Don’t Forget We Have Trains

Most people who travel today go to an airport and get hassled by security trying to get their vacation started by getting on an airplane. Not only do they search all your baggage but they x-ray you as well. Even though this is the fastest way to get to your travel destination it is not my idea of a great start for a well deserved family vacation.

Some others get on a bus with about fifty others who they may or may not know, because it is probably the cheapest way to get to many travel destinations here in the states. This is ok if you do not mind to spending some quality time alone with your family or you are single and going just with friends. This is also a good way to meet new people if you like traveling in groups.

Many people who want to spend some quality vacation time with their families travel by car. This way they can be close with their families and can talk freely about private family affairs to keep themselves busy while traveling all those boring miles to wherever their travel destination is.

But many people who are planning their vacation do not think of going by train. Partly because when you are looking for a vacation package you seldom find any with train travel included. For some reason it is not the most popular way of traveling but in some instances it could be the most fun. You can do many things a train you cannot do with other means of travel.

For instance the entire family can take part in conversations, games and just talking without having to concentrate on the road or worrying about where the next turn they have to make or even getting stuck in traffic or even worse than that getting in an accident or braking down somewhere on the side of the road.

Unlike a bus, car or plane you are not crowded and can get up and take a nice long walk through the different cars to stretch your legs without having to stop and waste time at rest areas. If you want to be alone with your family you can move to a different car with less people in it. With some trains you can even bring your car with you so you don’t have to rent one when you get to your travel destination. Even though you may have to spend more time traveling it may be worth it if spending more time with your family is the main goal of your vacation.

Even though it may take a little longer to get to your travel destination your vacation starts as soon as you get on the train. Not only can you start enjoying each other’s company right away by having some great conversations, but everyone can play different kinds of family games as well without any thought of where you are going and how to get there.

Some other really cool benefits of traveling by train are that many offer a movie car where the entire family can kill some of those boring miles by watching a move. Or if they have a dining car you can eat a wonderful meal without having to stop and waste a lot of down time. If you are traveling with children you know how many times you have to stop for bathroom breaks, not a problem on the train as they usually have at least one.


You can bring several things along to keep your children from getting to board along the way. With all the technology we have today like an electronic checker board game, something to read or even a portable cd so they can watch some of their favorite movies, or an ipod so they can listen to their favorite songs. You can even bring a laptop computer along which offers all of the above and more.

So the bottom line is that it may take a little longer to get where you are traveling to by train, but with all the activities you and your children have available to do it may seem like you got to your travel destination a lot quicker.