I purchased Amtrak's USA Rail Pass to travel the country in 30 days. Here's what 170 hours in coach looked like.

Taking Amtrak trains across the United States was an incredible experience. Frank Hoffmann I recently moved to the US, and spent 30 days on Amtrak trains in coach to get to know the country. The USA Rail Pass cost about $500, but allowed me to stop in so many cities across the nation. I traveled with just a backpack and a folding bike, which wasn't easy, but kept me hands-free. After recently moving to the United States from India, I wondered how best to familiarize myself with the country. As a lover of trains, the answer was easy: traveling across the nation via Amtrak. So, after booking an Amtrak USA Rail Pass for $499, I was ready to embark on 170 hours of train travel for 30 days — from Connecticut to California and back — all in coach. I couldn't wait to see bustling cities like Chicago and Los Angeles and watch the sunrise over the Rocky Mountains. The journey ended up being one of the greatest adventures I've ever experienced. My backpack held all my essentials. Frank Hoffmann To ensure I was hands-free for the entire journey, I challenged myself to travel with only a backpack and my folding bike. However, I didn't want my backpack to be too heavy. After considering my options, I settled on a single 25-liter version, roughly the size allowed for a personal item on most airlines. I filled it with the essentials: my laptop and charger, travel-size toiletries, and some basic bike equipment — a pump, lights, and a lock. This left just enough space for about seven days' worth of underwear, shirts, shorts, a pair of long pants, and a light jacket. I was also planning to visit friends along the way, which would let me catch up on any laundry I might have. Luckily, since it was summer, I didn't have to worry about packing a lot of bulky winter clothing. However, I did regret carrying only a light jacket, since the trains got pretty cold at night. I loved having my bike with me, but it wasn't easy to carry. Frank Hoffmann It was great to have my bike, but since it weighs roughly 27 pounds, it was difficult to carry when folded. Even though I was able to bring the bike aboard the train — which allowed me to take it for a short spin during longer layovers — I ended up checking it later in my journey to avoid the heavy lifting. The trip probably would have been fine without the bike — since there was free public transit in many of the cities I stopped in along the way — but it still helped me save money on cab fares. Coach seating was surprisingly comfortable. Frank Hoffmann Surprisingly, coach seating felt very roomy and comfortable on each leg of my journey — especially when I raised the footrest to level it with the seat. Plus, the few times I had an empty seat next to me, I could almost sleep lying flat. Unfortunately, there was one time when a sleeping passenger occupied my assigned seat, but instead of waking them, an Amtrak team member helped me find another place to sit. The views from the train were incredible. Frank Hoffmann My entire trip took me from New York through Washington, DC, and the Carolinas to New Orleans. From there, I cut across all the way through Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona to California. Throughout the entire journey, I was in awe of the views from the observation car. On the leg from San Francisco to Chicago, I stopped in Salt Lake City and Denver. This was easily the most spectacular part of the adventure, filled with absolutely stunning landscapes. It was truly magical seeing the river valleys and mountains at sunset. The café car was convenient, but dining-car meals were worth the splurge. Frank Hoffmann Most Amtrak trains have a café car, which offers quick bites and snacks. But some of the long-distance ones also have a dining car, featuring sit-down meals, which I took advantage of while traveling across the country. Even though it seems expensive at first — $25 for lunch and $45 for dinner — it was absolutely worth it for me. In my opinion, the meals were better than the ones served in the the café car, and it was a great way for me to meet other travelers, since Amtrak seats you at a table with other parties. I usually had to make a reservation to access the dining car, but on one leg that wasn't particularly busy, I was able to just walk right in. The USA Rail Pass was a great way to explore the country. Frank Hoffmann Although my time on the train was great, my favorite thing about using the pass was that I got to stop in so many different cities across the US. Even though some layovers were longer than others, I made the most of every stop, whether it was cycling the Crabtree Creek Greenway Trail in Raleigh, North Carolina, or watching the sunset over the water in New Orleans. I especially enjoyed my time in California, when I got to witness the enormous trees in Sequoia National Park. No matter what I was doing — attending a post-punk concert in Chicago or simply hearing the stories of countless individuals on the trains — taking Amtrak across the US was an amazing way to immerse myself in the country. I'm already thinking about another journey, maybe traveling to Florida, and can't wait to hop aboard again. Read the original article on Business Insider

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