Traveling Hillbilly's final thoughts on the train adventure

If you are not in a hurry, enjoy the scenery America has to offer and are okay with a slower pace, then I recommend taking a train for an upcoming trip.  

Benefits of train travel

• Don't have to worry about traffic
• It allows you to see some truly beautiful parts of the country
• You can have a beer or glass of wine while enjoying the scenery, can't do that on a road trip
• Opportunity to meet some really  interesting people
• The movement/rocking on the train can help you sleep like a baby
• It's a relaxing way to travel, you won't come back from your vacation needing another vacation

Negatives of train travel

• Rooms are small, bathrooms are no bigger than a plane bathroom, the sleepers aren't much bigger than a lie flat seat in first class on a plane
• Takes more time to get to your destination - in most instances it would be much quicker to get to your destination by plane and/or car.
• It ain't always a cheaper option, and if you get a sleeper room, it costs even more
• Possible motion sickness - while it can be a smooth and comforting ride, it can also be bumpy and jarring. 
• At times it can feel like bad turbulence on a plane, but without the seat belts or warning to stay in your seats.
• Less flexibility - unlike airlines there aren't multiple options a day for departure times, so you'll most likely need to have some sort of plan laid out in advance

The Traveling Hillbilly's recommendation on train travel

• If you're planning a major road trip, include part  of it by train, especially for scenic routes like Glacier National Park, Oregon, the California Coast.  
• You probably don't want to spend 4 or 5 straight days on the train.  Make plans to get off for a night or two along your way.
• Depending on the length of time you have, consider buying a multi-week/month long pass that allows you to get off and on as you wish.  However, please note you will still need to make reservations for each train you take and you can run the risk of a train being sold out during especially busy times.  

All in all the Traveling Hillbilly enjoyed this train adventure.   Despite a few hiccups along the way, it was a fun and relaxing way to see parts of the country I had never seen.