Experience one of America's most beloved train rides with Amtrak
With such a vast variety of cities and landscapes to see, it can be difficult to know where to start on your journey to America. If you want to make the very most of your time, the best way to do this is to see the USA by train.
Not only do you get to see the incredible diversity of the countryside, travelling by rail means that you arrive in the heart of each destination, be it a local landmark or the city centre. This way you can spend more time enjoying what you came to do, exploring!
Amtrak has an array of carefully curated train journeys throughout the nation, each one giving you the chance to fall in love with the land of the brave. One of the most popular, the Empire Builder, takes you on a grand tour of the northern-most fringe of the country, between Pacific Northwest (Oregon and Washington).
Here's a sneak preview of what you can look forward to aboard the Empire Builder service.
Chill out in Chicago
Situated in the heart of the Midwest, Chicago has its roots as an industrial hub, but the famous 'Windy City' is home to some fantastic sights, sure to sweep anyone off their feet. Take in a bird's eye view from the breathtaking heights of the Skydeck on the 103rd floor of the the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, Willis Tower.
Chicago isn't a city to do things by halves, which is why art lovers will be thrilled to find the Art Institute of Chicago - the second largest art museum in the country, and also the 2014 winner of the TripAdvisor Traveller's Choice Awards. A perfect example of this is “The Bean” sculpture Cloud Gate located at AT&T Plaza at Millennium Park.
By the time you step on board the Empire Builder, you'll be sad to part with Chicago, but rest assured, the parting will be made a little sweeter with the wonderful vistas to come.
Heading east
As you depart Chicago, you'll be travelling along parts of the historic Lewis and Clarke trail - stretching across the country, it commemorates the journey made by the pioneering explorers all the way back in 1804. Thankfully, your trip will be a considerably easier one, reclining in your comfortable seat with scenic views rolling past.
Look to the horizon and you'll sky the 'twin cities' of Minneapolis and St Paul, set exactly half way between the North Pole and the Equator. As the stars come out, you can settle down to your Superliner accommodation - you have the option of a roomette or a bedroom/bedroom suite for a little more room to spread out.
As the sun rises, you'll be greeted to the sprawling plains of North Dakota which will soon transform into Montana's 'Big Sky' country. The good folks at Amtrak recommend you shimmy on down to the Sightseer Lounge, where you can make use of the panoramic windows as the train enters the dramatic beauty of the Glacier National Park.
Pulling into the Northwestern cities of Spokane and Seattle, the only thing left to do is enjoy your destination. Seattle is a seaside city flourishing economically with companies like Boeing, Starbucks and Amazon calling Seattle home. But there is much more to the city, with their underground walking tours delving into the history of prohibition times and smuggling alcohol across the border to the breathtaking blown glass sculptures at the Dale Chilhuly Garden and Glass gallery.
Arriving into Seattle might be the end of your train journey but it is just the beginning of a new adventure.