Look! At how many places Amtrak goes! And I’ve only ridden a tiny stretch: Portland to Seattle and back, twice.
Trains are great because they’re not cars, so I never have to drive. You can spend hours looking out the window and fall in love with so many places (if you’re anything like me, that is). You can actually see things too–almost like you’ve been to all the places you pass through (unlike airplanes, where you’re way too far away to get a good glimpse). The downside is, train rides are gruelingly long (and if you’re frugal and it’s a long trip, you have to sleep in those undesirable chairs). And they’re expensive.
Someday, I want to take a real train trip. I’m sure it’s the type of thing you only want to do once, but a slow train trip trip alone across the country is just the kind of surreality that really attracts me. There would be times of loneliness and boredom in my solitude, I’m sure, but I’d meet some cool people, and I could do so much art and reading and writing. It’s the kind of trip you have to do alone, unless you find just the right person for it (i.e. excited about spending 40+hours straight on a train/in a chair/with you). But what an old fashioned/nostalgic/appealing/attractive way to travel.
I’d ride with you if you were my wife.