80-Hour Train Ride Across America: San Fran to NYC on Amtrak's California Zephyr (Part One)
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- Опубліковано 10 лют 2025
- Join me as I travel for a whopping 80 hours across the United States by train. In todays episode (part one of my journey), I board one of North Americas Most Scenic Trains - Amtrak's California Zephyr. This three day sleeper train will take me from San Francisco, across 7 different states, covering almost 4,000 km, eventually leaving me in Chicago.
I’ve booked the 'cheapest' sleeping accomodation for my 54 hours onboard, also known as Amtrak's Superliner Roomette. I'll show you exactly what the experience is like, from start to finish! Let's check out the dining, the amenities such as the observation lounge and the on board shower! Meanwhile, we'll be passing through the Sierra Nevadas, the Rocky Mountains, Moffat Tunnel, Colorado River and so many cute towns.
Let's go!!
#amtraktrains #californiazephyr #sleepertrain
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Hej hej allihopa! ("Hey everyone" in Swedish) We are Chloé, the Kiwi, and Ludvig, the Swede. We met at a Ski Resort in Canada and have since been travelling the whole world together. Our aim is to provide you with helpful travel tips and entertainment from around the globe, hopefully inspiring you to EXPLORE MORE! We love adventure ...with a touch of luxury. You can expect to see lots of adrenaline pumping activities and out of the ordinary excursions, along with a generous dose of unique hotels, camper-van travel, train journeys and business class flights....
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This video took me days upon days to edit as I sifted through hours of footage. If you enjoy it, I would so appreciate a thumbs up and share it with someone else who might enjoy it! ...and stayed tuned for part two! :D
Took the same trip to Reno Nevada and back to Michigan.
Your video is accurate. My roomette was filthy. Looking under my roomette seat was life altering. And the bog odor always leaks into the hallway.
Food was good, airline food was a good description.
The scenery was beautiful!
When did you film this?
@chloeandludvig Great breakdown Chloe! - this route is on my list as well. I subscribed and looking forward to checking out all your other content - love your energy!
@@debbest8546 that’s really off-putting to know your roomette was filthy and toilet stink permeated the train car. I want to travel on the Zephyr, but now I better be prepared.
@@11buleria just pray you don't get Room 2....
This video was so nostalgic for me! I lived on a train, in a 3 1/2' x 6' room, for 2 years while performing with Ringling Brothers Circus waaay back in 1981-82. Hanging out on the open vestibule with my coffee and watching the world go by. Thank you for posting it.
That must have been fun!
No way, that’s incredible!! Living on a train for two years! Wow. Thanks for watching and I’m glad it brought back memories 😍
🎉❤❤❤🎉 wow, surreal for sure
this sounds so epic. hope you had fun
@jodeyakatinydancer Wow! I've often wondered what life would be like with a traveling circus. You got to do something that very few of us ever experience. How cool! And what an interesting life. Thank you for sharing your memory with us. 🙂
This is certainly one of the best train travel videos I've watched. Thoroughly enjoyed it - great job Chloe.
Thank you so much!! Means the world to me!!🤩
This stupid trip has been reviewed a dozen times! Boring!
Simple solution- don't watch.
A train would always be better than flying! You actually get to see stuff, and relax. Thanks for sharing...great video.
Oh yeah! If you can allow for the time and cost it’s such a fun travel option! Thanks for watching 😁
You can see stuff but you can't actually engage with it. No hiking up that glorious side of that mountain, no stroll through that interesting little town, and no way to change your schedule if you should really want to stop and explore...
@@robbrown4621
Of course, you can. You are allowed 3 off train visits in any area for certain periods, then hop back on the next Amtrak.. I've done it for years, often spending a week or more in certain places. They are open tickets. You can also include special conducted bus connections across to other trains, i.e., Denver( Zephyr) down to Albuquerque(Southwestern), all on the same ticket price. More Americans should learn what wonderful opportunities are available on our Amtrak system!
Well, it depends for who. I travel by train 10 000 km a year. But I was only 6 times in plane. So for me flying is very exciting.
I love your positive energy! I’m a retired Amtrak Train Attendant and Conductor. My wife and I still love traveling by train and do it every chance we get. Hope you have many more wonderful adventures here in the USA. Blessings!
Thank you Jeffrey! How lovely of you to say. You must have loved your career! I enjoyed our conductors humour, it made for an entertaining journey!
@@chloeandludvig It was 90% awesome and 10% horrible. Keep your awesome positive outlook! It truly helps you in life, especially on train trips that can go south in so many ways. We were on the Southwest Chief last year and ended up 23 hours late into Fullerton! It could have been horrible! Fortunately, our onboard crew was awesome and we looked at it like an extra night on the train with extra meals. Next June we're traveling from Boston to New York City to Chicago (on the Cardinal) and to San Diego on the Chief and the Surfliner. Epic trip!
@@chloeandludvigI always find Amtrak conductors very nice and knowledgeable about delays if you have a tight connection. They do tend to hold trains when they know one train is running late, which is cool. The North East Regional, which I take a lot. Some of the conductors (especially between Boston and NYC) may seem rough, but they are not; it's just North East directness, I'm sure something you can relate to by being from Sweden.
Do you know what train is available in Tennessee to California..please? ❤ Preferably to San Juan Capistrano California
@@alcap-z5d Hi. I believe there are only two Amtrak stations in Tennessee the biggest one being Memphis. The easiest way is from there to Chicago on the City of New Orleans. Then the Southwest Chief to Fullerton, CA. From there you can take either a Pacific Surfliner or a Metrolink train to San Juan Capistrano. Hope that helps!
Chloe, I took this trip with my parents in 1960(!!) with my parents and brother. I’ll never forget it, and I’m glad I got to thank my dad (a lifetime train nut) again for it before he died in 2010. It is an absolutely incredible way to get a feel for how magnificently beautiful this country is. I’m 70 now and I remember a lot of the trip.
Aw that is so lovely! I would love to take my family on this trip one day! I’m so happy you were able to relive some of the memories with me through the screen!
What a sweet memory you have carried for all these years. So lovely you told your father how much the trip meant to you. ❤
Before I ever rode the CA Zephyr myself, I bought my stepson a ticket westbound from Denver as a graduation gift. My brother in the Bay Area met him and they went on an epic road trip down to LA and back up Highway 1 before my son flew back to DEN. Later when I had my own CA Zephyr journey we had a common adventure to share. Tragically he died suddenly last Christmastime, but I'm your age and also realize how durable these shared life experiences can be. You're lucky to have traveled together.
🙏❤️ So sorry for your loss.
I went on a cruise to Alaska over 15 years ago.
I was 19. My dad passed 5 years later.
I’m so grateful that we went and enjoyed our time as a family and i never forget the views or how much we enjoyed it.
I took the Texas Eagle from Arkansas to California in 1996 and loved it.
Here’s an old sailors trick for when your plates slide around. Dampen a towel and lay it out like a tablecloth. The damp towel clings to the table and holds the plates in place through most of the bumps and shimmies.
Ooooh fantastic tip there! I will remember this for next time🥳
I learned that trick from my Mom who worked in restaurants, to hold a slippery cutting board in place. Similar idea.
Definitely this trip will be on my bucket list. Less stressful not worrying about traffic and road rage. 👍👍
Awesome to hear! Excited for you to give the journey a go!
My 6 year old daughter and I took the Zephyr from Chicago to Davis, CA. It was an unbelievable experience for both of us!
Thats so cool!!! I can imagine it would be so memorable for a 6 year old!
@@chloeandludvig was this pricy for the train ticket
How did you keep her entertained for so long? Looking to take our 5 year old in a year or so
I took my 4 yr old boy from Iowa to Idaho. He did great. It's not as confining as a bus or a plane. We went to the observation car, ate in the snack bar etc. We took along things to play with, books to read etc. He made friends with other riders. I enjoyed it much more than flying.
@@1104ray if I remember correctly, it was about $1100 for the two of us. Yes, pricey compared to a plane ticket but the views and food included make it worth it.
"I've never heard of Donner Lake." One of the most historically fascinating areas you passed through. There was a "party" there. Worth researching... and going back too, since the nearby Truckee is fun as it looks form the train.
Yes I’ve had a lot of people telling me the story - I never knew! Very sad. Thanks for watching! 😁
That was one heck of a party!
I had to laugh a little at not knowing about Donner lake. We take a lot for granted here in the USA that others from other countries don’t know US history. You ask anyone here in America and they know about the “Donner party”.
Party: as in group of people. Not a celebration.
When I tell my friends I'd like to take a trip they say stuff like "what's the point, it takes so much time?". And that's exactly my point! I enjoy travelling far more than the time at my destination. :D
Yes exactly! Couldn't agree more. I wasn't even bothered if we were delayed, I just wanted more time on board!
I took this train ride few years ago. It was really relaxing. No security check, no rushing to get your bags. Just hop on the train and enjoy the ride.
Me too!
What's the point of being alive? It takes so much time, and you'll just be dead at the end ...
Not to mention you have more room than a plane. I'm 6'3", so kind of important to me.
I did three solo Amtrak trips. The first was a 3+ day cross-country from Boston to Portland Oregon - and back along the same tracks after a week in Portland. The next was a one-way from LA to Seattle (I had flown from Boston to LA). I had a full room to myself. I spent most of my time in the observation car, the snack/bar car, or the dining car. The food was great, and I always took the desert to-go, and enjoyed it a couple of hours later in my room when I was less full. The return cross-country had a 6-hour layover between trains in Chicago, so I was able to do quite a bit of walking, and went to the top of Sears tower.
Aw thanks for sharing your experience with us Sue! Sounds like you've ticked off one really great routes /trains! It's such a fun way to travel, especially if by yourself! :D
Awesome
I traveled the Coast Starlight years ago in the disabled section. My fellow passengers took care of each other like family, getting extra pillows and whatnot for each other. It was very sweet. And the views were spectacular. It's one of my most pleasant memories.
Aw that’s lovely to hear! I believe it will remain my of my favourite memories also!
I took this same trip in 2012. So many fun memories! My trip had a few unexpected changes. A rockslide near the Colorado river delayed us for most of a day. Because we were running low on food due to the delay, Amtrak arranged to have pizza and chicken dinners brought to us by ATV. I was so impressed by how enterprising the crew was and how everyone was so upbeat and positive throughout. Our delay made me miss the connection in Chicago and weather delayed the next train by another half day. But Amtrak put us up in a truly lovely hotel overlooking the river and gave us a generous cash amount for transportation and meals. I bought a one-day public transit pass, and visited the Field Museum, Adler Planetarium, and Shedd Aquarium. It was like a bonus “Highlights of Chicago” weekend trip I got for free. So even the things that went “wrong,” Amtrak turned into a net positive!
Wow! What a great story and a perfect example of how to make the most of unexpected challenges. Awesome to hear that Amtrak looked after you!
This is the first video of yours that I have seen and I am completely blown away! How do you only have 9k subscribers! 😮 the filming, the editing, and the storytelling absolutely incredible 😊 definitely subscribing ❤
Awwwww thank you Ashley!!!! Such a lovely comment to read. Appreciate it and happy to have you join the channel 😁
Taking the train is a history tour, the railroad was built before the modern highways.
I dont watch videos like yours to plan future travels, videos like this one are the only way I can travel......me and my wheelchair dont do so well on transport and my body doesnt much like the movement anyway so Im very, very grateful that people like you are having the adventures for me to enjoy instead. I particularly enjoy your engaging style of commentary and have just subscribed. Im looking forward to your next video. Love from across the ditch.
Aw thank you for your kind comment Heather! Sorry to hear you are unable to experience these things yourself, but I am so happy you enjoyed the video! That's often how I love to explore new parts of the world or interesting experience - is watching them on UA-cam! Welcome to the channel :D
I hear ya. I'm just living vicariously
I am also enjoying this trip vicariously. I love trains & I had planned many trips in my head. Sadly I am bedbound due to severeME so watching this has been a joy & I will be checking out her other videos❤
Just booked my Roomette from Denver to Colfax, CA for the Christmas Holidays. Glad to catch a glimpse of Colfax in your video.
Oh that’s awesome! Excited for you!!
Great video. I've lived in California for over 40 years and have never been on the California Zephyr, but this video has renewed my interest in taking a trip on this Amtrak line.
I really love that you did this. You are right, we get so used to just flying over everything, we fail to stop and see the beauty we would otherwise miss if we just flew from SF to NYC
Oh heck yeah! It was so much fun to travel by train and to see things I never would otherwise:) thanks for watching!
I watched another video on this same trip and train. What a difference a passenger with a personality makes. Your excitement adds so much to it.. Amtrak should hire you you’re a natural. I hope that you get to experience many more trips. You certainly deserve it.!! Happy trails to you.!!
Aww thank you!! That’s so nice of you. I am an oddly enthusiastic person haha but I think it makes for fun content.. I’ll get onto Amtrak about that ;)
@chloeandludvi
😊⁸⁸g!
She's such a natural presenter. I really enjoyed watching this and am inspired to do the same trip.
Thank you! You totally should!
Growing up, we'd travel every other year across Canada on VIA Rail. Then as an adult, I worked on board. Your videos are awesome! It's great seeing how other countries do it.
Oh that's incredible!!! I've just replied to your other comment - but we are hoping to jump on Via rail next year from Toronto to Vancouver! It looks incredible!!!
I really like this train review it's straight to the point not all kinds of goofy music are stupid pictures or dumb jokes. A lovely presenter
Why thank you so much! 😁
@@chloeandludvig you're welcome have nice day!
Awesome trip report! If you want another sleeper train with amazing scenery, The Canadian between Toronto and Vancouver is a must.
Thanks so much! That’s the via rail train? If so, We’re actually taking this train journey next year! We’ve been told by multiple people to do that ;)
I have that train journey on my bucket list.
The sleeper train doesn’t give you the view of the Rockies that you get on the Rocky Mountaineer. RM stops in Kamloops and you stay in a hotel before continuing into Vancouver
@@amsndahambling4084 It's true that the Rockies section of VIA's Canadian doesn't quite have the same charm as the Rocky Mountaineer route, but it's more about experiencing the whole trip and the different cities and scenery across Ontario and Western Canada.
My cousin and I did cross country and back on Amtrak over this last winter. We did three legs, Chicago to Sacramento, Sacramento to Seattle and then Seattle back to Chicago. We had the best time and I made a video for youtube of it. Your video is so much better than mine lol. I wish I had been as detailed as you were in this. I'm definitely going to share this. You really did a great job. I love your passion for the train. My cousin and I are always discussing further train journeys like the Ghan and Indian-Pacific in Australia or European options. Thank you for sharing your adventures
Awww loved reading this! Thank you! I'm sure your video was awesome! (this took me like 40 hours to make hahaha). Sounds like your trip was probably a lot longer than mine?
...and funny you mention the Indian Pacific... I'll be doing that in December! Stay tuned :D
@@chloeandludvig yes. It took us 9 days. 7 of which were on trains. It was also during heavy snow storms in the west and we were told that in the Sierra Nevada it was as deep as 12 feet I think. It was so beautiful! I’m watching your Caledonian sleeper video now. I’ve subscribed and I’m really enjoying your quirky personality and the details you put in your videos
@@chloeandludvig also really looking forward to your Indian-Pacific experience
Wow! What an incredible adventure! Thank you for sharing it with us! I am looking forward to the next part.
Yay thanks for watching Beth!! So glad you enjoyed the adventure. I’m excited to post part two next week!
I wrote this wonderful train back in 1962 when it’s still was a private train not Amtrak. One of the things that is so sad is that they change the route through the feather River Canyon in the high Sierras. That was breathtaking. I’m glad you enjoyed the train. I wish you could’ve been on it when it was still private. It was so first class. The dining car was a restaurant with chefs and the food prepared for you. And the train actually terminated in Oakland, California, not Emeryville.
I love how much you’re enjoying our beautiful state of California! 🥰 Lake Tahoe area is stunning.
I adored the scenery in California! I have such a long list of places to visit now haha
This is great. Experiencing it on video is like being there but without all the hassle of actually doing it! So, thank you!
Haha, love it! Thank you for joining me!!
I live near San Francisco and travel to Truckee and Lake Tahoe all of the time. When you return, try the winter in the snow. It’s gorgeous.
I enjoyed this immensely and have added the trip to my bucket list! Thanks.
Very cool. As a kid in the 60's we travel via train from San Francisco to Norfolk Va, via Chicago to see our grandparents. I still remember going through the mid-west and seeing all of the fireflies out of the window.
Ooh that's wonderful! What a fun way to travel as a kid!!
Born in LA. Growing up, traveled all around the western US. Enjoyed seeing so many places again and reliving memories.
That’s awesome- so lovely to hear!!☺️☺️
Cool! Depending which day you traveled between Grand Junction, Colorado and Denver, Colorado, I could have been one of your engineers! Thanks for riding the Zephyr!
Oh wow that's awesome! I wonder if you were! ..I left San Francisco on a Friday
@@chloeandludvig That would have been #6 on a Saturday and the last Saturday I worked eastbound was 10/7.
I took a train trip from NY to LA about 5 years back. I flew into NY & flew back to home from LA. The train was $209 one-way coach. I had my seat to myself for most of my trip. Taking the train is my favorite form of travel😆
Oh amazing!! Sounds like you enjoyed it just as much as I did! definitely one of the best ways to travel huh!
As a European, I've done all sorts of transport in SF/Bay Area, from the Bart, Muni to Caltrain, but Amtrak is still waiting for me, sounds fun. Great video (i also love train rides, went across almost half of Europe with train, its the best kind of way to see the most of the landscape, the Oslo-Bergen still being one of the most beautiful)
Train travel is incredibly isn't it?! Funny you mention the Oslo - Bergen train! ... we'll likely be doing this in Spring next year!
Thanks for sharing, I will do it next year. I have taken the Empire Builder already from Seattle to Chicago, the Crescent from New Orleans to Washington DC, the Pacific Surfliner from San Diego to Seattle, the North East corridor, the Acela, and more, you name it... All trips are wonderful sightseeing and nice experience.... love your video. Thanks!
Wow - you sure have ticked off a lot of routes! I hope to do the same one day! Good to hear they’re all worth it. Th aka for watching!😁
This is one of my dream trips. Being a native NYer, and having lived in SF for 7 years, I’ve taken Amtrak out of Emeryville, but I didn’t take it to NY, usually took it to other California cities.
This is my 1st time watching your channel, and I must say, you are one delightful young lady. You are so positive and enthusiastic to see new places, makes the video a joy to watch.
Some of the towns you mentioned, like Truckee, I’ve been to, and it’s a beautiful little town, you will probably love it. Great video, you’ve gained a new subscriber.
Oh wow you should definitely try the full journey then - I can highly recommend! Thanks for your very kind words - appreciate it so much! Welcome to the channel! :D
Great video. All your name dropping UA-camrs and for once I knew them all. My family and I are Australian and accidentally found Truckee at Xmas time when we were exploring Lake Tahoe. Very nice little town.
Hahaha! Love it - name dropping (I’m super into watching these train vids myself). That’s amazing you got to visit Truckee, I definitely want to go back there!
Loving all the shots of getting coffee, totally relatable ❤😂
Hahahaha yay - I just love getting those coffee shots 🤣😂
@@chloeandludvig I’ve added this trip to my bucket list for sure!👍😆 We’re in Colorado and go to Glenwood all the time 💚💙
I took this same trip back in early September. I thoroughly enjoyed the epic scenery and the relaxing solitude. Heck, I didn't even mind how incredibly behind schedule we were getting into Chicago...about 15.5 hours. I'll be taking the CZ again in the future...no doubt about it.
Oh wow, same time of year! Haha, sounds like me! I was almost hoping we’d be more behind schedule - did not want to hop off😅 one of the best experiences ever!
What was the price? Thanks
I've ridden the California Zephyr, from Reno to Glenwood Springs. I had always wanted to ride it after seeing it on "Huell Howser's: In Search of California's Gold" episode on PBS. I remember the train had this wonderful chocolate cake with crunchy bits in it. It was definitely one of the highlights of the trip. Oh, and in Glenwood Springs, I stayed at the historic Hotel Colorado which had a large hot tub in the room. The area also had a lot of hot springs, but I wasn't staying long enough to explore them. My friend and I went to visit the Crystal, CO which has the Crystal Mill, the most photographed mill in Colorado. My friend had built a cabin in Crystal many decades back, so he knew the locals and the history of the Fogel family in the area.
Amazing video! I did Denver to SF last year in October, truely stunning scenery and experience
That's awesome! I noticed quite a lot of people did that route (cutting out the Denver to Chicago portion. Views are amazing right?!
I love train riding. It's a journey worth trying. It would be very safe for a single traveling alone.
I recommend researching the Donner party who got lost in the Sierras. You'll find it very interesting.
Ooo, thanks for the tip, I shall!
@@chloeandludvig Just for info trivia, the California mountains are the Sierra(Nevada) , no _s_ on the end. And Carquinez is pronounced car-*kee*-nez.Very nice travelogue. _Happy trails!_
you got one of the refurbished Superliner 1 cars! the interiors are refreshed really nicely on those, like the seats and bathrooms and stuff. glad you had a fun trip, the Zephyr is beautiful
Love this take on this train trip, your storytelling flow and editing are great and made for an enjoyable watch. +1 Subscriber.
Aw thank you so much Nick!! Made me smile really big! Cheers for the comment :D
I loved this video so much. I don't usually have the patience to sit through long videos, I actually watched this one in 2 parts but this video was worth every single minute of my life. ❤ Thank you for making it.
Oh that's the best news!! So happy you enjoyed it enough to sit through it. I prefer to make slightly longer vids if it means I don't have to cut the good buts out haha. Thanks for watchin!!
@@chloeandludvig since then I actually watched it again because I had to show this to my boyfriend. He enjoyed it, too. So from now on the California Zephyr is a bucket list item for us next our big dreams like moving to New Zealand. 💖
Oh I love that!! Haha, so much of my face on your screen, but glad you enjoyed it, hehe. So happy you've got it on your bucket list - also NZ is the best :)@@Nevi8711
Wow - you did a REALLY good job with this! I book a roomette from Denver to Glenwood Springs a lot, and will be going again next month. I am glad you got a chance to see this very scenic route. Keep up the good work.
P.S. Jeb Brooks is great. Another good Amtrak channel is Grounded Life Travel.
Aw thanks so much!! Appreciate it a lot! Yes I love Jebs videos! I’ll check out that other channel for sure too!
Your excitement is that inner child explorer that i miss so much!!! Im getting those itchy feet again!!! THank you Chloe! Time to hit the road... /travelers mercy to you fellow pilgrim!!!
I love that you're feeling the wanderlust! So glad this video inspired you! 😁
I always sleep on the upper in a roomette, even if traveling alone. I love the closed in space! Very cozy!
Does the window continue that high? Are steps used to get up there?
@@sharoncollins7722 no steps in a roomette as the space does not allow but I just climb up. The window is that high but there is a shade just like the window below. Google a passenger Amtrak train and you can view it.
@@sharoncollins7722 Hi! Yes there is a window with a curtain! I don’t remember there being a ladder to the top but I climbed up. I think they have included in the design natural places to step - to climb up. I’m over 60 with arthritis so if I can do it almost everyone can.
It’s been years since I’ve done it, but you can get thrown around a bit as the train sways back and forth, and goes over rough track. Also, if there’s a long downhill, it’s’ weird to sleep with your head lower than your feet. That woke me up a few times.
Amazing video!
You make me feel like if I was there with you. Thank you for such entertaining and informative video ❤.
Thank you Rob! Appreciate it. So glad you were able to travel with me through the screen! :D
Hi, avid amtrak enthusiast here. I always wanted to go on a long distance train trip like the California Zephyr or the Southwest Chief. Its so cool that you enjoyed yourself!
Awesome to hear - I hope you are able to travel on those yourself one day! It was a once in a lifetime experience I will never forget!
Thumbs up on your wonderful video. I really enjoyed your narration and your wide-eyed enthusiasm for the trip. We're very experienced Amtrak travelers, and we always have a new trip on the horizon. Probably the one thing I have a minor complaint about is that you took most of your meals in your room. My wife and I look forward to the shared dining experience in the dining car, especially on a full train. We often get to sit with and meet wonderful and interesting people! And everyone there loves to talk about train travel. We've gotten many good inside tips about traveling on the train and about our destinations. I'd highly recommend not depriving yourself of this opportunity in the future.
Thanks so much for watching!! How exciting that you are avid Amtrak travellers. I definitely enjoyed my room service meals, but also loved the lunches I spent in the dining car. I was a little shy about having dinners in the restaurant with others on this journey - but will be sure to try it again on my next train!
Haha, Carquinez is pronounced kar-KEE-nez. I got everything wrong when I moved here from the US East Coast, so you’re not alone! I hope you enjoyed your trip. I take the train from Emeryville (which you pronounced excellently!) to Santa Barbara quite often as my son (a chef), d-i-l, and two darling granddaughters live there. It’s a lovely trip through the California heartland of our magnificent produce growing, and on into the wine country.
Thank you! Haha.. that's awesome - how great you are able to see those beautiful sights often!
This is soooo coool. I never took an Amtrak and only took my flight this year at the age of 43. Amtrak is definitely on my bucket list, for a local and eventually cross country trip.
I love how calm and relaxing the train ride is. Can't wait to take it again. Just waiting on it. I love your videos ❤ new subscriber here.
It was sooo relaxing! A very memorable trip! Thanks for joining us - so happy to have you! :)
You’re so positive and excited! I really enjoyed this video. 😊
haha, waaaay too excited ;)
You really should try “The Canadian” by via rail in Canada. It goes from Toronto to Vancouver or vice a versa. You see the western part of Canada into Ontario (5 provinces). The train maybe older but it is an experience. Highly recommend, I just did it sept 2023.
Oh incredible - I bet you had beautiful views in September! You are about the 50th person to suggest this train! We will absolutely have to ride it next year!! :D
I'm glad you didn't have to sleep on the top bunk in the roomette! I remember travelling coast to coast ten years ago, and my partner had to strap me into a seatbelt-like harness because the bunk was so narrow.
I'm a rail fan and watch a lot of Amtrak videos, girl your camera work/angles were next level!!!
No way - huge smile on my face right here! Im such a beginner with all of the camera stuff so thanks for that!😆😆
Me too. I can't do planes anymore. It's too aggravating.
Never before did I enjoy a UA-cam through the description of the UA-camr not only the sights seen in the video!
Your genuine spontaneous approach was do much enjoyable
Thank you
Thanks so much! I try to be as genuine as possible and capture the experience for you.
Fantastic video! Great photography and editing and, and your witty commentary is infectious. I just subscribed and I'm looking forward to watching more of your videos. Hope you get to take the Empire Builder someday, it's equally impressive.
Thanks so much for this wonderful feedback Leon! I am so happy you enjoyed the video! I've only just started videography/editing, so that is a huge compliment. I absolutely must try the Empire (I want to tick them all off!)
Glad you enjoyed the Zephyr. As a resident of Reno, Nevada, I traveled many times back a forth to Grand Junction, Colorado while my daughter attended college there. Hopefully, when you return to enjoy the small communities in the Sierra Mountains, you also take in Lake Tahoe, another world wonder shared between Nevada and California. Travel on...
My first ever Amtrak ride was on the Zephyr and I didn’t realize it until many years later. I went from Truckee, Ca. to Emeryville. I found out it was the Zephyr from a video like this,
Oh no way!! That’s pretty cool ahha. I adore Truckee! Looking forward to going back there!
First time I've stumbled across this channel. Enjoyed the video very much. 21:35 is my favorite moment. Presence. Gratitude. Joy.
Yay welcome to the channel in that case! So glad you enjoyed the video :)
This one is on my list, for sure. It's a whole part of the country I've never visited (I've seen more of Europe than I have the US, in spite of being from the US). My wife & I have discussed taking this trip many times. One of these days.
I've only done one sleeper car trip, between Munich and Venice. It was...not great. The train made stops in seemingly every town along the route, so every 40 minutes or so, I'd be shaken awake by the train stopping and all the light and noise of the station. I also had trouble fitting in the bed. An advantage of being in the western US has to be far, far fewer stops, as there simply aren't that many towns or people out there.
Thanks for watching Matthew! I can definitely recommend this trip to explore your own backyard! I was amazed at the views out the window, what an incredible way to see the country. I can confirm, the sleeps on this train were actually really pleasant. I want to do it all again!!
Thank-you for sharing your adventure on Amtrak. Your positive attitude, throughout your entire adventure, is so enjoyable to watch. So far the Coast Starlight has been my favorite Amtrak route. Thanks to your video, I now want to travel on the California Zephyr. You did an awesome job showing the highlights of your trip. I plan to rewatch your video many times.
Aw thank you so much for watching!!! Love that you're gonna see the vid multiple times!!
The Zephyr is on my bucket list. I've taken the empire builder 4 times bow from Milwaukee to Seattle and it is also a spectacular trip with views. You may enjoy it also
That’s awesome! You should definitely do it :) I’ve been told multiple times now to try the Empire Builder! I might just have to!
Chloe, I loved taking this trip with you. Your excitement for this journey is contagious. And I loved that you did this solo; I imagined what a centering, restoring solitude you must have experience in your little room. Amazing!!! American Grace now living in Sri Lanka 🏞️🏞️🏞️
Thank you Grace!! So glad you enjoyed the trip with me! There's someone magical about travelling solo. It was definitely a journey to remember forever! Very cool you are living in Sri Lanka! A place I hope to tick off someday.
@@chloeandludvig ❣️
I have ridden the Zephyr twice and loved it. Your video really did it justice. I noticed you missed the story of how Donner Lake got its name. Was that out of sensibilities or perhaps you didn't know. If so you might want to look it up on Wikipedia. The Coast Starlight is also awesome. The views are insane! Definitely take it! Thanks for a lovely video. I'm going to be back on the Starlight and the Zephyr in 2025. 👍
Wow twice! That's awesome... and I hope to try the starlight too! I didn't know anything about the Donner Lake story whilst on the train, but learned from many comments on the video - scary story!
I wanna do this with my 13 year old daughter. I think we'd have the BEST time. I think she would love it as much as I do and we're due for a summer vacation.
Oh you so should!! What a fun way to hang out and see some incredible sights! :D
@@chloeandludvig I did it! 2 cross country trips for the summer of 2024. Thank you for the inspiration!!
You'll have to ride the Empire builder route! Both segments won't disappoint! It goes to Seattle or Portland to and from Chicago daily.
I already had this route in the back of my mind, but you've confirmed I have to do it! Thanks for the suggestion!
The Empire Builder is my favorite route, but then again I haven't taken the Zephyr yet...
Great Video! Bucket list! I did the Auto Train with my car when I was in my 20's from Virginia to Florida! I loved it!
Thank you! Oh thats so cool!!
I'm going to do it. Funny , I was in the Army in Germany. Took the train everywhere Europass. But , haven't seen my own home. Good video. Convinced me....
Spoiler Alert >>> Train fare : $ 1900. USD . 2023. All aboard.....
That is a steal..
@@dixieboy5689 considering car mileage wear and tear, gas, lodging, food. It is not bad. But, a car can carry more and two or more to share
Good points .... but there is nothing like a train ride. This video shows that. Have a fun trip.
And the cheapest airplane ticket for the same distance costs..?
@Koji-888 I get it. I just want to know exactly how much it is?
Your editing, pacing and sense of humor are great!
Thank you so much! 🙏 I really appreciate your comment!!
We did this journey 3 weeks ago so watching this is bringing back all the amazing things we saw while onboard
That’s incredible! I love watching others’ experiences on UA-cam as well - never gets old :)
I enjoyed your video and hope to see more like this from you in the future.
I did the Amtrak South West Chief (LA to Chicago) a few weeks back. I will be posting a video about that in the near future. I absolutely loved it, but I also want to come back to the US and do more of their Amtrak runs, especially the California Zepher
Very cool! I’ll keep an eye out for your video! Definitely a route I hope to take one day! I’m the same - wanna tick off all of the Amtrak trains haha
What was the price?
My then boyfriend (now husband) did this trip in the 90s when we were much younger and slept in our seats because that was all we could afford LOL! We took the Coast Starlight up, then the Empire Builder to Chicago, onto Toronto then the Zephyr back to California. We stopped in a few cities to explore, amazing trip and a beautiful way to see the country 😊
Oh what an incredible itinerary! I'd love to try that journey one day! ...seats would've been an interesting experience for the whole trip! Hopefully one day you can recreate it in a roomette/bedroom! ;)
I live in Donner Lake/Truckee and want to experience this train every time it comes through! Been seeing it a lot lately, it's a sign to book. Can't imagine how pretty it would be going through during winter and snowcapped Sierra's :)
Yes it’s a sign!! You should totally book it. I am keen to take this train again in winter to see those views 😍
Yes! Its been on the bucket list for awhile now. Scenery looks gorgeous an d train looks super. Nicely made video too 👍
You should totally go for it if you can!! Thanks so much for watching!😁
fun fact emeryville is where Pixar is
As a Kiwi who moved the to the US 10 years ago, its always great to hear the accent (and the fact you said "mince"). NZ will always be home but the US is just an amazing country with great people, and getting off the beaten track is the best way to see it
So cool, where about do you live? Hahahaha and yes "mince" would give it away! We love the US and can't wait to take more Amtrak trains to discover it further!
I could imagine the hours of footage and editing it took you hope the video does well and gets you a bunch of subscribers.
Thank youuuuu! It did indeed bring in loads of new people to our channel! Very exciting :D It took about 40 hours haha
@@chloeandludvig well job well done my dear👏👏👏👏
Awesome trip. I love the different perspective traveling by train...the US is so vast you're able to see so many scenes throughout the different states. I also love that you have fresh eyes ...sometimes people living in their own country don't appreciate where they live.
Aw thanks for leaving this comment and watching the vid! I loved this trip 😁
You paid $1900 for ?? Your video, although well done, is a great example of why Amtrak, a government subsidized railroad sucks. Train travel should be cheap, and simple. While Amtrak is providing you with a roomette and vegetarian meals, regular Americans who just want to "get there" are priced out of travel. If two passengers travel together, same as you did, it would be $3,800 dollars. Amtrak is a railroad company. Not a fancy train spa. It was setup for inexpensive travel between major cities. Yet, most of America is not served by Amtrak, but their taxes subsidize it. It is approximately $500 dollars to drive from San Fran to NYC. If three are in the car, that comes out to $167 each. Yet, the tax subsidized railroad wants $$$$ for the same trip. Amtrak is a disgrace. A total rip off of the American taxpayer. As America crumbles, and crime increases and nothing works, and the government funds wars across the world, the choo choo called Amtrak continues to steal from the poor to provide the rich. Pathetic.
Wow, what an unhappy person that is. Perhaps it might have been more fair for grumpy gus to mention that the same trip can be done in coach class for less than one quarter of that amount.
Yeah I highly doubt that you're even American. You don't have valid opinions about the US. You also accidentally said the US is crumbling. You better learn how to speak English real quick.
@@rowanmulvey8632 .. Ok, so what is one quarter of $1900? Coach - $557 One way. This gets you a train ticket and that is it. So, why is my taxes subsidizing is nonsense? Do you think the American taxpayer who can't afford two adult tickets for $1114 should be paying for this? Do you subsidize your grocery store, the local mall, on and on? NO. But Americans are forced upon penalty of prison to pay taxes for this bullshxit.
If there was an extra person in the cabin, they would be travelling for free and including all meals.
Agreed. Amtrak is a monopoly with high prices, poor service, and a weak network.
I’ve done this trip but a long time ago and used to only be about $450 for a month-long pass and you could go wherever you wanted to. We went from California up to Washington into Canada across Canada to Toronto into New York down to Florida through Texas up until the Midwest back down again across Arizona and then back to California again.
I stopped watching after the first minute. You made the video more about you than the trip.
Bye!
Won't be subscribing.
Thanks for stopping by Vernon!
one of the best train videos i’ve seen
I loved your enthusiasm, and your appreciation of just being there to enjoy it … I live in Canada and here I have travelled on the train many times, but I’ve only been on one train in the US
It’s something I can look forward to hopefully
Thanks for posting
Sandy from Toronto
Aw thank you Sandy! Appreciate it so much! Thanks for watching!! :D
Love the Jeb Brooks shout-out since I've been watching him for a long time (in UA-cam years), but there are a couple of other UA-cam channels that I also like to watch that are more train-based....Aside from that, Great Video and thanks for taking me along and showing me the ins and outs of riding on one of my bucket-list trips...
Haha, I love Jeb's videos! They always inspire to take on the trips myself! Thanks for watching, happy to hear you enjoyed it!!
First video of yours I've seen and I'm utterly hooked! Thank you for sharing your journeys.
Yay that’s the best news!!! Thanks for watching!😁
Much love Chloe' from Chicago am a new subscriber. Love your show and I noticed you had your meals in your room; very smart. That way you can enjoy your meals in peace.
Thank you - welcome to the channel! Haha yes, I definitely wanted to eat in the comfort of my own room - I didn’t even realise room service was available until I got here!
My husband and I traveled via Amtrak for the first time this summer from Kansas City to Chicago.
2 pieces of advice for anyone wanting to travel Amtrak.
1-Bring food.. not just snacks. Maybe sandwiches? The shorter trains still have a dining car with decent food, but it can be expensive.
2- Be mindful of how long the conductor says your break is because they will absolutely leave you. They will also leave with people that aren’t supposed to be there 😅 on our train a family was getting their grandma settled and the train took off with them on it. They had to get off at the next stop and find their own way back to the previous station.
Can’t wait to do another trip on Amtrak! Loved your video!
Oh my goodness, hilarious about accidently taking passengers that wren't meant to be on the train. Greats tips! Thanks heaps!
I TOOK THAT TRIP IN 2022 FROM kENTUCKY TO CHICAGO TO ST DIEGO BACK TO CHICAGO IT WAS UNREAL I LOVED IT I LOVE TRAINS I USE TO TRAVEL IN TRAIN IN SOUTH AMERICA WHER I CAME FROM
I'm taking this trip next year, super excited. Now even more so after watching this
You are going to love it! 🤩
Very enjoyable video. I felt like we were right there with you as you went through the journey. I really liked your enthusiasm, too!
Aw thank you so much!!☺️ really appreciate it!
14:14 oooh Chloe, in case you did not know! There's a trick for that! They trained us to do it on US Navy submarines, because many times when we change depth by a lot, we have to equalize air pressure, which can create pressure in your ears! ok, want you want to do is take in a deep breath, then you hold your nose closed, and keep your mouth closed, and then you attempt to exhale through your nose. This should pop one ear, then the other. I believe it's called the "vasalva maneuver" but don't quote me on that. 🙂 You might have to do it more than once. Don't do it super hard, because you could pass out, lol. 🙂
Haha thank you for the suggestion!😎