Train trip
The train was an hour late and we saw muskrats in dirty water collection on the other side of the tracks. I feared this was a harbinger of a bad trip.
The seats for roomy and the table was very handy for activities. We sat at a table with a very interesting navy doctor who had her foot in a cast. She'd had a diverse life before being a doctor and it was interesting to talk to her.
The kids were happy to color and play cards – something that would have been almost impossible in a car, or at least impossible to do well. We took photos, they goofed around and as the train got less crowded (it wasn't hugely crowded up in business anyway), they stretched out. Bathrooms weren't the best but at least they were there! And there was a snack car.
It was slightly perilous crossing train cars to get to the snack car. Even if it was well shielded from anything outside, it was still shaky. I think deep down it was fun for them to navigate it. I was right there anyway and nothing bad could have happened.
Only once was I asked when we'd get there but it wasn't that whiny questioning, just a curious one. We got there only 30 mins late – which was less than the initial delay.
Overall the kids said they had a good time outside of the bumpiness, which wasn't even that bad. They said it was much better than the car ride and I agree – no stopping to pee or eat, no fighting over space or that general crankiness from being couped up too long. I'd recommend it to anyone who has kids over eight for a fun adventure. They need to be old enough to not need your hand-holding all the time in my opinion and I'd definitely upgrade to business for the space and legroom.
Humorously we took a cab from the Amtrak station to the nicest Hyatt I've even seen in my life. The 42" high def flat screen in the room is a big hit. It's been like a swing of extremes.