ArcaMax

Confronted with last year's government shutdown, many travelers had to scramble to redo their travel plans. That included my husband Carl and me.

We had previously booked our flight from San Diego to Chicago to visit Carl's daughter and her three teenagers. We had booked hotels, as well, for our 12-day trip. But as we watched the evening news and noted long lines at airports and other frenzied disruptions, I asked Carl the day before our departure: "How about a Plan B? Why don't we do away with airport hassles and take Amtrak?"

The trip, our fourth overnight on an Amtrak train, would take 43 hours (two nights each way round-trip). We splurged on a bedroom sleeper compartment with its own bathroom and shower. We are used to taking sleeper trains in Britain, Europe and Australia, but the round-trip on Amtrak was the bumpiest ride we have endured (think: earthquake, but no broken bones).

So in mid-November, after taking the train from San Diego to Fullerton (business class), we connected to the Southwest Chief coming from Union Station in Los Angeles. The route included brief California stops in Riverside, San Bernardino, Victorville, Barstow and Needles; Arizona stops in Kingman, Flagstaff and Winslow; New Mexico stops in Gallup, Albuquerque, Lamy, Las Vegas and Raton; Colorado stops in Trinidad, La Junta and Lamar; Kansas stops in Garden City, Dodge City, Hutchinson, Newton, Topeka and Lawrence; Missouri stops in Kansas City and La Plata; and an Iowa stop in Fort Madison. Illinois brought Galesburg, Princeton, Mendota and Naperville before ending in Chicago.

We had opted to check our two suitcases at the Fullerton station for retrieval at Chicago's busy Union Station. We took our carry-ons to our upgraded sleeper bedroom. It was an expensive decision compared to flying but relaxing to both of us. Easing the pain, the meals were included.

Soon after boarding we received a dinner reservation in the dining car, which has tables of four, encouraging passengers to be seated with strangers. Those who aren't comfortable with that can have their meals brought to their cabins. Travelers in coach can bring their own food, buy food from the cafe car or purchase their meal in the dining car if room is available. Breakfast is $20, lunch $25 and dinner $45.

The menu was the same each day but offered good choices: Amtrak Signature Flat Iron Steak, Pan Roasted Chicken Breast, Atlantic Salmon and a children's menu. The food was excellent (we loved the Natural Angus Cheeseburger at lunch) and dinner included a glass of wine. Desserts were popular Chocolate Spoon Cake and White Chocolate Blueberry Cobbler Cheesecake.

As we were seated at our table, I overheard a woman comment, "I don't like to drive or fly on trips." Another passenger said, "When you fly in a plane you miss so much. Being on a train is a great way to travel. If I had taken a flight I wouldn't have experienced this -- looking out the windows, the landscapes of beauty and calm. You can just sit down and relax. It's exciting."

Carl liked to get up early to enjoy a large French toast breakfast while I slept in and waited for lunch, knowing that we wouldn't starve.

The disappointing part of the trip was that our cabin was so small and cramped (better for a single traveler) that we had to be contortionists to move from the lower bunk bed to the sink, shower and bathroom. While we appreciated the private accommodations, we decided the next time to book the less expensive family room compartment. We had taken one of those a year ago and found it to be much more spacious (with even room for large luggage), although the restroom and shower were a short stroll.

The interesting part of the trip was dining with newly met friends. Over dinner and lunch we chatted with a woman from Palm Springs, 82 years old and traveling by herself to New York City. She was going to the 100th anniversary celebration of the famous Rockettes, of which she was an alum. She had been on "The Jackie Gleason Show" as one of the June Taylor Dancers, followed by performing in the Palm Springs Follies. She regaled us with tales about her famous acting friends, Peter O'Toole and Katharine Hepburn.

Other interesting passengers we dined with included a man going from Los Angeles to Boston after his daughter's wedding after he decided not to fly. We met a young woman from Long Beach taking her first train ride to visit her mom and friends in Chicago. She was thrilled to have two coach seats to herself and splurged on the $25 lunch in the dining car. We had lunch with a young couple from Milwaukee going to visit relatives in Santa Fe. The wife was a veterinarian and the husband a school psychologist. And there was a retired pediatrician who enjoyed chatting with Carl about her hiking trips around the world.

We loved sitting in the observation car, a popular place to see the great views. I had taken two books to read but didn't open either one.

A conductor exclaimed over the intercom one day: "Ladies and gentlemen, please put down your iPhone. You're supposed to socialize and meet people!"

Just as we did!

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WHEN YOU GO

Amtrak: amtrak.com

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Sharon Whitley Larsen is a freelance writer. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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