Are Virgin Trains what they have in Europe? I’ve always wanted to do European train rides!
And then back via Lauren visit, of course.
And ditto on this, although I haven’t yet heard back from Lauren on a visit but I will still be stopping for half a day in Seattle before hitting the Empire Builder.
Wow sis, for me the choice would be simple…travel thru the Colorado Rockies in BEAUTIFUL wintertime without the hassle of actually driving in the mess!!! Man that would b awesome!!
That’s exactly what I chose.