Been loving this research. (And been neglecting lots of other store-related things I really should be doing!) I think rail passes are a great idea. If we can manage to go this Oct-Nov for a month, it will cost us $2345. That 30 day pass will allow us to travel over 12 segments. Once we figure out exactly where we'd like to go, it's also possible that we could use the shorter rail passes, since we can use the 1 days spread out across 6 months of travel.
Tentatively, I think we'd like to get to New York first, and spend a few days experiencing the city. Then head to Chicago, and spend at least a day there. The leg from Chicago to West Glacier is 31 hours, which means we would have to sleep on the train for at least one night. Another option is spending the night at a hostel in St. Paul - I have been emailing hostels in Chicago and San Fransisco, and spending nights in a bed versus a train seat seems like a better idea. Plus, the hostels look great. (The kids inquired about whether it was like the Ronald McDonald house, which seemed like a great comparison to me!) The trip from Chicago to St. Paul on the Empire Builder is just over 8 hours.
Also - it seems important to expand their knowledge of our country in every way possible - and we'll be following an approximation of the Lewis and Clark journey.
I think we'd like to get to Portland/Salem and visit Katherine. She might be able to put us up for a night or two...
From there, it would be great to travel down the coast. Perhaps spend a week or so at a warm beach location in southern California. San Fransisco seems like a good place to stop, with lots to visit, including a rail trip to Yosemite. I am also looking into San Diego for a week, on the beach.
Tentatively, I think we'd like to get to New York first, and spend a few days experiencing the city. Then head to Chicago, and spend at least a day there. The leg from Chicago to West Glacier is 31 hours, which means we would have to sleep on the train for at least one night. Another option is spending the night at a hostel in St. Paul - I have been emailing hostels in Chicago and San Fransisco, and spending nights in a bed versus a train seat seems like a better idea. Plus, the hostels look great. (The kids inquired about whether it was like the Ronald McDonald house, which seemed like a great comparison to me!) The trip from Chicago to St. Paul on the Empire Builder is just over 8 hours.
Also - it seems important to expand their knowledge of our country in every way possible - and we'll be following an approximation of the Lewis and Clark journey.
I think we'd like to get to Portland/Salem and visit Katherine. She might be able to put us up for a night or two...
From there, it would be great to travel down the coast. Perhaps spend a week or so at a warm beach location in southern California. San Fransisco seems like a good place to stop, with lots to visit, including a rail trip to Yosemite. I am also looking into San Diego for a week, on the beach.
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