Cross-country on Amtrak with kids

[Anonymous]

Has anyone done this and have suggestions? We'll be traveling via Amtrak in a family cabin from DC to Seattle, changing trains in Chicago. Our kids are DS(7) and DD(9) and this is the trip of a lifetime for my son, who is disabled and can't travel by air without oxygen, and who is obsessed with trains already, and we're going to visit beloved grandparents and cousins. We've learned that we can check the luggage as far ahead as two days, which is good because with my son's medical equipment we have way more than we can carry. Is anyone familiar with how much storage space there is, and how safe your belongings stored outside the cabin were? We also need to refrigerate his special food, and we've been told they'll give us ice for a cooler but won't let us use the train's fridge. We'll bring games, books, DVD players and the like. Other ideas?

[Anonymous]

I haven't done a Amtrak trip with kids yet. But it's definitely something DH and I have thought about for when DD is older (by that I mean around the age yours are now). His folks are on the west coast and I'd love to see some of the interior that I haven't made it to yet.

I've taken Amtrak up the west coast as well as from DC to Cincinnati (the same train you'll take up to Chicago). One thing you must remember and plan for (or at least be able to deal with) is that Amtrak does not own the rails it runs on in most of the country (aside from the DC-Boston lines). Therefore delays are inevitable. Freight traffic takes precedence. This may be an issue given that you have a transfer so make sure you have enough time between trains, and find out Amtrak's policy if your late to your connection if that could be an issue.

Now I think the train layouts can vary depending on the line you take, so I'm not exactly sure how the rooms compare. DH and I shared one of the smallest cabins and there was enough room for a carryon (we fit 2 small carryons but it was a bit of a squeeze). The family cabins looked bigger. I'd guess a carryon for each of you wouldn't be too much. Amtrak has some 3D tours of the sleeping arrangements online which you might find useful.

I've never had issues with luggage left in the luggage racks onboard. On the long haul trips they get filled up, so rifling through it all would be very noticeable. That said I would watch about fragile things since you may end up with someone else's luggage on top of yours.

Spend lots of time in the observation/lounge car. The west coast line had a separate lounge car for the sleeping car passengers. They even had a wine and cheese hour each afternoon (I was pregnant and unable to partake). Sleeping car passengers also get first dibs on dining car spots (meals are included) so you may want to think about where you'll be around the meals and sign up for a time with a good view. We had lunch our first day passing through Santa Barbara and you could see dolphins. The next days lunch was in the snowy Cascade mountains. It was wonderful.

Good luck with the trip and I hope this helps a bit.

[Anonymous]

This is OP. thank you so much for posting with such helpful information. It really will help. I'll post after the trip to let others know whether this is a good option for families.