Amtrak-ing from Seattle

With a new Amtrak Cascades line running – bringing the Portland (and Seattle) to Vancouver route up to twice a day – it’s never been easier or prettier to get between the urban centres of the Pacific Northwest. A usual car-addict, I wanted to try out the trip on a weekend jaunt to Seattle to see what all the fuss is about.

Immediately, the appeal is obvious. Despite an early morning (the train departs at 6:40 am), as soon as you’re settled on-board you’re able to relax. The seats are comfortable, wide and cushy (the only big difference between coach and business class is a wider armrest), the service is friendly, and the views – the views are definitely better than your typical highway fare.

Cruising through Vancouver’s suburbs, we traveled along the Westminster Quay, before heading south along the beaches, docks and beautiful homes of White Rock.

Passing the border, we stopped for a mere 12 minutes in Blaine, WA, for the border patrol to get on board and check our papers. As someone who’s been stuck in weekend border traffic of up to four hours, this was infinitely preferable!

Bringing breakfast back from the on-board Bistro (the usual coffees and pastries, plus oatmeal, berry cobbler, quiche and sandwiches), my seatmate and I settled down to watch the world go by. While the drive down can be ostensibly quicker (the train takes 4 hours), the experience really isn’t comparable.

Driving down the highway, you pass by fields, truck stops, gas stations, and lots and lots of other cars. Taking the train down, you’re alongside the water for 99% of the trip, so you pass by beaches, and docks, and marinas, and seaside groupings of houses. It really is beautiful.

For those who like a little more activity than watching the world go by, movies are played in the cars, plus there are power outlets for personal DVD players and laptops, and there are tables adjacent to the Bistro where you can play cards or swap tales. As one family traveling the trip put it “there’s more space to spread out, more things to do, and more interesting scenery to watch.”

Taking the evening train to return to Vancouver, the sunset views are equally staggering. Customs are cleared at the station in Vancouver, which is infinitely preferable to waiting in a long border line up at the end of a weekend.

All in all, I think a fellow passenger summed it up best – “I could drive, but I’d rather start my vacation early.” Learn more about Amtrak Cascades online.

If you’re heading down to Seattle for the weekend, the trip is a no brainer. Staying overnight? The Fairmont Olympic is the place to be, and where I stayed on my weekend jaunt. Coming up to Vancouver by train? Check out all these Vancouver hotels to make the most of your car-free getaway.

Have you taken the train? What are your thoughts?