Traveling across the USA by train is a unique way to see and experience the variety and scale of the country. We broke up the journey, stretching it into a 17 day trip in August / September 2004, by stopping at Glacier National Park for five days and visiting Chicago before reaching New York City. Along the way we saw beautiful mountain and plains scenery and four of the major rivers in the United States: the Columbia, Missouri, Mississippi and Hudson. This, mixed in with the vibrant city life of Chicago and New York City, made for an interesting and enjoyable trip.
Across the USA by Train Itinerary
| Day | Date | Location/Activities |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 27 August 2004 | Leave on a local train from Fullerton, California to Los Angeles, changing to the Coast Starlight Train to Portland, Oregon |
| 2 | 28 August 2004 | After being diverted by bus to meet our train leaving from Portland, transfer to the Empire Builder Train |
| 3 | 29 August 2004 | Disembark in West Glacier, Montana and check into our hotel on the West Side of Glacier National Park on Lake McDonald. Day hike at Avalanche Lake. |
| 4 | 30 August 2004 | West Side of Glacier National Park: Drive up the Going to the Sun Road to Logan Pass and day hike to Hidden Lake. |
| 5 | 31 August 2004 | Drive over the continental divide to St Mary Lake and day hike to three waterfalls. Check into Many Glacier Lodge on the East Side of Glacier National Park |
| 6 | 1 September 2004 | Day trip to Waterton National Park in Alberta, Canada. Day hike to Bertha Falls and Bertha Lake; Afternoon tea at the Prince of Wales Hotel |
| 7 | 2 September 2004 | Rest day at the Many Glacier Lodge at the East Side of Glacier National Park |
| 8 | 3 September 2004 | Drive back to East Glacier to board the Empire Builder Train to Chicago, Illinois |
| 9 | 4 September 2004 | En Route to Chicago; arrive late in the afternoon and visit Navy Pier in the evening |
| 10 | 5 September 2004 | Chicago: Visit University of Chicago campus and Oriental Institute, tour Museum of Science and Industry |
| 11 | 6 September 2004 | See the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago; watch a Cubs baseball game and the sunset from high up the John Hancock Center |
| 12 | 7 September 2004 | Chicago final day: Catch skyline views from the 'L'; visit the Art Institute and window shop on Michigan Avenue; self tour the architectural buildings. Board the 7:20pm Lake Shore Limited Train to New York City, New York |
| 13 | 8 September 2004 | En route to New York City; arrive in early evening |
| 14 | 9 September 2004 | Visit Ground Zero, Brooklyn Bridge, United Nations and Greenwich Village in New York City |
| 15 | 10 September 2004 | Day trip to Sagamore Hill (Theodore Roosevelt's home) on Long Island; New York City visits to Little India, Battery Park and Greenwich Village |
| 16 | 11 September 2004 | See Broadway matinee; walk through Central Park and visit Chinatown and Little Italy during last day in New York City |
| 17 | 12 September 2004 | Fly to from New York City JFK Airport to Long Beach, California |