| st Christmas my husband and I took our kids on | | | | spent sleeping. We reserved a family-sized (sleeps |
| a ski vacation. But rather than drive through the | | | | four) room on the Sleeping Car. A friendly, |
| snow and ice to someplace close or brave the | | | | traditionally dressed conductor came by to smile |
| airport to go someplace farther away, we chose | | | | and punch our tickets. The kids thought he looked |
| to take book an overnight train trip on Amtrak's | | | | like the Tom Hanks character for The Polar |
| Empire Builder from Seattle, WA to Whitefish, MT. | | | | Express. And a few minutes later the attendant |
| The skiing was great but I think that the train trip | | | | arrived with champagne for the adults and |
| to and from Whitefish was the best part for the | | | | sparkling cider for the kids. |
| kids. | | | | Seating on the train is unbelievably comfortable as |
| The ticketing and baggage check-in experience for | | | | compared to airline seating. There is lots of leg |
| Amtrak is unbelievably simple and easy. No lines, | | | | room, room for your carry-on baggage, you can |
| no security hassles, no problems. You could literally | | | | reserve a room with your own lavatory, and you |
| arrive minutes before your train leaves the | | | | can move around as much as you like. |
| station. | | | | After relaxing for several hours we proceeded to |
| While on board we experienced some of the | | | | the dining car (dinner included in the fare for |
| country's most exciting and colorful sights: the | | | | sleeper car customers) where we sat in a large, |
| Cascade Mountains. It didn't take us long to get | | | | comfortable booth with a white table cloth and |
| into the mountains were we could enjoy beautiful | | | | candles. The food is not world-class; but, the meal |
| snow-capped vistas. And we didn't have to drive | | | | was much better than your typical reheated airline |
| in the snow or strap chains on the tires. | | | | dinner. |
| We banned portable DVD players, Nintendo DS, | | | | Later when we arrived back at our room on the |
| and iPods from the trip and instead favored the | | | | sleeping car the seats had already been |
| scenic views from the train, books, card games, | | | | converted into bunk beds for us by the attendant. |
| board games, and good old fashioned | | | | The kids LOVED sleeping on the train. And of |
| conversation. And our ten year old had so much | | | | course, they loved that the room had bunk beds. |
| fun that she didn't suffer any technology | | | | I have to say that I didn't sleep as well as I would |
| withdrawal symptoms. And our two and a half | | | | have in my own bed or in a hotel room but there |
| year old was so excited to be on a real train (like | | | | is something strangely soothing about the rocking |
| Thomas the Tank Engine) he was practically | | | | motion of the train. |
| beside himself. Movies, games, etc. were in | | | | Wake-up calls are available and the attendant will |
| available in the Lounge Car but we chose to | | | | bring the morning paper. The following morning we |
| quietly relax on our own. | | | | awoke just in time for a hot breakfast in the |
| The kids loved the train tunnels! A mile-long tunnel | | | | dining car before rolling into Whitefish. |
| under downtown Seattle leads out from King | | | | The kids loved the trip so much that we have |
| Street Station. And later on during the trip you | | | | been scouring the map looking for other vacation |
| pass through the 7.79 mile Cascade Tunnel, bored | | | | spots that we can reach by train. |
| under Stevens Pass. | | | | Mischelle (Schelly) Weedman-Davis is a freelance |
| The trip from Seattle to Whitefish is a little more | | | | writer and the client relations manager for the |
| than 13 hours. And because departure is in the | | | | Davis Law Group, a Seattle personal injury law |
| late afternoon or evening much of the trip is | | | | firm. |