The journey from California to Washington, DC took 77 hours.
There is hot water on the train, but I recommend bringing a book, a pillow, and a jacket.
You can grab a spot below the observation car if it's too crowded.
I decided to travel by train because it was cheaper than flying.
When I saw an Amtrak ticket from California to Washington, DC for just $250, I snatched it up.
I was going to travel for four days to celebrate a friend's birthday. Reducing my carbon emissions by avoiding a flight was a good thing.
I traveled from Emeryville to Chicago on the California eztrain. I traveled through the mountains to the nation's capital in 24 hours.
Although I've traveled by train many times in the past, there are still some parts that surprised me.
Even when there is wi-fi, it can be spotty.
The first leg of my journey through the Sierra Nevada mountains and parts of Nevada, Colorado, and Nebraska did not have wi-fi and cell service was not good.
When I couldn't use the internet, I brought along some reading material and downloaded some movies to make up for it.
It can be inconvenient to travel by train if you don't have wi-fi. The service on the Cardinal line was cut in and out a lot.
It's possible to pick your seat at some stops.
When I boarded the California Zephyr train in Emeryville, I was able to choose my seat, rather than being assigned one.
I made sure to take advantage of it since it's rare. The seat you choose affects your views.
You can see the views of San Francisco Bay on the left side. If you want to be close to the river, sit on the right side.
You can always go to the observation car if you choose to.
It can get cold on the train so make sure to bring a jacket and some comfortable clothes.
Even though the train cars are kept air-conditioned in the summer, they can get quite cold at night.
There were thermal leggings and a puffy jacket on me.
It's a good idea to wear clothes that you're comfortable with. If you are traveling for more than one day, you should bring a change of clothes.
There are great views just below the observation car.
People want to be in the observation car during the most scenic parts of the route.
You might not get a seat if you don't get there early.
The cafe car was on the observation deck of the train. The view from the cafe area was almost as good as the upstairs view.
It might be worth it for a change of scenery if you buy something to sit there.
If you don't like the options in the cafe car, bring snacks.
I stopped at Trader Joe's to get some food before I left.
When the cafe car ran out of food, my haul kept me from getting hungry.
If you're vegan or have any special needs, you may want to bring some of your own food.
When trains travel longer distances, they are often delayed.
Private companies that cater to freight trains own the railroads that allow Amtrak trains to travel on them.
There are a lot of delays because of that. Each time, the California Zephyr falls behind schedule.
I made my connection to the Cardinal even though my train was an hour late. My partner took the same train from Ohio to California twice and both times it took seven hours to get there.
It's important to remember that if you have a tight layover, it's something to think about when buying your ticket.
The trains had hot water.
The cafe car had a supply of hot water. If you want to bring your own food, you can just ask them to fill up your cup.
I wish I had thought of that before I watched passengers do it.
Most of the spigots on the train didn't work on this journey. The ones that worked took a long time to give water.
I didn't want to buy bottled water.
You should bring a pillow and blanket to sleep.
It's much easier to sleep on a plane than it is on my seats.
You can either use a travel pillow that will allow you to sleep upright or a standard pillow that you can lean against the window.
It was great to have a blanket as well. It got really cold when I wore my jacket.
When you have time, take a walk and enjoy the stations.
You can't get off the train at most stops, and some are just smoke breaks.
Sometimes you have time to get out and enjoy the station.
I had a great time at Union Station in Denver while waiting for my train to leave.
The conductor will let you know when the train will leave.
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