Even though you live in the United States, have you seen all of it or rather let me rephrase, have you seen even half of it? Perhaps the biggest bummer in putting off many people is the expense involved or so you might have thought. But, one travel blogger and Engineer Derek Low showed people how you can travel coast to coast by train for just $213.
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Trains are a beautiful way to travel because of the scenery that you pass by. You can even sleep comfortably and eat while doing so or simply read a book or stare into the beautiful panorama of nature as you fleet by. This could well be the best $213 train ride in the United States.
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Derek’s story has resurfaced again because it is so damn attractive and is gaining thousands of write-ups and shares simply because of the ingenuity of his scheme where you can travel across America for just $213. Low too Amtrak from San Francisco to New York City in 2011 and blogged about the whole incredible experience. He shared highlight from Sierra Nevada, the Rockies, the Colorado explaining to travelers how the cross country trip took just four days and $213. He is now offering consultation to help travelers book the same trip.
Low described the landmarks he encountered seeing for the first time, the rich heritage of the country which in case you don’t know can be amazing. The trip allows you to see the majority of continental US which means 11 states covering 3,397 miles and with no dent on your wallet.
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Purchasing California Zephyr tickets can cut your cost from SF to Chicago and will cost you $130. To see more you will have to transfer to Lake Shore Limited for the additional $38 which adds up to $213. You can even sit in the sightseeing lounge car that has windows even on the ceiling of the train.
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Although Low focuses on the Western part of his trip, the journey from Denver to New York is a blissful distraction free 40 hours by train. Well, some may find a train journey anything but blissful but to the traveler who loves such ways of journeying across the country, it surely is.
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Low also says that Amtrak has a $429 rail pass or the Amtrak 15 day rail pass which enables you to see more of this great country and splits up 8 different rides allowing you to disembark on permitted routes. Low explored three stops on the Zephyr line-Denver-Salt Lake City and Chicago. Along the way, he clicked spectacular photos of skylines, historical Landmarks like Chicago’s Chi-town Union station.
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Low switched to Lake Shore Limited which travels through most of the Midwest and Pennsylvania before arriving at Penn Station in New York. The route offers some splendid views of the south shore of Lake Michigan and the Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York which comprises a panorama of 11 lakes. You can also spruce up your trip with some sightseeing in Boston or Cleveland as there will be stops in these cities.
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Pro-tip: If you upgrade to Business class on Lake Shore Limited will mean you get all these goodies like dedicated car seating and complimentary non-alcoholic beverages as well as access to the Amtrak Metropolitan Lounge in Chicago.
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Low began his journey at 9 am boarding the train at San Francisco reaching Salt Lake City in 17 hours. He shares photos of some cool sites he came across during the train journey. Remember, you don’t actually need to travel on Amtrak with a 15-day pass, you can work out your own package but for $49, Low is helping people plan and book their trips.
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Perhaps this is the most famous scene-defining San Francisco and one of America’s most famous landmarks, the Golden gate bridge that spans the golden gate which is a one-mile strait connecting San Francisco and the Pacific Ocean.
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When Low’s train travelled through the Sierra Nevada, he says the temperature plummeted and the mountains to were covered with snow.
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A few hours later, the train reached the great Nevada Desert. Low explains how if anyone sleeps it’s like travelling into another planet.
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Low explains the story of the Donner party stranded near the lake in the winter of 1846. 487 resorted to cannibalism to survive and just 48 survived the ordeal.
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Passing through the West, Low photographed the southern rim of the Book Cliffs and walls of the Ruby Canyon.
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Low says that the journey between Utah and Colorado is easily the most spectacular train journey in the entire United States.
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The majority of its journey, the train travelled along the great Colorado River that also runs through the Grand Canyon.
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Rafters along the river have an age-old tradition of mooning the train as it whizzes by. This is the reason the stretch of river has been nicknamed “Moonriver”.
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Derek Low spent a few hours sightseeing in Chicago where you can get a fantastic view of the skyline from John Hancock tower or also called 360 Chicago.
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In Derek’s own words “As soon as you see the Hudson River, you feel a sense of exhilaration that airline passengers will never know. We’ve almost crossed America by train!” Perhaps you too will enjoy the $213 train ride as much as he did.
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